Hey all,

So I still haven't broken in my engine so I don't really wanna start messing around with a heavy accelerator so I don't know the answer to my question.
Does Automatic sport mode really feel different as it says in the manual with more aggressive shifts and the feeling of a conventional automatic trans?
Does this modify the "shifting" only or does it change the power curve on the engine (timing,etc)

Thanks

 

Anything other than the automatic mode is slower. It also hurts gas mileage.
All it does is simulate shift points to give the feel of changing gears.

Some people use it for engine braking or RPM control. Others use it just to play around.

 

Yeah Ds mode is good for getting you to higher RPMs faster but when it starts replicating shift patterns through engine braking you will be slowed down.

It is more responsive in the beginning however but regular D mode is better overall.

Also as stated earlier, because it raises the RPMs high faster, your gas mileage will go down.

 

So it gets me to higher RPM's faster but then it makes the car slower when it starts replicating shift patterns?

So when you are racing against Joe Schmo what is the best mode? D, Ds or M?

I guess that it changes the timing on the engine when you put it on Ds?

 

Best mode is D. Could launch car in Ds to get the RPMs high and then shift back into D mode to maintain the high RPM

But yes it does make the car slower by doing that because it retards the engine which will cut power for that slight moment.

 

Very interesting and weird. This is my first CVT vehicle. I've always driven stickshift vehicles and this is my first automatic CVT vehicle. So really the shift paddles are nothing more than 2 cute ornamental paddles as I'm starting to find out the manual mode is useless.

So at what point do you change back to D? I'm guessing once the RPM's are close to 6500 STILL in first gear?

When my car is broken in my brother wants to race me. He has 2012 SHO. Pretty sure I'll lose. That car is a V6 TT 360hp but its a tank. It's about 4300lbs, so we'll see.

 

My 2 cents. using DS most it could do is help you break the engine in faster. As long as you aren't red lining(im not even sure how to do so with this tranny) you should be good.

 

ya it's an automatic guys...ds isn't going to make u feel any different.

 

Yes you shift it back to D mode when you get close to redline. But yes manual mode and the paddle shifters are just for show because they do nothing much for the car in the performance department.

In regards to your race with your brother, I am sorry to say but you will be destroyed! Lmao !! You'll be giving up .5 more pounds per horsepower even with his car being 700lbs heavier.

 

1 gear = doesn't freagin matter, no??

 

As stated already. Start in Ds then shift over to D before 5k rpm or it sometimes will simulate a shift.

 

I do have to say that driving around the local mountains in Ds mode is fun.

 

I do like the way the paddles look lol. It was either this or a G37S and I picked the Max. I think it has more beautiful body lines, but kind of heart broken on chosing over the 330hp 7 spd Auto.

As far as the race goes, I did drive his car like 6 mohths ago. It just didn't feel it got up and went. Felt laggy to me. Besides my brother ain't got a clue what brake boosting means lol so I may have a slight chance, if the car does indeed has turbo lag. And if I lose, I'll pull out my s2K. No way he'll win

 

Lol I'm rooting for you buddy trust me I am but the odds will be against you. You could always turbo your max like Ghozt lol. I plan on turbo charging my charging within the next year. Gotta complete my final mods first.

 

The manual shifting makes the car much more responsive and enjoyable.

Here is my problem though -- i don't know what gear I am on! On my old max I can kind of hear the engine and feel the gear through the location of the stickshift. So even though it was manual, I never thought about it, I was doing it subconsciously. With this car I have to look at the screen and think about it. I can't hear the engine unless good acceleration, and the stickshift is at the same position all the time. Also 6MT is a lot of shifting.. 5MT has longer gears and not as much work.
So I can't really drive around town with manual shift as I get tired of thinking about it.. I just use it to make a quick start effortlessly. Its hard to make a quick start effortlessly witht he Auto.. you have to punch it but then it goes racing... not what I want..

 

Why would it matter knowing what gear you are in. Should be easy to know if you need to go up or down. The car will do it for you anyway if you allow revs to go too high or low.

 

Not sure what you're problem is? You have a CVT so you'll never ever know what gear you are in. The manual mode=simulated shift points only.

 

if you use the manual shifting WITHOUT racing or driving hard, just driving around town, the RPM is hard to hear. The engine is audible only with good throttle. I don't feel when I have to upshift or downshift without looking at the dasboard for the RPM. I don't like to look at the dasboard when driving. I have had a 97 maxima 5MT for 10 years and my mind was never occupied with that. Shifting was completely subconsious, it was almost like I had an automatic. Not the case with this one.

 

The paddles are nice to hang ornaments from during Christmas. At $4 per gallon gas, I'll stick with the D mode.

 

lmfao!!! don't forget air freshners! hahaha

 

I know the odds. On paper it doesn't look good lol. No need to turbo my max. That's why I got my turbo s2k

 

Ds is hilarious. It's slower and feels like a video game would think a shift should be like.
I use Ds occasionally, but usually only if I'm going to be braking hard and getting on it after turning (it ups the revs), then shift right back in the D.
The paddle shifters are so fast to shift! That's because they aren't shifting. You won't get to 60 or faster any quicker using them.
Stick her in D and let the computer match throttle position and faux ratio for best performance. The CVT is pretty good (if not occasionally whiny) at getting the car moving fast and providing decent fuel economy for such a heavy car with this much power.
The paddles are mostly for show. I thought differently until I started playing with them, then I realized that they are silly. I've used the paddles to drive around MAYBE ten times before the novelty wore off. Ds does things like "downshifting" when you brake hard, but then runs through fake gears and slows down performance while trying to sound like a regular automatic.
I will say this - as a former "I hate CVT" guy, I can tell you that with this much power, the CVT is just fine. It's no manual, but I wasn't going to buy a manual this time around (especially with the stop and go madness I deal with somewhat regularly).

 

So you mean to tell me that this is faster than an SMG tranny? LOL
It actually is since shift times are in the 0.00 milliseconds time zone lol

As far as the tranny itself this is obviously my first CVT car. I've driven stickshift all my life and this feels nice actually. I like the concept that the RPM's stay in the powerband and theoretically that's what you want when you race or try to go fast. Once the car gets a 1K miles I'll see how much I like it. so far midrange performance feels pretty good for what it is. Nothing compared to my lightweight turbo S2k with twice as much power but the car feels nice and smooth.