Is anyone out there experiencing a very soft shift from first to second? I have a 2003 GS430 and it is really slow to respond to moving the shift lever from 1st to 2nd. I have to shift at 5200-5400 RPM to get it to shift at the red line without triggering the rev limiter.
Is this a problem with my car or just the way the car is designed?

 

Can't say, marcianof!

Mmm... that's not helpful enough.
I haven't shifted at the red line much, but my experience with gate shifting tells me that the tranny computer is kind of slow (or stubborn). Gate shifting in general is inherently not the same as manual shifting. In addition to a direct mechanical connection, you also have a software layer that has a mind of its own. This makes the GS annoyingly slow-witted in dense traffic where you need to shoot into an opening. By the time you floor the gas and the transmission decides to downshift, you are revving at 5K and the opening is closed, which leaves you with an urgent consideration where to direct this 5K rpm thrust (slam the brakes or shoot elsewhere).


If you are going in a straight line, gate-shifting should not help you much (I would just leave the tranny in whatever top gear you desire and let it shift for itself).

If you are red-lining in first gear in a corner, you are doing some tracking and should probably get your transmission "massaged" by SRT, Level 10, etc.

 

Hmmm - I know what you mean about the computer slowing things down. It doesn't like to down shift consistently, especially when you are taking it easy and then give it about 1/2 throttle at 30 mph. I am thinking about putting in the RMM LSD with the 3.76 differential. This will perk it up a bit and act as if it is a lower gear, especially at the low end - unfortunately it is an expensive mod.
Oh well - it's ot a manual and I have to live with it.

 

When gate shifting in 1st gear you need to move the shifter to 2nd gear no later than 5500 in my LS400 - the GS430 may require slightly sooner shifting. This allows time for the programming to effect the shift before fuel cut. I do this frequently because the automatic mode tends to shift at 5900-6000 in first. I believe it is programmed this way to avoid touching the limiter as the engine is accelerating quickest in 1st gear. 2nd and higher gear shifts are usually 6100-6200 and that is just fine. So, what you are experiencing is normal and to irk the most out of 1st requires a practiced hand.

 

Yah but what about the delay and hesitation during the shift? It is not crisp and I feel like I am losing time in the transition.

 

I have that same problem with my e-shift. I find my car tends to shift about 600-800 RPM after I hit the shift button. When I race someone, I now keep it in drive in order to aviod hitting the rev. limiter. Sounds like you are having a similar problem with gate shifting. Must be a computer thing.

 

Ahh, i can definately help you on this one. i have tried gate shifting in my gs4 and my acura tl-s. both cars are the same way. they are slow to shift when using the gate method. it all takes practice to get it right.
is it just me or does the car seem faster when you gate shift.