snow mode = girlfriend mode?
 

Do we know what Snow mode does exactly?

Does it only eliminate 1st gear from the sequence? Or does it:
--change or increase the TC or VSC or ABS or EBD?
--soften or limit power?
--soften throttle response?
--soften shift speed or directness?
--hasten the onset of upshifts and delay the onset of downshifts?

I've searched and haven't found any definitive explanations. If it did a couple of the above it might serve as a decent "girlfriend mode." I want her to try the car and even drive it sometimes (always with me in the car) but she's a bit apprehensive about the acceleration and power (I'm only slightly apprehensive about her driving since it's a pretty tame car). She saw the new commercial and doesn't feel worthy.

Thoughts?

I s'pose I could just lie and say it does crank up the safety electronics and tone down the power...

I drove an auto BRZ the other day. I'd say you don't need a "girlfriend" mode. The power delivery is very smooth, and the low end doesn't exactly push you back in your seat.

Yes, I would agree with that for the most part. Still wondering what it does precisely though, and whether it could help assuage her fear.

All snow mode does is it starts you on 2nd gear when you are at a complete stop, prevents wheel spin .. and you get a slow start with very low torque.

Also, you really won't get significant wheel spin even if you floor it with the auto.

First off their isnt much wheel spin with the manual tranny either unless you have traction off completely and even then its 200hp car , you won't get anything like a pony. With either tranny you would make the tire squeak with the trac 100% switched off , but I would be very careful .. This car handles very different .
Second , the snow mode is only for the Auto.

thanks. i havent even tried that snow mode... but they again Im in sunny CA -- i wasnt planning to even try to take it to the snow -- i may get stuck in 2" of fresh powder and totally loose the car if it snows over 12"...

:)

but thanks for that info -- sounds like it should be labeled SLOW NOT snow

Just to follow up (sorry abut the two-week gap!):

http://www.cars.com/scion/fr-s/2013/...s/?revid=58456

"...Snow mode that softens throttle application..."

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...iews/120429856

"...automatic is also programmable, with manual and sport modes that increase responsiveness from the powertrain and a snow mode for decreased response..."

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...scion-fr-s.htm

"...automatic transmission also has "sport" and "snow" modes that use different shift-pattern programming..."

For what it's worth, it appears some journalists were of the opinion Snow did more than just lock out 1st gear. I've done some testing with Snow and I believe throttle response, shift speed, and gear selection are all affected. Snow isn't too bad, really. I've used it a few times on my daily commute where the highest posted speed limit is 30 mph.

I've done the same with similar results but honestly wasn't sure if it was a real change in everything from first or whether it was a Hawthorne Effect kind of thing where I was expecting a difference so I found it.

I thought I was the only one who knew about the Hawthorne effect