Hardaway33

As most of you know by now I recently bought a gs400. I read the manual about how to shift and I went out and tried it for the first time.(because I usually drive in "D"). The shifts don't seem to make a difference to driving in D to me, but I'm pretty sure that I am doing it wrong! Any suggestions from my CL elders ?

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

I don't get what you are not understanding?? Are you talking about using your paddle shifters??

Jonny

Hardaway33

On the steering wheel there are up down buttons that I'm not totally understanding what to do with, that's basically the situation I'm having! When do you use them, and how?

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Put it in M and start shifting!!

Stop, put it in M, paddle down to 2 and then stomp on it, paddle into 3rd at 6000rpms etc etc

jonny

Hardaway33

I guess it will become easier with practice? will the tranny get damaged if the shifts are alittle delayed?

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

No. You will just bounce off your limiter for a while until you realize it is time to shift

Jonny

Hardaway33

Is there going to be better performance if I shift rather than driving in D?

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Well, you get to choose where you shift into the next gear - so yes.

Jonny

ebruce2

iTrader: (1)

for example, lets say youre rollin down the highwayat about 80 and see another vehicle you want to "play" with. Flip the shift **** over to "M" for "manual" shifting and you will see under your speedo a number for what gear youre currently in. Now hit the down button on your steering wheel until you;re in 3rd gear. you will hear the RPMs go way up. this readies you for a hard rolling launch from 80. Now STOMP on the gas and get launched back in your seat! Always watch your RPMS and listen to the car. I have hit the rev limiter before but the car will sometimes shift itself up to the next gear as a safety feature. It takes some time and practice, but once you get it down, the highway is MUCH more fun.

THEN you'll be driving it like you stole it!

nicola

lol if this is confusing you, keep it in D and save your transmission and engine.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Couple of things to do

1) if you don't have an owners manual, get one and read it. You can get it free from Lexus, here's how
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/great-deals/92845-free-lexus-owner-s-manual-if-you-lost-yours-interesting.html

2) try searching this forum to see how other members use e-shift.
use 'advanced search' to point at the GS forum and search for keywords like 'eshift' or 'e-shift' or 'e-shift faster'

3) General consensus (and my opinion as well) is that in a sprint the car is faster letting it shift auto, with pwr 'on' on 'vsc off'. I use e-shift to slow down or to be in the right gear when I want to get a jump.

nicola

(sorry for the late bump)

I'm actually 21 . I was just commenting on the guys lack of understanding when it came to shifting an auto - he just seemed to lack a lot of the common sense that keeps most of us from buying a new tranny... I've driven stick since since I had a license and I miss it a lot in my GS4, and the buttons on the steering wheel are a joke. I usually manually shift with the shifter if at all (allows you to keep it in 1st anyway).

IAGS400

Using the paddle controls does the same thing as pulling the gear lever down into the gear you want.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Can you press either button (left or right) to shift, or do you have to press both at the same time?

Also, say you are in D and you're at 40mph in 5th gear. If you romp the throttle, the tranny will kick down to whatever gear is optimal for the situation. But wat happens if you're in Manual mode? Does the tranny stay in the gear you want or does it kick down also?

IAGS400

You can press either button. It will down shift to a lower gear.

5 on the shifter does the same thing as 5 in manual
There is no 4 on the shifter it is only available in manual
3 on the shifter does the same thing as 3 in manual
2 on the shifter does the same thing as 2 in manual
1 is available on the shifter and not in manual mode