If it was me behind the wheel of an automatic, I'd probably be using all the numbers on the shift gate.... dropping from 3 into 2 for prolonged city driving below 38mph, climbing extreme hills, etc...... also mastering the art of feathering the accelerator for the smoothest upshifts - and learning to peddle the accelerator for swift downshifts.

Somehow it seems automatic transmission has natural tendency to bottom out the engine as it seeks the highest gear at any speed.