Commnets on the auto trans 'manual mode'

Okay, when I read "hold the gear until you floor it" I thought you meant it would hold you from shifting up until you floor it, (which doesn't make sense). I thought this because even in D it does not hold gears. Nevermind, thanks

 

I bet the increased traffic is a big factor in people preferring autos...that and cell phones..

 

Not traffic. Somehow slushboxes never caught on much in Europe.

 

Europeans enjoy walking instead of eating...unlike most of us. It makes sense if they had to sit in a car they would want to do something with their hands.

 

I don't mean to disagree with all of you but the new shifter isn't anything like the one in the 2nd gen or most Toyotas I've driven. Gear selections are P, R, N, D and Sport (to the left). In most Toyotas gear selections are P, R, N, D, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st. I'd like to hear from someone that has driven it. I'll put money on it that in Sport mode you can shift thru ALL 6 gears AND if you are in 5th while in D and go into Sport mode it stays in 5th.

 

Well, thanks all for the responses. There seems to be some confusion, but I believe 'Dagosa's" earlier post below wraps it up clearly....

AND..

 

Access cab

 

Nope. Only TRD sport has manual option in access cab.

 

This is not good engineering. One more reason I'll choose the manual.

 

Canada gets the AC Offroad with a manual tranny

 

You can move the lever front Drive to the sport position. The Transmission will go into fourth gear. You can then push it forward to bring it to fifth gear then again to sixth gear. My wife Highlander does this too. I don't know why Toyota selects a lower gear like that. But at least you aren't stuck not being able to use all the gears.

 

Just seems strange that it would select a different gear than the one you were in. What if you were going too fast for the tranny to shift into 4th? Would it then choose 5th? Also - if you select 2nd gear from a stop, will it start in 2nd gear? That would be useful in slippery conditions.

 

Salt in the wound dude...

 

Thanks for the great explanation of how this works - I think I will actually like this in the mountains quite a bit. I actually get on the highway daily and head right up a 2 mile hill and this seems reminiscent of OD lockout on my '04 Tundra which of course only had 4 speeds on that auto ... In any case it should keep the tranny from hunting on hills which is one huge benefit. I like manuals as well but am sick of them in traffic in Denver. Don't know how people in California can handle it anymore.

Anyhow my question is this - see the text below pasted from the owners manual. What is AI-SHIFT? the explanation is useless or just lacking. i searched the PDF - those are the only references I can find.

thanks




"The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 according

to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 if

the AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D position."


■AI-SHIFT

AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to the driver performance

and driving conditions.

AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.

(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)