manual mode driving

scott19677 · May 14, 2014

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question. I want to know if it is bad to drive around town, and in the city in M5 mode on the transmission. I have tried this and

the truck drives much better and does not go into V4 mode (which is the best part). Just wondering if this causes any issues or longevity problems on the transmission. I always switch back to DRIVE on the highway for gas mileage. Any tech help would be great.

PickUPS · May 14, 2014

Manual mode won't harm your trans. M5 will only prevent it from shifting to 6th, and keep your engine in V8 mode of course.

KARNUT · May 14, 2014

The only time I go into 6 is after 60, in town mileage stays the same less drama.

MikeNH · May 14, 2014

Not at all. I started doing it on the test drive.

Silverado-Hareek · May 14, 2014

Ok I'm going to ask a second potentially dumb question.

If I drive around town in M5, can I just hit the + button and change it to M6 on the interstate and the truck will drive/behave as if it were in Drive? That way I can just hit the - button when I get off the interstate and have it change back to M5 which is easier than shifting the column shifter back and forth.

Sooperdave · May 14, 2014

I just found out its not a true manual mode yesterday. Kinda sucks. I was in M3 and gave it some good gas and it downshifted. I was like.. what? I'd like full control please. Loved the option in my G8. Had lots of fun with it!

KARNUT · May 14, 2014

Same thing with traction control, full off please.

Daryl LBZ · May 14, 2014

I miss manual mode...

Silverado-Hareek · May 14, 2014

I just found out its not a true manual mode yesterday. Kinda sucks. I was in M3 and gave it some good gas and it downshifted. I was like.. what? I'd like full control please. Loved the option in my G8. Had lots of fun with it!

Yeah I was disappointed too. Although if the manual mode behaves in the manner I've asked in my post above, I can get used to that set up for sure. My good friend, who is a Chevy salesman and is super passionate about what he does, was explaining to me how the manual mode on these trucks are designed to protect the transmission from failure first, not give the driver full control over the transmission. I'm personally not sure if that's a good thing or not, but it seems some thought did go into the design. And it's not like Chevy isn't aware of the full manual control other automakers have either.

Sooperdave · May 14, 2014

Yeah I was disappointed too. Although if the manual mode behaves in the manner I've asked in my post above, I can get used to that set up for sure. My good friend, who is a Chevy salesman and is super passionate about what he does, was explaining to me how the manual mode on these trucks are designed to protect the transmission from failure first, not give the driver full control over the transmission. I'm personally not sure if that's a good thing or not, but it seems some thought did go into the design. And it's not like Chevy isn't aware of the full manual control other automakers have either.

GM knows how to utilize it. My G8 had it and it worked very well! As does the Camaro.

scoobyd3w · May 14, 2014

Ok I'm going to ask a second potentially dumb question.

If I drive around town in M5, can I just hit the + button and change it to M6 on the interstate and the truck will drive/behave as if it were in Drive? That way I can just hit the - button when I get off the interstate and have it change back to M5 which is easier than shifting the column shifter back and forth.

Yes sir! shift down to M1 click the + button 3 or 4 times and hit the gas like a video game. M3 means tranny wont shift higher than 3rd gear, M6 is basically the D gear without all the tranny gear hunting...