mooretorque

Yikes!! I'll go double check! Plenty of snow outside but I'm in the Shemobile RX today for that reason.......

I promise to spank myself and not like it if I'm wrong.

Drive4Fun

Liking it is OK ... for some.

Drive4Fun

I did some more testing, and I'll bet a LOT of money that my 2001 GS 430, when in "Snow" mode, starts in First gear. But, I don't know what others' 430's do.

Try this:
A) "Snow" mode, Selector on "D". WOT start thru the first upshift. On mine, the upshift occurs at ~ 4100 RPM @ ~ 30 MPH. The key here is the RPM/MPH relationship.

B) "Normal" mode. Selector in "L". Moderately accelerate to 30 MPH & read the RPM. The RPM will be very close to that noted in A) above.

C) Check the RPM in "Normal" mode & Selector in "2". I got about 2800 RPM @ 30 MPH.

D) Ask yourself: Does "Snow" mode start in first or second gear?

E) Answer D)

F) RTFM pgs 181 & 188

mooretorque

Didn't check my maual till this morning. You are correct that GS430 manual does not state which gear starts. I had occasion this AM to use snow mode thanks to the 6" from yesterday and 3" from last night, tho roads were mostly clear.

Either GS starts in second OR throttle mapping is markedly changed, but I did not do your back to back comparison. The car does leave rest much more gradually for a given (modulated, not WOT) throttle position.

My wife's 99 RX manual does state on pg 178 that, "In snow mode, the transmission shifts up from second gear." which, bad grammar though it is, I interpret to mean that, at least with her vehicle, snow mode starts from rest in second.

I agree that rpm/mph will allow you to compare gears. But, is it not possible/likely that, even in snow mode, WOT overrides the "snow" programming. Theoretically, if one has shifted to snow mode, he/she is drving in a very low traction environment and WOT would not be a particularly safe course of action.

Full spanking mode, for misstatement re our GS owner's manual.

OW!! OUCH!!! THAT HURTS!!!! NO MORE!!! OWWWWWW!!!


And if the answer to question E is D, you have made a semantic loop: "D) Ask yourself....... E) Answer D" aaaaaaahhhhhhh..........I'm trapped!!! I can't get out of this question!!!!!:eek:

2SAVVY

Scary now we are talking about Semantics now on CL.. We're so refined..

ShowGSLuVv

Well all of the salesman at the dealership told me that it puts it in a higher gear so that the wheels wont spin.... and if any one of u has ever owned or know someone who has, they have the same little button that starts u off in second gear from what they say... i could be wrong though

ShOwGS

Drive4Fun

I considered the possibility that WOT would induce downshift to first, and I don't believe that it happens.

Try this: Start in snow mode with selector in second gear. Immediately after launch, move shift lever to L. Was there a difference? Nope; you were in first gear all the time. Then do the same, but wait a second or so for the early 1-2 upshift, then move shift lever to L. Was there a difference? Yup (or is it yep?)

I welcome a wager of any amount on this issue. My bet is that in snow mode, the 2001 GS430 starts in first gear. Any takers?

Showgs: I encourage the salesman at the dealership to participate in this wager.

Moortorque: I agree that the throttle (and shiftpoint) mapping is changed markedly by the mode chosen. So much, that I initially believed earlier posts about snow mode starting in second. Then I started counting upshifs, and concluded that I either had a six-speed transmission, or it started in first. Yes, I did properly account for torque converter lock-up.

True, I am loopy at times.

enginyr

You guys have it all wrong. All the snow button does is desensatize your gas pedal. Try this when you get in after work today. Drive in the Snow mode (while driving, flip it to the power mode). Try this several times and you'll see the difference.

mooretorque

Enginyr, that is Drive4's point. And after drving around at noon today, I think i agree with you both.

As I prev posted, the RX manual (at least the 99 manual, AWD,LSD) DOES seem to state that you start in second. I think remapping the drive by wire throttle as well as trans shift points would be a more sophisticated way of achieving a "snow" mode than just doing a second gear start, so it makes sense that it would no longer be necessary.

Man, we are having some STIMULATING discussion here!!!

Drive4, here in Arkansas, it's "yup". As in "Yup, I'm fixin' to go cipher it out......."

Drive4Fun

Gsnav:

I believe you started this thread. Two questions:

1) Was this a set-up?
2) What do you now conclude about what the snow mode does?

Mooretorque:
You're a gentleman debater ... fur sure.

enginyr

That nothing compared to 2SAVVY's Master Debating skills

2SAVVY

ROFL.. Would you like some lotion so you can perfect your skills..