I've had my CLS since August, and its an automatic. I understand the Sport Shifter, but what are the other modes for. I figure D5 is typical driving. I would imagine D1 is for driving down a mountain or something.

If anyone can gimme a short explanation or a link, it would be appreciated.

 

D1-D4 => car won't go higher than that gear

ppl reccomend d4 in the city, d3 if you want an even more spirited ride (less down shifting, quicker respose)

 

also some people shift through the gears this way on on the track so that they can redline every gear

 

Sometimes, I gate shift when I'm merging on the highway. I hate Shitty Shift.

 

i'm never in d5. ever.


always in ss except for the track. i start out in d1 at the track.

 

D4 and/or D3 in traffic (depends on average speed).

SS in the hills and sometimes SS set to stay in 2nd if car starts to shift too much.

 

When i first got the car almost 4 years ago, i only used D4, then later found that I got much better gas mileage using D5, so I guess I would say try doing both and see which you like better. I use the SS once in a while, but find it rather boring, not the same as a real stick, plus it never holds first for very long unless you have it floored.

 

D4 except the Highway...

 

 

SS since day 1

i switch gears right around 3k on the tach for all gears (2nd - 3rd @30, 3rd - 4th @40, 4th - 5th@50)

 

is it really good to drive around in SS all day long? maybe this is why the trannys blow so often?

 

haven't had a trace of a tranny problem yet...after 15K and 30K checkups, did the tranny flush...fluids were dirty but not burnt

i still think driving in SS is what can actually help prolong the life of the tranny if you use it right...for a long time, many people here on the board as well as dealership service crews have tried to solve the mystery...EricL has the long read in the Tranny Problems forum...i think having manual control of shift points makes a difference, but that's just me

 

People will argue/debate this until the end of time. Personally, I have used SS since day 1... and D5 only on long highway trips for good gas mileage. I don't like being forced into 5th so quickly by the ECU... I'd much rather hold the gear a little longer (just in case I need the acceleration ), and enjoy the performance of my car on a daily basis. Plus it's less total upshifts/downshifts on the tranny. Who knows.

 

D4 except for the freeway. This is an old habit developed when I owned American cars! It shifts a little firmer and quicker and doesnt lock the converter as quickly.

 

i drivie i SS and d5 most of the time 2nd gear is my favorte shit load of power

 

On the highway i'm in D5 so i can switch into SS. I pop it into D4 and let off the gas to slow down quicker at certain times on the highway when its needed.

Only reason i really go into SS is to drop it from 5 to 3 when passing etc..

 

how many trannys u gone through

 

Actually it's 1, 2 and D3-D5. I use 2 alot in the winter to lessen wheel spin when starting up from a stop.

 

d5? whats that?

only time I use d5 is for road trips, 90%+ of the time, I'm gate shifting.

 

Don't you still start in 1st gear even if you are on the 2 spot? Or maybe I'm just not understanding your statement.

 

No, you can start out in 2.

 

i never knew that

 

Depends on how SS is being used.

For example, if someone is using it to keep the slushbox from shifting too much, it will probably last longer.

If you drive all day long in SS, and manage the shift profiles in a way to reduce shits, you're cutting down on clutch pack wear (The clutchpacks are one of the biggest weak links in the box.)

If it's used just to toss a bunch of shifts, it will probably wear more quickly.

More shifts == more wear on the clutch packs.

And, if you get a really poorly made tranny (due to Acura quality control issues), all bets are off; it's going to fail regardless of driving style.

-- my opinions and I’m not endorsing all day SS --

 

no you can't. not from a stop.

 

^ Good. Thats what I thought.

 

omg, from a dead stop if you put the car in gate shift #2, your car will start out in 2nd gear. I do it all the time on accident cause I ride around in gate shift all the time.

n00bs.

 

i dun think so home skillet. i will try on my way to work.

 

someone go test it now, im telling you, thats how it works.

 

leaving now...

 

So you mean that if I put it in D3, it actually starts in 3rd hear!?!?

Or is this only a 1 <-> 2 thing?

 

its only a "1 <-> 2" thing

 

 

...this is why I got the 6 speed....

 

shit, i think manteezy is right!


d3 starts out in 1st though.

 

yea cause it has a D for drive, hense no d in front of the 1 and 2:P

 

i use d4 in city, d5 for highway and gate shift for track and when i race or just want to redline the shit outta the gears

never in ss

 

This thread isn't meant for you 6 speeders.

 

I'm always in D3-D4 in the city

I use D5 on the highway for gas mileage.

 

HOLY CRAP!

I just tried 2nd from a dead stop and it started out in second gear!
Nice!

I totally didn't think it would work.

Thanks for the heads up

 

Wow I guess I just assumed it was like my old Explorer .. that used to have 1-2-D-OD. 1 was 1, 2 was 1-2, D was 1-2-3, and OD was 1-2-3-OD.