2004 Chevrolet Corvette Owner's Manual - Page 83

THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (X): FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power, but lower fuel economy, than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission will not shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline components from improper operation. • When driving on hilly, winding roads. • When going down a steep hill. SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing the transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would be undesirable. 2-27