b2ke

Hey I'm new here and new to my Lexus, been driving it for about 3 months. Just found out about the M mode (Manual) and I want to learn how to drive it in manual.

I have a few questions like when should I change gears (like at what speed) also what gear should I be on depending on how fast im driving.

thanks and sorry if these questions seem dumb I've never driven manual before so I have no idea.

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

Is this your first car?

NEbiker10

iTrader: (1)

You kidding me????? how does it take 3 months to notice manual mode. That was one of the first things I found when I test drove my car.

There are "down" buttons and "up " buttons. when you want to downshift you press the "down" button and when you want to shift up you press the "up" button


You might want to fully read the owners manual you will discover a lot of cool things about your gs400

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

the reason i asked is because it seams you just started driving and there is so much to learn. You have to become one with ur car, its a feeling rather than a set RPM on that scenario.

heres a quick vid to help you out, everything applies except the manual shifting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecCi4diRCY8

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

just change gears where you want it to.. thats the beauty of the M mode.

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

lol..........

Justin2JZ

Are you gonna be driving normal or spirited?

Globalinx

Well, its not really manual like BMWs SMG per say. But basically it gives an option for the driver, to keep the car in gear at higher revs. This helps to overtake car, or accelerate with less delay, but even then, if the car senses that you are in the wrong gear, say 3, and you hammer it while rolling at a relatively slow speed the car will shift down to second on its own, then switch back to 3rd on its own and then if you don't upshift before red line you'll hit the rev limiter. LOL. This technology always puzzled me. (what usually happens to me is that I start accelerating after the car shifts down from 3rd, say, to 2nd on its own, and when I hear the motor at revs I should shift I press "up" button by a reflex for it to shift up, but all did is change the number on indicator from 3rd to 4th, and the car shifts on its own from 2nd to 3rd during that time. So I'm always a step ahead of the car and basically letting the car to shift on its own.) WTF am I writing? LOL like that made any sense to many who just read it. Anyhow the GS400 should have about 80% of its torque at about 2k rpms. So I downshift to 2nd or 3rd gear while in traffic and I am anticipating an overtake maneuver. This is to have the optimal torque without any delay on demand. I also like to keep the car in gear on turns to have controlled and smooth power coming out of the turn. I also use the downshift for better breaking. So, if its necessary to slow down fast from high rate of speed all I do is press on the brake while starting to drop gears, one by one. Not to worry to over rev the motor as computer will not allow you to downshift when not possible. I don’t think you can downshift to 1st. At least in my car lowest shiftible gear is 2nd. The best rate of deceleration while braking I found to be from 3rd to second. There are four buttons on the steering wheel: 2 downshift facing the driver and two upshift buttons on the other side of the wheel facing the instrument cluster. I think the manual suggests not to drive for extended period of time at high revs in lower gears, this may cause the trany overheating. Just put car in M mode press 3 times on to "down" button to get in second and start driving, use upshift as needed, usually 3.5k rpms. Same in reverse order when slowing down using "down" button, the car will shift to 1st on its own. Practice in a safe environment first, not in traffic.

What screws this all up for me is that I am a stick shift driver, and to have 1st gear missing and having the car downshift on its own when not required by me and not being able to rev match confuses me during my daily driving while I am trying to keep things civilised. On the track its another story, I usually keep the revs high enough for the car not being able to shift down, and I don’t really drive below second ether. There its all good.

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

^^^ CLIFFS please Not gonna read all that...

Justin2JZ

There's the answer to the OP's question lol

Globalinx

Don't bother, half of the stuff I written there even I couldn't understand after I read it again.

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

HUH??? ok

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

I understood every word. They should not let it downshift. If you screw up then you stall the engine or whatever. Dam lawyers had something to do with it. I can hear it now, "the car had no power, I floored it and it just would not go, that's why I got hit in the intersection, its all lexus fault, I want a million dollars" I wonder how they get a way with a standard now days.

luda42688

iTrader: (2)

redline every shift


jk its a feeling... go mess around and enjoy

abounly

iTrader: (27)

hasn't even logged on since he asked that question. just shift when you feel like it, thats what i do