Sorry, I'm confused. Why would you shift to neutral in a panic stop situation? Also, I don't recall a button on the shifter ****...
accidently put my car in reverse while driving!!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
From: co
accidently put my car in reverse while driving!!
so the other day i took my sister to the airport, this idiot cut in front of me so i slammed on the brake and push the shifter into neutral but went too far and got in reverse! i know that's bad, but you think i damaged the transmission? it seems fine now but did i do any damage? shouldn't the reverse gear in a lockout mode when the car is moving until it is stopped?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
From: co
it was very fast and i pull the back down to drive the moment i did it. yes, i went from d->n->r without pressing in a the button on the shifter because i was going 60mph when it happened.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 3
From: International
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: NY
I am as well. That does nothing for you. If anything, the resistance caused by the moving parts should help slow you down, making it desirable to keep yourself in gear.
Trending Topics
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)
Brett Foote
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 3
From: co
i know that does nothing but i've been a MT driver for years and i always have my hand on the shifter. it is a habit that's why i wanted to shift into neutral, but went too far.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 236
From: San Francisco, CA
actually, i shift to neutral too in panic situations. i cant explain why i do it, but... this is how i think in my head (whether or not its true). it feels like the brake pedal is softer in neutral than it is in drive, so in that situation, i feel like i can press down more. also, when the car is in drive, notice that releasing the brake will move the car forward without pressing the gas pedal. so in my head, im thinking that in drive, without gassing, the car is still kinding going forward on idle, so turning it on neutral would take that propulsion away and result in faster braking.
on a second note, never change to a lower gear while braking, only accelerating. you will lurch forward like crazy as the rpm shoot up.
on a second note, never change to a lower gear while braking, only accelerating. you will lurch forward like crazy as the rpm shoot up.
Rookie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
I've been a manual driver all my 18 years of driving, and all my cars are manual. When I drive the wife's RX, I don't have any urge to play with the gear shifter. For one thing, it's not in a comfortable place to be resting my hands on...
In a manual car, panic stops call for "two feet in." Meaning depress on the brake pedal, as well as the clutch pedal. That kind of puts the car in "neutral", but not for the purpose of helping the car to stop better, but to prevent from stalling.
Changing to a lower gear while braking does help with deceleration. You see race car drivers do it at EVERY braking point. It's called engine braking. Your car will not lurch forward, but your head will as the car slows suddenly.
Having said all this, in a real panic situation, I would rather let the ABS do its work, while keeping both hands on the steering wheel to steer away from trouble, then to mess with gear changes...
In a manual car, panic stops call for "two feet in." Meaning depress on the brake pedal, as well as the clutch pedal. That kind of puts the car in "neutral", but not for the purpose of helping the car to stop better, but to prevent from stalling.
Having said all this, in a real panic situation, I would rather let the ABS do its work, while keeping both hands on the steering wheel to steer away from trouble, then to mess with gear changes...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 3
From: International
If your car actually went into reverse at 60 mph you would have seen some indication of it having done so. The most likely scenario is that the engine would stall. You didn't mention any symptoms so I assume nothing actually happened when you moved the shifter, and that the car stayed in drive. If you heard any strange noises, or felt the car lurch, or anything else obvious happened, then some damage probably did occur.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,582
Likes: 236
From: San Francisco, CA
Changing to a lower gear while braking does help with deceleration. You see race car drivers do it at EVERY braking point. It's called engine braking. Your car will not lurch forward, but your head will as the car slows suddenly.
i dont know about RXs that dont have the sport shift, but in manumatic mode, changing down gears when no accelerating is commiting RX tranny mistake number 1. you seriously will leap forward, not just your head.
