I own a 07 AT TSX, and lately I've been testing out the SS mode. I must admit, it's more engaging to drive than regular D. I live around the Bay Area, so there are always traffic in the morning and hills everywhere. Not a good idea to drive MT, even though I know it's more fun and all (trust me, I heard enough about how y'all think MT is better than AT).

So how many of you with AT actually use the SS mode? Just curious. IMO, I think AT with SS is a very nice compromise between for people like me. Feedbacks?

 

Well there's really no opinion to be had or needed lol. Your example is pretty much exactly why they develoved the SS. For those who don't want to drive MT, because of where they live (like you), or just don't want to can benefit from the SS mode. It's meant to be somewhere in the middle between the AT and the MT, so hence the compramise.

 

I use it about 60 percent of the time I'm driving. Sometimes I'm lazy, sometimes I'm not.

 

Nope...almost never excpet when...um...haha...you know.

 

0%, if i can't have the real thing, a cheap substitute isn't gonna cut it

 

I probably use SS mode about 10% of the time. It's good to have for better aceleration when needed.

 

+1 I would say i use it like 80% of the time on the weekends and like 10% during the week when i'm commuting. Sometimes at the end of day coming home from the gym when i'm still pumped i'll throw it around a little but mostly stays in D for the week due to insufficient temp for operating VTEC.

 

Kinda like dry humpin' huh?

 

You guys don't launch in SS mode? If you time everything right, i've found that its faster than launching in drive...i donno

 

It's supposed to be faster...that's why it's the "sports" mode and attempts to mimic a MT.

 

i've only tried it once. i've never really driven a manual before so it was partly me shifting and partly the car compensating for my inability to shift in a timely fashion.

i drive locally so there really isn't a need for it. but i'm sure i can find a time to use it once i get better with it.

 

I use it more for downshifting going down hills and bumper/bumper traffic to slow down without hitting/riding the brakes. I also use it to start in 2nd gear when the roads are too icy at a stop.

I’ve really haven’t notice too big of a difference in SS mode when accelerating compared to regular old drive.

Full auto 0-60 9.2 sec
SS Mode 0-60 9.1 sec

 

never.....i got a real 5speed for that

 

I just use it to have fun :P


No other reason. I get really lazy sometimes....

 

i've found that i can increase mpg by using SS mode. even around town, i shift at around 2000 rpms and get up to 4th as fast as possible...

 

9.2 0-60? Please tell me you're kidding? lol

 

^ that seems to high. i find myself in ss mode about 40% of the time, i was at 10% for the longest, but it's more fun to drive this way

 

Well they are high 15second cars, so the number may not be that off, but I was guessing his 0-60 time would be around 8seconds.

 

5-10% of the time.

 

i don't know why....but i almost never use it. i only used it once to try it out and thought it was pretty impressive. i save the shifting for my other manual car.....it's just a blast to shift by yourself i must say.....except when in traffic.

 

I dont ever use it. Used to the RX8 Im driving & its opposite to the TSX. And since I dont drive it as often.. I just leave it in drive.

 

10% of the time
it's not as fun as manual shifting

 

You do get an extra 500 or so rpm in the top end using SS. This will put you in a slightly better place in the powerband when you go up to the next gear. It's a little more fun sometimes.

 

After I realized that SS was killing my MPG, i stopped using it so much.

 

he probably didn't push his car, alot of people have a fear of hitting vtec and redlining

 

I used it when I first got the car, but then I use my car mostly for daily commutes and it was not that necessary so I stopped using it...

Oh yes, and I figured that it was not good for my mileage too....

 

I have 1300 miles on mine already. haven't gotten close to redline yet.
stupid question. When does V tec kick in? i have no idea, thought it was just part of normal driving

 

I heard vtec kicks in after you hit 6000+ rpm. After the hondata rehash though... vtec activates much sooner around 4000 or so?

 

Yes, I use sport shift when driving "sportingly". Alas, as I'm typically in stop and go traffic, that is not much. However, I'll sometimes leave it in first gear in order to reduce the number of people able to cut me off as they cut in front of me.

 

Well, I stopped using SS because of the sound it makes if I shift too fast. It's like a dragging sound....

 

not much.. but only when i m speeding....

 

you're not another one of those, right?

I agree, MT is fun, but with that logic, you'd probably prefer your airline pilots to navigate using stars and radio towers instead of gps?

 

i live in philly andi drive manual but iwont do in the the traffic center city has. I think ss is great alternative. SS is more than .1 sec fast then full auto and alot more fun to drive. Ill say about 60% ss the ss mode for acuras are really good as well

 

Rarely. About the only time is for engine braking when descending a long hill.

 

I use the SS exactly 100% of the time. I know I'm probably a candidate for a manual but I split the car with my wife and she doesn't drive stick.

Having driven a stick but never owned a car with one, I never realized how much better a driver you become and how much more conscious of MPG you can be as well. Since driving SS every day I get better mileage and feel I "know" the engine and transmission far better.

Oh, and I get around 2-3 MPG more than my wife.

 

I find I use the D3 mode more often than SS. I am stuck in the suburbs outside of DC and when driving in a sport mode don't really get out of 3rd gear.

I do use the SS to downshift on hills and to avoid burning up the brake pads. I realize they are cheaper than the transmission but I am optimistic that Honda took that into account when they spec'd the parts. The transmission should be fine for at least 100k.

 

And this is coming from the guy that blames his car for getting 15 mpg at 1500 miles on his Odometer.

 

It's true that it's impossible to get 9.2 seconds. I've tested mine before at an abandoned airfield. It was a bit more than 7 seconds.

 

LOL same here, I never really drove a MT, so whenever I downshift to slow down, I'm afraid I'm killing the tranny. And I'm also afraid to push the car above 5000 RPM, because i"m just paranoid

 

when do i not use it?