I really enjoy using the paddle shifting and drive the car in "S" mode 90% of the time. But my question is to whether it truly is in manual mode. The reason I say this is, I can be in "X" gear and I can feel the transmission do something when I just press on the accelerator. The rpm's might go up or down ever so slightly when on a true MT, the engine will just lug if in too high of a gear.

Thoughts? Explanations as to why it does this?

 

I think what you're feeling is due to the torque converter -- the transmission is staying in the gear you select, but the torque converter can lock and unlock depending on load.

 

True manual mode, no, because it is an automatic with a torque converter. My GTI DSG has a manual mode. Though the DSG behaves like an automatic, it has no torque converter, because basically it has computer controlled clutches that engage/disengage when I hit the paddles in S mode, or the computer does all the work when in D, making it actually a completely computer controlled manual transimission, through most assume it's a conventional automatic.

 

so let's say you're accelerating briskly (about half throttle only) and you're shifting from 3rd to 4th. At about 4k rpms, you get a slight drop in revs, but the car still keeps going like nothing happened. is this the torque converter locking/unlocking under load?

or let's say you're going up an incline in gear and the car does what feels like a downshift, but the gear indicator didn't change. is this the torque converter in action?

all of this in S mode, of course.

 

Yes, in the first case locking and in the second case unlocking.

 

I've tried to keep my 2012 Sport in 5th gear in S mode and it definately downshifts to 4th on hills. The RPMs go up and the engine pitch sounds like a downshift, but the display keeps reading M5. Is this happening to others too?

 

I do like the fact that "S" mode only shifts down automatically if revs drop below certain range, but it doesn't shift up like some automatics with paddle shifters. I've bounced off the rev limiter several times already while on "1st" gear.

 

Dead thread... by whatev...

That would be the transmission's torque converter. Upon opening, engine RPMs will rise up similar to that of down shifting without dropping a gear. The opposite is true when closing.

If you really want to notice it get up to around 35 MPH on an empty and flat, straight road, up shift into 5th gear with the selector in S (staying at constant speed) and take note of the engine's RPMs... then floor it. You'll notice the RPMs will jump up about 500-800 due to the torque converter opening. Once you're done observing that, slowly roll out of the throttle and you'll see/hear the RPMs drop back down as the torque convert locks (closes) back up.

That's because you're in "manual" S mode (signified by the "M" in the gear indicator box. Once you hit either paddle with the selector in S, YOU have to up shift it yourself PERIOD. The only way the Fit will up shift itself after the paddles are used is whenever the gear range selector is in D. It will revert itself back to normal automatic shift points once the paddles are inactive for a bit or fuel cut/rev limiter has been hit.