I have a 2010 IS350c. I've had it almost 4 years. I always thought the ECT POWER button was a gimmick so I never tried it.

I have to tell you - and this is probably no secret to those that know about it - this car becomes downright SCARY with the ect power. I don't know what it does exactly, but it's more than simply holding the gear longer into higher RPMs.

Everything changes. The car feels hundreds of pounds lighter with instant throttle response. Gear changes are quicker, more abrupt. Acceleration is downright scary! If you haven't tried it, give it a shot. It's amazing, like you suddenly made a bunch of mods that add HP and Torque.

 

if you search around the forum, you will see the differences that the power mode actually gives. the title of the mode tends to give it more feeling of a difference than it actually is. if it weren't called "power" it might not have such a feeling of effect.

 

Yeah there's actually no difference in power unfortunately, it's all in just how the throttle reacts and how the transmission shifts.

 

Yes, I have a IS250 and it's freaking slow. Power mode just make the car feel so alive. I love that mode It's ON all the time on mine. Also when you break it changes to inferior gears so you have power at any time you accelerate after braking.

 

Sounds like you have never been in a fast car before if a stock 350 is scary. ETC power doesn't shift faster, its more for lower rpm gear changes and will hold gears longer when driving leisurely. I'm almost certain regular mode will tach higher than ETC Power when WOT as well. Maybe you just haven't gotten on the car in 4 years haha.

 

mine is always turned on because it's better for the transmission as well throttle is more sensitive
no i don't race my 250 so i never need to put it to normal and turn off the traction

 

+1 Truth
.

 

It's called the Placebo effect...

 

that about sums it up in a nutshell

 

It's all in the throttle response, but personally I like it. I enjoy an aggressive throttle response.

 

Yes, it's that incredibly aggressive throttle response that caught me off guard, and it was scary!

Being very used to how the car normally behaves driving it daily for the past few years, then driving around 40 down the road in power mode and hitting the gas to pass.... Flew by with high revs, and a roar, and with the top down.. sweeeeet!

 

I switch power mode on when I am in a rush and need t o get thru cars driving slower (in a pac) in front of me. This works well especially during up-hill when the car can just accelerate faster when rpm is held high. It also works great with stopping. Once the foot is off gas, the gear will slow the car down before your foot is on brake pedals. ---> all the traits that I need to go between traffic. but I don't do it often.

 

It should be called the "waste more gas button"

 

I mostly use it on long drives. From California to Seattle and back. It makes it much easier to pass the other vehicles.

 

yeah i have to agree. i do prefer the way the car behaves in "power" espcially when im trying to navigate through all the sunday drivers here when im trying to get somewhere



crazy thing is, i think i get better gas mileage in the power setting than i do in the normal setting