Did you test this? I did with mine. Whatever auto mode I'm in, I can count the shifts as I pull away from a stoplight. So let's say I'm in D from a dead stop, I can count what gear the car is in and I can confirm when I pull the paddle and it upshifts to the next gear (now displayed) that is sequential to my current count.

So if I assume it is starting in 1st, I count it shifting to 2nd, 3rd and then I pull and it'll shift to 4th (and now displayed as such).

There were 2 other ways I tested that confirmed this to be the case as well. Which was surprising to me, as I assumed it would start in 2nd since in MAN mode, it'll always default to 2nd at a stoplight. That is why I find it counter-intuitive, b/c if anything, it should be the other way around.

 

Mine starts in 2nd.

 

You could also just note a speed/RPM combo (say, 10MPH@3000RPM, just made that up) when you've manually shifted it to first, then see if you hit that same point when it's in auto. That would tell you whether it's in first or not.

 

I'm confused; are you saying you can't toggle the paddles to 1st at a stop in manual mode? .......I do that on mine all the time.

Dave

 

I think he's saying his starts in first in Auto, which isn't normal.

 

There are two possibilities:

1. It could always start in 1st in auto mode, but if you ease onto the gas it has no reason to stay in 1st, so immediately goes to second at such a low rpm and with the torque converter open, that you do not feel anything or notice anything on the tach. I've had a few ZF transmissions and they're definitely capable of doing this sort of thing, almost blending seamlessly a cog swap by I believe modulating the torque converter. It definitely drops to 1st in automatic mode if you give it enough gas.

2. It could always start in second, and only drop to 1st with aggressive throttle input from a stop. Again, it could instantly do this without you even noticing.

Obviously the performance of this car is excellent... Does it really matter whether it starts in 1st or 2nd and then switched one way or the other? You just want it to perform really well, no?

It should start in the gear that's appropriate for the takeoff not the one that is numerically pleasing to the operator... You selected "auto" mode after all.

I've had a lot of automatics and this one always seems to be in the right gear. I don't really care what # gear it is though, so long as I feel it is doing what I want it to, which is either go briskly, or go smoothly, or something in between. If I DO care which gear, then I paddle shift it.

By the way in most designs (I don't know if this applies to the 8HP but it would make sense) dropping from 2nd to 1st is simply releasing one element... Meaning there's no careful application of an element required like when you're doing an upshift... It's just a simple release of a clutch or band. this would be instant and result in immediate torque multiplication and negligible loss of time "lost while in 2nd", even if it defaults to takeoff in 2nd always. This would also explain why people are not sure what is happening.

 

I have tested mine several times using different metods (counting gears, using the manual levers in automode, looking at rpm vs speed....), and I am convinced it behave as previously stated.

I have only tested it on my V8R though, and I do not know if the ZF8 might be programmed differently for the V6?

 

I have a V8S ('14). I just tested it again, this time in Auto S, Dynamic.

From a dead stop, I'll give it about a 1/4 to 1/3 throttle and i can feel the shifts easily.

1. Car starts off
2. I feel an auto shift
3. I feel another auto shift
4. I pull the right paddle, it shifts and the display shows "4"

I also tried starting in Manual "2". I give it more than 1/2 - 3/4 throttle to see if it will do a seamless drop to 1, and according to the display, it stayed at "2." And just from the torque converter slip as I gave the car gas, I can tell it stayed in 2nd gear, as indicated in the center display.

One other way I confirm is when I am at a drive thru or pulling into my garage to park. b/c I have a convertible, the drone is much more noticeable (flaps open) if the car is idling in 2nd. If, at the dead stop in a place with a wall nearby, I drop it to 1st, you can notice the drone decrease and the rpm's drop slightly. Also, if you are lazy on the brake pedal, the car will creep if you drop it to 1st.

But when I pull into the garage or at drive thru in auto, that drone is not there. And if I pull the left paddle anyway (to see if there is indeed a gear to drop), it'll show 1st (it very well may be already in 1st) and the drone does not decrease and the car does not creep.

I have not yet mashed the throttle in Manual 2nd yet to see if it'll auto switch to 1st. I may try it next time I take her out to test that seamless shift theory. But as it stands now, I am quite sure my car starts off in 1st as long as it is in auto (sport, normal, dynamic or otherwise)

 

If you hit the kickdown switch while in manual mode it will drop down however many gears it can.

 

Here's a novel idea - when the car is at a complete stop, pull the downshift paddle. If you feel a clunk, it was in 2nd and shifted to 1st upon your command. If there's no clunk, it was already in 1st.

I can tell you that in the V6 XE (same transmission as F-type) no matter what drive style I'm using (dynamic, normal, etc.) if I pull the downshift paddle when at a stop it'll always clunk and shift to first. So I know it starts in 2nd unless I command otherwise.

That said, when the converter is still slipping and you're rolling out of a stop and give it enough gas, I'd bet it seamlessly decides to move into first as was suggested above.