Re: How radical can we get with the "M" mode on Au (archive)

: I must confess, I had know idea what the M/A button was when I bought my baby. I performed the classic "what's this button" maneuver one evening and, when the car shifted, and seemed to "sit up," I thought, with terrified visions of being towed to the nearest tran shop, that I had broken something.
I pulled to the side of the road, pulled out my owner's manual. It was then, on a clear Florida night, that I learned I could drive her as a manual. My first car some 20 years ago was a 1970 Mustang Mach 1, with a Hurst shifter conjoined to a 300HP V8; therefore, when I say for me driving in "M" is addictive, I guess it is just a reflection on my teenage years, and the joy I feel now hearing my 93 850ci wind around 5k rpm as she slows to a stoplight, and feel her sit up as I pull away from that light. The other night, I pulled up to a light along side of two ( frustrated ) blond girls in a convertible M3 and asked for a race. They agreed, and pulled away ahead of me from the light ( in spite of my "M" mode )until I neared the shift to second...at which point I spotted them in my rear-view mirror...
A friend of mine commented that "every man should own a V-12 at some point in his life..." The more I learn about my car, it's history, it's strengths and weaknesses, the more I love her.
What is the consensus on driving through the "M" mode?? I usually drive in S3, occaisionally in S2, but want to be "sane" about the use of the manual mode...is downshifting ok?? is the red-line safely calibrated?? What can be done to maximize the Auto's life??

You guys are the best,
Puff

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