Nice car!

The 4-Speed will only downsift when you floor it, by and large, it's not very sensitive to throttle position once it has shifted up. This can be a pain, when you want a bit more poop and are already in 4th -- you have to either floor it to get it to kick down (not always a good idea) or manually shift down.

It won't downshfit slowing down at all, until you get to 25 mph or so.

Don't be afraid to use the lever, it won't hurt anything. Should also make it start off in 1st gear by putting it in "2" at stoplights, I think the gas engines start in 2nd usually.

The diesel sits in 2nd, downshifts instantly when you move the pedal, but I think some of the gas engines stay in 2nd unless you floor it.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!