First off I opted for Auto because of the heavy traffic conditions here in CA. I've never had a car with SportShift and was wondering when you guys shift gears, or how high do u guys rev before shifting?

Might also be dumb to be driving fast in CA since our governer the terminator has laid down the law for cops to give out more tickets!

 

I don't really use SS mode that often. I did use it early on, during my break-in period, to manage the engine RPMs when I was bringing the TSX home from the dealer. The most I used it was on the mountain road between Malibu and the 101. Didn't have any RPMs in mind then, except keeping it from going over redline. Just having fun and shifting by how the car felt.

I also notice that I tend to upshift with my right foot. What I mean is, as I accelerate I keep the throttle on until I think an upshift is needed. Then I just lift off the throttle a little and the auto tranny kicks it into a higher gear after which I'm back on the throtte.

 

This is my first sportsshift also. I don't really know if there is a "proper" way to shift. I do notice that there is a considerable delay when shifting out of 1st and 2nd. For example if you shift in the high 6's (ie 6500) in first gear you might hit the redline. This is something to remember if you ever want to take off at a light.
Other than that I don't know much else and I would like to hear what other 5AT owners think.

2004 TSX CG/QZ 5AT non-navi #9840

 

Ok here's how i'm driving it, please tell me if i'm messing up my car.

I'll step on the pedal to 4500 rpm then shift to 2, from there on, about every 3500-4500 rpm i'll shift up again.

I pretty much keep my foot on the pedal about 75% i have never floored it. (am i suppose to, or will this mess up my car?)

I'm not used to a high reving engine, my last car was a 6cyl. I guess it's normal to for TSX to rev high?

also a few times when braking in SportShift mode, my car does like little jerks sort of.

 

There's no real trick to it. Just make sure that you're careful not to rev the engine too high during the break-in period. After that, just make sure you anticipate the 1-2 shift a little bit since it takes a little bit longer than shifting between the other gears. Otherwise, there's nothing to it.

 

You're doing it right. Once the engine is broken-in you can floor it and rev it all the way to redline if you want. Its designed for it so it won't hurt it. In fact the peak horsepower is in the upper rev ranges. The jerking while braking is probably because you're in a high gear and are going pretty slow as you approach a stop. Just like in an MT, if in SS mode you should downshift when the revs get a little low, (say before you drop to about 1K RPM).

 

yeah, it took me a while to figure out the point which I feel comfortable shifting.
It really depends on how much I put on the gas. Now, I usually upshift when the RPM needle not going up anymore.... lol, I hope you konw what I mean...
Like, if you just go slow, the rev will not go up at around 2500rpm, and I shift around 2300-2400 (just a bit earlier).
More gas, then it should rev to let say 5000 rpm... then shift just before that... you will feel it and hear the sound after a period of time.

That's the way I found comfortable with and the car seems smooth. Anywayz... it is same leaving it at auto... just add some fun to driving I guess.

 

7400rpm does sound nice ;]
Funny cause I rarely use the fully auto. I am always shifting. I feel the auto shifts too early.

 

The SS will auto-downshift out of 5th and 4th for you before the engine stalls. From 3rd, the car will shift into 1st when the speed drops under 6 mph.

In normal driving, I upshift between 2500-3500 rpm. In sporty driving, anywhere up to redline.

See my AT-SS FAQ at the bottom of this thread:

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/show...&threadid=7727

 

HAve any of you AT owners tried doing a full throttle downshift manually? For example going down the road in third maybe pulling 3K and then flooring it and before rpms climb very high dropping it into 2nd? I'd imagine that would really light up the tires.... I'm only asking because I know some of you drive nice and hard...don't try this because of me or anything if you wouldn't otherwise.

Slats

 

Kiteboy, thanks for the info. I guess I always did it myself before the SS auto did it for me.