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I have an 2018 automatic Mazda 3 Touring and I don't know what to do with the Manual Shift Mode.
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I use it chiefly to hold the car in whatever gear i want rather than whatever gear the transmission decides I should be in.
My usual use cases...
acceleration - 0-60 may not be any better than auto, but I can decide where on a corner to plant the power - likewise in slippery conditions I can hold a gear and feather the throttle accordingly to pull away smoothly.
engine braking - useful addition to real brakes when doing long steep downhill stretches, or when (again) wanting to feather the throttle to adjust speed rather than have to tap the brakes. Use carefully, as mechanical damage can occur if trying to lose too much speed in too low a gear. Also, engine braking is risky in traffic as there is no brake light to warn drivers behind that you are slowing down.
boredom. Sometimes it’s just nice to interact with more than just the gas and brake pedals.
“enthusiastic” driving - where all of the above combines, with me controlling as much as possible of the car myself. I usually engage “sport” mode (not convinced it changes anything in manual mode?) and disengage traction control. I also use these modes together for extreme slippery conditions where I want to know why I feel what I do and I can take my own corrective action(s) where necessary.
Couldn't of said it any better. These are same reasons I use it.
I use it occasionally when I'm on the highway and want to pick up some speed I'll use it to drop from 6th to 4th because for some reason Mazda has a meaningless 5th gear in the car
4th is 1:1. 5th is a mild overdrive (for around town cruising at 30+mph and inclines on the highway) 6th is an economy overdrive meant for highway speeds. Not meaningless, it's there for a reason.
It's really for when you need control over the car/gear as if you're driving a standard. If you're not the type of person that "plays" around when driving and drive casually there's no specific need/use for manual shift mode.
I find putting the car in sport mode is enough for overtaking / engine braking a lot of times and you run less risks damaging the transmission when downshifting at the wrong time.
When should you not downshift?
You don't want to downshift when the rpm is near the rev limiter because downshifting will spin the lower (smaller) gear faster to sync the rotational speed as the higher(larger) gear. This will bring the rpm higher and if you're close to the rev limiter then you'll pretty much blow the engine up. Downshifting at high rpm also increase wear on the transmission so it is up to you, you want new brakes and rotors or new transmission.
BUT with the computer system in place, the car actually won't let you downshift so you don't need to worry about the rev limiter. It's more just the wear and tear in the automatic transmissions.
Thank you for the insightful reply. Trying to learn more about cars and transmissions. My next car will be a standard
I suppose I failed to established that downshifting is not all bad and shouldn't let that stop you from doing so. It is a good idea to use a lower gear when going down a steep/long hill to maintain a steady speed and not ride your brakes to avoid over heating the brakes and warping the rotors. It's better to take it easy and use brakes THEN downshift normally rather than no brakes and downshift entirely. Know that the more the car jerks, the harder it is on the car (parts).
It's also a good idea to play with the shifter and learn how the rpm behaves when upshifting vs. downshifting. That will give you a better idea on when to up shift vs. how much throttle you should blip when you rev match on an actual manual transmission.
When you’re at the red line...?
To add to the other responses, using it for engine braking when going down mountains so you're not broiling your brakes.
When I had mine, I used it for spirited driving to stay in the gear I wanted. Really no other point besides that.
For everything else there is this: https://imgur.com/6WeWMUV
How did you get your PRNDL to look like that? /s
In all seriousness, of all the manuals I've driven, Mazda has some of the best, and the G-series transmissions have been around forever and can take serious abuse. Almost doing a disservice by not getting a manual Mazda.
And contrary to everyone feeling like a teenage racer in this thread, "manual" mode on an automatic is in no way, shape, or form a suitable replacement for rowing your own, especially in a lightweight, spunky little canyon carver.
You can't heel/toe an automatic, you can't revmatch an automatic, you cant dump an automatic.
But I guess you can no-clutch every gear perfectly every time, so I'll give it that. Still trying to perfect that one.
Manual mode>accellerate>let off and shift to simulate> repeat.
I had autos for my first 10 years licensed, this is my first standard and the dance between shifting and rev match downshifting is a satisfying dance. I only began to appreciate driving more with my first 3.
I use it exclusively and have for years. It makes driving more fun, but I also get better gas mileage too, even with engine braking, downshifting for quicker acceleration, etc. This is true for my Mazda3, my CX-5, and my dad confirmed it in his new 2018 CX-5.
So you can turn the music down and enjoy the zoom
I use it in the snow/ice so I can start in a higher gear.
I use it going down hills.
I would get 40mpg if not for this Auto manual lol. I love it makes it like a manual to me even though it's not.
Engine braking and zigzagging through traffic on the interstate for me
Drop a gear, disappear. Holding gear in twisties. Spirited starts. That's about it. It's actually quite good for a slushbox.
I know this subreddit loves the manual but the ratios on the MT felt even longer than the auto for me. It's definitely an economical MT.
I use it all the time because my previous vehicle was manual. It's much more responsive. Easier to deal with highway traffic. The AT likes to be in 6th as much as possible and you have to give it a bit of gas to force it to downshift to a gear with good acceleration. I also like downshifting to assist the brakes.