what is the "w/s" switch near the stick, the person i bought it off of didnt know

 

the car does not come with the manual? the guy who sold you the car ebay'd it off?

w = winter mode = shifts to higher gear at lower rpm to avoid slipping = mode to prevent morons from burning rubber
s = standard mode

 

thank you very much

 

Or W Winter mode transmission will only shift down to second gear and reverse has two ratio's

S is also know as sport mode, shift 1, 2, 3, 4 no 5th gear engagement

 

"Winter" or "Standard" mode for the transmission. In Winter mode, the car starts out in 2nd gear rather than 1st. This is supposed to improve the traction of the car. Use the S position under normal conditions.

 

Mine is different. My W is "Why are you driving this car in the snow?" and my S is "Should have bought an AMG!"

 

The following info pertains to 2002 MY.
The "S" stands for summer or sport--take your pick. Since the gearbox is driver adaptive it "remembers" your driving style and adjusts the automatic shifting to your style. In reality, it picks one of several pre-mapped shift sequences (6 or 7 programs) and uses it on an ongoing basis. If you change your style or someone else shares the driving the program will change accordingly. It won't change instantly but will "adapt" over time. It ALWAYS starts in first gear.
The "W" stands for winter/wet mode. It ALWAYS starts in second gear to help in snowy / slippery conditions or lack of traction situations. It is NOT driver adaptive and only uses ONE program for all situations and all driving styles. It doesn't matter if you use "W" in summer or vice versa.
2002's don't have hill or descent control.
I have never compared the mileage for either mode but "W" does provide smoother and earlier shift points which may contribute to better mileage. I also like using "W" in traffic since the shifter never goes down to "first" and braking seems smoother as a result.