Question to car experts

[JesterOC]

I notice that when driving at 45 mpg+ when I want to pass by a slower car my fiesta just does not accelerate quickly (I have the 6 speed Automatic).

Currently I am popping it into hill climbing mode, to up the rpm's, I have tried pushing it into L but I am not sure if that is too good for transmission in the long run.

Any suggestions on how to reliably get some quick power? Either with a driving tip, or aftermarket parts?

As you can tell I am not a car enthusiast, I just try to get from point A to B in one piece.

Thanks for any and all comments.

[Reddog99]

The easiest way is to just press down on the gas pedal until the computer downshifts the transmission, or just continue as you currently do (press the button). The way it's designed to operate,is that it stays in the highest possible gear (whenever possible) to maximize fuel economy, but you already knew that.

Using "L" won't hurt the transmission. I sometimes use it on freeway on-ramps to make merging into heavy traffic easier. You are only moving a lever, not doing the shifting. The computer is controlling the clutch & gear selection, so you only get to tell the computer what you want, and the computer decides whether or not to give it to you.

[Chan]

Originally Posted by Reddog99

The easiest way is to just press down on the gas pedal until the computer downshifts the transmission, or just continue as you currently do (press the button). The way it's designed to operate,is that it stays in the highest possible gear (whenever possible) to maximize fuel economy, but you already knew that.

Using "L" won't hurt the transmission. I sometimes use it on freeway on-ramps to make merging into heavy traffic easier. You are only moving a lever, not doing the shifting. The computer is controlling the clutch & gear selection, so you only get to tell the computer what you want, and the computer decides whether or not to give it to you.

All L does it make it hold onto the lowest gear possible, consider a sports mode of some sort.

[FiestaFaction-1]

Just to follow up on what Reddog99 is saying. You need to be somewhat aggressive and snap the accelerator quickly, which I've always referred to as 'kicking it down'.

This will cause the transmission to automatically go to a lower gear and allow better acceleration. If you apply pressure to the throttle to gradually, it will pump more fuel into the engine, but without downshifting.

You can get away with that on a car with a lot of torque. But the Fiesta's engine, as great as it is, simply doesn't have that kind of power.

[LMTech]

Originally Posted by FiestaFaction-1

Just to follow up on what Reddog99 is saying. You need to be somewhat aggressive and snap the accelerator quickly, which I've always referred to as 'kicking it down'.

This will cause the transmission to automatically go to a lower gear and allow better acceleration. If you apply pressure to the throttle to gradually, it will pump more fuel into the engine, but without downshifting.

You can get away with that on a car with a lot of torque. But the Fiesta's engine, as great as it is, simply doesn't have that kind of power.

I have to agree with Jester as I have been in the same situation and even by kicking it down,stomping on the pedal or whatever you want too call it the trans just doesn't react fast enough compared to a normal auto. I now do the same as jester and turn overdrive off or pull it into low and this seems to help alot.
The only other choice right now is to floor it and be ready when the car does decide to do what you are asking it to do because once it does it does pretty well at picking up speed quickly.
I am hoping that future program updates either from Ford or the aftermarket ,such as the one SCT is working on right now, helps the trans gear selection process under full throttle.

[Mike@MPT]

Throttle response will be a huge to-do list in the aftermarket tuning industry. We have big plans with our fiesta...

[FiestaFaction-1]

Originally Posted by Mike@MPT

Throttle response will be a huge to-do list in the aftermarket tuning industry. We have big plans with our fiesta...

It will be interesting to see just how difficult the PowerShift programming will be to crack. And then, whether any company will be interested in putting the resources towards it, as the majority of modified Fiestas will be manuals IMO.

It's been done in the VAG market for the DSG, so it is doable. But there is quite a bit more momentum behind that market, and some actual performance models equipped with the DSG, unlike the Fiesta, in which the semi-auto is positioned for economy.

[JesterOC]

So if we have access to the PowerShift CPU.. how hard would it be to add in manual shifting? That would be a sweet aftermarket add on.

[Reddog99]

.....unlike the Fiesta, in which the semi-auto is positioned for economy.

And the system also seems to be biased towards longevity. Stomping on the gas from a stop is positively underwhelming until the clutch has become engaged.

[TRiumPH-RDR]

Originally Posted by JesterOC

Currently I am popping it into hill climbing mode, to up the rpm's, I have tried pushing it into L but I am not sure if that is too good for transmission in the long run.

What is "Hill climbing mode"? Is it a button or other feature of the transmission? Does the OP find it adequate to use for passing others on the freeway? I'm seriously considering this car but I've experienced a similar problem with freeway passing while test driving the Fiesta. I'm glad I caught this thread.

Thanks...