I like the downshifts. That's how I would drive a stick (a leased car)... lol

 

The 5AT does the same...maybe not as pronounced as the 7AT since there are less gears for it to choose from...Anyways, I love the downshifting/engine braking...Its one of my favorite features of the transmission...Especially awesome when you slam the brakes, take a turn fast, and the car automatically downshifts and is in the perfect gear to haul right off the apex of the turn...magical experience...Only downside might be slightly lower MPG but I'm sure brake pad life is extended too.

Also there is a way to turn it off....Just leave it in manual mode and do all the shifting yourself. Thats what I do to avoid the car from downshifting when I'm coasting at 70 MPH and using cruise control and going up hills.

 

You are talking about automatic downshifting. He is talking about rev-matching. Two different things here.

 

Well, this is the first vehicle I've had that has rev-matching and comparatively, I prefer the way it's worked in the 10+ other cars I've had to date that don't have rev-matching. I don't like feeling the car accellerate on a heavy downshift. I expect to feel the car engage in the lower gear and immediately perform engine braking because of it.

I realize the advantage of rev-matching. It increases the engine RPM's to reduce the sudden load on the transmission.

Someone commented that not having rev-matching will ruin the transmission or cause excessive wear - not sure of the exact words because I'm not reading it right now. I can see how that can cause additional wear. But I also know from first hand experience that downshifting without rev-matching won't ruin a transmission - I've never had a tranny failure in my 30+ years of driving. If the G37's 7AT is special in that not having rev-matching would ruin it, then call me misinformed.

Granted, I don't use manual downshifting often. It's just that when I do, I would prefer it to behave as I'm used to. Is that good enough for you?

 

While it may not ruin a transmission. Isn't it hard on engine components in the long run?

I think rev-matching also prevents the wheels from locking up on hard corners or a swerve, due to an emergency. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Rev matching is a technologically advanced feature that helps protect your transmission in the long run! I can't believe you want to have that off, try downshifting hard without rev matching on an MT, not only would your car jerk, but you'll probably get a nice smell as well from the clutch yelling at you to learn how to drive a stick shift. Proper rev-matching when downshifting will also decrease wear in syncro's greatly.

 

You normally lock your wheels when you downshift to a gear that causes your transmission/wheels to go at a speed faster than your engine can handle (higher than redline), an AT won't allow you to do that but on an MT, there's no escape.

 

Good point, I hadn't considered the safety aspect of it.

It's just odd to me. Maybe I'll get used to it.

 

I have about 550 miles on my 2010 G and I just noticed when I'm on the highway in DS doing about 55 in traffic and 2000 to 2500rpm and take my foot off the accelerator transmission appears to downshift and engine rev's to 4 grand????????????? If I can't accelerate it drops down. Is that part of rev matching and normal?? Hasn't happened in D. This isn't happening with braking but when I take my foot off the gas.

 

If you are tooling around on the freeway in DS, you are going to get weird behavior, or rather behavior that seems inappropriate for the situation. DS on these cars seems to be meant for zipping around twisty roads, hence the rev-matching and throttle blipping that occurs in order to keeps you in the correct part of the power band for good torque and acceleration when going through corners and curves....DS on this does not operate like 'sport' more did on any of my other cars - for instance, Sport on my G8 GT was for racing and quarter mile stuff for the most part, and gave faster upshifts, and removed some of the shift torque protection, etc. It did not operate how the 'Sport' mode does on this transmission, and it took me a while to understand the ideal situations for DS on this car.

 

Interesting to also note that a manual 370z also rev matches. Must be an interesting feeling to rev up your motor by putting in the clutch.