Does Anyone Know The Answer?

Tweet

I turned 59 in April. I got my driver's license in late 1996 and my first car in 1997 at the age of 40. As most of you know I just bought a car. It is my fourth car. They all were/are automatic transmissions. My current car is a bit different. The other cars all had one gear after the "D" to shift to for steep hills. Now I have a Volks Wagen Passat wagon; 4cyl turbo (gasoline not diesel). It is an automatic with more gears after "D"; "4", "3", and "2". I don't drive highways. The only time I drive in a city is when I go to doctors appointment. I drive primarily on secondary and rural roads. My car works so hard to shift itself on these often up and down winding roads. I've started to drive in "4", and the car responds better. It doesn't work so hard at shifting itself. Sounds better and feels better to drive in this gear. The last few trips out I've started out in "4" instead of "D". My question is; Will it hurt my transmission to start out from "stop" in this gear? Does anyone know the answer?