well as the topic sez... i was going up against the new accord coupe and saw that it only had single exhaust so i assumed 4 banger.... so i did a couple fast drives to the next light when he caught my drift. I didn't brake launch as i assumed the 4 banger wouldn't require it nor did i switch off overdrive... i only had my ect on pwr.. anyways as it turns green... his car pulls instantly... i could tell it's a manual as i hear him screech when he downshifted....if this was only da 4banger and it only has 160hp... wit 161lb torque... and it was able to pull on me..... know also this was a downhill road..... is overdrive that important to turn off?

 

You only need to turn OD off on uphill roads...

 

If you put your foot straight to the floor, the car should respond the same regardless of if OD is on or not. I think anyway... OD OFF just means the car won't select fourth gear at any stage.

 

I've done 1/4 mile runs with the OD off and on and there wasn't much of a difference. With the OD on I had a little slower time but a higher top speed. The OD off I had a lower speed but a faster time. I've tried starting with the OD off and then switching it on after 1st but didn't notice any difference.

 

Od is better over 80 like on freeways

 

The 2013 Accord Coupe 4cyls have 185hp not 160...i work at Honda

 

I wish they would just call it "4th gear" on modern transmissions. People would instantly understand what it was instead of some mystical transmission setting.

My 1956 Ford has a 3 on the tree and overdrive, and overdrive works in 2nd or 3rd which gives you 5 effective gear ranges. Now that is useful!

 

Overdrive is not going to affect your acceleration, it is meant as the "gas saving gear" so it will be the last gear you engage pretty much. Go on the highway, go 60mph, hit the OD button, and you will see your rpm go up and down depending if the switch is on or off.

 

O/D is just to turn off your 4th gear, nothing else. Some people get annoyed when doing city driving and 4th gear keeps on engaging therefore giving you slower acceleration when you slow down. It has nothing to do with engine or tranny performance. Y'all would understand what it really is when you convert to a gated shifter.

 

uh... this thread is from 2003!!!!!!!1

 

You guys raced from a light and you lost even though he downshifted and not upshifted? His screeching tires must be from his front tires locking up from downshifting and the sudden tranny braking. Seems like your car is not running right if you lost to an Accord driver that doesn't know how to drive. You have a SC400 or SC300?

 

The op lost to an 03 4cyl accord? Maybe his motor was tired? Oh and turning the od off is good for a quick downshift if you are about to roll race. Putting the tranny in per and turning the traction control off definitely help though

 

oh ma gerd, whats with all the 03' threads being revived @.o