larrysb

My thoughts after 1 month of ownership. I like this car a lot, with one big exception.

The transmission.

It blows. Yeah, it can up tick in 100 milliseconds and it has 8 gears. It's perfectly good, even great at boulevard driving.

But damn, I wish it had a stick.

It does things without explanation. I go sports mode, nail it on entrance ramp for a little fun, if it is already in a low gear, it does fine with the expected results. Then I let off of it. It stays in 3rd at 5500 rpm. I click the upshift paddle repeatedly and nothing happens, nothing at all. Then it decides after a long while, "Ok, no more fun" and starts up the gear changing. I can understand the long pregnant pause, but why didn't it upshift when I explicitly told it to, while in D? It does other times, just sometimes, it decides it is going to over rule me, the driver.

Then there's the downshift thing. Cruising along, need to bust a move, nail it. The tranny just sits there for a long time, thinking about what to do. Long enough where I've had many occasions to say verbally, "Is this $#&*^ thing ever going to down shift????"

Then it has to work its way down, or up, through 8 gears.

I want a damn stick. Sorry, I don't give two flips if it can upshift in .1 seconds. It cannot beat me, the driver, ANTICIPATING the next move, skip shifting or whatever. With a stick, I'm connected to the car, my eyeballs see the next situation before it happens and my hands and feet make the connection and I'm on it before I get there.

All in all, it's a very nice car, lots of features, deceptively fast, great brakes, good handling. Fun when you want it, never annoys when you don't.

But begeezus, I'm begging for a stick

Short of that, a much better implemented shifting algorithm. Seriously, if I have time to scream at it, it ain't right and I've screamed at it many times with my foot on the floor or off the pedal while it ponders its next move.

primecut

iTrader: (1)

When you clicked the paddle at 3rd at 5500rpm, are you in auto or manual mode? It sounds like you were in full auto mode and wanted to get out of it by clicking the paddle while you are mashing the throttle?

Also, when you are cruising and expect it to downshift during throttle, are you also in auto?

It sounds like you are expecting the auto mode to predict and behave as if you are in a manual, and that's not going to happen. If you want it to drive like a manual, then you should be in manual mode. For the on ramp incident, if you were in manual mode, then it would upshift immediately. And while you are crusing if you need to pass, in manual mode just click the paddle a couple of times and off you go.

The beauty of the F is that you can cruise in auto mode and not worry about shifting.. But if you want spirited driving and full control, you should switch to manual and use the paddles/shifter yourself. You'll never be able to shift as fast as the computer, and that's the advantage you have in this car over a traditional manual.

In fact, one time I wanted to downshift once, but my finger twitched, and it immediately did a 5-4-3 downshift in a heartbeat. It's THAT good.

Hope this helps.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

seriously though, shouldn't you know ahead of time whether you want a stick or auto? most auto has this problem on shifting. i can feel m3 would have been a better car for you

flipside909

Agreed with Rominl. Perhaps a little more seat time/test drives would have given you a better idea of what to expect. Maybe if you have caught wind of our Lexus Performance Driving Academy back in June in Fontana would have helped. Maybe it's time to put the for sale sign up and find a manual trans vehicle that suits you.

UZ214

you didnt test drive the car before buying? honestly IS-F didn't impress me much when i test drove it, there is a little delay in shifts when you punch it felt almost as same as is350 0-60 acceleration. just a tad faster.. but it handled like no stock lexus i ever drove and i bought it for its reliability.

1+ for it looks hotter than bmw or rs4

larrysb

I came from a 6spd stick Corvette although I don't mind the slush box so much in some cars.

It's really hard to tell from one drive, even a whole day of driving sometimes, whether you really like something or not. I've driven other automatics that I didn't mind. I've driven the Tiptronics and they weren't bad at all. Even the A6 in the later Covettes aren't bad.

Mechanically, this tranny seems fine, but the algorithm and implementation is not quite there yet. Like I said, for boulevard cruising, it's great, no complaints. I'm sure it is even more fantastic in the LS where the close spaced gearing really helps and all but eliminates torque jerking.

But even for just spirited performance driving, I'm finding the thing frustrating from a number of angles. The other thing I would do differently is put the shift paddles on the column, not on the wheel.

Honestly, I wouldn't touch the engine, its perfect. It needs no mods at all.

If someone could "chip" the tranny, I'd probably be all over it.

Or if they made a stick, I'd be all over it too.

I own the car outright, but with two airplanes to feed, ain't no way my wife is going to approve trading this thing anytime soon. Not sure what I'd get in its place, the rest of the car is fine, wouldn't change anything. Like the looks, wheels, tires, comfort, the electronics and the power plant. Overall, I think it is a great car. Just don't like the transmission/programming.

The reason I got out of the corvette is knee trouble and I'd had it for a long time. It was getting painful getting in and out of the car, especially if I couldn't open the doors all the way. Didn't have any trouble driving it, just getting in and out. M3 caused me the same trouble, as do the 911's to a lesser extent.

Kind of hoped I'd take to the paddle shifters, but I guess they aren't growing on me. Just don't find myself using the things. Sometimes it is hard to say until you've had something a while.

foup

Hi Larry,

I was also driving a manual before and had to keep my hand on the stick to anticipate -and obviously perform- gear changes.

With the F in auto, it's obvious it takes time to go from cruising mode to fast mode so when I want to drive it fast I am either in manual all the time or I leave my hand on the stick -like I was doing with my previous car- and switch to M when appropriate. It sure takes training to do that fast and at the same time bring one or two gear down. I also find it hard to use the paddles without looking at them first. But I think it's just a matter of training.

And I never try to upshift while in D mode, I did not even know this works. I know when you downshift it goes to manual for a while and I occasionally do it before passing someone while cruising.

Let's have lunch sometimes.

BoGiE

First and foremost I am extremely pleased with every aspect of the IS-F except for the horrible delay in downshifting. When I am going 30ish in 5th gear and I decide to downshift quickly to 2nd and go WOT there is a 1-2 second delay, followed by a lurch, then it takes off. This is in manual and sport. When I am on the freeway in 8th and decide to take it down to 3rd quickly for some spirited driving it takes at least 2-3 seconds before the IS-F downshifts, lurches then takes off. The downshifting is nowhere near as quick as in my SMG II tranny.

The final straw for me was when fiancé almost was rear ended in rush hour traffic the other day because of the horrible delay in downshifting. I have filed a few complaints with my dealer because Lexus says this is normal. I would suggest you file one also if it bothers you. It seems like Lexus went conservative on the downshifting to granny the tranny.

L

larrysb

Bingo. That's one of my complaints exactly.

Amazingly long delay on the downshifts.

ngl1145

I agree with the IS-F in drive mode. Even today before I read this post I had the same comment when the car is driven in D mode or Sport mode with D. On the other hand, if you drive it in manual sport mode as opposed to D, it's a different story. It's quite responsive and for me works like if I had my manual car. You really need to compare type of control to a similar reference point. Obviously an automatic in D is not nearly going to be as much fun as a manual transmission, but if you're going to make this comparison you probably should drive in manual sport mode in the IS-F. This way you can be in the exact gear you want to be in like a manual. Despite driving in D and sport mode and having disappointments, I have to say that running in manual sport mode is responsive and quite fun. It takes time for the car to downshift from 8 to 3 unlike when I had my IS350 to go from 6 to 3. Just tell the car what gear you want to be in by putting it in that gear.

chikken

i've had my car for more than 6 months and never had a problem with down shifting in manual mode......didn't noticed any delay....however i do notice it being a bit slower in D mode which is normal for an automatic transmission. It sounds like you've been driving in D mode and expect it to go over to manual mode when driving....its impossible to do that, even with the tiptronic transmission. I suggest you should just drive it in manual the whole time and see. I've driven manual cars before and never downshift from 6th gear to 3rd gear...without the thought about screwing up my tranny.....maybe its just me, but i'm very happy with my F. Hope you like it better in manual mode......i just don't care about that stupid beeping noise telling you to upshift.

sclx

What is D mode - is that for cruising or something? :-) Every time I get in my car I hit the Sport button and always pull the shifter into manual mode. After all, I didn't buy an LS.

Desi

Civic Si-r

wonder if the Lexus techs have been given some new tranny codes and they can reflash the software. Assuming this can be done.

BoGiE

I experience the horrible delayed downshifts in all modes. I only drive the IS-F in sport/manual and am very dissapointed with the delay. I have also spoken with numerous service managers (Michael&Chris @Lexus of Glendale & Jefferey Fox- Keys Lexus Diagnostic Specialist/ IS-F owner) that know about the delays.

The other day my fiance was trying to do a quick lane change in traffic. She downshifted 3 gears(in sport/manual) and immediatly went 2/3rd throttle while merging into the next lane. By the time the IS-F actually sped up, she had already been in the other lane for a full second and the car she cut in front of (he was 5 car lengths behind her when she began merging) slammed on the breaks to avoid hitting her.

Try downshifting in an SMG II or DSG tranny. It is night and day quicker. Even the ES 300 loaner downshifted night and day faster than the IS-F. Try driving 30mph in 5th gear (sport/manual). Then drop it quickly into 2nd while going WOT. Does your IS-F hesistate, lurch, then accelerate like a bat out of hell (the entire process takes ~2 seconds)? Talk about delays, try cruising the freeway in "D" then go WOT. How long does it take your tranny to get into 3rd gear? Mine takes ~3 seconds. Manual mode takes just as long. Does anyone else have these issues, or are there just 2 of us? Chime in, or file a complaint so we can have Lexus put out a software fix for this 1st year glitch.


L

DRE1615

I definitely think the downshifts could be quicker. But if you are that obsessed about the speed of a downshift, I think like some other members said that this car may not be for you.

When I first got my ISF I had the same complaints. But now when I'm driving and run into situations where I need to downshift quickly you have to really be on your toes and anticipate the downshift even earlier. Obviously with a manual you can shift to any gear more easily without having to anticipate the shift to far ahead of time. But with the ISF, it is just one thing I have learned to do. Stay in the gears that are more accesible b/c it will downshift faster in higher RPM's. So most of the time I will stay in 6th or 7th gear and not even go to 8th. I guess just keep driving and maybe you'll find a driving style that suits you and your ISF a little better. Good Luck.