FlyLexus

Ok, I have done the obligatory new-guy search, and come up with nothing yet so...

What exactly is the purpose of the gated shifter? Is it so one can "simulate" what owning a 5-speed manual would be like? I would imagine that would not be good for the tranny.

Anyway, any insight on why I zig-zag my **** all over the place to get her cranking would be nice

octane300

strictly cosmetic. You should be happy, cuz most of us Pre-98 sc owners would loooove to have a gated shifter.

lex400sc

A gated shifter eliminates the need to have a gear lock-button at the top of the shifter. The gated shifter is smoother, more contour, and lower profile than the pole-shifter. The gated shifter is wood-finished with a thin chrome rod and looks ten times classier. The gated shifter looks more luxury oriented since all the luxury automobiles have moved to gated shifter designs. The crap, pole-shifter doesn't have one advantage over the gated shifter, IMO.

Lex Luthor

I agree, but here's a question for ya Rich, since i've finally gotten stumped on something. Is the 98+ shifter for the SC3 just leather and the shifter for the SC4 5spd auto is wood and leather? The one I just got has a shifter that's leather only, they put a new one on for me, and if the SC4 is the only one with the wood in the shifter, then would you happen to know if i can fit it to the SC3 (i.e. same stalk diameter and thread)? I'm waiting for Steve Ganz to get back to me on this, but in the meantime don't tease me Rich because we found a tech question that I had no answer to....


- JonJon

lex400sc

Ya got me!

gsshopper

I recently bought a 99 sc4, and the gated shifter is a PITA! You can't just "feel" for park when you stop and turn the car off (at least I can't) - you have to look down and negotiate a notchy path through neutral and reverse. Doesn't sound like much, but I find it to be irritating.

On the other hand, it's one of the very few things I don't like about this car. For the money (used), this is the best car I've ever driven.

lex400sc

All gated shifters are like that. I've driven Mercedes and other Lexuses and it doesn't take that long for me to get used to the groove pattern. I consider the compact **** the biggest advantage, try driving a 92-97 with the banana-sized shifter and you will learn to love your gated shifter.

gsshopper

Lex400sc,

The notchiness of my SC shifter is more obtrusive than in the Mercedes examples I've driven, so it's especially irritating. But I'm sure I'll get used to it.

The only reason I can see for a gated shifter is to isolate the notches for a Tiptronic-style manual shift section, but since that doesn't apply to the SC, it's useless window dressing, in my view.

BTW, I drove one of the original Legend coupes with the banana shifter for years, and loved it.

To each his own, I guess.

Jim O

Carpe Diem

I've driven 3 different SC400s with gated shifters and also find it cumbersome. Rather than avoiding it, I'm looking for one full time so I can learn to love it.

Carbon J

iTrader: (3)

I hate gated shifters. Drove a 2002 es300 for a week, hated the shift pattern. I rather have the big banana shifter, with a different shift ****.

lex400sc

Ajay, you coming out to the Berkeley Marina tomorrow for our East Bay Minimeet?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=70333

machinegt

i have to admit i use it sometimes to force the engine to revv high.