Does anyone else find that this transmission is absolutely worthless for fast driving? If you floor it, it seems like it takes 5 years for it to kickdown and finally get moving. I appreciate the incredible fuel economy afforded by the 5 speed, but it seems like the shift program is completely out of sync with REAL WORLD driving requirements.

It's a real shame too because the MOTOR that is connected to that transmission is absolutely terrific. Once you get it going the LS400 is amazingly quick for such a big car.

I should also add our 1990, as well as the 2002 LS430 I used to own did not have such a finicky transmission.

That sounds very, very strange.. It's always been like this? That must be some type of computer issue. I can't imagine how this could be happening to all 98-00s without there being tremendous amounts of complaints all over the internet...

Yes, its always been that way and my 98 is a pristine car, its only got 73000 miles on it right now.

I should probably explain better. The transmission shifts fine and works well in normal driving, but the computer has a hard time figuring out what to do when you really floor the throttle or want to pass quickly, I'm not really sure how to explain it, but theres a definite delay.

I know this is a crazy question but is it a full second delay or more?

I know this is a crazy question but is it a full second delay or more?

I should get Jesda to join up over here, he drives sedans alot harder than I do (but he's a grandma SUV driver lol) and this really ended up being the reason he went for the Range Rover and we traded back. He could not stand the shift delay. I'd say it's close to a second depending on how fast youre moving.

Casual drivers would never notice. Spirited drivers (me) are driven mad by it.

Its the delay from when you hit the kickdown switch to when you finally get to 3rd gear. Throttle pedal is floored, you feel two annoying lurches, then the car finally figures what you want to do and starts moving (very quickly).

The interim solution is to drive around town in 4th and save 5th for when you reach cruising speeds. Its one flaw, but a big enough one for me to get rid of the car. 80% of Lexus drivers (four out of five dentists) would never notice.

Wow, that really sucks.. I drove an 05 LS430 quite a bit over the past few years - and had absolutely no delay whatsoever.. I would have hated that as well.. I usually drive slow but I like to get on it occasionally..

Wow, that really sucks.. I drove an 05 LS430 quite a bit over the past few years - and had absolutely no delay whatsoever.. I would have hated that as well.. I usually drive slow but I like to get on it occasionally..

Remember too that by 2005, the transmission had already been upgraded again to six cogs versus 5.

I wonder if there's a chip that would make it more responsive.. I bet there is...

The LS430 had its own transmission problems, related to the computer, that caused odd behavior.

The LS430 had its own transmission problems, related to the computer, that caused odd behavior.
Which years? The 05 I had the opportunity to drive (a lot) had no issues at all..

The LS430 had its own transmission problems, related to the computer, that caused odd behavior.

I'm pretty sure that was 01-03, 04 and up cars had a revamped transmission.

I'm pretty sure that was 01-03, 04 and up cars had a revamped transmission.
Thanks for the clarification.. Well, it's hard to see through all the smoke and mirrors but it IS becoming apparent that Lexus did (and still does) have it's issues. However, when they get it right, they REALLY get it right...

The LS430 had its own transmission problems, related to the computer, that caused odd behavior.Yes Ls 430 has his own transmission problems.An active driver can cope with this problem.Automatic gear system always create problems because it is related to computer.

Yes Ls 430 has his own transmission problems.An active driver can cope with this problem.Automatic gear system always create problems because it is related to computer.

That's almost the way the '98 feels. Like it's trying to anticipate what I want to do and gets it wrong most of the time.