Just thought it would be interesting to see who drives in full auto mode and who enjoys using the sport shift. Personally I never go full auto because I find it boring and I think the TL shifts too often. I like to have full control over the transmission at all times, but have the option to do otherwise if someone else needs to use the car.

 

I do 100% Sport Shift... In full Auto the car feels very slow and yup Boring thats a good word.

 

it gets better mpg in auto..save the SS for backroads fun
otherwise many tend to do a lot of high rpm downshifting.. instead of using the brakes
Some even state they do it to save the brakes!
brake pads are CHEAP especially compared to our trans cost

If you have a budget for trans replacement- by all means beat the pee out of it~

 

I usually wont down shift into first gear unless I'm hitting a nice speed bump. I'll down shift into second and let the ECU choose first on its own. I'm not sure if the 00-03 do that or not, I have the 4-speed.

 

I use auto unless I'm planning a passing maneuver. Even in the canyons, the transmission is intelligent enough to choose the right gear on it's own ( I only have 4, so it can't be that hard). Thank goodness Acura doesn't tune it auto's to shift early to save fuel.

 

I actually downshift only to brake on Downhill.. Sometimes I do it in traffic but not so much...

Also EBC Front Yellow Stuffs Pads are 90 bucks and usually only lasts 6 months so, It may save a month worth of time to downshift to Assist Braking.

And yup a Brand New USED AV6 Tranny is in my Garage

 

i use sportshift to minimize transmission wear (i cut throttle and then shift). works great, still on original transmission. Only time i leave it in D5 is if i'm tired or traveling very short distances.

Our TL's SS is honestly very useless. not allowing to start in 2nd gear (for winter driving) and automatically shifting to 2nd gear from first. LAME. For max acceleration, i use D1-D2-D3. This is bad for transmission; but i shiftgated probably 3-4 times over my car's entire life. Usually my car shifts roughly for a few days following gateshifting!!

 

I hear you, I always wanted to have a lil room to Accelerate from a Stop and change lines quickly for an exit but NAHH my Car decides its better to quickly upshift to 2nd then i only have room to leave 2nd alot in SS OR Fully Gas it to make the tranny Hard Auto-Downshift that feels like im beating the crap out of it... Very Idiotic IMO.

 

Im getting really shit mpg right now so i use SS sometimes, always if im going to pass someone. Im not sure why i am getting shit mpg either lol, i try not to go past 2.5-3k rpm when i step on the gas. I get shit city mpg but great highway mpg -__-

 

lulz

 

forgot how to drive in auto. i was driving my Odyssey the other day and went to shift up. ending up shifting into neutral.

 

Gate side is to stay in 2nd for starting on ice

SS- downshifting into 2nd is a bad plan ,,thats part of our weak clutch area.
the trans goes into SS-1 below 5mph to be ready to go for you

You can make the car shift low rpm by staying gentle on the gas pedal input in D5
or make it run up to redline then shift,,all in D4/D5..depends on how hard/far you push the pedal

Sidenote for 5 speed- use D4 when stuck in traffic on freeway- that will keep it from hunting for a higher gear around 45mph,,keeps it in max 4th gear- not 5th/overdrive

Standing on the gas and letting the trans downshift to pass someone is not abusing it- it was made to do exactly that!

Get better brake pads! RacingBrake (brand name-see MrHeelToe for them)
pad series ET500 for most drivers,,will go over 40-50kmiles with some good hard use ~now and then~ included
et300 pads if mom always drives the car and total quiet brakes are a priority
they worked fine on my 01, just wore out faster than expected due to severe useage above design spec
They will blow your ebc out of the water in stopping power and progressive grip feel..
push harder on pedal= it slows that much more aggressivly

 

about et500s, i wore them out in one weekend at the track last month on my impreza gt. completely shaved the pads off. They were good pads just that they do not last and were pretty noisy. after some googling i noticed i was not the only one with premature wear:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=197551


also lower engine rpm doesn't necessary indicate better fuel economy. it's all about how wide open your throttle is, ignition timing and engine load.

 

I usually use SS to shift into 5th to save fuel and at the "fun nights at the local industrial/professional Plaza" and Gate shift for hard launches.

 

I let off the gas between shifts as well, not completely but partially. I started doing this because my motor mounts are bad, but got into the habit of it and now its almost like walking to me. The 99 will hold first gear, the only time it will shift on its own in SS is when you come to a stop or like 01tl said, under 5mph. I've popped my car into neutral several times as well thinking I was in SS and wasn't. Usually happens in the morning when I'm half asleep leaving for work!

 

hahaha I dont pop into Neutral anymore since I reversed the + and - of SS, I only engage D4 now No more "Neutral Shifts".

On a Side Note:
I dont run Easy on my Current tranny (Upshifts, I hold a Gear Alot) since I bought the AV6 Replacement and it seems to hold pretty well the little bastard! Thats being a Shop Rebuilt not a POS Honda Remanu, And a First Gen None-the-less with no Jet Kit!!!
It has over 70000K now with ATF Changes every Year + Oil Coolers + Magnefine Inline Filter.


So true! I have done the Same trip (300 Miles) Cruising at 60MPH Low Speed and then Done it at 80MPH Max Speed the car seems to Burn the Same amount of Gas anyway... Around 25-29MPG Highway regardless of Speed.

 

Depends on the mood, highway is mostly auto for fuel economy,in the city I'm all about the ss unless I'm tired. But it really depends on the mood am I feeling like my grandmother or that asshole who loves to weave in and out of lanes at 20-30 over. Most the time it's the second option. Damn my lead foot.

 

I usually drive in Auto(D5).

I know it's boring, but I think auto would be easier on tranny compared to me changing gears manually. I will let the chips decide that for me.

(praying and hoping this will increase life of my tranny)

 

i am confused, whats a "brand new used tranny"?
is it used? is it new?

 

I bought it Used, Then Rebuilted and its now sitting in my garage until my current one die on me... So its a Brand "New?" Used tranny haha.

 

I do both but it really depends on the mood, and yes using only auto makes the car feel slow to me so if i know im in a hurry and i want to pass cars its full SS for the day, but if i wanna take it slow and have the whole day to do errands its all Auto.... weekends is SS only...

 

auto shift all the time

 

Auto all the time.
If I want to shift, I have an S2000 with a real manual to do that.
SS vs Auto is still our same slushbox