I got a questions...

Lets say I'm driving 50 miles per hour, and I need to pass 3 cars at once (this happens a lot with me for some reason), why is it that the car won't downshift to a gear with higher RPM than 4000 or 4500? To actually get it into a higher RPM range it's got to be in manual mode and forced down to the rpm range.

I haven't actually tried, or paid attention to the rpm's in ect power mode, maybe that's what I should try. The thing is when you get on it, it's like it feathers into the acceleration, but once the rpm's are higher, it hauls a**.

Maybe I'm not the only one that has noticed this...maybe?

 

i think it's because maximum torque starts around 4500 and climbs from there, that way i'ts using the gears to full advantage.

 

So, that's how this car is supposed to run? In that case, I really miss my Acura that I traded in on this car. That car would downshift to the lowest possible gear, even if it was just for a second. That car was quick for sure, but I still prefer the IS350 for daily driving. When I feel like having fun, the ect power mode makes the car feel like a completely different car. I like that.

 

NOTE ON A SIDE: Well, if your Acura was downshifting to a shift "even" for a second, there was something wrong going on.
Now about downshifting in an automatic car can be done in many ways besides going all the way down on the gas pedal. You can make a quick on/off stepping on it and it should jump down to the lowest "possible" shift (I do not know how you actually say this....hehe). I mean push it (gas pedal) all the way down, go all the OFF and ON again (this done VERY FAST!). That way u trick the transmission so it downshifts. Try it out!

 

So from what you just said you prefer a car that just sounds faster, rather than one that actually is faster. Hondas engines traditionally run higher RPM's, and feature much steeper torque bands (VTEC, baby!), thus necessitating the downshift to lower gears to deliver power. Toyota engines are completely different. On the 2GR-FSE for example, the rev limiter is set at 6750 RPM, as opposed to the 8000 RPM many Hondas typically run.

Javier

 

Interesting fact; on all engines at 5252 rpm the horsepower and torque numbers will be exactly the same.

Koz

 

Actually what I like is the car to jump into action quicker. The other day I went to pass these 3 cars, and the car accelerated great once the rpm got over 5500 or so rpm's. I think that if we were to race another car (like my Acura TL-S 07 model - 286 stock horsepower - rev limiter is about the same as the IS350) we wouldn't have the advantage if we were starting from a 55 mile per hour role. Don't get me wrong, the car has some very nice acceleration, I'm just surprised the transmission doesn't jump down to a lower gear when the safety of the engine isn't in jeopardy.

 

^Then you definitely need to try the ECT power switch. This completely transforms how the transmission behaves; it makes the car much quicker to downshift and also hold gears longer when driving aggressively.

Javier

 

I'll check it out next time I'm passing 3 cars...better yet, I'll check it out today just for the hell of it. The car's a lot of fun to drive in Power mode, I usually try to leave it in normal mode most of the time so when I get bored with the car or get restless, it's like driving a whole new car...

 

i think if ur giving it some gas while ur cruising and then push more and more it just keeps excellerating through what gear you are in.. but im pretty sure if u left off for a split secong then smash it.. it will down shift and take off.. that what i do..