Why won't the e-shift let you shift down to first gear ever. I know the info is probably in the owners manual but I'm too lazy to go and get it. If it involves the ecu that would be a great mod to be able to change....

 

Doesn't anybody on this entire site know? It seems like a pretty big deal to me when you have to wait for the computer to shift coming out of a low speed corner.

 

I'm not sure if anyone here truly knows why, but I'll take a stab.

If you are exiting a corner, either slowly, or from a stop, the trans is in 1. So if you are turning, the wheel is turned, so you wouldn't be able to hit the upshift button anyway, especailly if you've got the throttle mashed and concentrating on the turn. The trans will hit the rev limiter and shift automatically from 1 to 2 anyway. I'm so focused on whats around me at that speed, I'm glad the trans does it. The sift point will also be determined by your speed.

I think its a non-issue really, but would be curious to hear what you feel you could gain from holding it in 1st.

HTH

 

Hello Everyone,
The main reason for no e-shift in 1st would be the fact that Lexus does a great job of protecting us from ourselves. In first gear, it is very easy to rev the engine to redline quite rapidly, whether it's due to inattentiveness or lack of knowledge, especially in a downshift situation. If I take this option away from the masses, I'll have fewer transmission warranty claims, and less code to program into the ECU!

 

I guess that makes sense for Lexus to do this, but it still takes a little longer for the computer to shift down instead of you already being there. I guess I can always stick it in low manually with the gate shift.....in reply to shifting while steering- I have had no problems doing with any manual car I've owned. Especially intoxicating is the sound of 6800 rpms in a 300zxtt . Anyways does any other car(e.g. Porsche) shift all the way down to 1st in tiptronic mode? BMW, MB?? Is this the same system in the auto Supra?

 

By the way the computer wont let you overrev anyways if you have ever tried to downshift into 2nd going 70- it won't and it gives you a little beep beep warning.

 

I think the Ferrari 360 Modena F1 allows 1st... knock yourself out and pay $150K for the privilege.

Supra doesn't have e-shift I believe.

Having driven in e-shift mode quite a lot, I can say I haven't had a need to be in first with it. In M2 the car stays in 1st way up into the rpms... when have you had an instance when this would be useful? I think you said in a turn, but how fast, how tight? I really think I'd run out of suspension before I run out of power.

 

you'd have the problem if the stick was on your steering wheel though like the scenario we are discussing

 

Haha.. I have post this question before... My 01 BMW 330i auto can shift down to 1st using the steptronic.. Why doesn't lexus allow that is beyond me.. but I felt that the Bimmer have a better control on the transmission than Lexus..

 

My finance's C class lets you shift to first. Lexus needs to build a better auto box. Her tranny blows mine out of the water in all regards.

 

I'm just guessing, I really don't have any numbers, but maybe the V6s need to be in first to match the torque numbers of the V8s 2nd? I dunno. the examples given are 6s, except for the 150K car.....

I wouldn't go as far to say that because the car won't do what you want it to, it must be faulty.....the tranny is working as designed. Also, Jazziz's statement above is probably the most true IMHO.

 

Okay, the ML430 and E430 can shift down to first as well. They both can be had for under sixty grand and they're v8s.

 

I don't think these comparisons are valid to the orginal question, see above.

I guess, if you want to, then go by a C, ML, or E MB, and you'll have the funtionality that you are looking for and you'll still get smoked even though the tranny doesn't go into first manually.

I'm done with this thread. After trying to help, most seem to make nothing more than comparisons of what other vehicles can do. Well what about this car? Well what about that car?; my blah blah will do this, and my blah blah will do that.....

Goodie for you - it really doesn't matter since the question is about the LEXUS tranny, at least, that's how I read the post.

 

Dexter, chill out, man. I've got a G4 and love it but I don't think we're too off topic, here. The fact of the matter is that the competition has a better tranny than what we have in our otherwise sweet machines. It's all good.