I seem to use D (CVT) mode the most because I am on the hwy 90% of the time. When I get in town I am starting to switch it to Ds which performs a lot better.
thoughts?
Also do you drive with VDC off or on? And can you feel the differnce?

 

D for drag racing, DS for around town, twisties ... Manual for ummm... hmmm .. starting 1st, taking it up to redline than switching to D mode ? or vice versa ? D mode with VDC off, gave me the best times at the track!

 

Thats weird, the data that I have read gave better numbers in Ds mode as oppose to D mode hummmmm interesting.

 

Makes sense to use D mode to me since anytime you can avoid losing forward momentum shifting you'll get better performance.

 

Mag testers that did elapsed time tests all found the regular D mode was faster than any of the sport/shifting options. When we think about how the CVT works, that makes sense.

The Ds mode is mostly to get more of a sporty feel, and the manual is for those who miss the old manual Maxima 4DSC.

I always use the manual option when descending long, curvy, steep mountain downgrades; saves a ton of braking, and enables better, safer control of the car.

 

Or driving by the mall @ 6000 rpm in 1st gear

 

So that was YOU! I should have known. So you told your Mom you were going to the track with the guys, but then snuck over to the mall to see the gals. No surprise to me; This sexy '07 tends to do that to otherwise normal fellows.

 

A lot of babes at the Mall that's for sure This 09 is very powerful on the freeway! Wow! Love this CVT transmission .. before i hated them, but this one rocks!

 

I mostly use D mode but it depends on where I'm at, when I'm entering a HWY and I'm already above 35 then I drop it into DS because that thing is ready to sail by then and it responds much faster than when in "D" mode.

I think "D" mode is best reserved for launching from a dead stop, other than that or unless you just want the sound and quick response then DS Mode is the way to go, manual mode is only for climbing or decending hills for me.

 

I tend to use mine quite the same as Light...I use the Paddle Shifters to "downshift" or "engine brake" while primarily staying in D. Of course, not many hills in FL but plenty of opportunity for engine braking slowing for the myriad of Toll Booths he in Central Florida.

Its quite amazing how quickly you get used to those paddle shifters. I just got back from a business trip to NY and kept trying to downshift with non-existent paddles in the rental car!!

 

City/In Town Driving: = Ds

Highway = D

Manual whenever I'm in D and need a quick downshift to pass or slow through a curve or off ramp.

 

I did notice a difference when in Ds. It was more responsive.

 

which mode is better for mpg?

 

i personally think D would be because the cvt keeps rpms low as apposed to sport and Manuel mode (unless you like upshifting @ 3000rpms all the time)

whatever mode keeps your rpms under 3k should be fine for mpg...

 

Yeah but the emulated shifts hurt your 1/4 mile time .. D is the quickest actually.. what Nissan should had done was a DD mode Drag!
that is, hit peak rpm @ 20 instead of 40!

 

Agreed!!



First with the Bullydog Logos on the sides near the front wheel wells.

 

hey i know this is a bit off topic but i couldnt help but notice your sig...is the bully dog worth it? and since its increasing your rpm limit wouldn't it hurt the cvt? im just curious if im wrong please correct me....

 

im still trying to get a hang of the manual.

 

There is a learning curve to overcome, when have never had such a thing before now.

 

Quick question, I am still trying to figure this whoe CVT thing out also. Is it ok to drive in the DS mode constantly without doing harm to the transmission? Also, I have noticed that when I do shift to DS mode and the use the shift paddles, the I see a 5M on the display. Is this normal also? Thanks.

 

yea its ok to use Ds mode alot, i always do...and yes its normal to see what gear your in on the display when using the paddle shifts.

 

I mostly drive in D:. Except for when i down shift to brake. Did anyone else notice that when your max goes down the hill, It tries its best to maintain its current speed. This car is cool. Sometimes i hate it because i want the car to just cruise down the hill. I could also easily just tap up on the paddels to let it run in six and the rpm will drop.

 

for the 1st 3 weeks I only drover in DS or M. Then i noticed I tried D, and realized i was burning gas faster with DS and M. So I used D all the time, and then use paddle shifters when needed. Am I the only one, or do everyone else use M under a over pass or tunnel? ( I know thats a dumb question)

 

I use M for the mountain hills, and occasionally when I just want to shift more around town. I use Ds when I want to drive aggressively. But D is on about 75% of the time because of the fuel savings. Premium 93 octane gas don't come cheap.

 

I noticed no such thing on my 5th gen, but definitely noticed this on my 6th gen, and it took some getting used to. I expected to find it on my 7th gen, and it was there. I am now very comfortable with this, use it to my advantage (often saves me from having to brake slightly) and like it a lot.

 

Yep and when it does start to get slightly out of hand by going faster downhill, when I am in D mode I just click on the "-" paddle for a little engine breaking and that usually brings things back under control. 15 seconds later the unit goes back to D mode.

Has anyone noticed that while in M and in 2nd gear, if you get slow enough the car will automatically switch to 1st gear? I guess this is a protection type of thing.

 

Yes, D gives the best fuel efficiency, and I'm in D over 95% of the time. I use M in mountain driving (especially on long, curvy, steep downgrades). As to the overpass and tunnel question, no, I never touch the tranny in those situations. If the tunnel is dark, I turn on my lights, then turn them off when leaving the tunnel. But that is all I do.

 

I just got my 09 Maxima a couple days ago and I'm not sure if I should have VDC off or on? Does this play a part in pick up speed or anything? Please help...Thanks

 

Of course there will be many here who swear by turning off all safety devices, preferring to fall off the cliff unhindered. And if you are on a race track or drag strip, you may choose to have the Vehicle Dynamic Control (electronic stability system) off.

My opinion? Anyone who drives on a public highway with the VDC turned off might as well also take off their seat belt and disable the air bags, because they just aren't into safety.

The worst two situations I have ever been involved in through sixty years of driving would never have happened had my car been equipped with an electronic stability system such as VDC (assuming I did not foolishly have it turned off).

Approached another way, my purchase of my '04 Maxima was delayed for many months because I had no interest in the 90% of '04 Maximas which were built without VDC. VDC is that important for me.

 

This was an enjoyable thread for me because I've got 3K on my 09' Max currently and am still always trying to decide which mode to drive in. I like D because of gas mileage as many have said and because I'm an analytical kind of guy and realize that best performance should come when the tranny keeps it in the power band rather than emulating shift points with the Ds mode. Having said that, somtimes I'm a bit bothered by how the D mode seems to be a little boggy around town and doesn't want to give me much unless I really put my foot in it. For this reason, I like Ds mode because it seems to really wind the RPM's up quickly with only minimal prodding from the accelerator. What was Nissan thinking giving me so many options?? I may never be able to decide now

 

Shift_the way you move. That should answer your question.

 

Depending on your mood

 

I love using the DS mode to show off when I have friends and family in my car, plus it provides a little bit more imitation shift shock both physically and by ear which gives it a little bit more sportier feedback which a car, such as the maxima, looks like it should have, though I noticed the DS mode really make the CVT drone loudier then normal D when you step on the gas

when I'm just by myself and don't care I usually just use normal D because under almost most circumstances it is more than enough to make the car go

 

Ok it doesnt matter what you drive in D or DS. All DS does is simulate a shifting pattern because the main complaint about a cvt is people not used to the non shift. Now with that said there is some delay in DS when under hard acceleration so the best for performance is D until about 70 or 75mph then it should quickly be switched to manual mode. This fools the computer so you dont lose your power. VDC controls the entire vehicle it monitors 5 key operating systems of the vehicle. You want to see the difference. Hang a curve at 100mph with it on then with it off see if that makes you a believer of Vehicle Dynamic Control.