D's Up

I know it's been asked before, but we've got a new wave of TL owners so I'll ask it again. Who drives in sport-shift? How often? and why?

And for the record, I wish I got a 6MT. lol

Rafee2k9

i only drive when i feel like doing some spirited driving. its fun for when you want to be at a higher rev, nothing like the feel of a stick though. still better than full blown auto where all you can do is hit the pedal a little hard to down shift. other than spirited driving, i just stay in auto cause its the most practical

D's Up

Yeah, truly it's nothing like a real manual transmission but it's nice to have the option to up/down shift as you please.
BTW, can a cracked rim affect gas mileage? I know it's random but I just need to know. Thanks.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I use it mostly when slowing down, I'll downshift. Or when I need to pass somebody I'll downshift and then pass them.

And I wish I would have gotten a 6-speed as well. Live and learn I guess.

flash2021

I suppose if the crack propagates it can cause the wheel to become unbalanced leading to more tire wear (..at best, more like an accident) which could then affect gas mileage?
A crack induces localized high stress points in the wheel, which is not a good thing...if its a substantial crack, it'd get it replaced...

mcmguti

iTrader: (2)

lol, this is why i drove 300 + miles to Baltimore to buy my 6-speed, NJ had almost no 6 speeds

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Driving on a cracked wheel? I'd be more worried about my safety than fuel economy!

paz840

iTrader: (2)

Get that wheel fixed or replaced ASAP!

01tl4tl

stop using the trans as brakes- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
downshift to be in the right rpm/torque to rocket off the corner apex, otherwise you are stressing the known weak parts- 2nd and 3rd gear clutches inside the a/t for no good reason

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

to SS and please get rid of/fix that cracked rim. You are endangering yourself and everyone around you.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

dude u will seriously mess ur tranny up !!!




i use my sports shift all the time and i use it because it makes me feel i have more control over my car.....i use it to upshift kinda early (when am driving like a old fart ) or for spirited driving (woooo am 18 again !!!)....but i dont use it to downshift instead of braking !!! I let the car take care of that....

less than 40mph while braking...down to 4th
less than 20mph while braking...down to 3rd
complete stop.....down to 1st

Also if am not driving spirited (4-5K rpm) i let the car shift up into 2nd, and i take it from there !!!

Yonkers914

iTrader: (1)

That's funny i had to drive to Jersey to get my 6 speed. lol

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I do about half the time, just for the fun of it.

Dymondawg

I went from a 6MT accord coupe to a 6MT TL to an auto type-s... there's no comparison b/w the stick and auto (stick allows for way more control and better mileage). I don't use the sport shift and I don't miss the stick either.

D's Up

All my wheels were replaced yesterday guys, don't trip haha. Fresh set of OEM's on new Michelin rubber.

Red Voodoo

Never. Not with the history of the transmissions in the early 3G's. I find that putting my foot into it every so often (which is rare) is adequate for my "spirited" driving.

DonnieDarko8221

I use it when driving in the snow and can only go 35-45mph on the highway or going down steep hills in the snow.

Dpphilipps

Hello, I've had my TL for only 5 days now and I've been trying out the sport shift on the side streets. On the freeway I don't use it.

Btw, I bought a one-owner 2004 TL automatic with 75k miles in excellent condition for $13k. I was also looking at a one owner 2006 TL 6MT with 45k miles for $19k. I opted for the less expensive car but i do have a little remorse that I didn't go for the MT.

kubr1ck

I pretty much only drive with the paddle shifters on my 08 TL-S. I do miss a good manual transmission sometimes (came from an 07 G35 coupe 6MT), but the level of control over the gears on the TL-S sport shift is very good. I have a lot of fun with it.

phunctional

ditto i only use sport shift when i wanna have fun which is like once a month lol.. im not a very experienced manual driver so i dont wanna fuq up my tranny

d-townhakuzo

I use it about 90% of the time. I won't use it if I am going somewhere close by, but if I have to drive for about 10+ miles, I will use it.

schill38

I drive in SS using the steering wheel controls all the time, it's fun! I would have gotten a manual but after 2 left knee surgeries having to shift in rush hour traffic just became a pain...

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

I'd use it more often if my TL had paddle shifters. I say I use it about 10% of the time. Mostly on the country roads in the middle of nowhere, by my house.

jeowen

use the paddles about 10%, however....if i sense a little "spirited race" then i know exaclty where to be- and its awesome

Phambam12

i use it for hills

Deep n TX

Clarification bump!
So basically its OK to use sports shift 100% of the time while speeding up, but a terrible idea to use SS to slow down, correct? I gotta say I love using SS but enjoy using the stick more than the type-s paddles.
I also feel that in the long run, using SS will conserve MPG's since the car always tries to slow you down in AT.
Any thoughts on this guys and gals?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Will someone explain to me why downshifting in SS mode is bad for the tranny? You downshift when slowing down with a 6-speed so why is it so bad for the automatic?

boyhamdzui

iTrader: (1)

I use it to race sometimes or when I want to feel some shift
P.S: I think someone explain before downshift to slow down is no bad for tranny . It's just not a good idea. You can not downshift when your ECU won't allow you to.

jspagna1

I don't use the SS on my WIFES TL very much at all. But when I do use it, it's to go faster not to slow down!

06cmv6

Doesnt make sense why it would be bad...like you said with a m/t i always used a lower gear to slow down (downshift) with less pressure applied to the brake pedal as well as saving your brakes in the meantime

OT i use mine occasionally while on the expressway entering or exiting a ramp...but i rarely drive highway because my commute to work and home is 5-6 miles ....the paddle shifters just aren't the same feel as a m/t

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

i use SS 95% of the time. start out in 2nd gear everytime, and upshift when need be. i hardly ever use it to downshift, except for when i need to slow down around a curve or bend in the road, otherwise just hit the brakes and let the gears scroll down on their own.

2nd -> 3rd gear @ 45-50mph is

Deep n TX

So I'm sure yall have noticed how it skips 2nd gear everytime you slow down to a stop or a steady crawl. Idk if its a big deal but i'll throw it into 2nd every now and then to slow down more evenly. During acceleration, by the time I'm at 38-42 mph I will put it into 5th. I assume that I'm conserving gas this way..

jr27

dude you read my mind, as i was reading the posts i was gonna ask if anybody on here ever did this too. when i feel like i want to conserve gas and maximize my mpg's i use my SS in city driving. for example. i get to a stop and start in 1st then right before 2k rpm i shift second, then before 2k rpm again i go into 3rd, then 4th same way but when i have to put it in 5th it has to be at about 2,200 rpm which is around 42 mph in my car so that is when i get into 5th. i absolutly feel that my fuel lasts longer this way and i dont see anything being messed up by this, but when i want to speed up quickly i simply downshift and it goes. i hope im not doing anything that will mess up my trans. i feel that is the vehicle allows me to shift into gears this way it is not harming anything.

stvtec

iTrader: (2)

The vehicle will allow you to turn off VSA and roast tires, does that not harm anything? Or to put it in neutral and hold the gas pedal down.

Just because you can do it and the ECU/TCU doesn't stop you from doing it, doesn't mean you aren't putting unnecessary wear/strain on parts.

05SSMTL

I use it during snow- especially on the highway. I have more control and tend to spin my tires less. Every once in awhile I will use it when I want to have some fun. This is the first auto that I have had since '94. Only got an auto so wifey could drive it with the kids if she had to.

SSM4DR

iTrader: (1)

I wonder if this is a common problem? Because my passenger side OEM rim cracked & I'm in the process of replacing it & throwing Winter tires on all four of them.

SpiderX1016

The only time I put it in SS is when I'm close to home and I feel like doing some spirited driving. I never use it to upshift though, just want it to hold the gear. Barely touch the shifter after I put it in SS actually.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Can someone answer this for me please? People are always saying it's bad for the transmission yet I never see any facts backing up that statement.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

six speed for the win.

Slpr04UA6

^they are not debating that.
I also would like to hear how manual downshifting in the 5AT using SS is bad for the tranny.