Uh... interesting sugestions...
Anyway as a wimpy 325i AT driver that now regrets not getting the MT, I'll summarize how I use the Steptronic mode. (stop laughing damnit)
From a stop, I start in 1st. As the engine revs up to 2k, I shift to second, as it revs to 2k again, then third. This keeps the engine quiet and the shifts smooth. You have to remember that the ratios in the AT are different from the MT, so smooth shift points differ.
Going uphill, I usually let the engine rev to 3k before shifting. On straight freeway on-ramps, I let the sucker rev to 5k+
Oh yes, 5th gear is almost unecessary unless you're crusing a long time on the freeway. It olny seems to drop the revs by < 1k versus 4th!
And yes, you can shift without taking your foot off the gas. It seems to like it that way anyway.
Ok, when you're slowing down, you can downshift once the revs drop below 2.5k. Any lower and the AT doesn't have enough power to shift quickly. Relatively quickly anyway. I advise not down shifting below 3rd gear unless you're going to a complete stop or else the car will lurch. Heel and toe does not apply to Steptronic.
Around town with a lot of stoplights you can downshift to second if you're going less than 25mph, otherwise at any higher speed, the car lurches.
Just before you get to a stoplight or stopsign, downshift to first. You have to get the timing JUST right or else the car will lurch. Otherwise you can just stop completely and downshift, but the transmision will certainly take it time to shift. You should never downshift into first at any time, except when you are about to stop.
Passing on the highway, you need to downshift to 4th for decent power (in a 325 anyway), and maybe even 3rd if you want to pass in a hurry.
And that's about it.
Hope I confused the hell out of eveyone.
