[QUOTE=schumi][QUOTE=Ethan]do you make any attempt to match revs on your downshifts? a little blip of the throttle to match that 1000rpm jump as you flick into the lower gear.[QUOTE=Ethan]

I don't think this makes any sense. On an automatic, blipping the throttle doesn't match revs because the engine and transmission aren't diengaged like in a manual with the clutch depressed.


My reply, Do a test, drive in fourth gear at 50mph, while maintaing that speed shift into third gear, what happens?

In my car the engine revs jump approximately 1000rpm.

in my 722.6 transmission the gear changes in 4,3,2,1 are transmitted elwctronically.

Now let me quote from Vic Elford's Porsche Driving book page 101
"Heel-and-toe Shifting with Tiptronic"
many of you who now drive 911's or 968's with the Tiptronic transmission are probably wondering if you can apply the same technique -i.e heel and toe of a manual transmission.- The answer is yes.
You already know that when changing up you can do so at full throttle with just a tip forward of the gear lever so that there is no lost time in acceleration. When you are changing down you will find that you can actually feel the electronic contact as you "tip" the gear lever backward. The "blip" should be done at precisely that moment to balance engine and transmission speed. It mght take a little time to develop the feel for that electronic contact because it is very delicate, but it is there." end of quote

now that I have quoted, I used to drive a 1991 911 Carrera 2 tiptronic where I learned the technique and it works on the Mercedes box as well as the four speed ZF Porsche unit.

As far as mechanical sympathy and wear, you can reduce speed every time the steering wheel is turned to minimize tire wear, never start the engine when it has been sitting in sub-freezing ambient temperatures. Figure out BMEP - brake mean effective pressure and fuel consumption effective usage and only run the engine at that derived rpm.
But the great thing about Mercedes is they cruise at speed like no other, and now that some of these cars (New SLK 350) handle like a Porsche Boxster and are built much better, if you know the pros and cons to enthusiastic driving then have fun.

Do you buy a Ferrari F40 and not flog it? a little to much excitement a missed shift, a spin, a few over revs.