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RodColeman

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I posted a few days ago about the one line description on the Jetta Wagon "Standard Features & Options" page on the official VW site. On Saturday it listed under "Transmission" :
"Floor mounted kick-down switch for automatic"
It was standard on the VR6 GLX but optional on everything else. The page at the time also listed the 200 hp engine for the VR6. I went back the next day and the line was gone. Also the engine was back to the 174 hp. Was I dreaming?
So I checked the "Jetta" (not Jetta Wagon) page. And it's still there:
"Floor mounted kick-down switch for automatic"
After feedback from my first post, I Googled BMW "kickdown" and read about their Switch-Tronic" feature.
Here's my question. Is this a totally new feature for 2003 on both the Jetta and Jetta wagon VR6 and did a web geek prepping pages for the '03 release on Saturday accidently leave it in the Jetta page?
I stopped by the dealer and talked to the sales people. No one has heard of such a thing. I even talked to the mechcanic and he knew about the BMW feature but has heard nothing about it on VW.
BTW, a kick-down switch is DIFFERENT than punching the throttle. ALL automatics will drop one or two gears if you stomp on it. But they upshift at the first opportunity.
A kick-down switch is like the steering wheel switch on some new cars that do electronic shifting. If you kick it, it locks the gear down one until you Tip-Tronic it back up. Sounds like fun to me.
So who out there knows what's going on with this new feature?
Is this a web geek slip up or has someone actually USED the feature on an '02 Jetta?
Rod
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (RodColeman)

If this isn't that button under the accelerator, I have no clue what it is.
Unless it's just a description of the tiptronic shift gate, which may be true because the only '02 Jetta VR6 that had tiptronic was the 200 HP version, and the 174s still used a 4-speed auto.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (RodColeman)

I called 1-800-DriveVW and they were completely confused. They said it wasn't in their technical specs, then I said to look at http://www.vw.com. So, it sounded like several people were gathered around, because when I told her where it was on the site, I heard some voices, "floor mounted kick-down switch????
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" After about 15 minutes, she had no idea, and said to contact my dealer??!?!
I seriously think they just mean when you punch it hard, not necessarily to the floor, it down shifts. I checked under my pedals, and there is not a physical switch anywhere.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (brent0226)

There is a physical switch under the pedals with automatics.
But I can't see how this is new...unless it's a tiptronic-only dealy.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (RodColeman)

Kickdown is not new.
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It is on ALL automatic VWs. Look on the floor under the pedal. You'll see a black knobby-type button. That's the kickdown switch.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (ChrisMD)

I have a kickdown switch on my 98' Jetta K2... It's in all automatic cars, Just step to the bottom and you feell something holding it, you can press it down a bit further on which is the switch... It will instantly kickdown to the lower gear...
Gary
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (DasRaven)

On my BMW... I have the "Kick Down switch" under my gas pedal. You can floor the car till you feel the gas pedal stop, then if you press a little harder it will downshift. This allows you to gradually increase speed without the transmission shifting, but if you want to drop a gear (or 2) you depress the pedal a little farther... You can click it twice to go 2 gears provided you have sufficient RPM. It takes a little getting used to, but is is great for criusing up to maximum speed whilest keeping the tranny in hi gear....
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (SVTWEB)

quote:[HR][/HR]On my BMW... I have the "Kick Down switch" under my gas pedal. You can floor the car till you feel the gas pedal stop, then if you press a little harder it will downshift. This allows you to gradually increase speed without the transmission shifting, but if you want to drop a gear (or 2) you depress the pedal a little farther... You can click it twice to go 2 gears provided you have sufficient RPM. It takes a little getting used to, but is is great for criusing up to maximum speed whilest keeping the tranny in hi gear....[HR][/HR]​
thats bad ass.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (steez)

Sounds cool, but to the best of my knowledge there isn't a VR6 available in 2003 Jetta WAGONS.. There was a post about this a while back..
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (mattylmbr)

quote:[HR][/HR]On my BMW... I have the "Kick Down switch" under my gas pedal. You can floor the car till you feel the gas pedal stop, then if you press a little harder it will downshift. This allows you to gradually increase speed without the transmission shifting, but if you want to drop a gear (or 2) you depress the pedal a little farther... You can click it twice to go 2 gears provided you have sufficient RPM. It takes a little getting used to, but is is great for criusing up to maximum speed whilest keeping the tranny in hi gear....[HR][/HR]​
The VW automatics have the exact same thing.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (ChrisMD)

quote:[HR][/HR]Kickdown is not new.
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It is on ALL automatic VWs. Look on the floor under the pedal. You'll see a black knobby-type button. That's the kickdown switch.[HR][/HR]​
I went outside and located the knobby thing..... I pushed it, and it stayed stationary... I think it's just a stopper to not allow the pedal to go down farther.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (brent0226)

It is most definetely a switch. It's just a stiff switch that doesn't move very much.
*double checks on car*
A minute later: Perhaps you're right. It doesn't seem to want to budge. But that doesn't explain the two-stage feeling you get when you floor it...
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (brent0226)

I knew for the longest time about the kick down switch, dropping a gear, but i did not know u can press it twice to drop two gears.. maybe i'll give that a try
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Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (Kwan1)

My wife's '01 GTI has this feature on an automatic 1.8T. Very nice feature, but I've never thought about it much.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (RodColeman)

Thanks for all the feedback.
I still think I'm going to wait to see if the '03 Jetta Wagon gets 200 hp. I suspect they'll change the website in a couple of weeks.
That's a big difference when you step on the peddle whether it kicks down or not.
Thanks again for checking.
Rod
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (RodColeman)

quote:[HR][/HR]Thanks for all the feedback.
I still think I'm going to wait to see if the '03 Jetta Wagon gets 200 hp. I suspect they'll change the website in a couple of weeks.
That's a big difference when you step on the peddle whether it kicks down or not.
Thanks again for checking.
Rod
[HR][/HR]​
This has been covered repeatedly. The 03 Wagons *WILL NOT* get a VR6 engine what so ever.
 
Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (Mindflux)

the 1.8T jetta i am driving now has a kick down button. I dont get how this is a new feature? it's the button under the accelerator right? there's gotta be some mistake if it's not. hmm...
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Re: "Kick Down" a totally new feature for the '03 VR6? (eddy882)

quote:[HR][/HR]the 1.8T jetta i am driving now has a kick down button. I dont get how this is a new feature? [HR][/HR]​
It's not.
quote:[HR][/HR]it's the button under the accelerator right?[HR][/HR]​
Yep.
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