The Manual Mode on the IS 300 is the most useless thing ever

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
10/21/2017 at 14:54 • Filed to: Sportcross

But sir, sir! It has a “manual mode!”

I said I would never use it out of principle (this car is an auto and I have zero delusions about it). But I got bored on the long drive home last night so I said LET’S COMPROMISE FOR NO REASON BEYOND CURIOSITY.

Push mah buttons!

Here’s how it works: you shift over to M (manual mode) and begin using the buttons on the steering wheel for shifting up or down. Except the car will still shift by itself.

You can select the range of gears for the automatic transmission to shift though. So if I set it for 5, and begin driving, it will just shift exactly the same, as it is a five speed automatic. If I set it for 2, the transmission will not shift beyond two, unless I then use the buttons to upshift. Now the mode is 3. To get back to 2 directly, I use the buttons to downshift, changing the setting back to 2.

Click it down into twoooooo

So, to get the most optimal feel of a manual mode, you have to shift into M, then set it for 2. Why two? Because you can’t set it for 1. That’s right. It won’t go below 2. So that means first to second gear is always shifting automatically in M mode, no matter what you do. Sad! Anyway, it goes thusly:

Shift into M

Set it for 2

Start driving

Auto will shift from first to 2nd at about 2.75k rpm

Click Up to Set it for 3

I could stare at this cluster all day...

Car will shift into 3rd after half a second

Click up to Set it for 4

Car will shift into 4th

Again with 5.

If you stop at any point, and you’re still in 5, and you forget to change it back to 2, the car will then shift through five automatically. The buttons will do nothing unless you lower the amount of usable gears below the one you’re currently in. So if I set it from 5 to 4, but I’m in second gear, nothing happens. Until I get to 4th, which then won’t shift into 5th until I change the setting back to 5.

Literally the exact same thing as Drive

Are you still with me, friends? This primitive gear selector is extremely gimmicky. “What about downshifting?” you might ask. “Surely there is value in that... even some minimal jollies?” Ahh, NO.

Dig this scenario: you’re cruising on the freeway, in 5th gear, you’re setting is therefore at 5. You’re tempted to hit the down button and BRRRRRRRRR as it will limit the gears to 4 which will force the transmission to downshift from 5th to 4th. But here’s the catch: THIS CAR NEVER NEEDS TO DOWNSHIFT!

The IS 300 is geared so heavily for torque, and when you’re on the freeway you’re already spinning 3k rpm, that all you need to do is tap the throttle just a liiiittle bit, and then it effortlessly pulls away. That’s probably the best thing about this transmission: the smoothness, and the torque on demand.

In other words: to snake through traffic, downshifting is worthless: I need only apply minimal pressure to the pedal which controls the acceleration application.

In summation: manual modes on short-shifting, torque-geared automatic transmission from a car designed in the late 90s is hilarious, in a laugh-AT-you kind of way.

Thanks for reading.

DISCUSSION (18)

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 15:02

So basically they give you the same functionality as the lower gear settings in literally every other automatic ever but add complexity and buttons to make you think it’s a new feature? Perfect.

The automatic XJ/MJ also won’t let you select first gear, the shifter only having D, 3, and 1-2. Unless you unplug the shift computer in which case you lose second gear and torque converter lockup but then it’ll just stick it in whichever gear you put the shifter in.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
10/21/2017 at 15:06

Kinja'd!!!

Even better: you can select lower gears like any automatic anyway.

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 15:08

I know it’s sacrilegious, but the manual shift mode is the only way I can even drive my cvt Subaru.

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 15:13

The A650E is basically a generation older version of my A750F and the only reason I could see for overriding the gear function on mine is engine braking on long grades, other than that it knows what its doing I’ll leave it alone. That being said, my shift pattern is that stupid maze so buttons would be nice.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 15:17

If your on a twisty back road (like hwy 7 if you go out far enough.) You should be good just locking it into 3rd.

Although that is strange how early it shifts out of 1st when it’s in 2.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/21/2017 at 15:19

Does that all the time, in drive or manual mode. This thing short shifts through all gears.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 15:37

The new Lexus autos work the same way. They will always auto-shift from 1-2 to protect the transmission.

The Snowman > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 16:11

What about speed control on a long hill? Does it at least work for that?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > The Snowman
10/21/2017 at 16:39

You don’t need it. When I visit my parents, I travel up a long large hill and it still has plenty of power.

RPM esq. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 16:59

I think he meant for engine braking on a long downhill, but I bet it doesn’t make much difference there either.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 17:05

gotta love my Acura’s manual mode, it doesn’t shift for you. It’ll just bang off the rev limiter until the engine explodes, for better or for worse.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
10/21/2017 at 17:23

My S8 does the same thing, but it will downshift when stopped at a light, to 1st. Then if I’m driving normally in Auto, I can pull the down paddle and it will drop a gear, or gears if I pull it more than once. Then it stays in manual mode for a minute after the last paddle input before it will shift back into regular auto mode. It’s pretty slick. This car has plenty of grunt, but the top gear is made to cruise at low rpms, so almost any highway pass requires a kickdown. Unless I’m sport mode of course, then it wants to hang out in 5th instead of 6th, and that has plenty of torque to get in trouble in a hurry. Sounds like my 5th gear and the Lexus 5th gear is about the same.

OKcarburetor > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 17:24

Are manual swap parts pretty easy to find? It seems this car would be nearly perfect with a manual?

wafflesnfalafel > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 17:30

My wife’s Crosstrek has the “manual” option on the CVT it has - I played with it a couple times, haven’t touched it since. It’s more of a party trick. The only time I can ever see much value in it is if you are out in the snow.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RPM esq.
10/21/2017 at 18:49

Hmm. I will try that next time.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 19:17

I gave it a shot when doing a lapping day once. Still seemed too slow to be much use really. I mean, yes it’s ok to be able to ask for a downshift when braking into a corner, but it responds prettywell to downshifting and accelerating from apex when just left in auto because it isn’t like the 2JZ is low on low rpm torque.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated.
10/21/2017 at 19:27

Precisely. I am curious how a manual sedan drives. The redline shows 6.something-k RPM, but the auto shifts well before 3k and has plenty of pull. Does that mean a manual IS could pull the moon out of orbit?

Nibbles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/21/2017 at 20:18

So it works the same as the gear selector in my 2017 Ram. Good to know