okay so ive bin drivin the car in ss mode (never driven manual b4). I read the manual and it says when to shift in terms of mph. But I'm stilll not srue if i'm shiftin it right. Can I destroy my transmission by not shifting it up when I'm supposed to.

I thought u shift up from listening to the engine. Just a little confuzed bout when to shift since it seems like u have shift it from 1 to 4 from 0 - 30 mph.


any tips>

 

no matter what you do it's still an automatic. you can;t shift wrong, the car won't let you

and the manual is talking about shifting a manual car, not and auto with SS

 

IF you are still in break-in period, then you should be better off leaving it in full-auto mode since you have no experience with what rpm you should shift (both up and down).

However, if you are past break-in and want to play around with SS, then rbf351 is right, you can't really damage by shifting wrong. Quick tips for up-shifting, for normal driving (flat road as well) you can up-shift anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 rpm; for spirited accleration, redline the hell with WOT and + at 7,300 rpm

For downshift in SS, you might just as well let the computer to decide when to downshift... I had the 5AT RSX before my 6MT TSX, and I HATED how the computer automatically does a downshift while I also flipped the lever to downshift, that sometimes caused going down 2 gears (4 to 2 mostly) instead of just 1! Good luck!

 

Sorry to thread jack, but about shifting down..is it automatic? Like in SS mode, does the computer shift down FOR you? Thats not much fun..

 

The TSX I test drove was auto and it does shift down for you. Yeah. I think it has too.

 

Hey, that's a big improvement. The old '01 CLs used to UP shift for you. Halfway to redline in 1st, it would drop to 2nd! What a rip off! Basically the TSX downshifts when your speed drops below the point at which your RPM would be too low for that gear.

What I find happening when I'm in SS mode is that I'll get out on the freeway and click along in 5th, hit an exit / redlight, and then when I take off at the green, it revs high staying in 1st because I forgot I was in SS mode. Easy to forget to shift when you don't have a clutch.

 

Lol well that's true. But if you're used to playing initial d in the arcades like me, it comes really natural. Too bad up is shift up and down is shift down, or it'd just be like driving in the arcades lolol.
One more question...When I am in D(normal auto), how high does the auto rev to? I read somewhere that says even in the regular automatic, it let the driver rev to 7kish before shifting? Cuz that's awesome.

 

Yep... as long as you are past break in... shift away. The conputer virtually controls everything. If you get past a place where you aren't supposed to go, you won't be able to shift becuase the computer will stop it. Or it will wait until the RPM's drop or whatever it has to do to make it safe to shift.

Have fun!

 

When in D the AT logic does the shifting for you. If you floor it and keep it there it will rev until redline before it shifts.

When in SS mode it will shift down for you to first gear when you come to a stop. You have to shift up manually from there. It will not shift down to other gears (i.e. 5th to 4th), you will have to do that yourself.

For regular driving around town I leave it in D. If you want SS for regular driving then keep an eye on the tachometer and upshift manually around 3K and downshift manually around 1K. Once you get a hang of that and want to do some more spirited driving then shift higher in the rev range (anywhere up until redline).

Have fun.

 

Not true. Try going 45mph in 5th and then slow to 30mph. You'll notice that it automatically drops you to 4th. It will always downshift when the revs get too low and close to stall.

 

That works for Mustangs, motorcycles (except perhaps BMWs), many pickup trucks, and other vehicles where one's evidence of testosterone is indicated by the amount of noise that can be produced.

However, given the refined and exceptionally quite TSX cabin, one cannot depend upon sound to know when to shift. That might be why we have a tach that is as large as the speedometer. When I got the TSX, I was frustrated by the tach being on the left side of the speedometer. Now, I appreciate it being on the left. I glance at it more than I do the speedometer. I am in SS mode 99 percent of the time.

The SS mode, along with the handling, are the two features of the TSX that I appreciate the most. Close behind would be gas mileage, drivability, and dependability. But, the first two are what makes the TSX fun to drive -- especially in the mountains. I was behind a Jaguar XJ6, being driving by a wild women, last Thursday and had no trouble staying with her. She would stomp on the gas at every straight stretch in the road and stomp on the brakes at every curve. I never touched my brakes. She was probably getting 12 MPG -- I was getting a whole lot better.

The SS mode can be used to upshift early for good fuel economy. But, don't lug down the engine. The assumption that lower RPM's always means lower fuel use is completely invalid. Or, the SS mode can be used for better performance. Just push the throttle to the floor and delay upshifting. The SS mode gives you precise control over the shifting points -- and thus the torque range you are in. But, most of all it allows you to downshift in anticipation of passing another vehicle, approaching a sharp curve, or having to stop at a traffic light. On a sharp curve, it allows you to drop you speed a little while being in the desired power band after passing the apex of the curve. With a front wheel drive vehicle, you want to be under power on the back side of the curve for the best traction (or at least perceived traction) and speed through a sharp curve. Now, I am talking about dry pavement on open roads -- not necessarily wet roads and certainly not on city streets.

My technique is to use the RPM's when I want them or need them, but conserve them otherwise. Many think of an engine being good for so many miles -- like 150k or 200k miles. But, you can also think of an engine being good for so many billions of RPM's. Each turn of the engine produces wear. The faster an engine turns, the quicker it will wear -- with all other factors being constant. So, unless I need, or want, spirited performance I upshift early, but not early enough to lug down the engine (if the engine seems to protest, vibrate a little, or have no steam left after you upshift, then you are upshifting too early). The SS mode gives you complete control. The computer will override your actions only when your actions would prove harmful to the engine or transmission. It is also fast (faster than manually shifting a manual transmission) and every shift is smooth. In SS mode, it is best to upshift under power.

As a general rule, and for everyday normal driving, you will seldom need to rev beyond 4500 RPM's and you should generally upshit no sooner than 2000 RPM's. So, my everyday, take it easy, driving finds me between 2000 RPMs and 4500 RPM's about 95 percent of the time. But, I will likely be up to 6000-7000 RPMs when I want to pass someone on an incline.

The encounter with the XJ6 was on a trip down through the mountains (two lane roads) to Perry, GA to watch a concert. I returned that evening via the Interstate. It was a 680 mile round trip with 16 miles of dense fog in the mountains going down and about 100 miles of moderate to dense fog returning. The TSX made the one-day trip feasible. When I got home, I was just beginning to get tired of driving. I had 27 MPG going down and 34 MPG returning.

 

at least that is what the RSX I had used to do... highly probable that's also true on the TSX.

 

never knew that...

i thought, as long as you're in SS mode, you control all up/down shifts...

 

Downshit is usually a better choice, but both are nasty if done in the car.

 

Yes, it will downshift for you but ONLY if the revs fall too low. It will never under any circumstanes upshift for you. You can bounce off the limiter all day long if you like.

 

Right.

mmm... for the benefits of the original poster asking about shifting with SS. Do NOT bounce off the rev limiter all day long, doing so will definitely break the engine, tranny, etc...

 

Another note. Because of the transmissions Grade Logic control, when going up hill at times it will not allow an upshift.

 

In SS mode? I didn't know that.

 

Yup, happens almost every time I visit my parents. (climb a hill to get there) But again, only if the revs will fall too low.

 

Yep. This is a change from the old way it was done. I drove an '01 CL several years ago, and when you took off in first, it would drop it to 2nd halfway to redline. Sheesh. And then it wouldn't let you drop it back down above a certain speed, either. Glad to see they changed that logic in the subsequent years.

 

I agree with most of the things you say in this post, but I disagree that an SS shift is faster than a MT shift. I've owned a 99 Prelude AT w/ SS, an 01 Prelude MT, an 02 S2000, and now a TSX MT. My father owns a TSX AT. I've also driven a number of other cars with manual shifting automatics, and the Honda SS is by far the best.

BUT in no way are the shifts faster than a MT, especially with the short shifter in the S2000 and TSX. Anyone who remotely knows how to drive a MT correctly can shift faster than any torque coverter AT, even given the Honda's exceptional AT design.

 

I simply don't know how good Honda's SS is compared to other manufacturers, so no comment on that.

I with you that manual-matics are NOT faster than manual. True sequential boxes or stuff like BMW's SMG; however, are faster than manual in most cases.

 

I liked reading your post, it reaffirms my decision to get the AT. The day I made my final decision on what transmission to get I test drove both of them. I test drove the MT and loved it. I then test drove the AT and was very impressed. Not only was the AT more desireable (for me) for just regular city driving, the SS was a lot of fun and I felt that I had good control of the RPM's.

The MT was like butter, but the AT was my choice.

Thanks for your post.

Excited

 

I'm in agreement with most everything that Jim Holloman said in his post. I've got a '04 AT with a K&N air filter as the only engine mod and a Comptech RSB with OEM tires (ya I know the Mich's suck, blah, blah, blah). They've got about 15-20K left in them and then I'll take the plunge on some new shoes.

In my weekday driving with no freeway use I keep it in Big D and hit 3K-to-3.5K in 1st and stay in the 3K-to-4.5K range to my desired speed. If I slightly goose the gas doing this I ALWAYS leave everyone well behind to the point that I'm a "ticket target" by standing out from the crowd. If I want to be less visable I just "give her the gas" a little slower, still pulling out in front of the pack. Once this car gets to the 1st/3.5+ level, with a little practice, you can get her to do anything you want her to do.

As for up shifting in "D" mode, once you're at 3K+ all you have to do is slightly "lift" on the pedal and it'll upshift. Then keeping it under load just press the pedal. Unless your just "slam" driving for fun there is need to to hammer the pedal. Remember the car is learning how you drive and doing it's best to match your habits. Try doing it in the 3.5K ---> 5K range, 1st to whatever gear and you'll see just how strong the engine will pull - and you still have 2K+ left to the top end and VTEC if you want it!

As for SS mode I can truly say, based on personnal experience, if you know how to torque load the engine correctly and never come close to lugging it (very bad for the valve train, etc.) you can really scare the hell out of your passengers. It is here where I get to thinking about upgrading the braking system but that's just me maybe pushing it too hard. Anyway, driving in the mountains or up & down the coast, while in SS mode I can accelerate and engine brake all day long in a 2-to-3 gear range and never even come close to abusing the tranny or engine although it did take me a while to learn how to downshift correctly. Meaning downshifting on the up curve to the lower gear without under-gassing the shift.

Given the time to learn your car's +'s & -'s the TSX will continue to surprise and please you. All in all the TSX is really a sweet ride with very few weak areas.

 

i think it really depends on the quality of the AT and MT transmissions.

on my g35 coupe when i had it, i had a 5AT and unless you are good with a 6MT (and i definitely am not, and can barely drive one) it is hard to beat.

i think the AT vs MT difference also is a lot less when you have larger displacement engines, so i guess on a tsx MT should beat AT if you are decent.

 

since you can barely drive a MT, how in the world can you give a comparison between AT and MT?

sometime the lack of common sense, simple logic of people is much too glaring

 

uh... i am not the only person on earth who has driven a g35. there are tons of other forum communities of people who have driven both, not to mention magazines.

sure yes this is magazine racing, but they probably arent that far off. a friend of mine has a 350z 6mt and even in the heavier g35 it is pretty much neck and neck even if he was shifting perfectly. granted this was on a street and it was really informal . you can rake me over the coals for a tenth or 2 here, but seriously i doubt that makes much of a difference and like i said, even if i cant drive stick many people can and have said that its not much of a difference (on the g35 anyway)

i just sat there and stomped on the gas.

 

?!?! I was questioning how YOU can compare AT vs MT in general since YOU cannot drive MT (as YOU pointed out YOURSELF)....

Now you are pulling in OTHER sources' comparisons which I don't doubt. I am just doubting YOUR ability to compare AT and MT, that's all.

By the way, I have driven G35 as well... I never said you were "the only person on earth who has driven a g35" again, you lack of logic baffles me... actually quite entertaining in truth