Normal is the fastest

ECT-Power can make the car feel faster in part throttle driving, but if you're just gonna floor it normal's better.

 

Most useless buttons on my car ever, the only button that gets used less in my car is the trunk release button from within the trunk itself.

In my 3 years of ownership I've touched that ECT PWR 2x.

 

good question

 

^ no it does not

 

At least I use the trunk button about once a week.

 

it holds a gear longer and downshifts quicker

 

Depends what you mean by that.

ECT-Power actually shifts at a lower rpm than normal mode if floored, which is why normal mode produces better 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.

 

really
?? what rpm?

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/3042656-post38.html

 

interesting

 

I may be wrong but "Snow Mode" will start in a higher gear correct?

 

When I drive i hold the gear longer......ECT PWR in auto doesn't. In S-Mode I shift right before redline.

 

In S mode you don't shift at all, because your car has an automatic transmission.

When trying to pretend you're shifting in S mode, which is all you can do, one of three things can happen:

1) You paddle up too late, and the car bounces off the rev limiter. This won't hurt anything, but your shift will suck.

2) You paddle up too soon, in which case, assuming the car is floored (which I assume since you're discussing redline) the car will still automatically shift to the next gear at the maximum correct RPM. Just like if you had left it in D the whole time.

3) You paddle up "exactly" in time for your fully automatic transmission to correctly shift up to the next gear exactly when it would have if you'd left it in D.


Notice how in none of those cases using "S" helped at all, and in one made things worse? (and in the two non-worse cases you'll always shift at a higher max RPM in ECT-Normal than in ECT-Power)



Your car is an automatic. The paddles aren't shifters, they are simply top gear limiters. They are not useful for making the car any faster. The only things they can do in a drag race are slow you down, or if you're very very lucky they can perform just as well as leaving it in D would have done. The car remains 100% completely automatic at all times, within the allowed range of gears.

If you want a car that can actually "hold" a gear without ever downshifting or upshifting you need to trade up to an IS-F.

 

Kurtz you're 1, 2, 3 points there can be said for just about any car manual or auto that allows you to shift, you'll either bounce/too soon or just right

 

Naah... in an IS-F for example you can, in theory, ACTUALLY shift the car, manually, at a higher rpm than the ECU will ever shift it, but still not bounce the rev limiter... that is perfect in that case, and possible. You can do "better" than the ECU can if you do it perfectly.


In an ISx50 however the best you can ever do with the paddles-that-aren't-shifters is exactly as well as just leaving it in D can do. Meaning even "perfect" isn't any better than if you'd left it alone... and if you do manage "perfect" all you did, literally, was manage to get out of the way of the ECU doing the same thing it would've done if you had left it in D. Because the paddles aren't shifters.