Hello,
I would like to know if long-term driving with the automatic transmission selector in the "3" position is harmful to the engine or transmission of the ES-330. I ask because this is a work-around that I found eliminates the very annoying downshift hesitation problem of the ES-330's 5-speed transmission. Driving in "3" reduces the amount of downshifting required in stop-and-go traffic, and results in faster downshifts when they do occur than when driving in "D". However, engine RPMs are at 4000 at highway speed, and I'm concerned that might be damaging.
-Doug in VA