J gate "S" mode. The most misdescribed button ever?

[Benbay001]

The only thing i find the S Button useful for is giving more control of my speed when in traffic.
Hardly the sports mode the button was no doubt intended to be.

I also regularly use the manual side of the J gate, but from speaking to other owners it seems i could be in the minority. (one XJR owner telling me they have never used the manual selection of the gears )

How about you?

[entwistlecymru]

I've used the sport button on my X300 XJR 3 times in 6 months - it makes such little difference I haven't bothered. I think the box on this age of Jag is the weak link, being a proper old slush box. What model have you got?

[V88Dicky]

I've used the manual side of the box to navigate steep hills etc, ie to stop it changing up when going uphill, very annoying.

I've used the 'Sport' button when pressing on across country on single carriageway, I find it kicks down quicker and holds onto gears longer.

[Benbay001]

entwistlecymru said:

I've used the sport button on my X300 XJR 3 times in 6 months - it makes such little difference I haven't bothered. I think the box on this age of Jag is the weak link, being a proper old slush box. What model have you got?

An S Type R
I dont feel as though the gearbox is a particularly weak link. (Ofcourse the engine is a gem which casts a shadow over everything else) Aslong as you are comfortable using the manual side of J gate it wont kick down or change up unneccesarily or unexpectably.
When in the manual side and with the S button engaged it drives me mad that the car still attempts to knock the gears down to 2nd when you are doing 50, in 3rd, does it really think that the extra gear to gain 20 mph is necessary? Especially when it takes the car half a second to change down.

I dont like letting the car kick down by its self for overtakes because the half second delay whilst the car finds the gear its self can easily be avoiding. I just wondered whether anyone else uses the gearbox like this? From what i have gathered, they dont.

[JD84]

I used to use the manual j gate quite a lot when I had the S Type, I forever wondered why Jag didn't bother doing an equivalent selection method to BMWs steptronic as it was the same zf box as the 5 series e60.

Ultimately it put me off an XK8/XKR, I know it makes no real difference but just a little more driver interaction would have been nice.

[jagseven]

You need to update to an XFR that allows you to hold the gear you want using the paddles so that it will not kick down

[NormanD]

I always left mine in Sports Mode

I did also have a modification, like padals but buttons on the steering wheel to have full control of the gears

I've taken it off now I have the Manual gearbox
If anyone with the 4Lt I still have all the parts and fitting instrucions if any owners are interested

[Benbay001]

jagseven said:

You need to update to an XFR that allows you to hold the gear you want using the paddles so that it will not kick down

I would love an XFR, but ofcourse it costs alot more than an S Type.

[fatboy69]

I have the sport mode button switched on all the time on my 3 litre X-Type. Can't tell the difference when it's on or off so just leave it on.

I have never used the manual gear change either! Should I at sometime? Not sure I even know how to use it.........

I just up the gearbox into drive & away I go!

[chris.mapey]

I have an X308 XJR - I leave the sport button on all the time, as I much prefer the sharper throttle response.

Makes the car feel mush 'snappier' - if I turn the sports button off, it seems much more 'ponderous' and the starting in second when pulling away makes the car feel almost sluggish ;-)

[Benbay001]

fatboy69 said:

I have never used the manual gear change either! Should I at sometime? Not sure I even know how to use it.........

Just slide it across from drive into the gear you want.

[fatboy69]

I think that the thought of changing gear without using a clutch pedal would scare me tbh. Never done it.........

[chris.mapey]

fatboy69 said:

I think that the thought of changing gear without using a clutch pedal would scare me tbh. Never done it.........

Go for it, it makes a real difference to the way the car feels on a winding road, and approaching a junction.

You can even 'heel & toe' to match the revs after a bit of practice ;-)

[P700DEE]

I leave both my Jags in Sport mode, it also gives use to first gear (non sports mode the car starts off in second). I then use the throttle (lift off) to engage a higher gear (ie top when on a motorway). I have almost never used the J gate as this is not a gear lever , all it does is pre select a gear and not allow you to change up, it does not stop the car changing down further by kickdown.

[NormanD]

chris.mapey said:

You can even 'heel & toe' to match the revs after a bit of practice ;-)

Why

With an Auto, left foot brake, much faster

[Benbay001]

fatboy69 said:

I think that the thought of changing gear without using a clutch pedal would scare me tbh. Never done it.........

The car changes gear without a clutch pedal all the time. Using the manual side of the J-gate just allows you to tell the car which gear you think is best.

[chris.mapey]

NormanD said:

Why

With an Auto, left foot brake, much faster

Indeed - I occasionally use my left foot on the brake, but you can still blip the throttle with your right to match the revs as the gearbox drops a gear ;-)

[niccis dad]

chris.mapey said:

Indeed - I occasionally use my left foot on the brake, but you can still blip the throttle with your right to match the revs as the gearbox drops a gear ;-)

I always left foot brake in an auto ( unless it's st, STOP) then it's both feet! I would love to know though, how you can blip the throttle on an auto to match revs on a downshift? All you do is increase revs in the existing gear, or do you knock it into neutral before changing down? Then, there's not a lot of point in blipping, is there? In fact, there's more chance of ending up with a totally knackered box.

[chris.mapey]

niccis dad said:

I always left foot brake in an auto ( unless it's st, STOP) then it's both feet! I would love to know though, how you can blip the throttle on an auto to match revs on a downshift? All you do is increase revs in the existing gear, or do you knock it into neutral before changing down? Then, there's not a lot of point in blipping, is there? In fact, there's more chance of ending up with a totally knackered box.

No need to know into neutral - as you feel the car begin to change down a gear you can just 'tickle' the throttle and bring the revs up enough to smooth the change.

Very satisfying when you get it right ;-)

[ewoudwo]

chris.mapey said:

I have an X308 XJR - I leave the sport button on all the time, as I much prefer the sharper throttle response.

Makes the car feel mush 'snappier' - if I turn the sports button off, it seems much more 'ponderous' and the starting in second when pulling away makes the car feel almost sluggish ;-)

That's exactly right. I own an 98 xjr and the sport mode off can make it feel sluggish. The S mode on makes a big difference when you're in traffic. It just reacts so much quicker. I have also noticed that the biggest acceleration comes when you gently roll the car (from 0) till the point where it would normally switch gear and then floor it to redline - it nearly breaks my neck when I do that. (don't worry I treat her well the rest of the time)

I have used the manual 2 times in a whole year, and that is purely out of curiosity for about 100 yards till I give up again. The auto mode with S on is the way to go. I do take the S off when I'm cruisecontrolling the motorway even though it probably doesn't make a difference mpg-wise.