How to correctly use the M gear in Volkswagen?
4 Answers
When the car is in D gear, the instrument panel will display D1, D2, D3, indicating which gear position the ordinary automatic transmission is in. When the gear lever is moved to the left from the D position, it switches to S gear, which is the sport mode of the automatic transmission car. The instrument panel will also display S, S2, S3. Move the gear lever to the left and then up or down to switch to M gear. "M+" means upshifting, while "M-" means downshifting.
When I first got my Volkswagen, I couldn't quite figure out the M mode either. It wasn't until I drove more on mountain roads that I got the hang of it. Simply put, it's the manual mode—shift the gear lever to M and use the plus/minus signs to change gears. It's especially exhilarating when overtaking: before the speed picks up, just pull it to the left to drop a gear (e.g., from 5th to 4th), the RPM goes up, and you get a powerful surge when you step on the gas. The same goes for climbing steep hills—I switch to M mode and fix it in a lower gear to prevent the transmission from constantly shifting. It's even more practical on long descents; manually lock it in 3rd or 4th gear to use engine braking and reduce the frequency of braking. Just remember not to keep the RPM in the red zone for too long, as it can damage the car. In city traffic jams, I hardly ever use M mode—shifting gears frequently is tiring, and the automatic D mode is hassle-free enough.
As a veteran driver with fifteen years of manual transmission experience, I surprisingly fell in love with the M mode after switching to an automatic Volkswagen. It offers more proactive control over power delivery compared to pure automatic mode. I often shift left into M mode before overtaking, simultaneously pressing the accelerator to downshift (the dashboard gear indicator flashes to show the current gear), resulting in quicker torque response. On long descents, I lock it into a lower gear, like 3rd, allowing the engine to assist with braking, significantly reducing brake pad wear. Starting in 2nd gear to avoid wheelspin is also crucial in snowy conditions. However, remember: M mode requires manual gear changes, and prolonged high RPMs may cause engine damage—it's easier to switch back to D mode in traffic. After all, transmission designs differ, so understanding its characteristics is key.
Recently, I had the chance to study Volkswagen's M mode while driving a friend's Passat. Essentially, it's a semi-manual mode where you can shift gears using either the paddle shifters or the gear lever. The key lies in its usage scenarios: for instance, downshifting before a curve on a mountain road to maintain RPM for stronger acceleration out of the turn, or manually locking into 3rd gear when climbing with a heavy load to prevent frequent gear shifts and wear. It's generally unnecessary in city driving, but downshifting for a quick overtake on the highway is noticeably more responsive (the best effect is when the tachometer jumps to around 4000 RPM). Important detail: after switching to M mode, it won't upshift automatically—you have to do it yourself. The engine sound getting louder will remind you when it's time to upshift. Occasionally end up in M mode by mistake? Just pull it back to D mode; no harm done. A few tries and you'll get the hang of it naturally.
