Sports Mode Questions

[Atlantan]

Update:Videos of said behavior...should I not see the indicator change at least to 2 if not 1 while coming to a complete stop from 3?

http://youtu.be/xmeNPG4FTBo

http://youtu.be/xlh0kRJI_qI

Anyone with a recently acquired 2015 seeing the same behavior?

 

[wanderMT]

Dash indicator tells you where the selector is, not what gear the tranny is in.

 

[Bevo]

Update:Videos of said behavior...should I not see the indicator change at least to 2 if not 1 while coming to a complete stop from 3?

http://youtu.be/xmeNPG4FTBo

http://youtu.be/xlh0kRJI_qI

Anyone with a recently acquired 2015 seeing the same behavior?

Dash indicator tells you where the selector is, not what gear the tranny is in.

[MENTION=129702]Atlantan[/MENTION] if you watch your tachometer you can see the transmission is shifting down as you come to a stop. It is operating normally.

 

[Atlantan]

[MENTION=129702]Atlantan[/MENTION] if you watch your tachometer you can see the transmission is shifting down as you come to a stop. It is operating normally.

Dash indicator tells you where the selector is, not what gear the tranny is in.

Thank you Both. From previous vehicles....I am used to seeing the dash indicator display what gear tranny is in as it downshifts. No worries, I can adapt to this.

 

[LandCruiser]

I've been using Sports mode quite extensively over the past month or two, such to the point that I'm always in Sports mode unless I'm on the highway and going 60+MPH. Engine braking is extremely helpful in Atlanta's stop-n-go traffic plus the transmission seems to upshift more aggressively in Sports mode versus Drive. I've noticed my MPGs haven't been impacted since doing driving in Sports mode.

Here's my questions: Does frequent shifting place strain on the transmission that could cause it to fail earlier than if I had left in Drive? Has anyone here had problems with the transmission that has used Sports mode frequently?

I use it for engine braking to keep from overheating the brakes in the mountains.

 

[Jeremy556]

I use it for engine braking to keep from overheating the brakes in the mountains.

Oh, now you've done it. Cue the flatlanders that will tell you they'd rather wear out their brakes than their transmission, clueless to how compression braking works.

 

[LandCruiser]

Oh, now you've done it. Cue the flatlanders that will tell you they'd rather wear out their brakes than their transmission, clueless to how compression braking works.

Tell them to take a ride down 24 from Woodland Park to COS

 

[Jeremy556]

Tell them to take a ride down 24 from Woodland Park to COS

Or a ride down Pike's Peak.

 

[noisebeam]

I use it on trails near continuously, especially downhill. Often I find S1 too 'slow' and S2 too 'free.' Needs S1.5
Also coming from a manual I still find myself pushing up to downshift and toward me to upshift and get it wrong every time. How long will it take to re-learn...

 

[mdogg]

Also coming from a manual I still find myself pushing up to downshift and toward me to upshift and get it wrong every time. How long will it take to re-learn...

With a manual, isn't it up to upshift half the time already?

I'm not sure why this is an "issue" with this and other vehicles. I read a lot of reviews, and those guys like to poke fun of manufacturers for this for some reason.

 

[noisebeam]

With a manual, isn't it up to upshift half the time already?

I'm not sure why this is an "issue" with this and other vehicles. I read a lot of reviews, and those guys like to poke fun of manufacturers for this for some reason.

When I use S it is almost always low speed, between 1&2. Didn't realize others had 're-learning' issues as well. In some ways S mode is more natural, forward for faster, backward for slower. At least that is what I am telling myself to help re-learn. My first week I made the mistake nearly every shift, doh.

 

[4RunnerAU]

When I use S it is almost always low speed, between 1&2. Didn't realize others had 're-learning' issues as well. In some ways S mode is more natural, forward for faster, backward for slower. At least that is what I am telling myself to help re-learn. My first week I made the mistake nearly every shift, doh.

I still remember the first time I tried to upshift from 1-2 and thinking "Aw great, it's already broken".

While it's not perfect, the S mode has really helped curb some of my standard transmission cravings/buyer regret I've been getting. I have been constantly wondering whether I should have gone with a 4 door, manual transmission Tacoma over a 4Runner. While I can't control upshifting as much as I would like, it's nice to have the ability to retain some control over the vehicle's speed beyond gas + brake.

I'm also going to test whether I actually get better MPGs at lower speeds in S-mode as I originally thought.

 

[jkenn6]

I just leave it in drive. havent really tested out the shifting yet.

 

[4RunnerAU]

I just leave it in drive. havent really tested out the shifting yet.

Booooo-ring

 

[JeremyB]

If you don't keep your shifter on D or S5, you lose the flex-lock, which per scangauge, helps a lot toward fuel economy in town driving. (Edit for clarification, keeping flex-lock, shifter in D, helps for fuel economy, not the other way round)

You get flex-lock on 3rd, 4th, 5th gear when in D. you lose it in S1-2-3-4.

For example, when in S4, you will only get a lockup high up toward the 60's mph approximatly.

In D, you will get flex-lock from approximatly 32mph in 3-4-5th gear with low throttle %, and full lock at about 40mph, which again, really helps for town driving fuel economy when I've tested with the scangauge.

Visual representation of the above.

 

[iambhooper]

Thanks, that chart helps me understand why im getting 15mpg (or less) around town. Stop light to stop light (yes in Greensboro you're lucky to make a green light), it apprars that throttle angle and 1st/2nd gears arent my friends. I will have to try driving in Sequential mode, keep it in 3rd and 4th, and see what happens to my mileage.

 

[Vwright14]

I live in a hilly area so under 60mph I'm usually in sport mode just so the trans doesn't keep downshifting out of overdrive and I usually use it during the winter/snowy months as well.

 

[cbreze]

Love having the "S" mode option. Always in "4" around town as I never go over 35 tops. Seems pointless to shift into 5th all the time at 20 to 30 mph. Also, didn't see this mentioned but, When I get going faster to need fifth I just push the lever to "5". Don't see the need to go to "auto" as it's the same being in "5" anyway. Then when I need less it's just a quick slide back into "4".
When I started shopping 4runners I was quite pleased to see they came with the "S" mode. Choices are nice coming from a standard Tacoma, especially when 4wheeling.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I just leave it in drive. haven't really tested out the shifting yet.

From what I remember:

High Point New jersey is the highest point in the state; it is at about 500 feet; it is flat terrain at High Point.

It's no wonder you might not ever use the S mode -

The original owner of my 4Runner was in New Jersey - It probably had never been used in 4wd except in snow; had probably never been in 4LOW; had probably never been used in s mode - - -

That all changed when I started driving it on 10 December 2015 -

Thank you previous owner:

 

[noisebeam]

One thing I've noticed compare to most other automatics I've recently driven is when in D and I release accelerator there seems to be quite a drive train resistance that slows the vehicle down more rapidly than the 'free' coasting I'd expect. In other vehicles it feels more like the trans is in neutral vs. still engaged. I find if I put the 4R in neutral I when releasing accelerator I don't get as much drag and can coast more freely.