Sandi_k

So, one of the big advantages of the RX350 (especially over other competitors like the Ford Edge) was its ability to have a manual shift mode.

I've been playing with it this past week, as I break the engine in (trying to avoid 2K RPM as the only band the engine operates in)...And I'm finding it fun to use the torque and engine a little more aggressively than dialed in the automatic transmission shift points.

How many of you use the manual mode? Just wonderin....

Sandi

kitlz

Sandi, I cant wait to play with it in my 450h. Right now I use it in my 04 to slow down on hills. It also helps in the snow. Guess you don't have to worry about that I drove manual trans cars for the first 10 years after getting my license. Needless to say I enjoy it more now.

Sandi_k

Anita, it's one of the reasons I got the 350. After driving nothing but MT's since I was 16 (except for the occasional rental car) a strictly auto tranny was a deal breaker. (To be fair, there were many reasons why I chose the RX over the Edge, but that was definitely one of the BIG reasons).

I'm sure it plays h*ll on the hyper-mile-ing, though.

Sandi

Cruiter

It's not hard to use and actually kind of fun but I suspect it's primary purpose is for pulling on slippery surfaces or braking on grades.

I did use our when coming down the mountain from Highlands NC and it worked perfectly. Mostly I varied it from 2nd to 3rd and back depending on the grade and speed. During that stretch I rarely used the brakes.

LeoDLion

We were driving in the highway when I noticed that the engine seemed to be working harder. I then noticed that I got the shift lever to the left instead of to the right of the Drive which puts it in manual mode. Quite interesting.

My daily driver is a manual transmission MX-5 which I have been driving for ten years so I am used to manual trannys. I have not played with the manual mode of the RX350 but probably will soon. Without a clutch it will be quite a novelty.

I can see playing with it in stop and go traffic to switch gears from 1st to 2nd and back just to do some braking using the engine instead of stepping on the pedal. Other than that I dont see much use around here. We dont get snow here in Texas and its almost flat everywhere.

The G Man

These manual shifter are fun at first if you never had one before, but the novelty will wear off fast. It just doesn’t have the reaction time of a manual clutch. If you try to accelerate fast with it, it will not shift fast enough. Lexus do have sport manual shifters that will shift very fast, but that is found in the IS-F only. The manual shift is ok for engine braking while towing and going down a hill, but that will put a very heavy load on your transmission. Unless you are towing a heavy load and the brakes are heating too much and fading, I would not use your transmission to slow down a car, brake pads are much cheaper to replace than transmissions.

LeoDLion

In stop and go rush hour traffic, you brake a lot. Your knee is more expensive than your transmission.

jimmyford1

Your 450h will have a Continually Variable Transmission and no gears per se.

pulp

since my previous car was a manual, i played with the sports mode for while after i got the RX but like other said, the novelty wears off quickly and i havn't used it at all after that.

i remember when i used it that no matter how fast or slow i was going it would always start off in 4th gear which is a little annoying.

timgs300

iTrader: (22)

I love the manual sport mode. However, my wife always prevents me from using it as she doesn't want me "messing up" her car.

The G Man

Tell your wife you cannot mess up her car, the computer will stop you before you do that.

Islanti

I came to my RX350 from a Mustang and manual Corolla so I find myself reaching with my left foot all the time. I've avoided Sport shifting because I've only got 350 miles on it. I wanted to get a good feel for the RX in normal drive. Have to start manual shifting soon though.

Btmnk21

iTrader: (1)

Was great going up and down Mt. Washington

RXSF

how do you know when to upshift on the 450h?

anyways, definately novelty. i dont like using mine. plus, each upshift takes like 2 seconds...