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What are the positives/negatives to driving in the "S" position on the shift lever? What situations to do so/not do so? Please be as descriptive as possible. Thanks.
Put it in 6th gear and it is exactly like putting it in drive. When you are going to a stop down shift to 3rd to keep the rpm up to 3k or so and your gas will cut off so you momentarily get 100 mpg. Going down long steep hills down shift to keep your speed instead of using your brakes and you will prevent rotor warpage that toyota are so notorious on getting. In a curvy highway use manual shift for better control. If you hate the long delay of your downshift when done automatically anticipate when you are going to floor it and downshift before you floor it. Bottom line always have it in sixth instead of D so you have instant access to manual mode yet 99% of the time you are in D because manual mode in sixth is the same as D
It's almost like a manual. Shift it to S and the number 1-6 will show. This number does not mean what gear you are in, but the highest gear it can go into. That means when you see 4, it won't shift higher than 4th gear. But you can still be in gear 1,2,3, or 4. I use it mostly when I need to pass somebody on the freeway, or getting off the line a bit quicker than usual. Hope this helps!
Use a lower gear when climbing uphill and going downhill. Just like on a bike, a lower gear is easier on the engine going uphill. Or use it going downhill so you don't pick up too much speed.