Getting Best 0-60 Times With An Automatic Transmission

[Anthony]

I've been wondering how car reviewers get the best 0-60 times on an automatic transmission. I mean, on a standard transmission, the driver would aim to time his/her shifts at the most optimal point. How about on an automatic? With my automatic, I find that the response is different depending on how I start off. Simply mashing the gas pedal from a complete stop is sometimes less effective than letting the car roll so a split second or two and then hitting the gas. Any thoughts on this?

Anthony
2002 Solara SLE

[Jackass-Jeff]

There was an article on www.nissantalk.com/forum on how to launch autos. THe only real thing you can do is get a good launch, but Solaras have a lot of wheel spin =\ That post was taken from a Honda forum... you know... you can launch at 4000 rpms and still not spin the wheels... haha honda and torque =x

I would think that you'd want to step on it like half way or something when you launch then when you know you have the traction, floor that puppy

[NASTY]

well first youll want to make sure traction control is off
also, i think shifting manually (using L, 2, etc) helps, so you can bring it up to about 6200 before shifting
and whatever that things called where you give the car gas (in gear) while holding the brake, then letting the brakes go

[Hsakuragi]

ouch, that's gonna hurt the engine and the transmission real bad..

[Jackass-Jeff]

ouch, that's gonna hurt the engine and the transmission real bad..

Agreed.

"holding the break w/ gas" = Torque launch... the tranny can only handle so much =x.

[Anthony]

There was an article on www.nissantalk.com/forum on how to launch autos. THe only real thing you can do is get a good launch, but Solaras have a lot of wheel spin =\ That post was taken from a Honda forum... you know... you can launch at 4000 rpms and still not spin the wheels... haha honda and torque =x

I would think that you'd want to step on it like half way or something when you launch then when you know you have the traction, floor that puppy

I think this makes sense. I don't think that professional car reviewers would either shift gears (D,3,2,1) or press the gas and brake to obtain the best 0-60 times.

Are there any official 0-60 times for stock 2002 Solara's out there? I've seen some sites simply state that 0-60 is in the low 7 seconds.

Anthony
2002 Solara SLE

[Stock Solara SEV6]

I don't have an automatic, but based on past experience you should be able to brake torque to 1500 - 2000 rpm, then mash the throttle and release the brake at the same time. Tailor the starting RPM to minimize spinning. The transmission will be OK as long as you don't brake torque it for more than a few seconds and allow time for the torque converter to cool back down before repeating.

[bkp_duke]

along the same lines - if you are going to torque launch a lot, i would recommend you move over to a synthetic ATF like Mobile One. It will help keep the tranny and particularly the torque converter cooler and reduce the potential for damage

[Flipside909]

along the same lines - if you are going to torque launch a lot, i would recommend you move over to a synthetic ATF like Mobile One. It will help keep the tranny and particularly the torque converter cooler and reduce the potential for damage

You can do that, but torque braking only kills your engine mounts...using synthetic or not for your ATF will not stop that extra stress to other components.

[NASTY]

You can do that, but torque braking only kills your engine mounts...

flip (or anyone who knows), can you give a brief explanation why? that just doesnt makes sense to me...

[Flipside909]

You can do that, but torque braking only kills your engine mounts...

flip (or anyone who knows), can you give a brief explanation why? that just doesnt makes sense to me...

Because when you're holding the brakes...and you have the tranny in drive...and pressing the gas, you're trying to push the engine to push the tranny..to push the wheels to get moving. But since you have the brakes pushed down, the power has to be exerted somewhere...so the engine and tranny will take the brunt of the stress since that force has to go somewhere. If you've never noticed, your engine kinda rocks back and forth when you start the car, when you rev it up and while you shift gears auto or manual.