CalgaryAWDTL

Besides the AWD I love the S mode in this car and is one of my favourite features about this TL. I find it's very aggressive unlike in many other cars out there.

Litt

I use it all the time. Also the M sport mode. If you are going slower it is very fun to downshift to 2nd and take off. or shift into 2nd before you take a corner. Rock that corner.

Glashub

It haven't had time to go through the owners manual. Can you help me to understand the M and S modes with a quick tutorial? I thought you had to S mode to use the M mode. Am I wrong?

SSGHutch

I love S mode, very aggressive.

Glashub

Can you drive in S mode without using the shifters? Or is it meant only for using the shifters?

compewterbleu

You can, but once you use the paddle shifters to shift up or down you have to start using them as auto- S-mode if you can call it that is disengaged.

Glashub

Thanks way of the peacful warrior but carry a heavy stick named Grace. I'll read the owners manual some day when I get back into town. Guess I slacked because I came from an 05 and thought I'd instantly apprehend any changes. lol

CalgaryAWDTL

Yes, and I much prefer it this way without the paddle shifting because as I say it's very aggressively set up anyways.

Manuals? Who reads those things anymore?

Glashub

Thanks guys. I'll try it for a while when I get home.

PsychDoc

S mode revs higher, shifts later and locks out 5th gear. It sucks up gas like you can't believe but it's fun for brief stints.

Litt

S mode is still automatic but it is more aggressive.
While in S mode, if you use the paddle shifters, then you are stuck in full manual mode until you put it back in D.

CalgaryAWDTL

Litt,

Is your your tinted? Are you happy with it, where did you go, and how much? Thanks.

BTW, looks good. White was my second choice after black.

Litt

I didn't shop around. I went to Shadow Tint on Macleod Trail because that is the place that Lexus and Acura send their cars to be tinted.

It was about $350 Canadian, for what they call 7 windows. That is their price for "premium" film. I think in Canada all things cost more. And I didnt want budget tint that might turn purple.

They had Limo, dark, medium, and light tint. I chose dark on the back 3, and medium on the front.

I will try to post some better pictures soon. The roads are making my car so dirty.

eazy

iTrader: (8)

VERY IMPORTANT that when you're in S and not using the paddles, S maxes out at 3rd gear. You MUST use paddle shifters to shift to 4th and 5th. Don't want to see any blown trannys

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^dont think you can blow your tranny.
even in the 3rd gen TL, the computer made sure that you could not hurt anything....

that would be some fucked up shit for a 40 thousand dollar car to not limit over rev.
Now a six speed manual transmission can easily over rev by down shifting into the wrong gear, causing a floated valve.

CalgaryAWDTL

Shadow Tint does good work. I'm friends with the owner, Nuno.

CalgaryAWDTL

Hell No! I love taking it up to 4-5K RPMs and punching it there from time to time for that instant response and sound. No problems at all so far....

eazy

iTrader: (8)

Yea, the computers may limit it but it doesn't mean that he should be pedal to the metal in S at 7k+ RPM in 3rd gear thinking it will keep shifting on its own(pretty sure it ain't good for the car either way)

No one else mentioned it. Just tryna help a fellow Azine member out

CalgaryAWDTL

Good point. Definitely watch your tach when you do this kind of spirited driving in S mode, much like driving a manual...

neilman

Unfortunately I gave up on using S mode as it hangs on 3rd gear way too long. Wish it would go to 4th. The 6AT ZDX I tried goes to 4th and is much more useful if you like frequent spirited driving without having to punch it. i just stay on D and punch it when needed. The 6AT 2012 TL should solve this issue.

SSGHutch

It will shift to fourth in S mode, just gotta go fast enough. (+100mph). There is still a rev limiter in S, you will not damage your tranny. Even, in M mode, the computer will take over if you over rev.

jspagna1

Not very often as others have mentioned RPM's climb to high for comfort.

CalgaryAWDTL

It does go to 4th. I like that it hangs onto 3rd or 4th gear longer as it keeps the revs above 4K and this engine loves revving high. I guess I`m just use to and comfortable with this kind of spirited gearing with my past high revving cars, and I really like the fact that this TL reminds me a bit of that and is also capable.

Watch Tommy Kendall test drive the 2011 Acura TL SH-AWD with guest IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti on SPEED


http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/vi...2011-acura-tl/

compewterbleu

I like to call it "Shark" mode, that's when Grace's teeth come out to dine on highways and twist and curves of roads, yeaaaaaah.
My bro use to say the Bat-mobile had just kicked in it's jet, LOL.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the 3rd Gen does this as well. on up shifting the computer will kill the gas at the rev limiter.

The only way to hurt the engine is to mis-shift from 5th to 2nd, which only applies to 6M/T.

eazy

iTrader: (8)

hmm really? I thought it didn't and I didn't want to find out that hard way. I usually go to 4th by the time i hit 100+ i'll try it out next time.

Ruby

Ruby

blockahoahahahoa

Mr Marco

This has caused me some embarrasment when I forgot it was in paddle shift only and reached the rev limiter.

SSGHutch

On my way back from El Paso today (600 miles), I tested the S mode shifting into 4th and rev limiter theories on the back roads. In S mode, my TL-AWD shifted into 4th at 98mph-ish. It never revved over 6k in S even with hard (fun) driving. So therefore, driving in S will not damage your car, it's definitely fun and may scare your passengers, but no tranny/engine damage due to overrevs. Enjoy your S mode, it's fun!

types1fan

Hardly use it and I prefer the paddles anyways.

CalgaryAWDTL

Now that's what I'm talking about! It's there for a reason.

crxb

I have found no reason to use the S mode. I find it much easier on the spur of a moment approaching a turn to use the paddles and say downshift 2 gears - power thru the turn and then paddle shift back to high gear once back on the straight

CalgaryAWDTL

I'm just not a fan of paddle shifting for spirited driving-always had manuals in my past perfromance cars. It has to be either fully automatic gear shifting for me (especially in a large, luxury sport sedan) or 6spd manual in a true performance car. I find this paddle stuff very "toy"-ish. The only thing I do like about it is when you can blip the throttle on cars like the M3 with the DCT but otherwise give me a manual anyday on those cars, please.

edit-I do use the paddle occasionally on very slippery roads going downhill when I need to slow down instead of breaking. I like that even in normal auto mode this car allows you to gear down by using the paddle.

crxb

Ok well the automatic SH-AWD TL is no M3

but for what it is it does have good handling - able to power thru turns - all I want to do - as I posted above is to be in a lower gear to be able to drive out of the turn with some power. - so that's the reason I use the paddles to downshift 2x - and then again once thru the turn to get back to high gear
- otherwise I don't paddle shift and let the automatic pick its gear - that fine 95% of the time - I just use it for that 5% of the time I want a little fun
just my opinion

pdd00

Real world info-thanks

1Triniguy

As someone who went from a 2008 G-coupe to an '09 SH-awd, the diff between their "S" modes are substantial. I mean, aside from the fact that the G is already more aggressively set up (It is a sportscar after all...), the "S" mode on the Acura is way more fun to drive. (I didn't use the paddles much on either vehicle). The attitude on the acura is absolutely changed when in S mode, I found myself doing 90 on I-285 b4 I caught myself, LOL...

09tlsteve

I use the S-paddles quite a bit. Came from a manual and still miss it (2010's were not out when I bought my 2009). I know you can paddle in full-auto, but it will over-react. I will prepare for a pass by down-shifting a second before getting on the gas ind it will drop it another gear. Two brains (mine and car) do not work with spirited driving.

I'll have it is S-paddle most of the time unless there is traffic, city driving, or I have passengers.

It does not respond like a manual, but with some practice you can anticipate and get it to do close to what you need. I really don't like the double-down-shifts it'll do if I get on the gas in auto. I am not afraid of high RPM's but don't like to run 6000 for no reason.

neilman

Agreed...it does go to 4th...but way too late for me (100mph+). Thanks for the clarification.

When I tested the 6AT ZDX it went to 4th much sooner than 100mph, which is more realistic and useful in typical day to day driving in my opinion.

CalgaryAWDTL

S mode is perfect for the occasional or daily spirited city driving where speed limits do not reach anywhere near 100mph. I think Acura intended this S mode to be used this way and not for highway speeds. I find it perfect for that Sunday drive in the city or twisty back roads where up to 80 MPH is fun enough.