D or 3?

[PGH_WS6]

A4 guys what do you drive around in, D or 3?

[StuntmanMike]

I keep it in D 99% of the time.

[jknelms]

A4 guys what do you drive around in, D or 3?

3 in town, D anywhere 45 and over.

what about you?

[adam0321]

so off topic but should i not be driving my tahoe around in od

[dphillips1984]

always in D. cant afford the extra gas.

[KahanaReef]

3 in town, D anywhere 45 and over.

what about you?

Same here.

[StuntmanMike]

so off topic but should i not be driving my tahoe around in od


Unless you're towing, or the tranny is hunting back and forth between D and 3, there's no reason not to leave it in D.

[nut6778]

I used to drive around in 3 in town and D on highways....
But since I got the catback I fiind myself driving in 2 through town (less than 30). lol

[9T8W66]

Used to have a `94 Formula Auto and unless your Racing D is where you should be.
While Racing pull it back to 3rd cause the stock trans shouldn't shift into 4th under WOT.

[nhraformula]

Unless you're towing, or the tranny is hunting back and forth between D and 3, there's no reason not to leave it in D.

agreed with above.

[speedracer25f]

Nice relaxed drive, D....showing off in town 1 and 2 manual shifting.

[nut6778]

Used to have a `94 Formula Auto and unless your Racing D is where you should be.
While Racing pull it back to 3rd cause the stock trans shouldn't shift into 4th under WOT.

WOW!!! A 3 to 4 shift under WOT!!!! How fast were you going? I don't even get out of 2nd in the quarter mile at 108mph. I have had the car up to 140, and it wasn't even lookin for the next gear yet!

[PGH_WS6]

I assumed D would put the car in OD too much in town which is why alot of cars have D and OD. If you read the manual I believe it states to drive in 3 around town, towing or when you are in stop in go traffic. This keeps the tranny from constantly trying to find that higher gear. Better on gas a bit but worse on tranny as the extra shifiting creates extra heat. Am i wrong?

[KahanaReef]

When in OD, you start out in 2nd. So, off the start in 3 gives you 1st gear power.

Right?

[jknelms]

When in OD, you start out in 2nd. So, off the start in 3 gives you 1st gear power.

Right?

i just read that in year 2000+ automatic transmissions, when the shifter is in second, it begins in second instead of first, like previous years. but yeah...not sure about OD. maybe there's a thread on this site about it.

[KahanaReef]

i just read that in year 2000+ automatic transmissions, when the shifter is in second, it begins in second instead of first, like previous years. but yeah...not sure about OD. maybe there's a thread on this site about it.

3 (D) and OD...

D starts first gear to 3rd

OD starts off in second to 4th :)

2000 +

When I'm on the freeway, I use OD. When I'm driving around in town, I use 3 (D). I like first gear :yup:

[Too Fast]

3 (D) and OD...

D starts first gear to 3rd

OD starts off in second to 4th :)

2000 +

When I'm on the freeway, I use OD. When I'm driving around in town, I use 3 (D). I like first gear :yup:

No. Always starts in 1st, no matter if in D or OD, from a stop. Some years had a dedicated 2nd gear start, if you manually put it in 2nd. Good for the autocross or very slippery starts.
If yours starts in 2nd while in OD, you have a transmission problem.
My '98 I always left in D, I would use 3 if I wanted to burn more gas or I was on a big hill and did not want to use my brakes as much. For normal driving use D. I believe my '98 had D, 3, 2, 1 selections. Some years did not have the '1' option.

[9T8W66]

WOW!!! A 3 to 4 shift under WOT!!!! How fast were you going? I don't even get out of 2nd in the quarter mile at 108mph. I have had the car up to 140, and it wasn't even lookin for the next gear yet!


No no no Street or Track Races will never see 4th gear anyways and if your cruising in 3rd gear the trans takes less time to drop to 1st under WOT.
Forgive me though I owned that car 10yrs ago been stomping around with my M6 since.

[KahanaReef]

No. Always starts in 1st, no matter if in D or OD, from a stop. Some years had a dedicated 2nd gear start, if you manually put it in 2nd. Good for the autocross or very slippery starts.
If yours starts in 2nd while in OD, you have a transmission problem.
My '98 I always left in D, I would use 3 if I wanted to burn more gas or I was on a big hill and did not want to use my brakes as much. For normal driving use D. I believe my '98 had D, 3, 2, 1 selections. Some years did not have the '1' option.

Guess only the V6's have the SGS. I was told mine did when I bought it ... :dunno: Maybe because I feel so much more power in D as opposed to OD off the start, it made sense.

Hey, I'm used to the old slip and slide power-glides LOL I'm old school :yup: But, that's why I here :)

[Too Fast]

Don't talk to me about old school, I have '68 LeMans ragtop in the garage. Guess what kind of trans it has??? A Pontiac version of the 2 speed hydromatic. Supposedly with a switch pitch torque convertor, in front of that is a 6.6 from something out of early 70s, with a 2 bbl. (!).

[02blackz]

well im confused, arent you supposed to use OD for normal daily driving?! and what about D or 3, i just use OD for the strip too...

[nhraformula]

well im confused, arent you supposed to use OD for normal daily driving?! and what about D or 3, i just use OD for the strip too...

unless towing, no need to have it in any gear outside of OD.