Automatic Newbie What Do All Those Letters Mean?

Brettster · December 27, 2002

Hi all

Since getting my IS200 SE AUTO about a month ago ive been trying to work out what the different letters and numbers do on the Automatic box, Ive looked in the manual and it goes on about engine breaking etc but should I only be using the D for all driving unless im going down a mountain or towing a caravan?

Prolly a Silly question I know

Brett

Rodders_UK · December 27, 2002

There's no such thing as a silly question mate!!

the numbers refer to the **highest** gear that the car will change to - so "D" will allow the car to change up to any gear (probably 5th), "4" will only allow the car to change up to 4th, "3" up to 3rd and so on.

Imagine driving a manual car - going down a steep hill you'd prolly put in in 3rd gear to stop you having to brake all the way down - it's exactly the same with your auto box.

Hope this helps

agalbraith · December 27, 2002

Rodders_UK is, as ever, correct :P

The IS200 has a 4 speed auto box. I would have used D for most driving, which allows the gearbox to use all four gears. Imagine fourth as fifth in a manual - it's fuel efficient, but has no "drag" (aka engine braking) when going down hill.

I would use 3 when descending hills, driving with cruise control on in speed camera zones, and when needing maximum control over the car when approaching corners a little, ahem, "aggresively".

I don't think I ever used "2" and "L" in the 2 years I had an IS200.... apart from boredom in traffic jams. They're for really steep hills, advanced driving in snow, and if you want to play...

Otherwise... go with "D", and enjoy the fact that Lexus have made one more task that little bit easier ;)

(PS - If you're an auto newbie, be careful with PARK (P). It actually has a mechanical lock on the transmission, which means it's always worth waiting for a FULL STOP before engaging it!)

Brettster · December 27, 2002

Thanks guys :)

I have found that out about the Park, was rolling slightly and then bam! dead stop, everything seems to be fine tho thank ***!!

What do you think to the microwave reverse sensors?

was going to get some drill thru ones but no drilling sounds better and they seem to be cheaper!!

Brett

Rodders_UK · December 28, 2002

The microwave sensors are good insofar as there's no drilling - but I suspect that ultrasonics are more accurate - you need to get within about a foot of an obstacle before the microwave strip picks it up

Bluebeard · December 28, 2002

I have found that you are able to use the auto box as a semi manual if that makes sense.

In town if you use 2 and 3 you get more braking so that the car does not roll on when you take your foot off and the car behaves as a manual.

I have also found that using the 'snow' button allows a smoother take off when in a start /stop situation, as the throttle is very sensitive otherwise

The auto box is very sophisticated and forgiving.

In D on the open road you alos get an 'overdrive'. Watch your rev counter when you have reached a cruisng speed you will see it drop when in D as the overdrive cuts in

:shruriken: