What makes the TRD Sport "sporting"?

Yes, it automatically goes to 4th gear because 5th and 6th are overdrive gears, but that +/- lever is to select the highest gear the auto trans will go to in S-Mode

 

Even on forest roads and fields, I would think having the offroad suspension would be a plus - just feels like you get far more features for the same money. My wife always comments on how smooth the OR ride is no matter the terrain. Yes, little more body roll so if hairpin turns at speed is your mission, Sport may be the better ticket. Never quite understood the value of a hood scoop that is only there for aesthetic purposes and doesn't improve performance in any way - but that's just me.

 

What makes the TRD Sport "sporting"?....It's YOU "sport".... you said you hunt biods and ducks.....!!

 

The stiff suspension of the Sport makes me feel like I'm driving a big 24 FT International 4700 from work. Thus, I it makes me feel like I own the roads!

 

Dang, my Sport is missing that feature and I'm stuck with FULL-stick shift mode!

 

So, at a stop I move the stick to S and down to 1st gear and it wouldn't change gears until I move it up to 2nd and so on

 

In theory yes, but it will still auto shift up (for safety reasons) if you go above a certain RPM/redline/speed

 

Lucky you !! (I should have gone with the stick shift too)

 

Renew yer tags

 

in s-mode, you can only make it upshift LATER than the computer thinks it should.. never earlier. so if you want to wind out any gear to a higher rpm than the computer thinks, you can do that, and then when you "upshift" it will see that it has another gear it can use since you moved the upper limited gear to be higher, and it will likewise upshift, but you yourself didn't force the upshift. being in higher rpms and upping the limited gear did.

you can also make it downshift EARLIER than the computer thinks it should, but never later. so, if you want to downshift out of the OD gears to get more oomph for passing someone, go right ahead, it will downshift because you lowered the upper limit....but if you just left it in s6 and floored it, the computer would sense that you need more power right now and go ahead and downshift for you even though you left it in s6.

the most useful scenarios for s mode for me are while sitting in traffic and wanting to keep it in 3 or 4 and out of OD so you can just idle along without it constantly changing gears. it is also invaluable for going down mountain grades or really any descent where you dont want to be riding your brakes. i can make it down both sides of the cumberland plateau near Chattanooga tn without ever touching my brakes.

 

For sure, there are also a lot who change out the OR as well.

Honestly, knowing what I know now, I feel that I payed too much for my sport based on what the OR costs. But I still would get the sport, as from the research I did, it's designed to be driven more like I drive. When I get off the interstate there is a nice corner, I know how well my 09 base model took it and how well my 17 sport does it. It was worth the upgrade. I also never had an issue with taking that same 09 where ever I felt it needed to go, so I expect that the sport will do at least the same. If it doesn't, maybe I'll pick up some take offs from a OR. Then I don't have the extra electronic goodies that I am sure are fun and useful for some but I don't see myself taking this truck into those places. I also don't agree with the "useless" hood scoop. The scewp adds to the smile factor and to some of us, it looks good.

 

I never called it a "Useless" Scoop unless you are just pointing that out to any other people reading. I agree the Scoop is kinda cool and the added bracing helps with the hood seperation problems.

 

No, not pointing at you.

 

You guys really have to read the manual.

It is clearly stated on page 127, that all TRD sports AT, have a button left of the steering wheel (where that empty space is on TRD OR's) that lowers your suspension down to 3.5 inches. It's the same suspension that's in the Lexus IS 300 (you know, the one the engine comes from). It also opens the louvers on the hood scoop for RAM air. You have to hold the button down and move the shifter from P to N, at 1 shift per second. It does everything else automatically. Makes it go ZOOM! And it makes the howling at 55-65 go away too.

 

I'm setting myself up here but I find it funny that the big, tough, macho, rock hopping, rear locker, crawl control, and multi terrain selecting off roaders complain that their asses hurt when they drive across a seam on the interstate in a sport. Plus they have scoop envy. I am kidding of course. I've learned a lot here and enjoy all the different ideas.

 

Drove both the Sport and the Off Road. I liked the OR features, but when I really though about it, I knew I'd never use them. I just wanted/needed 4WD for the occasional snow storm or muddy back road. Wife liked the Sport better, and that sealed the decision. 2016 Sport AC MGM.

Traded my mint S2000 for it so the ride feels like a caddy in comparison to the Honda. I don't have any regrets on choosing the Sport, its been win/win for me and since she feels like I got the one she liked, I can mod it to my heart's content. So far, I've added powdercoated FJ wheels, Yokahama Geolandars, Husky Liners, and Bakflip VIP. Have Morimoto XB fogs, a Line-X'd SR grille and 1.25" spacers to install once it warms up a little.

 

Thanks for the detailed explanation, I will try it again, but I'm pretty positive I did the upshifting as it wouldn't change up to second gear at all.

 

There is a sticker that says "Sport," Off Road doesn't have that.

 

If you had it at 1 and it wouldn't shift to 2 until you shifted it, it's because you were limiting it to 1 by having it at 1. Read the explanation again. If it shifts up when you shift up, it's because it already needed to shift and you are raising the highest limited gear. That is, if you set it to 2, you aren't going to start out in second gear. You'll start in 1 and the computer will shift it to 2 when it needs to. Go set it to 6 and you'll feel it shift through all 6 gears as needed.... It will do all up and down shifts.

 

It's simple really. The Sport looks a lot better. The cheap plastic pieces and that hideous chrome bumper on the offroad make it an eye sore and everyone knows the scoop drops panties. 9 out of 10 women get wet

Seriously though... anyone that buys a truck with 'crawl control' then makes fun of a hood scoop should be ashamed. That shit is a serious noobie / mall crawling feature... not to mention a disaster waiting to happen.

The only guys on here that have the best of everything are the TRD OFF ROAD with MANUAL TRANSMISSION and ATRAC Everyone else is inferior in some way... with a manual TRD Pro being the king.