syzygy

I don't condone street racing, but let's say hypothetically you wanted to engage in an illegal (possibly legal? though, as far as I know, there aren't any legal venues that allow roll racing) street race from 40 MPH.

First, you want to put your car into S mode and limit the maximum gear to "2" while you are going 40 MPH.

When you want to start the race, you simply mash the accelerator, and immediately after you mash the accelerator (and while you have the accelerator mashed down) you want to press the "+" paddle 2 or 3 times in succession as quickly as possible in order to raise the limiting gear. You need to raise the limiting gear to 3 or higher before you hit 60 MPH.

This is the only sensible way to race from a roll. This aforementioned sequence is only really applicable to street racing.

In the real world if you just want to pass a car, there's absolutely no point in using the paddles to eliminate shift lag as described above, because the process of putting the car into S mode and limiting the car to 2nd gear while going 40 MPH takes 5-10+ seconds by itself, whereas keeping the car in S4/S5/S6 or D mode and simply mashing the pedal down and allowing the car to automatically shift from 6th gear to 2nd gear (if you are going 40 MPH) takes less than a second.

As I said before, that wouldn't fly for a "roll race." If you were cruising along at 40 MPH and your car was in D or S6, chances are the car would put you into 5th (probably 6th) gear pretty quickly. If you then simply mashed the accelerator pedal down to "race," you'd lose every single time because it takes a fraction of a second for the car to shift from 6th into 2nd gear.

The paddles eliminate that shift lag, but the fact that it takes so long (5-10 seconds) to set up S2 while going 40 MPH if your car is in S4 or higher (or D mode) necessarily makes the exercise useless for "practical" driving. It's only useful for racing from a roll, if you are into that sort of thing (again, I don't condone street racing).

The IS350 in this video uses the paddles as I described above to race an E46 M3 from a 40 MPH roll -

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

Obviously as you can see, the lack of shift lag is important in giving the IS350 the early lead in the race (not that it matters once (if) you hit triple digits, because the M3 will easily catch up by that time given the fact that the IS350 falls flat on its face after 100 MPH).

is350idlh

Nice vid and thanks for the thorough reply. Having come from 6-speeds I was kinda iffy on how to properly "roll" race in these autos. My dad has an e39 M5 and I know we are gonna run into eachother sometime. I don't plan on a victory but would like to hang close. Thanks again for your response.

syzygy

You'd be able to hang with your dad's e39 M5 from 0 or from a 1st gear roll -

IS350 vs e39 M5 25 MPH roll -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlLClhWC3cM

IS350 vs e39 m5 from 0 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r65HZxyZ0xs

You'd be able to hang with an E60 M5 maybe from 0 to 40 (1st gear), and that's it.

is350idlh

Woah.. Thanks for the vids. Didn't realize how quick my is350 is, I almost bought his M5, love the S62 motor and space, not to mention the looks (best looking 5 series IMO) but just couldn't see it as a daily driver. I've come from BMW's in the past and do like their product, but after pulling the trigger on my IS350 I can say I love the Lexus brand. All i know is that when my IS is ready to be replaced, it will be with an IS-F and not with an E90 m3 like I originally planned. Thanks again

syzygy

No problem. Be sure that traction control is fully dis-engaged (by holding the trac off button for 5 seconds). Traction control adds anywhere from .5 seconds to .9 seconds of lag during 0 to 60 acceleration.

With traction control off, numerous magazines have clocked the IS350's 0 to 60 at around 4.9 seconds (Road and Track, notably - http://www.roadandtrack.com/content/...S-350_data.pdf )

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Or you can just move the stick from S to D at that point (right after flooring it).

MUCH faster than paddling up several times, and same effect. Assuming the car remains floored it'll still cycle through the gears automatically shifting up, but you won't ever risk hitting a rev limiter because you paddled too slowly.

is350idlh

Hmmm...I'll try both. Thanks!

ISSteve

Does anyone else use D > S for passing? Since it put the gear limiter in 4th, it's like shifting into passing gear. Then just go back to D after you've made your move.

brociouz

iTrader: (65)

^ I think for a situation like that just pressing hard on the accelerator while in Power ECT mode is best.

syzygy

Good call Kurtz. Shifting from S to D works just fine as well.

Though I will say I've never really had a problem paddling up fast enough while in S mode. It also allows you to keep both hands on the steering wheel.

I'll occasionally use S1 to merge onto a busy freeway from a T intersection (the automatic all too often puts me into 2nd gear too prematurely for my liking during the "rollout" onto the freeway). S1 --> WOT --> paddle up a few times the moment after my foot is down on the accelerator. I've never accidentally hit the rev limiter using the paddles, but at the end of the day it's up to personal preference I suppose.

ISSteve - for daily, practical "passing" purposes the paddles are almost entirely worthless. Just stomp down on the accelerator. 4th gear is not the optimal gear for passing, anyway, so shifting from D to S is irrelevant. If you shifted from D to S(4) and stomped down on the accelerator, the automatic transmission would almost certainly put you into 2nd gear (if you're around 40 MPH) or 3rd gear (if you're around 60-70 MPH) anyways. 4th gear isn't used at WOT until you are well above the legal speed limit.

MagnumGuy

Why the hell have red paint on the rpm gauge if you won't ever see the needle get there.