Automatic transmission owners: when do you use each mode?
 

AT owners, how often and under what circumstances do you use each mode?

- Stealth mode (just my name for it, not sure if there's an official term; when you're in D but not in sport mode)

- Sport mode (D, with sport mode selected)

- Manual mode (M)

Extra credit: when do you use snow mode, traction off, or VSC off (do manual transmissions have the latter two)?

Sport Mode: All the time, unless in snowy conditions. I feel like the motor is bogging without it. Maybe not though.

Snow Mode: Only when icy or snowy and I might have traction issues. Also use winter tires.

Taction control ect: I only disable when on the track, playing around, or in deeper snow that I cannot get a start in because it keeps the wheels from spinning. Always use it in snowy and icey weather. I live in MN and it has made winter much easier.


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I used to just drive the car in "D". I felt like sport mode did not match the suspension characteristics. But now after installing a stiffer suspension; sport mode feels balanced and fun.

I almost never use the MT mode; though sometimes I still use the paddles to down shift before a corner when it's in sport mode or in plain "D".

I NEVER turn the nannies off on the street.

I have used snow mode to increase the MPG slightly on a road trip. I figure it has the least aggressive shifting.

I love my AT. I bought it July 2nd 2012. I am about to turn 80,000 miles.

Keep in mind the 86 is my daily commuter more than a track toy....

Stealth Mode (I call it "Semi-Auto"): About 90% of the time. During that time I use the paddles constantly for downshifting. On just about any trip over 2 miles I've probably used the paddles at least once. I often also flip into full manual mode at stoplights just for the "drag race" effect then back into AT mode after the rush.

Manual Mode: 10% of the time. Usually on a nice stretch of two lane curvy road. In this mode I'm usually also in Sport/VSC/Traction Off mode.

Snow Mode: Only used it once, and it did make a bit of a difference but I found manual mode worked better. All it does is start you in second gear I believe.

Not asked but, when in Manual mode I exclusively use the paddles. I don't care for using the shifter at all in manual.

I drive in Manual Mode about 80-90% of the time. I like shifting and this mostly keeps me out of the gravity well of the torque dip.

When I first got the car, I fiddled with the VSC and traction off buttons all the time. These days I rarely use them. I don't need to induce oversteer purposely or accidentally on public streets. And it happens fairly regularly to me when I drive in certain neighborhoods that always seem to have wet streets. In those cases, I'm glad for the nannies.

The one thing I've been toying with lately is the Sport button in Manual Mode. I swear throttle response is better in Manual Mode when the Sport button is on, but I realize it's probably just perception. To the best of my knowledge, Sport Mode only moves the shift points higher. Or is there more to it?

An automatic transmission is a tool and I treat it as such. Fluid coupling mode is just D, without sport mode. I like to call it corolla mode. Torque converter lockup mode is in MT mode. Sport mode is trash in my experience so I don't use it except maybe in MT mode, for whatever it does.

Corolla mode is for traffic and or dense local roads or city driving. Less heat and less strain on the car for the most part, also better MPGs in those scenarios. Good for warming up the car and keeping the RPMs low with gentle throttle.

Where roads are steadily consistently at or above 30MPH I go to MT mode and shift as necessary. Gears 5-6 in Corolla (read: fluid coupling) mode at those speeds make it feel like it's lugging. Includes highways, etc.

Sport mode, maybe I don't use it enough for the TCU to learn my habits but I think it tries to blend racing shift logic (lowest gear possible at all times) with daily shift logic (highest gear with lock up engaged without lugging, IE around 2k RPM) in one mode so it tends to be dumb and luggy in my experience.

I've done the pedal dance and traction control off a few times to chirp the tires in the rain but realized that was moronic so I stopped doing that.

Track mode (MY17+ for VSC-off) makes the car a little more limber in a curve but it otherwise won't make a difference in regular driving so might as well keep it on most of the time.

As I recall, there's more to it, it also impacts throttle response to some extent. If it only impacted shift points, it would have no impact in Manual mode.

I drive in sport mode normally, because the shift points match where I'd shift normally better. When I'm on the track I put it into manual mode and I shift manually. I basically never use the paddles. When I'm in manual mode I use the lever.

I use "stealth mode" about 40% of the time, when I want to save gas.

I use "Sport" mode when I want to have some fun without having to worry about shifting myself. I use it about 40% of the time. I love how much fun it is to drive in sport mode.

I use manual mode 20% of the time, sometimes for canyon runs and spirited driving, but a lot of the times it's just because I feel like using manual mode, lol.

I don't ever need to use snow mode where I'm from in SoCal.

-Sam

50% D, 50% M. (pretty much like the AT/MT ratio of vehicles I've owned over the years)
When in D, I'll occasionally use the paddles (first car ever with paddles). When in M, I primarily use the shifter, occasionally use the paddles. Snow mode maybe if there's snow on the road and but don't use the other modes, ever.

D most of the time, never turn off nannies on street either...this has saved me several times when the rear end just lets go all of a sudden due to slippery crappy pavement/gravel on the road. Sport mode with Track mode during autocross days. Sport keeps revs up and shifts until you get to redline and downshifts as you brake like you would if it was a manual...very handy! track mode keeps the nannies on but only activates if you get wayyyy out of line and holds you in a sideways slide vs spinning out. never used snow mode...and doubt I ever will...not only does it almost never snow here, it wouldn't be wise to drive on summer tires in any type of cold weather. Manual mode, usually just when I feel like a gooood BRAP from the exhaust on upshift around 4K rpm from 1st to 2nd...its fun just trying to repeat over and over in traffic and around town. :D

My manual has a sport and snow mode. Most don't.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7654/1...7d040f5a_o.jpg

All the modes do is alter the sensitivity of the traction control. So they're almost worthless to me. I drive most times with vsc press-hold off(so 90% turned off)

And alter the throttle angle/sensitivity more aggressive in sport less in snow, also in sport change how the car holds a gear longer before shifting/shifting at higher rpm on partial throttle, under hard braking it will downshift almost as soon as possible to keep revs as high as possible

I drive mine exclusively in manual mode and if I ever have it in auto for any reason you can be sure I'm hitting it up into neutral at least once.

I don't touch the nannies because I'm terrified of being the idiot that crashed his car because he turned traction off.

I never use sport mode because I didn't think it did anything in manual (posts here make me think I need to test it though).

Snow only gets turned on to get me up driveways in the winter. I can't recall the last time I needed it for regular driving.