Best way to drive a 328 with auto

[jpw47]

Having been a lifelong manual transmission driver, I'm often dissatisfied with the 328's automatic transmission. In "normal" mode it's programmed for smooth/economical driving and down shifts too slowly when I want to pass etc. In "sport" mode, it revs too high before shifting up, and shifts down too harshly when slowing down (when I drive a manual tranny, I accelerate rapidly, but shift up before the engine revs too high, >4k). So now I resort to throwing the auto into sport mode when I anticipate a passing/merging situation or want to downshift for a turn, and then put it back to normal mode as soon as I'm cruising again. What do others do?
I was also told by my dealer that the proper way to drive it in Steptronic mode is to blip the throttle upon upshifting, so it lurches like a manual transmission. But I don't think this is necessary, nor good for the drive train! Any thoughts?

[Beer Goggles]

Having been a lifelong manual transmission driver, I'm often dissatisfied with the 328's automatic transmission. In "normal" mode it's programmed for smooth/economical driving and down shifts too slowly when I want to pass etc. In "sport" mode, it revs too high before shifting up, and shifts down too harshly when slowing down (when I drive a manual tranny, I accelerate rapidly, but shift up before the engine revs too high, >4k). So now I resort to throwing the auto into sport mode when I anticipate a passing/merging situation or want to downshift for a turn, and then put it back to normal mode as soon as I'm cruising again. What do others do?
I was also told by my dealer that the proper way to drive it in Steptronic mode is to blip the throttle upon upshifting, so it lurches like a manual transmission. But I don't think this is necessary, nor good for the drive train! Any thoughts?

Another reason I'll always buy an MT....

You're dealer told you to blip the throttle? Another reason to NEVER listen to the dealer. They know ZERO about cars and driving. Drive it how you like to. If you need to drive it in Fake MT mode...do it.

[mryakan]

Another reason I'll always buy an MT....

Buy it while you can. The way things are going, soon enough, you'll only be able to get MT if you can find an old enthusiast car that is not rusted :(.


You're dealer told you to blip the throttle? Another reason to NEVER listen to the dealer.
:lol, their advice sometime are worse than their "honest mistakes".

[Beer Goggles]

Buy it while you can. The way things are going, soon enough, you'll only be able to get MT if you can find an old enthusiast car that is not rusted :(.

:lol, their advice sometime are worse than their "honest mistakes".

There will always be a car that's MT, it's a niche that will always be there. So a company will fill it and make out. I've changed buying decisions over it. And since I live in Socal...I don't know what rusty cars are anymore ;) My 1976 280Z is MT and if in the future I have to buy an old cool car to get what I want....that's what I do.

[mryakan]

There will always be a car that's MT, it's a niche that will always be there. So a company will fill it and make out. I've changed buying decisions over it. And since I live in Socal...I don't know what rusty cars are anymore ;) My 1976 280Z is MT and if in the future I have to buy an old cool car to get what I want....that's what I do.
Unfortunately, I am not as optimistic as you are. I think 20 years from now you may end up buying back your current 335 just so you can experience old school MT again. I hope I am wrong on this though.

[Beer Goggles]

Unfortunately, I am not as optimistic as you are. I think 20 years from now you may end up buying back your current 335 just so you can experience old school MT again. I hope I am wrong on this though.

20 years from now we'll be using hydrogen power and electric...so there won't be any shifting of any kind....which then I'll be okay driving a 50 year old car that looks cool