twister

I still have 150 miles on my car and don't wanna go there yet Also, considering that I have always been automatical tranny driver, what are the benefits of S-mode? If I read manual correctly, its not really an auto-stick where you change gears, but more of a gear limiting factor. So, I assume it will limit the higher gears to force the car into the lower gear for faster switch? I'm sure it will affect the gas mileage, but is there a benefit in acceleration from the stop'n'go with that S-mode? Has anybody tried it yet and care to explain/share your experience?

Kaius88

i have tried s-mode, mainly to go up the steep slopes in my community. It is indeed a limiting gear mode so you dont get shifted up if you dont want to. I drove thru Benedict canyon (Old Beverly Hills) with S-mode, and it feels the same. No biggee.

NJLEXES

Used to have an '01 Acura 3.2tl with sport stick..........then 02 es300 (no sport stick) ..now 07 ES350 (sport stick again). Unusual think about ES350 is that whenever I've gone into S/S mode, it seems to always start in 4th gear if you're in motion. It's not gonna really make acceleration any faster than the auto mode. Based on past experience, it seems to have the most use for me in inclement weather.... you have more control over vehicle speed without constantly hitting the brakes. My car hasn't even hit 500 miles yet so really not experimenting with it too much yet.

psp

When I am driving around town, like stop and go and do not exceed 40 MPH I use the S mode. It goes through the gears and goes only as far as 4th gear. Same thing in stop and go on the freeway. I do not want to bog the engine at low speeds in 5th. Also it appears to shift at a little higher RPM in the S mode. When maneuvering in traffic like to keep the engine in a "better" part of the power curve. I may be full of it but this is my opinion. Once traffic opens up it goes into D and cruise goes on.

After all, it is in its element as a highway cruiser.

Ingram4868

I really like it for braking while going down long grades or slowing down on freeway off ramps.