Downhill Downshifting

[reesesyum]

Originally Posted by Loren

There is more power available in a lower gear and at higher RPM.

Not going to argue with you about or even waste my time trying to explain it, but that's a fact.

Hint: Do a little research about how transmissions and gear ratios work to multiply torque and the torque multiplication is greater in lower gears. Do a little more research to learn about how engines make more power as they spin faster.

I understand that there's more power in a lower gear - maybe power was the wrong word to use. Certainly, there are times when a higher gear provides better performance - otherwise we'd always drive in first gear.

Originally Posted by Loren

You bought a car with an modern electronically controlled automatic transmission. Trust me, the Toyota engineers know WAY more than you do. Just drive the car! If you wanted to decide when to shift, you shouldn't have bought an automatic.

Thanks for the condescending attitude - I was just curious about this feature of the car, and wondered if others had this concern. Thanks to everyone else for their replies.