I have a 2000E320 and I love driving it! However, I am not too aggressive in the city and therefore I keep the car in the "W" (winter) mode and it starts off in second gear. I like the smoothness of starting off in 2nd gear. I DO put it in the "S" mode when I am feeling energetic though.

I have 2 questions:
1. Will it hurt to leave the car in "W" mode and always start off in 2nd gear?
2. Does this "W" mode also save gas in city driving? ($3.66 for premium 93 octane at SAM'S here!)

This was asked a year or so ago and the answer as I recall is that it is OK. That is how I do it and others do also.

As far as the mileage question, I would think that if the engine is spinning slower and you are accelerating slower then you are getting better mileage. If you really want better mileage then basically drive "slower", accelerate much slower and coast to stops. Basically every time you hit the brakes you are pouring gas on the ground. I have been doing this lately and I am getting a lot better mileage around town.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Not sure about an E 320, but my S 500 L starts in 3rd gear when in W mode. Maybe V8s start in 3rd and L/V6s start in 2nd (??)

What I have been told at the dealer is that is better to leave the transmission in S unless you are really driving in severe winter conditions (for which the W mode was created for).

Anyway, here in the tropics we never have an opportunity to use the W mode.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

I would imagine you'll use more fuel in W mode. Think about when you're cycling - which uses less energy, setting off in 10th gear, or 5th gear?

I think the fuel economy is worse in W. We accidentally toggled ours to W for the first month or so we had it. When I noticed finally and flipped it back to S the fuel economy improved noticeably.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)