Select shift

[bosco]

Please someone out there tell me how to use the select shift on my 2005 Bird! Bosco

[MagicFen]

Re: Select shift

First and foremost, read your manual.

I tend to use it most when going down a steep hill with a stop at the bottom. First in 4th then in third. Don't forget to take it out of select shift mode when accelerating again, or you will soon know it, as it will stay in a lower gear until shifted.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Select shift

Are you familiar with driving a standard shift? If so, you can treat the select shift the same way except there is no clutch involved.
I use mine very often. In traffic or on nice country roads I use it to hold in a certain gear like third or fourth or I will down shift to slow down rather than using the breaks. Or down shift into a corner for better traction.
I'll bet you opened a can of worms with this and there will be a lot of opinions forth coming. Enjoy.
By the way, welcome to the Nest.

[Lonestar]

Re: Select shift

In the old days I had a Hurst “his & hers” shifter in a 67 GTO and I think that was a much better arrangements. If you were in 1st and banged it to 2nd there was no lag, no computer wondering what I was doing and whether it was correct. There was also no computer making me go from one gear to the next (even if I did not move the shifter) if I was approaching “yellow” line either – it did what you told it when you told it.

NTS’ use of the Select Shift in a Thunderbird is how I typically use mine as well but the lag between shifts almost makes me want to simply keep it in drive.

[Will]

Re: Select shift

I've used my select shift only once in the year that I've owned my Retro & that was just to try it out. I think I shifted from one gear to another during that trial & decided, perhaps like Bosco, that I didn't get the point of it all. We've always had at least one manual trans. in the family, so it's not like I can't do it. It's more like, who'd want to? And why? I'll follow this tread & maybe I'll get converted.

[CarolinaTKE]

Re: Select shift

I learned to hate the regular automatic mode while I was driving my car home from the dealership on the day I bought her. In the almost five years I've had my Thunderbird, I've used the regular automatic driving mode fewer than half a dozen times (each time, other than the first, was when I forgot to bring my headset for my cellular telephone). The SST isn't perfect by a long shot, but I've found, perhaps simply because I've been using it for so many years, that I can time it to shift exactly when I want and thus negate the annoying lag. The automatic lurches from one gear to the next, never even getting close to where I want it, no matter the speed, so I'll take a sketchy "manual" over that any day.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Select shift

I can time it to shift exactly when I want and thus negate the annoying lag. .

SCT Xcal eliminates the annoying lag,
hit it & go just like it should have come from Ford!

I like the select shift when I want to play,
makes the Borla's burble & growl!

[Mintgrn]

Re: Select shift

I have tried using the select shift in my bird but without a clutch I really feel like I am not really shifting, just playing. Recently I have been using my sons Mini Cooper S with a manual 6 speed that he left at my house for a while. . That is real stick shifting to me, wind it out, watch the rpm, stick in the clutch and shift, repeat up or down as necessary. To me having an automatic means never having to shift, very convenient in stop and go traffic. I have been driving for 43 years, a variety of manuals and autos, each has it's place but a select shift is a jack of all trades, master of none.

[blue731]

Re: Select shift

I like the select shift when I want to play,
makes the Borla's burble & growl!

I found a certified dealer and tuner for the SCT Xcal only a few miles from my home. In your experience, how did the tune help with your shifting, your torque, horsepower, and top end? All the details you can give me will help. I'm thinking of getting a CAI and Xcal tune.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Select shift

I have the select shift on my 2005 Thunderbird and Volkswagen's Tiptronic on my 2004 Passat GLX. I've tried it out on both but haven't found it to be a satisfying substitute for a manual transmission. I just put it in drive and leave it there for the most part but I occassionally find it's helpful when going through mountain areas to be able to upshift or downshift as needed.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Select shift

I found a certified dealer and tuner for the SCT Xcal only a few miles from my home. In your experience, how did the tune help with your shifting, your torque, horsepower, and top end? All the details you can give me will help. I'm thinking of getting a CAI and Xcal tune.

Borla's, my first mod,
I thought were a waste of money when I put them on.

I didn't notice much of an increase
in performance or sound for their cost.

Then I added the CAI, this made the Borla's sing a lot better,
but it takes about 500 miles for the MAF to adjust
to hear and feel the full effect.

Also performance seemed slightly better.

Finally I added the XCAL II best by far mod of the three.
On the way home from having it done I was on the freeway @ 60 MPH and stomped on it, by the time I looked down It was at 100.

But the best result was the SST.
Before the lag was so long I never used it.
It was like you would hit it up a gear and the tranny would say
"Oh,,,, do you want me to shift?,,,, Ok.

Now when you bump it up a gear its there like a manual shift.

Performance off the line is still a little weak,
you have to power break to get the tires loose off the line.

But stomping on it at a freeway on ramp
makes me feel 40 years younger.

I could never have a Bird without all three again.

[BIRD 42]

Re: Select shift

Does using the SST have any effect on MPG in city driving? I have played with it a little but not enough to see if there would be a difference.

[Lonestar]

Re: Select shift

Does using the SST have any effect on MPG in city driving? I have played with it a little but not enough to see if there would be a difference.

Yes, MPG goes down becuase you have a tendency wind her up a bit more.

[EllisonCal]

Re: Select shift

Yes, MPG goes down becuase you have a tendency wind her up a bit more.

I've found that by using select shift and starting in 2 and then moving it to 3,4 and 5 I've actually increased my mpg somewhat. First gear is a little low for every start and it tends to stay in first too long unless you really feather the gas pedal. I get into 3rd and 4th quicker than the automatic and mileage is up to 17 in city driving. Either it's the select shift or the cooler weather (no A/C needed).
Cal

[ScottyNeutron]

Re: Select shift

I have the select shift on my 2005 Thunderbird and Volkswagen's Tiptronic on my 2004 Passat GLX. I've tried it out on both but haven't found it to be a satisfying substitute for a manual transmission. I just put it in drive and leave it there for the most part but I occassionally find it's helpful when going through mountain areas to be able to upshift or downshift as needed.

I've found that the Tiptronic in my Passat GLX shifts a little quicker than the SelectShift in my T-Bird. However, both of them are tortoises compared to the DSG tranny in my Audi TT 3.2.