The ZF 8 speed in my BMW was by far the fastest shifting transmission I have ever encountered with any car, especially if you used the kickdown switch at the bottom of the pedal. That thing shifted really fast.

At the end of the day, a manufacturer can make a 10 speed shift faster than 5 speed if they want to, regardless of all the extra gears.

 

Buy a 4Runner. It still has a 5 speed from 2005

 

From my understanding, the recent problems (since 2014) with the ZF transmissions in Jeep Cherokees (and Acura TLXs) have been 9 speed, not 8 speed transmissions. So not the EXACT SAME transmission.

 

The ZF 8 Speed is legendary. All the performance cars use it because it is so good. The new Supra uses it too. I think even the Kia Stinger 8 speed is better than the Lexus 8 speeds now.

 

Correct, good catch.

 

Whoops, I thought we were talking about the GRAND cherokee, which uses the 8 speed (longitudinal transmission)

Just the regular Cherokee uses the transversely mounted 9 speed which is a different design, that's right.

Read some sort of chart a long time ago that said Jeep had 140 transmission failures, and Acura had 10 both with the identical 9 speed. BMW was right at zero but they only use the 8 speed.

Goes to show how important the software tuning is.

 

I haven’t heard about trans failures in the Grand Cherokee. I have in the Cherokee with the 9 speed.

I have that 9 speed in my Pacifica, not a fan.

 

Your odds of having a reliable vehicle with a new RX are far higher than any other SUV, with or without an unproven transmission problem. Do not avoid such a vehicle based on an online report. If you research most cars, you will find dirt on all of them. The RX is solid.

 

It's Christmas Eve, and I apologize in advance if my comment sounds like a "holier-than-thou" attitude, but shifting is so 20th-century to me after having driven the planetary-gear-set shiftless 450h. Just like the Tesla, a smooth application of power from standing still. And no steel cones or belts like the old-fashioned CVT transmissions that had a rubber-band effect.

So, first, I doubt very much that Lexus has a transmission problem, they do world-class engineering and such issues would be showing up frequently on these boards. Secondly, you might want to take a brief test drive in the 450h to verify you really do want a shifting transmission.

And a Merry Christmas to all.

 

I personally don’t like CVTs, and that includes Lexus hybrids. I’d much rather have shifts.

 

It's not like traditional CVTs though. This is a great explanation of how it works.

 

I know how they work, I just don’t like how they drive. I don’t like the droning with acceleration.

 

Just put it on the fake ratio mode and it will mimic gears

 

The fundamental concept of a CVT is good, just without the terrible associated reliability. I haven't watched the video, but if this DCVT does not have that belt, then its probably good. I know Toyota's CVT is reliable.

My biggest problem is the starting gear ratio. Way too much lag off the line but otherwise it works well once you are moving.

My friend has a 2007 Altima and the way the transmission kept the RPM's at 5000rpm, even though the redline is 6000RPM and he was going full throttle is excellent. It felt fast. I remember we raced a brand nex Lexus is250 back in the day and the Lexus couldn't pass this 130K miles altima for the life of it. large 2.5L 4 cylinder works better than a small displacement 2.5L V6.

CVT's can easily be destroyed from sustained high RPM use though.

 

The 4th gen RX forum has a pretty substantial thread on the transmission issues. While failure isnt really a common problem, transmission behavior and acoustics seem to be the primary complaints. To compound that problem, Lexus techs, seem to dismiss the issues as "normal behavior" which it might very well be or apply some TSBs which have varying levels of success to end customers.

Having said that, Lexus and the toyota group as a whole has some interesting issues with any vehicle that has gone with anything above 6 speeds and rides on the old platforms.

LX 3rd gen refresh documented issues via TSBs
RX 3rd gen F-sport (hunting of gears)
RX 4th gen hesitation TSBs

The GA- platform vehicles have no documented issues even with more then 6 speeds.

In layman terms, its a combo of factors such as physical specs and transmission mapping.

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Due note that this transmission is not toyota only, as this is also used in the current Volvo lineup