jgcec

I tried to create a poll and it didn't work.
I will do the poll as a separate post.
If you add as much detail in this discussion, in addition to the poll, I would appreciate it.

I am considering buying a 330, which is what my current budget will allow.
I am doing this poll because I would like to buy a 330,
but don't want to end up with many headaches, when I could wait for a 350.
I also don't want to put my life in danger.
Some owners don't have a problem with it or have adapted to it.
This is an attempt to find out how big of an issue that it is.

This is my first poll here and I am not sure if this is the right format.
Could you also stat how long you have owned your 330?
What was the mileage when your bought it?
How many miles you have put on it and in what kind of driving conditions?
Would you consider it a safety issue now and you are selling it?

Do you experience any transmission lag in your 330
1 None
2 Yes, but rarely, not a safety issue, and I am fine with it
3 Occasionally, but I have adapted to it.
4 Occasionally and it bothers me
5 All the time and I am going to sell the car soon


THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING

Clutchless

I bought a new 330 in 2005 and traded it in for a 350 in 2008 mostly because it had the worst automatic transmission I have ever encountered on a vehicle and this includes a 1981 Honda Prelude with a 2 speed semi-automatic because at least you could make it shift and it reacted quickly. The 330 5 speed transmission has the worst shift lag of anything I have driven in my many years of driving and I would not wish anyone to buy one of those pieces of crap. The lag is so bad it is dangerous to merge on the highway, or pass someone on a 2 lane road. It is erratic around town and annoying. Get a 350, or an Avalon with the 6 speed automatic.

jgcec

Do you think that if I test drive a 330, I can tell if it has the transmission lag?

Or how would you test drive a 330, to test for it?
Or do you think that a test drive is not enough to find the problem if it has it?
What do you think the percentage is of 330 owners that have some transmission lag,
but have found a way to live with it?

Clutchless

I have not driven one of these in 9 years but recall that trying to merge onto the freeway and flooring the gas pedal would result in what felt like a 20 second delay before the transmission would react, then downshift and the car sort of begin to accelerate. There was so much pause that many times I was worried about having an accident because the car could not get out of its own way fast enough. I hated that car. My wife liked it.

jgcec

I have driven 2 - 2005 ES 330s and one 2002 ES 300.
I didn't notice any transmission lag and I really tried to create it,
although it may be hard to do in 30 minutes of varied city and hwy driving.

Any suggestions for how to test for it?

ilkinandr

The lag is noticeable mostly in traffic. The transmission gets confused as to weather up shift or down shift. For me it is not an issue as i just step on the gas and let the car rev up higher and doesn't get confused with the gears. All in all it depends on how you drive but in stop and go it might annoy you. In those cases i just let the car roll and lightly step on gas. Another thing to consider is the acceleration delay, it takes good 1-2 seconds but once it does it really goes.