Do you guys drive in standard "D" or "S" mode?

[rmani]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...really-do.html

thanks for the link. I just read through the threads and the one thing that I never saw anyone write about was Sport mode's reluctance to shift into 5th gear, thus preserving the transmission's life. Just curious about whether people believe this to do true of not

[X Foomph]

Generally I drive around town in D mode and find that sufficient as far as gears changing at the right moment goes.

But give me any excuse to do the 30k run up a nearby mountain range and I'm there with bells on, like last Sunday. On my approach to the base of said mountain range where twisties and rather steep narrow hill roads begin, I throw the X into S mode and therein begin to really enjoy what is at our disposal. I'm sure those with the V8's would enjoy this a tad more but my 3.0i still has me grinning like a goat sucking on a lemon.

In essense the beast awakens as it seems to know the road ahead along with my intentions and reaches down in anticipation for a lower gear when I approach tight corners and aids in pushing the old girl out of them and speeds me on to the next one. It's at this moment in particular that I confirm what a great machine I bought and also struggle to remove the grin off my face.

Their are only 2 spots to pass whilst in ascent/decsend and if you end up behind old uncle Bob and the wife going on their Sunday drive then it's all over, so one must pick ones moment carefully to commence the run. This road and beyond into the back valley is highly preferred by motorbike enthusiasts as well and you find yourself being passed by them as they check their newly installed throttle control. Unfortunately a few of them either kill or seriously harm themselves on this particular road each year. Their are steep drop offs for most of this run.

I'm sure I'm right but only hope that all the members here have three things.
1. Somewhere similar to stamp the accelerator to the floor and use that kickdown for what it was intended.
2. Plough that front end into a tight corner at speed whilst using a superb set of brakes, and
3. The inclination and desire to enjoy the X5 in S mode apart from on a motorway.

Now, where are my keys ??

[bgsquad]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

Generally I drive around town in D mode and find that sufficient as far as gears changing at the right moment goes.

But give me any excuse to do the 30k run up a nearby mountain range and I'm there with bells on, like last Sunday. On my approach to the base of said mountain range where twisties and rather steep narrow hill roads begin, I throw the X into S mode and therein begin to really enjoy what is at our disposal. I'm sure those with the V8's would enjoy this a tad more but my 3.0i still has me grinning like a goat sucking on a lemon.

In essense the beast awakens as it seems to know the road ahead along with my intentions and reaches down in anticipation for a lower gear when I approach tight corners and aids in pushing the old girl out of them and speeds me on to the next one. It's at this moment in particular that I confirm what a great machine I bought and also struggle to remove the grin off my face.

Their are only 2 spots to pass whilst in ascent/decsend and if you end up behind old uncle Bob and the wife going on their Sunday drive then it's all over, so one must pick ones moment carefully to commence the run. This road and beyond into the back valley is highly preferred by motorbike enthusiasts as well and you find yourself being passed by them as they check their newly installed throttle control. Unfortunately a few of them either kill or seriously harm themselves on this particular road each year. Their are steep drop offs for most of this run.

I'm sure I'm right but only hope that all the members here have three things.
1. Somewhere similar to stamp the accelerator to the floor and use that kickdown for what it was intended.
2. Plough that front end into a tight corner at speed whilst using a superb set of brakes, and
3. The inclination and desire to enjoy the X5 in S mode apart from on a motorway.

Now, where are my keys ??

I know a similar road to do exactly the same... i loved the grin part and the part where the X knows when to lower the gear when you approach a curve ... isn't it brillant? But i have noticed that many of the members usually drive their X in town or on highways, i think we are lucky to have a lot of mountains where we live

[IamCanadian]

Funny I am Canadian but I think I know the road you are talking about. I was up it in March of this year (although not in my X in a friends Cayenne). Is it the road that goes from Redcliffe on the coast west to Blackbut?

[ayat]

i never liked using the stick to change manually but used s mode when i wanted to get somewhere quicker. it is more reluctant to drop into fifth compared to d mode. since my smg conversion changing gears is alot more fun and easier to understand the gears. car always drops to 2nd and starts in 2nd. not much difference in revs between 1st and 2nd so im guessing used for verticals or hill descend. 3rd and 4rth quite versatile and probably used most of the time. fifth for higher motorway speeds. smg is my best mod, and the steering wheels nicer.

[Quicksilver]

It may be that no one has actually tracked information as to weather
"Sport mode's reluctance to shift into 5th gear, will thus preserve the transmission's life".

I believe most people look for their comfort zone and get with it.
Me?? Sometime I just look for an excuse to put in "S" then jump
on it just for fun. I really don't think about the transmission's life.

Originally Posted by rmani

thanks for the link. I just read through the threads and the one thing that I never saw anyone write about was Sport mode's reluctance to shift into 5th gear, thus preserving the transmission's life. Just curious about whether people believe this to do true of not