well this is very simple to those of you that do NOT own a 7th gen Automatic I4......We have 5 speed auto, and I do in fact take a look every now and then in the owners manual but simple common sense will tell you that and automatic transmission will obviously autoshift for you..so thanks, I don't need a manual to tell me that. When the car is slowing down, there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping the car in 3rd gear, yes you will use more gas, but that is your call. I have found it very usefull 'sometimes' to downshift and get more power to merge into traffic, plus if I let my foot off the gas, I can downsift to slow down, that will also not hurt the car, it just slows it down quicker rather having the whole highway hitting brakes and causing another traffic jam. Thanks, I drove stick for 6 years, got my license with a stick, and I am in too much traffic to own a stick. Now I am not saying that if you drive 80MPH and you downshift to 3rd everything is fine and dandy, you will cause damage doing that (Pure common sense)!!! The V6's are another story, they are known for their issues. I know even the 7th gen V6 has a TSB out for the tranny now.... Keep in mind, I don't have a habit of doing this, but I have done it, and it has worked beautifully!