chikoo

Just noticed over the last week how the transmission anticipates and helps by staying in the best gear at all times.

Example: going downhill and transmission is in 6th. I let go off the gas and it is still rolling in 6th. I tap the brake as i near a curve and instantly it shifts to 4th. Smart boy

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

It's alright. I find it to be too abrupt sometimes, especially with midpipe and exhaust lol

Jzsicklexi

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I agree, I've driven much smoother shifting and better timing automatic transmissions.

chikoo

Such as? I have not. Would like 2 know.

chikoo

Abrupt = definitive engagement.

This is what one would and should expect with a sporty car.

Jzsicklexi

iTrader: (3)

2008 mercedes c350, 2005 BMW m3, 2007 Audi a4 all shifted smoother. I have an is250 btw. To be fair, it shifts way better than my 2004 Saab 9-3.

syzygy

I wish there was a "gas-saving" mode on the IS350.

Let's say I am traveling at 60 MPH along a freeway and I begin to coast downhill. I let go of the accelerator and coast for as long as possible, but because I am going downhill, my speed starts to increase gradually due to the influence of gravity (62..63..64..etc.)

To compensate (speed limit = 60 MPH), I lightly tap on my brakes. The car automatically puts me into 4th gear (from 6th gear) when I would in fact prefer to stay in 6th gear and conserve as much gas as possible.

On the other hand, if you really wanted a truly sporty experience, 4th gear isn't even appropriate at 60 MPH. If the car was truly anticipating the driver to accelerate at wide open throttle out of a turn after braking at 60 MPH, it should be put into 3rd gear - not 4th. So, in a sense, the automatic transmission logic ends up doing neither facet particularly well. Putting the car into 4th gear from 6th upon braking at 60 MPH lends itself neither to saving gas nor to maximal acceleration out of a turn. It's 2 gears too low to properly save gas, and 1 gear too high to properly accelerate out of a turn.

langjaykev

iTrader: (1)

the 2IS transmission does get jerky sometimes..

iRock

iTrader: (12)

take the good with the bad folks. My car is perfect

PetesSweet

No car is perfect but damn near close, I was car shopping for 1.5years before finally settling with my 2008 is250 awd for the must practical, fun, luxury, and affordable.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

After all, this is an IS model. I don't except perfection, but I definitely get my monies worth on a daily basis. Drive an LS460 if you want perfection.

Stopitnow

Ya, it means intelligent sport, defines itself pretty much

chikoo

Actually it does. See this screenshot. The rpm is almost near idle speed even in 4th gear after I tapped on the brakes from coasting in 6th.



The way I see it, this is what James May (Top Gear BBC America) has been crying out for looong. A sporty car which is not stiff AND not designed around the nurburgring, but around daily practical driving.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCJ2yBJKpI

Sango

iTrader: (10)

It would depend on how you drive. Not sure if S-mode has anything to do with it since I don't use S mode.

When I tap on my brakes, it does not shift - probably if drove aggressively would start to do this?

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

when you shift to s mode...it always go to 4th gear....