Fleetwood

Which do you prefer?

I saw on an old tranny post about driving in D4 and thought I'd try it for awhile in the city when I'm non in SS...man, it sure seems a lot better! THe shifting seems crisper, without all that wandering around in D5 (on my 2nd tranny on an 02 TLS...only a couple of months old, so it's generally ok.) Is this because the torque converter stays out? Or are the shift points are different? Do the tranny's last longer for the folks who use D4 more?

I'll keep it in D5 on the highway and treat it like an overdrive (DO?), but the car seems much sportier, livelier and responsive to me in D4.

goldendragon576

I drive SS pretty much all the time.

MikeTL-S

I believe the shift points are different in D4, i.e. it will delay shifting until a higher RPM is reached. I use D4 in city riving about 75% of the time. However, there is an extra step to get into SS mode from D4, you have to move the lever forward then left. I like to be in SS mode when I punch it. So its a trade off for me. My girlfriend gets pissed when I switch between SS and D4 or D5, she says, "Stop shifting, that's why you have an automatic." She doesn't get it...

NYDesi80

The car seem sportier cuz the lower the gear ur in, the more throttle response you have. Whenever Im in the city, I use SS mode, cuz in city driving u rarely get to 40mph which IMO should be between 3 and 4 the gear, and never go to 5th. And with all the stop and go traffic, as soon as the car goes into 5th. seconds later you slow down and now have to come down to 3rd or 4th or maybe even 2nd. I can't imagine all that shifting being good for our weak trannies, so I take over in the city with SS.

Brian_C6

D4 all the way!! D5 is basicall OD in my book.

Linner

yup, only use d5 on the higway and d3 in nyc to make it easier on my tranny

sc354

I leave the car in D5...I figure that the computer will do what it thinks is best...our cars are designed to not be tampered with...if you are in 5th gear...there's a reason for it, and chances are it's cause it will save you gas...the torque converter locks up to decrease your consumption...

anyways when I'm in the city I only use D5, and when I see someone worthy of racing, I put it in SS mode...that's all!!

`ill*tl

rfrys

D4 for me unless I'm on the highway doing 55+. I think the car drives better in D4. I tend to get some hesitation between 30-50 in D5.

NYDesi80

If you think about the previous TL's... 99 and 00 were 4 speed only. Meaning no D5.

Ianbiz3

no only the 99(like mine) is d4, the rest were D5 and have tranny probs, that is the only reason i dont have a types. i am totally fine with it 2.

what is the highest speed u can reach in 1st, 2nd, 3rdgear on a 4speed?

what the 5 speed?

samkws

usually i do it in D5 when i am alone, but with full load and A/C on, i will do D4, it does help a little bit

`ill*tl

I remember a thread awhile back debating whether driving in D4 or D5 was better and if I remember correctly, it was better to drive in D5 rather than switching over to D4 and driving (eg. city driving). But whatever works for you guys...I'm not trying to start another debate.

Ken1997TL

Top speeds per gear are in your manuals.

2000+ TL's are 5 speed.

1999 TL's are 4 speed.

In the 5 speed units, both 4th and 5th are overdrive gears.

Fleetwood

You mean on a 5 speed, if you're in 4th it will still drop to an overdrive gear at a high constant speed? I'd feel it, right?

tlsblack

I drive in D5 except when I am on back roads around here where I drive between 40 and 50 - here I put it in SS and hold 5th gear to reduce the amount of shifting from the hill grade logic. Also, if I am in a bad traffic jam, I use SS and don't shift at all so that it stays in 1 and 2 only. Uses a bit more gas but reduces 2-3 shifts (I get paranoid about repeated 2-3 shifts after reading the long A-CL tranny problem post) and saves on the brakes too.


Mike - my wife says the same thing. She hates it when I use SS and if I do it in her car - watch out! I don't get it either.

dark inspire

Not having a Type-S does not gaurantee that you are free from transmission problems.