I just bought my car last week and still poring over the manual but I can't seem to find out why when I take off from a dead stop, it always does so from second gear rather than first. Is this normal?

 

In "normal" mode it is absolutely normal. I don't remember what happens when you set in in sportsmode or dynamic mode, as I tend to use those modes when "on the run" and not so much stop and go.

 

That's normal in economy mode, should start in first in sport mode, just a fuel saving trick

 

Do you have it in winter mode?

 

It's not in Winter and I usually drive it in Sport. I'll check again when I go out later.

 

My R starts in 2nd in every mode.

 

Yup. I have to downshift to 1st if I want to start there from a stop even in manual mode.

 

My 14' v8 vert starts in 2nd as well in all modes as well.

 

Discussed to death on another forum I inhabit, but the general consensus is that it starts in 2nd gear no matter what mode you are in unless you manually downshift to 1st gear using either the left paddle, or the gear stick if in S mode, OR you hit the go pedal hard enough on take off to hit the kickdown switch, in which case it kicks back to 1st gear.

 

Pretty much all ATs started out in 2nd since the 50's unless the throttle was to the floor.

 

But in manual mode it should go to 1st.

 

Nup, not on my S it doesn't, unless as I said above I either knock it back to 1st using the left paddle or the stick, or I flatten the go pedal.

 

What I'm saying is that it should go to first, but it doesn't. That was in response to the previous post about how automatics always start in second. In manual mode, they should go to 1st. I think even my X5 goes to 1st in sport and manual mode.

 

Have you actually run off a light in first? It's worthless unless you can feather it for an extra 1/10th (guessing) or to bang the rev limiter through the intersection. My tires want to spin in 2nd without being aggressive. I can't imagine all the complaints if she started in 1st.

 

In Dynamic/Sport/Manual I almost always start in First gear. Easy to control and allows me to relive my misspent youth.

 

Mine starts in 2nd in norm and first in dynamic, pretty normal today. Our Maser has same trans and does the same thing, my '12 SLK55 did same with merc 7sp.

 

My 07 XKR starts in 1st in both D and Sports Mode regardless of throttle angle.

It will only pull away in 2nd if I have been using the flappy paddles and haven't changed down manually.

 

Wow, longer thread than I expected lol. I do prefer to start off in first when I really want to take off. I agree that it should go down to first when in sport, my Maserati does but then it only has 6 gears.

 

Yes, I do it frequently when the roads are clear. It takes off without a chirp. AWD for the win!

 

....I start in first with the paddles in my RWD too.

Dave