Anyone owning the TSX 09 Auto - would like to hear views/experiences/techniques on using the paddle shifters (engine braking, S-mode vs D-mode).

 

I've had my car since July and have used the paddles maybe once?

 

I use it alot for engine breaking in traffic...I never even stop on my brakes sometimes lol is that bad for the car you think?

 

The engine is for going. Brakes are for stopping.

In reality as long as you're not using engine braking where you should be regular braking, it should be fine.

 

Time will tell, they are building transmissions much better these days, I don't think there is a right answer at this time. If you don't plan on keeping the car much passed warranty I don't think you should worry about it, then again brakes are cheap

 

I occasionally use it, sometimes going onto the on ramp and to try to merge into traffic. I rarely ever use it engine brake but do sometimes brake but down shift on the paddles to slow it down faster if im getting too close. I sometimes wish that I can still upshift with the shifter.

 

Tell that to people with manual transmissions. Engine breaking is quite useful for instances when a gradual stop is required, like during inclement weather conditions, when using the brakes may induce a skid. Obviously, care must be taken to not downshift at too high a speed.

 

I have a 6mt (and have had many manual transmission vehicles before it). In general, you want to use engine braking to limit your speed more than reduce it.

 

brake pads are cheaper to replace than transmissions. I only use the transmission to help me slow down only when I have to (i.e. snow/ice or mountain driving)

 

As well as clutches on the manual.

 

I dunno, I was worried about using the paddle shifters before I got the car, and now that I have it I can say that I use them fairly often.

In annoying stop and go traffic (which I experience a lot) I find it useful to put it in S and manually shift gears... I can keep the car in 1st and/or 2nd and roll along at a slow pace that does not require me to constantly break. (If I have the car in D, the transmission always wants to creep along at a faster pace than the car ahead of me, and I find I have to ride the brakes a lot in those cases).

I also use them sometimes when merging and passing on the highway.

And of course, I use them when I'm driving in the snow. Forget engine breaking - although I do use them for that in the snow - I feel much safer just chugging along in 2nd or 3rd gear in really bad snow than in 4th - which is where the transmission usually wants to put me if I leave it in D (I guess for fuel economy!).

 

I engine braked a lot when I wanted to slow down when I was driving the 1st gen TSX. Drove that car for 5 years, 70k miles, and no transmission problems. Just rev match and don't do it too many times at high revs.

Back to topic. Now that I have the 5AT, I use it to engine brake to slow down like when I'm in traffic (LA freeways). I like the fact that it downshifts without putting it in S or manual mode, just press the flappy paddle shifter and I got an instant downshift, and never a misshift . The only gripe (and it's minor) is that I can't downshift too fast (double downshift). The transmission will just ignore my input.