How to Use Volkswagen's S Gear?
2 Answers
Volkswagen's S gear stands for Sport mode, which is suitable for racing or rapid acceleration. The usage methods are as follows: 1. Generally, you can shift into S gear when overtaking to enhance acceleration. Engaging S gear can increase the engine load in a short time, but S gear only delays upshifting without changing other operational aspects, inevitably increasing the transmission load and temperature in the short term, leading to accelerated wear. Therefore, try to avoid prolonged use of S gear. 2. In terms of fuel consumption, since the fuel injection volume increases at high RPM, the fuel consumption in S mode is also higher than in normal mode. During vehicle start-up, high-speed cruising, and coasting, do not engage S gear in these three situations, as it will not yield good results and will only increase fuel consumption. 3. For cars frequently driven in congested urban areas, carbon deposits in the engine are more likely to accumulate. Therefore, using S gear appropriately at regular intervals helps remove carbon deposits in the engine, improve fuel economy, and extend engine life. 4. S gear is typically used when high torque is needed, such as during hill climbing or quick overtaking. When the gear lever is in this position, all forward gears will automatically delay upshifting and advance downshifting based on engine load, personal driving style, and vehicle speed, fully utilizing the engine's power reserve for higher torque output and acceleration.
Driving a Volkswagen in S mode is quite straightforward, but there are a few details to note. If you're used to driving in D mode and switch to S, you'll immediately feel the throttle response become sharper, the engine revs will rise slightly, and the gear shifts will be delayed. It's particularly exhilarating when overtaking—just a light press on the accelerator and the power surges. However, avoid using S mode for extended periods in city driving as it can increase fuel consumption by a couple of liters. I prefer switching to S mode during long descents or on winding mountain roads to utilize engine braking and save the brake pads. Remember, you don’t need to press the brake to switch; just move the gear lever while driving. But note that auto start-stop will be disabled in S mode, so the engine won’t shut off automatically at red lights.
