Automatic transmission owners: when do you use each mode?

[shiumai]

Sport mode 80% of the time on the streets. Manual mode otherwise and in the canyons using the paddles only.

D mode shifts at too low rpms for my liking. I never use the stick to change gears. All nannies on at all times, unless I'm fooling around somewhere I can't hit anything or anyone.

[Grady]

Everything off when you want to go slow. Sport mode when you want to go slower. Normal mode if you are scared of your shadow.

[Busybee]

First of all thanks for the topic. I just got my baby 2 months ago and experience the modes from time to time.

Since I got the car I am driving every week between NYC and Boston. I have already 4500 miles and 90% am on the D. I generally Use the the paddles. Never used the snow mode just the sport mode a few times. Actually I liked the shifting point being higher but don’t like people looking at me (due to the little increased sound)

So got a lot of info from you guys. Thanks to all of you.

Meanwhile, is it possible That we came across with some of you guys on the highway between NYC and Boston ?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by soundman98

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



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)

Are you sure the Snow/Sport modes actually do anything, and aren't just the center block replaced with the buttons? I've never seen a manual with them, which means the ECU wouldn't be doing anything, and the harness probably doesn't even have the pigtails for them.


As for VSC press-hold... it's holding the TC button (left one) for ~3 seconds that turns everything off, there's no difference between just quickly pressing or pressing and holding the VSC Sport button.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Are you sure the Snow/Sport modes actually do anything, and aren't just the center block replaced with the buttons? I've never seen a manual with them, which means the ECU wouldn't be doing anything, and the harness probably doesn't even have the pigtails for them.


As for VSC press-hold... it's holding the TC button (left one) for ~3 seconds that turns everything off, there's no difference between just quickly pressing or pressing and holding the VSC Sport button.

you got me the plugs are the same, but there's a few missing wires that prevents the sport and snow buttons from doing anything at the moment.

but a few wires and an arduino is going to change that!

[Weigaldo]

100% manual mode. It allows me to get the best sound out of my exhaust.

[scottryan]

What's the difference between normal mode and sport modes?

[OwlDance]

Originally Posted by scottryan

What's the difference between normal mode and sport modes?

I'm not sure how in depth of an answer you're looking for but here's the short and slightly longer.

Short answer: Sport mode shifts later, allows car to actually rev out engine to redline.

Normal mode shifts far sooner, and because of how fluid coupling works, lets you drive the car at RPMs lower than any MT vehicle without lugging or overtly straining the engine. Slushbox mode, basically.

Longer answer: Sport mode makes the car lock up the torque converter as much as possible without stalling, making the drivetrain behave like an manual transmission (in the sense that there's a direct 1 to 1 connection to the wheels like an MT car). It cruises from roughly 2000 RPM to 2.5K RPM, much like you would in a manual car.

Normal mode uses a fluid coupling as much as possible at low speeds (on highways where travel and velocity is much more consistent it will lock up the torque converter) which means there's no 1 to 1 connection with the drive train, but allows it to operate and drive at very low RPM (1-2K), RPMs that under a normal MT or locked up torque converter would cause lugging and stalling.

[scottryan]

Originally Posted by OwlDance

I'm not sure how in depth of an answer you're looking for but here's the short and slightly longer.

Short answer: Sport mode shifts later, allows car to actually rev out engine to redline.

Normal mode shifts far sooner, and because of how fluid coupling works, lets you drive the car at RPMs lower than any MT vehicle without lugging or overtly straining the engine. Slushbox mode, basically.

Longer answer: Sport mode makes the car lock up the torque converter as much as possible without stalling, making the drivetrain behave like an manual transmission (in the sense that there's a direct 1 to 1 connection to the wheels like an MT car). It cruises from roughly 2000 RPM to 2.5K RPM, much like you would in a manual car.

Normal mode uses a fluid coupling as much as possible at low speeds (on highways where travel and velocity is much more consistent it will lock up the torque converter) which means there's no 1 to 1 connection with the drive train, but allows it to operate and drive at very low RPM (1-2K), RPMs that under a normal MT or locked up torque converter would cause lugging and stalling.

Thanks for the response, I should clarify, I drive only in manual mode, if I flipped into Sport mode while driving manual, what difference would I feel? Some guys are saying good throttle response

[OwlDance]

Originally Posted by scottryan

Thanks for the response, I should clarify, I drive only in manual mode, if I flipped into Sport mode while driving manual, what difference would I feel? Some guys are saying good throttle response

Honestly I don't feel any difference, and I've driven extensively with it on and off in MT mode. I've heard it slightly tones down nanny interference by itself but no clue on how it interacts with traction off or VSC off/track mode.

[Grady]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Are you sure the Snow/Sport modes actually do anything, and aren't just the center block replaced with the buttons? I've never seen a manual with them, which means the ECU wouldn't be doing anything, and the harness probably doesn't even have the pigtails for them.


As for VSC press-hold... it's holding the TC button (left one) for ~3 seconds that turns everything off, there's no difference between just quickly pressing or pressing and holding the VSC Sport button.

Hook, Line and sinker!

[Will BRZ]

I keep it in D mode when I'm tired coming home from school/work or in heavy traffic, but for the most part it's in manual mode. If I'm cruising in manual mode, I'll put it in sport mode. I don't really feel a difference, but I like how the word looks lmao I use VSC when no one is around. I never take traction all the way off as I have no thread left on my tires and there's really no need for it when daily driving. No need for snow mode in Houston.