Since I finally got my bug running smoothly, I've been taking it out as a daily driver. I've noticed that I can actually start in 2nd gear from a complete stop. Because of this, I've been driving it around town as a fully automatic. I leave it in second and away I go. I still use 1st if I want some more power off the line, but it seems to have no trouble starting in 2nd.
Is this okay to do? Could I be doing any harm driving ONLY in 2nd gear?
Thanks,
-Levino
Levino,
R1 we are talking about? Sure, it's OK to do that (we've had 50/50 opinions on this subject).
I believe you should use low as well, but that is just my opinion ;D.
Regards
Volkenstein
Hiya Levino,
In point of fact when these cars were selling new the dealers often touted the fact that they could be left in First range and drven around town all day without ever having to shift.
True enough.
However, I, like Sean, prefer to "run through the gears" as if it were a manual shift. I simply like the performance better than leaving it one range.
And we can rationalize this approach. We have seen other's observations that driving around in in one range (First) can be hard on seals. Is it really hard on seals? I haven't seen any "hard core" evidence supporting that position.
The bottom line here is that you should drive your car in whichever manner you feel comfortable.
Hi,
I have heard stories that many autosticks were sold to ladies
and they were told they could leave it in Drive 2 all the time
and this caused problems... whether this is true i don't know..
I like to use all the gears when in traffic, but when driving around
My town [that has no traffic lights] sometimes I leave it in D2
lazy I guess...
when gas was cheaper, I would use Low gear all the time to take off
but I mostly use D1 now... [whether that actually saves gas?? I'm not sure]
Using Low gear really lets You know how good these cars go...
The VW manuals say that Low gear was designed to be used only when parking?
or going up a steep driveway...
but parking using Low could be dangerous as if you don't have much room to move
then its probably safer for many people to use D1..
but then again, reverse is the same...
[I can spin My wheels in My gravel driveway in Low or reverse.]
the part on the gearbox You mentioned?
maybe the bracket for the clutch servo??
also, I believe that you can use the other gearbox by using standard
early autostick or manual engine mounts..
thats if the four mounting holes are the same
I would guess that they are..
I would suggest replacing the torque converter oil seal
and the two small oil seals in the dual engine oil/ATF pump on the front of the engine
at the rear ...
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
Lee