I tried it out for the first time today. I thought it was going to be like my BMW where it shifts for you 50% of the time but I was pleasantly surprised. The TL sport mode is fun and it does not auto shift for you. So fun that I am thinking of driving it in S mode all the time.

Could that cause any effects on the transmission? I will most likely not hit the limiter all the time.

I like how you can rev match when you down shift. If you have a nice exhaust installed it must sound nice when your cruising and you down shift into first before coming to a light.

 

I havn't used the sport shift mode yet.

I don't want to risk anything on my 04 tranny =P

 

Haha dude you should use it. I honestly loved it made the car feel more aggressive and powerful. I floored it from a light from 1st into 2nd and the tires chirped haha.

 

Pshh! i row my own gears!

-Bop!

 

^ +1

 

I went through a phase where I used it for a bit. But then realized it makes the car no faster. 5AT FTL. Its sloppy either way.

 

its been said that you SHOULD NOT down shift unless your trying to pick up speed (ie, drop from 4th to 2nd and floor it). when your pulling up to a red light and your in 4th or 5th gear, you should let the transmission downshift on its own.

i forgot who said it, but it's not good to downshift. the computer will do it on its own.

i'm pretty sure if you left it in auto and floored it from 1st to 2nd the tires would also chirp...

 

Not sure have never really floored it in auto from 1st into 2nd. Chirping tires is stupid anyway it was just the first time that it happened haha.

I think down shifting wont cause any problems. My BMW has stepronic transmission 6 speed it also has manual mode you can downshift all you want and no problems. I think it should be same with TL.

 

using it every day right now .... my 4th gear is gone ..waiting for a new transmission. In the meantime... S mode for short trips

 

once in awhile to downshift and then take off fast!

 

Can you put it in m mode while you're on the freeway cruising at 60 mph? Will it go into whatever gear you're in? Or do you have to be stopped while you put it in m mode?

 

^^^ No u dont have to stop ... im asuming by M mode you have a type S... it just goes to the gear which your already on (on highway at 60 i wud say, 5th). and then once it shows you the digit instead of D, feel free to downshift.

 

i never downshift, i just brake at whatever gear it is on and the computer will do it for me

 

Hey buddy, did you ever get those licence plate frames I sent you? I hope you enjoy them.

 

never.

 

i use mine all the time, probably 95% of my driving is in SS. more fun that way.

i should've gotten a 6MT...

 

I use it now an then, if I don't shift in time, it does it for me..lol

 

Use it very rarely maybe 10 times total over the 4.5 years I have owned the car

 

I rarely use it, unless im in stop and go traffic and i need to cut in and out and don't want the lag, otherwise it stays in Auto.

 

I use it about 10 times a day . I switch in and out all the time with no problems (knock on wood). I downshift with it occasionally but mostly coast up to red lights. 112k and still going........

 

I use it probably half the time. I especially like to use it in stop and go traffic to avoid tons of gear shifting. If you shift into second at a stop then accelerate some, the next time you stop it'll stay in 2nd rather than going back down to first.

I wish I had a manual transmission instead but the car was free so I can't complain

 

i cant remember the last time i HAVENT used ss mode...

 

i mainly use it if im on the highway on a long cruise... i find D a bit too sensitive at times when im cruise and slightly put my foot down to accel, the tranny wants to downshift... by locking it in 5th, i'll take the MPGs instead...

 

I clicked on this topic thinking I might find a new feature on the car (unlikely though that seems after seven years) because I wasn't sure what "S mode" was. I'm not sure whether I'm disappointed that there is no new feature or relieved that I didn't have a facepalm moment for not knowing something about my TL after all this time.

Mine is a 6MT, hence why "S mode" meant nothing to me until I saw the discussion.

 

I used it to hold the rpm high and in the power band while going through twisties. In regular mode the rpm would drop as you brake and enter the turn. Being able to hold the rpm high with S mode even while braking and setting up for the turn allowed instant power during acceleration as you exit the turn. No need to wait for it to build again.

 

+1

 

I never thought of that. Great idea.

I don't use SportShift mode often...kills my pockets (gas) :p

 

Never..the sports shift so slow. I drove a BMW 335 sedan where the paddle shifters shift a lot faster.

 

Do you guys who use the sport shift regularly wish you would've gotten a 6MT TL then? (Brace for it), I personally think rowing my own gears would be a pain in the ass to do every single day.

 

^its like riding a bike.

once you learn, you get used to it and you dont have to think about it.

 

The car can accelerate much faster in general in SS mode.
The only negative is you will see your gas mileage go down the drain.
Having been a biker I am accustomed to high revving motors so once I entered the SS world I noticed my fuel economy decreased by 20-25 %.
Granted I ensured that I had done a full 3x3 ATF drain/refill and replaced both the 3rd and 4th gear pressure sensors prior too.
I know my car was not cared for so I will continue to do a drain/refill of ATF alongside with my regular OCI.

If you plan to drive your car harder it makes sense to take care of it better so minimize the potential impact.

For those who have never tried it, your engine won't explode just give it a try on a back road and you'll see the engine is much more responsive. This comes in handy for when you need to make a quick maneuver or accelerate quickly.

 

I use mine and when I'm in ss mode the exhaust sounds so great. I got a 5AT for the sole reason I got tired of shifting gears when I was in Manhattan. I figured since the auto had ss mode I can have fun with it whenever I wanted to

 

After using sport shift for two days my MPG is 12. I am done with sport shift LOL. Will only use it when I feel the need to drive aggressive.

 

reading this post makes me glad i got a 6spd

 

reading these posts makes me sad i didnt get the 6spd

 

really no point to using it unless you need to suddenly accelerate to cut someone off ppl get surprised on the highway all the time when out of nowhere i cut them

 

in the time it will take you to switch the lever over and yank it down a gear or two to accelerate to cut someone off, is probably about the same amount of time it takes for you to put your foot down a bit further, the computer to sense this and downshift for you...

 

 

you heard it here first folks. nyczkennyy will cut you out of nowhere. keep an eye on your backseat.

 

I like this idea! I have noticed it is rater touchy when cruising on the highway. Does cruise still compensate for a hill effectively with it in M-mode?

I agree with the others for stop and go though, it is nice. I also use it if I am in a low speed limit area to keep it in 3rd.

What is the difference between shifting to L and going into M-mode and keeping it in 1st? I assume it is 6 to one, half dozen to another?