What is the point of S mode?

I don't understand the reasons behind using it. I know it locks out the higher gears but i dont know when you would want to use it.

 

Trailer pulling.

 

Engine braking.

 

Down hill towing.

 

All the time to keep the RPM’s in the power band. Also helps tremendously when driving in the mountains. And while 4 wheeling so the truck doesn’t shift when you don’t want it to.

 

Need more play time!

 

Yeah it ain’t no Ferrari peddle shifter but it has its place ​

 

Peddle... pettle... paddle I’m lost

 

simulated manual transmission

 

To keep from being in 6th gear at 35mph.

 

Tunnels.
Hills.
Towing.
Racing.
Offroading.
Onroading.
Voting.
Overlanding.
Underlanding.
Volcanos.
Dynos.
Car Soccer.

 

I use it whenever merging on a freeway especially if it's a short on ramp and i need to build up speed quick, i put it in s and shift to 3rd. Huge improvement over just mashing on the gas in d

 

was a lot of help teaching my 11 yr old to drive

 

CB Tag

 

From what i've experienced from this 3.5 motor after coming from a 4.7 v8 engine braking is nearly non-exsitent on this v6. If i go down the same hill in 4th gear with my taco it will run at least 10 mph faster than my tundra did in 4th. Pretty sure both trucks had the same final gearing.

 

It's an additional step, just ignore if you have no use for it.
I use it when towing and off-roading.

 

^

 

Yes, I agree - the engine braking in this one isn't great. I suspect this has a lot to do with the VVT and simulated Atkinson cycle.

That said, I find S mode most useful when descending a large hill or steep mountain trail while using 4LO. What's weird is, the engine seems to be programmed to change the valve timing from atkinson to otto cycle around 2500 rpm to maximize engine braking. You'll notice a huge difference in engine braking power, exhaust tone, etc at that point. The annoying part is, it seems to bounce back and forth between the two valve profiles, making you go fast, slow, fast, slow. My brakes still thank me though!

 

I like it for saving the brakes going down large hills/mountains. The problem is the other traffic doesn't like to run that way so I have to use my brakes anyway.

 

Is it it present in S3 or below?
Could be the torque converter going from slip to lock, back to slip.