TasteOfPower

You can change it from manual to automatic....

Whats the point? do you save gas when using manual??

AND...when you drive it in manual...I always shift up a gear without taking my foot off the gas. Thats fine right cuz there aint no clutch......? Right?

jayi41

I think the point is to give the driver a “Feel” of driving a manual (more engaging/fun). Also it helps when you need to drop the gears down and get your speed up. Ie: free way merging , passing slower cars. I don’t know of the benefits of keeping it in SS (sport shift) mode as to leaving it in drive when it comes to gas mileage. I would assume that you get worse mileage if you drive a lot in SS mode because you are probably holding the gears longer and going to higher RPMs.

Ellakameleon

Its to make you think you are a supercool badass for those of you that were not lucky enough tho get the MT






j/k

fuckleberry

awesome question

jlukja

Its so you (i.e. the driver) can pick your shift points rather than letting the transmission logic do it for you. If you have the reflash, you can take full advantage of it by shifting at 7600rpm in SS. Without SS the tranny will shift at 7300rpm.

jlukja

fixed

TasteOfPower

wow!

tlbkcal

It also helps if you want to downshift while going uphill/downhill.

Ellakameleon

I had a TL as a loaner car last week that had this in it. I loved the SS mode. I know my brakes would last alot longer if I had gone with this. Even though I downshift in mine I still used less braking in the TL. Dont get me wrong I dont think I liked it enough to give up my MT though.

STL

How does a SS AT help you slow down any better than a MT? That doesn't make any sense at all to me...unless you are just too lazy to downshift your MT.

jpt

Well, the transmission is there to allow the wheels (which you generally want spinning between 0 and 900rpm) to turn at a different rate from the engine (which has to spin between about 1k and 7k rpm). It also has five selectable gear ratios so that you can trade a lower top speed for more torque at the wheels when driving in the city, and switch to higher gear to cruise on the highway at relatively lower engine RPM.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

jlukja is absolutely right about this. The SS mode is designed to allow the driver to override the transmission computer's logic. This means that the driver can do things such as anticipate passing by putting the car in the appropriate gear before applying the gas. By comparison, the same maneuver in full automatic mode would require that the driver step on the gas, wait for the transmission to decide on the gear, select the gear, and then accelerate.

Ellakameleon

To me the downshift in SS mode in the TL loaner car was ALOT smoother than my tsx MT. That is why I said that. Im not to lazy to downshift its just to jerky and having a short shifter doesnt help the matter, I have not mastered the technique I suppose. Im working on it though.

jpt

learn to drive

wndrlst

Do you blip the throttle at all (rev match) before you downshift? Even if the rev match isn't perfect, just feathering the throttle before you let up on the clutch will help if your revs have gotten too low.

On the other hand, if you're engine braking, & that's why it's rough, just ease off the clutch a little more gently.

Ellakameleon

Im working on it you ass.

wndrlst

Damn jpt, did someone pee in your cereal this morning?

Ellakameleon

Yea thats my prob, I try to downshift when my RMPS are still to high and let off my clutch too quick. Im getting better though.

STL

It better be...it's a slushbox after all!

I admit the DBW throttle in the TSX seems to make it harder for me -- then again I'm not used to it. But my other the 6MT car (a S2000) doesn't have DBW -- thankfully -- so that'll make getting used to it a bit tougher.

Ellakameleon

Yes, I hate the DBW. I have driven other cars and it is so much easier. I thought it was just me until I got in another MT and drove it super smooth.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

You'll hate it now, but once you learn how to adapt it to your driving style, you'll see that it does have its benefits. For all the whining that happens on this site for the DBW throttle, there are a few of us who have not once said that they don't like it.

STL

Like...

And I do realize the potential benefits of VSA (but thankfully haven't yet had to call on it yet).

jlukja

Blipping the throttle before letting the clutch out on the downshift (rev matching) will help, as will letting the clutch out a little more gingerly.

TasteOfPower

I once got pulled over for DWB...aka...

DRIVING WHILE BLACK

shitbox

I WANT A MT TSX.

EuRTSX

I'm proud to be in the 5AT Club. Join the club. Don't hate. Most JDM whores are 5AT.

ZhenyaF

iTrader: (6)

Hey guys, sorry for the bump of the old post, but I was driving home tonight and had a question come up...Is it necessary to let off the gas when shifting in the SS mode? It seems that its a lot smoother when I let off the gas when shifting (whether its up or down). When I shift up with my foot on the gas, the car jerks just a tiny bit, same as when i downshift.
Also, is there a point at which I should be downshifting?
I've noticed that when I downshift at around 1100 rpm, its much smoother as opposed to 1.5k.

Sorry for the lenthy post, but really wanted to know that before I went to bed, I guess I'll get my answer by morningtime

jlukja

Its not necessary but, as you discovered, probably smoother.

darth62

Thats an interesting question. I'll try that tonight.

I wonder whether other "manualmatics" like the ones in Infiniti vehicles work as well as the 5AT in the TSX. I really find the transmission on this car to be a pleasure.

psteng19

I for one really do not have an issue with DBW on the TSX.
I think it's just a cop out for those who can't drive a 6MT TSX smoothly, and since one person started saying it, everyone else does too.

If I don't perform a smooth shift, I know for certain it's my own fault and not that of DBW.

pbjpb

AT is for pussies.

jlukja

don't start that here.

EuRTSX

Someone's gonna get a mad hurtin'

Overtaxed

Thanks, this is very helpful. I test drove an automatic TSX and was wondering why it took time before accelerating when I tried to merge onto the highway. That's actually a point that's making me hesitate about the TSX, as my other car doesn't do that.

Are there situations when you should *not* attempt to shift it down one speed? Or is it always okay to do that? I'd like to re-try the automatic again, but don't want to manually downshift inappropriately during the test drive and damage the car or something... Thanks.

CarbonGray Earl

Don't downshift it to from 2-1. The change in ratios is drastic, and it can be really rough. However, the transmission logic is pretty good at protecting itself- if it can't really do it, it just won't. The gear indicator will flash '1' and then give you second.

If you're doing a test drive and the car is a demo car, go ahead and try that downshift, just so you know how it feels.

EuRTSX

No wonder it's so rough..

Looks like my car's messed. -___-;

I'm never shifting from 2 to 1 anymore =/

frescagod

if you're downshifting unnecessarily to increase engine speed and decrease your actual speed, you're idiots. it's one thing to downshift once when you're going down a long decline (like driving through mountains in PA or something where you can be on a decline for miles at a time), but if you're doing it when you come up to every stop light, have fun when your transmission craps out. i'd rather pay for new brake pads like 2 months earlier than i would have instead of buying a new tranny.

Overtaxed

I meant, downshift only to merge onto a highway, for example.

I'd rather avoid the pause if possible, so that I can feel safer knowing it'll accelerate when I ask it to.

Mokos23

Why don't you question then the RL and TL which also have SS mode. It's a good option for people to feel to drive "manual" w/o learning to use a clutch.

runner453

It's so cute, you MT elitists. An honest survey would confirm no less than 50% of you that are <23 years old and have had your parents purchase your cars.

I thought Acura drivers were a bit classier, a bit more mature and definetely more savvy than your run of the mill consumer.

Time and time again, on these forums, I am proven wrong.