I have a Mazda 3 with an automatic transmission ?

Question

I can switch to manual. It has no clutch I
Just shift the gears. When I am going down a big hill should I have the car in gear 3 with lower rpms or in 2 with higher rpms

Neil B · Accepted Answer

If it's a gentle hill then leave it in drive, otherwise with a very long / steep down hill you should select a lower gear (there's usually a sign telling you to do so!) so that you get more engine braking (which doesn't wear the gearbox any more than normal!) so that your brakes don't end up being non-existent by the bottom of the hill!

Cassidy Brady · Answer

In gear 3 with lower rpms.

? · Answer

Gear 3, as you go down a hill your RPM's will increase faster than usual so you would probably have to shift to 3rd anyways because you would hit the redline.

mark_hensley@sbcglobal.net · Answer

No kidding here, but read the manual.  It will give you the exact do's and don'ts concerning the use of an auto-stick transmission.  

Best.

Anonymous · Answer

Unless you're talking about a SERIOUS hill I'd just leave it D and not bother fiddling with it at all.
New brake pads are FAR cheaper than new gearboxes.

C7S · Answer

Keep it in D. It does everything for you without messing up the transmission.

Chase · Answer

2 if you want to haul ***.
3 if you want to save gas.

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I have a Mazda 3 with an automatic transmission ?

7 Answers