Newbie With First Lexus And A Problem?

[oldbob]

Evening everybody, my names Bob and i am from Cardiff and i have just collected my first lexus one of the last IS 200 D.

i have a ? about using 6th gear, i collected the car from the midlands and on the way home had problems using 6th gear. Every time is changed from 5th-6th the engine struggled and i most cases i had to change back to 5th, the only time i used 6th i had to drive harder to get the revs high enough to use 6th. Driving like this will have a real heavy effect on fuel use, speed and points on my driving license, could some one please advise, is it me??

regards Bob

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Hi Bob and welcome.

Your post made me chuckle :)

There's nothing wrong with your car or your driving. 6th gear on the diesel is for illegal driving in the UK only! It's pretty much useless unless doing over 80mph.

[oldbob]

Hi Chris

thanks for the welcome

I have always owned Alfa's and used 6th for better fuel use, so i should stay in 5th for good consumption? What a waste of a gear?

bob

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

I found when driving my brother in laws 220d that I can get it in 6th at 70mph if the surface is flat or downhill. Any sort of incline or if you want to accelerate at all then you have to change down. I usually just forget about the 6th gear as does my brother in law and drive it like a 5 speed manual. If you drive along at 60mph in 5th gear it still says its returning 38-40 or so MPG.

So yes it would appear to be a total waste of a gear! A real bad gear ratio design in my opinion as you can put my 1st generation IS into 6th at 35mph and it'll still pull with no hestitation or bogging down if you plant your foot :)