The snow mode definitely adjusts the sensitivity of the fly-by-wire throttle and it doesn't start the transmission in 2nd gear. Put it in snow mode and let it shift through all the gears, keeping a constant accelerator position and switch it from snow to normal. The car will accelerate briskly without changing gears. ECT stands for electronically controlled throttle.

 

Hey thanks everyone for all the responses... learnin more every day

 

Thank you for saying it again. I don't know how many times it needs to be said, try it yourself on the highway, and you will see it is more then starting in 2nd gear. I can't believe someone could own this car for several years and not understand this.

 

Maybe cause some people in warm weather never use it It's gonna be a long cold winter 03/04.

 

I use snow mode when in bumper-to-bumper stop and go traffic jams and in parking garages. In both situations it allows for smoother acceleration, better economy, and less unecessary shifting of the transmission.

From what I've observed you still start out in 1st gear but unless you are pushing down more than 25% throttle it will shift into 2nd within the first 4-5 MPH and will be very hesitant to go back down to first again. The biggest difference is that it basically takes the first 3/4s of the pedal range and makes it equal to 1/4 of the normal peddle range. The last 1/4 seems to pretty much be equal to the last 1/4 of normal throttle... probably for emergencies when you need to get up and go and don't have time to turn the snow mode button back off.

I like to turn my snow mode on in my GS4 and say to myself "this is what it feels like to drive a GS300" then while I'm still on the throttle I turn snow mode off and it kicks down and I say "and this is what it feels like to drive a GS400 or a supercharged GS300!"

 

Why do you have to be like that with your GS3 bros?

 

Just playin' with y'all.

Actually I do do that, but usually when I make the comparison I just think "this is what it would feel like if I was driving a regular 4-door car" then "this is what it would feel like if I had a nitrous kit on that 4-door car" except my 'nitrous' stays on 24/7 and is much smooher and more reliable.

It just helps put how lucky I should feel in perspective for me when I find myself wanting a newer better car.