So if you’re driving on the freeway and decide to go manual instead of automatic, the car automatically drops to 4th gear and MAKES you shift up or down to your desired gear. Why does it do this?!?

 

The manual shifting system only goes between 1st and 4th gears. You have effectively changed from a fully automatic trans, with gears from 1st to 6th, to a manual trans that you MUST shift between the gears yourself. The big difference is that you do NOT have to use a clutch when shifting between the gears yourself. It's not a problem. That's how it works.

 

IMO it's better that the trans always goes into 4th gear when shifting into manual mode, vs. inadvertently dropping into 1st or 2nd gear at 60-70+ mph. I agree, it's supposed to do that, It's not a problem.

 

well, i really hope lexus/toyota can make a real tip-tronic instead of their shift-tronic. right now, when you want to upshift faster, the transmission wont let you...it will wait until the computer decides to upshift. you dont have total control.
IMO, i think it'll be better the trans will go to the actual gear when you shift into manual mode.

 

Actually, I find the manual mode works better than the auto mode!! And I can shift from 1st through 6th. Also, I like that it automatically goes to 4th in manual model, since it prevents sudden spikes in rpm if you are going fast.

 

The manual says it will go into 4th or 5th, depending upon speeds. However, I've not found a speed at which it willshift into 5th, and I've tried :-)

It's not going into 4th technically, it goes into "1-4". If it went into "1-5 or 1-6" that would be fine regardless of running speed.

ANytime I shift into M at highway speed it scares the c*** out of me because it makes the car redline.

 

I may be wrong but has anyone been able to get the manual mode to shift into 5th or 6th gear? I have always thought the manual mode only is able to use gears 1 to 4. If so, it may have been designed for acceleration and not top end speed.

 

The whole thing with the “S” mode is it is a shift limiter - meaning set it for 6th it will then shift from 1 to 6 or put it in 4 and it will shift from 1 to 4. So why the big deal over the “S” mode you’ll notice faster shifting and better down shifting using “S” mode than regular Drive. I always used “S” mode while on the freeways set it to 6th that’s 1-6. I found that when I floor it in a lane change the down shifting was much faster than being in Drive mode (no hesitation). The ES350 is a rocket in "S" mode while on the freeways.

 

Even 'tiptronic' transmissions (well, at least Audi's - I suppose I shouldn't generalize) protect you from yourself by preventing the selection of a gear that would over-rev or bog the engine.

On the ES (and on my RX for that matter) I have no real issues - the transmission isn't touted as pure manual-matic. The only time I do any manual shifting is to apply engine braking to maintain speed on extended downhill runs.

 

How do you set it for 1 to 6?

 

Push the shift lever to the left. Than you can control the top gear you want from 1 thru 6 by pushing the lever either down or up. This top gear you select will be shown on the display of the instrument panel.

 

I guess that I have not gone fast enough, when in S mode, to get it to go up to 6th gear. Thanks, I'll try it.

 

I think you misunderstand me. When you put the selector in 'S' mode, you can select the top gear you want...from 1 to 6. This can be done while the car is not still or moving.