Kerune

Silly question and a common sense answer has never really occured to me as to what to do in this situation. When rolling in manual mode and hitting a stop light I will occassionally hit 10-15mph and the car will of course stay in 2nd-3rd gear. If the light goes green and I want to take off properly but still at 10-15mph, do you slow down even further til it downshifts to 1st or do you try to take off in a low rpm 2nd gear? Of course in a 6MT I'd keep it in 2nd and accelerate but this car almost bogs down accelerating at that gear.

Appreciate the responses.

ssmoked

if you want to take off in 2nd, just do so. If you want go into 1st, all it take is a flick of the paddle shifter or gear selector.

Kerune

Thanks, but yes downshifting to first at those speeds isn't too high of an rpm, maybe 3-4k although is an aggressive take off. I suppose the question is how bad is it for the trans?

ssmoked

The tranny is very robust. There is no way you can break it within your ownership time unless you FI it

GetKinetic

If you have it in 2nd gear as you slow for a stop, leave it in second. For me while in manual, i put it back to drive fornthe final breaking so that the car decides best and then i get back into manual after take off as necc. Thats just me.

Kerune

I actually do this now and then. My 2nd gear jerks a bit unless I'm fairly heavy on the gas so I have more than 1 reason to throw it back into drive now and then but it sounds like so many people are leaving it full time manual so I wondered what the alternative was.

CYKBC

iTrader: (2)

Just do as the computer dictates.

mjeds

I just stay in 2nd, but FYI if it is unsafe for the car to be downshifted into 1st the computer will not let you do it, and it will BEEP very loudly at you to alert you that it will not allow it.

Suburbazin

I occasionally go for 1st from 30. Occasionally. I really doubt it will kill the transmission any sooner than any of my other habits.

tarponman

I drive in manual mode 90% of the time and regularly downshift to 1st gear. If the computer lets you why not save your brakes!

Suburbazin

Just check your oil every 1000 miles. Engine braking sucks the oil right on through the PCV system, unless you have a catch can.

CYKBC

iTrader: (2)

Brakes are a lot cheaper to replace than the transmission, but hey it is a Lexus, right?

I try not to engine brake downshifting into first, though it can sound pretty sweet. I indulge myself via engine braking for the aural pleasure.

dbturbo2

Drive in manual mode 24/7 and almost always let the tranny shift itself from second to first when coming to a stop. That is the only time I ever let the car shift itself. So in your scenario at 10/15 mph I would accelerate from second gear. Only variation to that would be if extreme acceleration were needed which would require a manual shift to first.