Just trying to get a sense of how often folks are using S mode. I only find myself dropping in to it if I'm on tight roads where I want to keep the RPMs up, if I know I'm going to be in the 35-40mph "dead zone" where the engine seems to lug in 6th gear in drive mode, or if I'm trying to come off the line, err, quickly.

Does anyone keep it in Sport permanently? If so, I'd really like to know what their MPG numbers are like.

 

I tried using it when I first got the car. However, the response time is so sluggish I don't even bother. A quirk I don't like about the S mode is when you switch into for some strange reason the car has to drop a gear or two, which makes doing anything at 65mph+ risky.

 

I pretty much drive in S mode all the time, 90% city driving 11 mile commute 19.6 MPG.
It just feels a little zippier around town is S. I leave it in D on the highway.

 

I just use D and manually downshift when I want a quick burst of power.

 

In sport mode do you have to change gears manually with the paddles or does it change gears as in the normal (D) mode. I tried several times and it seems like it sometimes changes gears and sometimes it dosen't.

 

Sport will still shift on it's own but I believe it won't shift above 4th.

However, if you are in S and shift yourself it won't do anything else - as opposed to in (D) when it will basically override you after about 5 seconds.

 

I heard somewhere that if you do use Sport it will shift on its own but at a higher RPM than D. As well, if you do use the paddles in Sport then it will stop shifting on its own and you have to use the paddles until you move out of Sport. I recently used it to come down a long steep hill so I could keep the vehicle in a lower gear and save my brakes.

 

Just once when I got the car but it makes no perceptive difference to me (to me, okay)... "D" seems to be plenty fast for me.

 

I have had this system in 2 previous TL's (mind you it was a gear shifter as opposed to the paddle shifter for the 02 TL), and my wife has it on her RDX, and I find this function useless except when the roads are icy and you want to control the car with the transmission. I can see people who want a little more performance, may use this, but the RDX is hardly a sportster. It's more a relaxed vehicle.

 

Never. I had the same paddle shifters in my old TSX and in my husband's Accord. They don't get used with sport mode. Sometimes I'll downshift for some added power, but I'd rather not give up the fuel economy.

 

It's sequential shift not sport.

 

I've dabbled, but that's about it. To me it's not really the vehicles strong suit to drive it like this... D is fine for me.

 

Haven't ever used it.

 

Im always in "sport mode". In fact, I dont think I can turn it off

 

Every now and then for shits n' giggles. Under the right conditions I can get it to break the tires loose in second which is mildly entertaining.

 

I find the paddles handy for downshifting a gear or two when cruising downhill (while everyone else rides their brakes). Or as somebody else mentioned, using the transmission to slow the vehicle down when the roads are bad. I've let er rip a few times in S mode which is always useful after a stressful day. Love the way this engine sounds.

 

I cannot stand that. The first time I did it I was like, "what the". Then the second time I did it I was like, "oh hell no".

 

I always drive in D but use the downshift paddle shifter all the time when approaching a red light or stop...basically instead of using the brakes all the time, I'll use the downshift so less wear and tear on brakes...and it's fun

 

have a CLS here and I use it when I am in rush hour to save trans from excessive shifting....

 

I look at it this way...if you downshift like that you're likely putting more wear on the transmission and engine. Which is cheaper to replace...brake pads or trans/engine?