Is it safe to always leave this mode on or should it only be used when needed?

 

no harm in leaving it on. changes the shift points and allows the engine to go into higher rpms before shifting. some people claim that it gets better gas mileage, but I have left it on and went through a full tank of gas and didnt notice any difference in mpg. just my .02

 

Same for the s Type 989

 

i leave it on all the time makes the kitty more frisky when i want it

 

Mine's on..

 

I've left it on for the last 2 full tanks and have seen about a mile per hour gain. I have a lot short driving that i do so might be better with more highway driving. Regardless the higher shift points are nice.

 

and flames shoot out of the tail pipes when the rpm shifts go over 4000

 

My "S-button" is my foot and right hand. =]
lol..
and its always on.
haha

 

Yours too?

 

I guess the general concesus is to leave it on - on it will stay, funny thing though, seemed to lose mpg with it on? I'll blame it on the Jersey gas I put in over the weekend.

 

i have left it on one tank and then turned it off for another tank. I noticed that i lost about 1-2 mpg when it is on. I live in PA though so i think the hills have alot to do with it. Maybe in a southern area with FLAT roads there is no difference other than better performance. I leave mine off unless i know i need it.

 

i get better mpg with it on....

 

Mine has been on since we bought it last year so I don't have anyway to compare it with normal mode. But our mileage is 18-21 in town and 28-30 highway so I can't see how it would be reducing the mpg anyway. One of these days I guess I'll try it in normal mode just to see how it drives but I like the way it performs now.

 

I have an 02 3.0 sport andlive in an area with a lot of hills and winding roads, (perfect for the X). It seemsto me, in theory anyway, that the car would get better gas mileage with it off. The reason being, if the car is shifting gears at higher rpms in S, that alone would be a cause for lower mpg. I also notice that when I have the S button on and I take my foot off the gas to coast (like if I am on a downhill) the car slows down a lot. I think Jag made the S button not only to have higher shift points, but also to use the engine work as brakes (like you can do with a standard shift car), so that the real brakes aren't doing all of the work. I could see this being a benefit if your really driving the car hard and the brakes might not get as hot. Anyway, next time your on a downhill grade, start in S mode and then about half way through, shut S mode off and the car should feel like you just took your foot off the brakes (as if you were applying light pressure).

I haven't tried a comparison in mpg between on and off, but I use S mode about 50% of the time, (if I am in the car alone then it's on all the time). If I am going to be on the highway for a while, I shut it off.

Paul