My old automatic toyota only had D-2-1 and I hardly ever used 2-1. My automatic 02 ES 300 has D-4-3-2-1, and now I wondering if I should be shifting more often, with the added 4-3. Do you guys use 4-3 often? Is it better for the car to downshift when going up hill? I always just put it in D, and I hope it's not bad for the car on steaper inclines.

 

The only real reason I would put it into a specific gear would be either to get additional engine braking power on downhills, or lock it in a gear to prevent gear hunting on uphills.

 

same here.

 

yup me too.......fu*kin hate the gear searchin. Whom ever designed this laggy, crappy, un lexus worthy gear searching mechanism should be shot!

IF HE IS READING THIS, I HATE YOU! jacka$$

excuse my anger and fury, its been a long day at work/school....and with the old lady.......

 

Then get the valve body recalibrated, and / or an interceptor so you can use the gears you want.

Send it to IPT.

 

Some of the newer Toyota transmission are a bit better at recognizing up and downhill driving and do prevent hunting a bit better. However, I think Toyota prioritizes "fuel economy" too much when they program the shift maps. It's basically "get to top gear ASAP regardless of anything else in the world".