Use of the auto tranny...

[Eliot]

I have a "new" 1989 300te...I find the car to be great as a touring auto, but a "dog" getting into traffic or away from a light. I tried this morning to put the car into "3" while merging, thus forcing it to stay in 3rd...nice...nice torque...BUT, it revs until I stop. Is this safe? what is considered "unsafe" as far as rpm's...can I just shift down for added power? I don't want to damage the tranny/ engine. What is the proper method of using the tranny to gain power ? (I will also post this under "performance").