Has anyone experienced "hesitation" on acceleration with their 2003 or 2004 ES330?

I haven't driven one, but my assumption is that Lexus has chosen a certain
path with the ES transmission to favor ride and not aggressive behavior.
Based on my experience with my 2002 ES300, I have no plans to buy another
Lexus.


"Howard" <hbbfam (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote

Howard wrote:
I have a 2004 ES330 and I experience no hesitation. It just goes.

The interesting thing is that not all ES300 owners reported the transmission
problem. I wonder if it still exists in the ES330, but the results are
mixed amongst different drivers. It could be the way the computer "learns"
the driver's style. I'm heavy on the accelerator, so perhaps my driving
habits contribute to the problem. Regardless, I just want my car to move
when I hit the gas, and its behavior seems to be totally random. It makes
me second guess whether I want to pull into traffic, because I never know
what it will do.


"Dan J. S." <me (AT) hyperx (DOT) com> wrote

I really think Lexus horsed up the transmission design in the ES, but
they're not owning up to it. Far be it from the prestigious Lexus to admit
they have a defective product. I'm suspicious of their computer programming
of the transmission/accelerator logic, I think this one got away from their
engineers.


"dsshrink" <jparkinsonmd (AT) att (DOT) net> wrote

TRANSMISSION THAT WE DRIVE. THIS CAUSES A SENSATION OF HESITANCY THEN
SURGE. OUR AVALON AND FOR THE THAT MATTER OUR 7 YEAR DODGE CARAVAN HAVE
SMOOTHER AND MORE FUNCTIONAL SHIFTING.

BOTH MY WIFE AND I NOTICE THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2 AND 2 TO 3 THAT THE SHIFT IS MORE NOTICABLE AND HESITANT THAN ANY OTHER RECENT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT WE DRIVE. THIS CAUSES A SENSATION OF HESITANCY THEN SURGE. OUR AVALON AND FOR THE THAT MATTER OUR 7 YEAR DODGE CARAVAN HAVE SMOOTHER AND MORE FUNCTIONAL SHIFTING.

Howard wrote:
I have a 2004 ES330. There is a very definate hesitation when I hit the gas
if it is necessary for the transmission to downshift. For about 1-1.5
seconds, the motor accelerates only slightly, even if I've pressed the gas
pedal to the floor. Then, after the delay, the transmission downshifts and
the motor suddenly revs up. The net effect is that when I press the gas
pedal down either moderately far or all the way to the floor, if it is
necessary for the car to downshift, there's a 1-1.5 second pause during
which the car does nothing, and then it suddenly takes off like a rocket.
It's very disconcerting because I can never predict whether this will occur,
but it happens at least half of the time. I'm very nervous about changing
lanes with this car because of this transmission. As a comparison, I used
to have a 2002 V6 Camry, which had a similar engine but a 4 speed
transmission. That car had a very quick response to the gas pedal. This
car, although very luxurious and loaded with features like Navigation, etc.,
has been a major disappointment. I will not buy another 5-speed
transmission car from Toyota, and I will not buy another Lexus again,
either. This car is supposed to be Toyota's top of the line product, and it
cost a lot, yet it has a design flaw that makes it substandard. I just wish
that Toyota would equip its 4 speed transmission Camry (I know it has a
smaller 4 cylinder motor, but it's quite capable) with amenities like
Navigation and VSC/TRAC. I would trade this Lexus in in a heartbeat just to
get the much better 4 speed transmission.

-Doug in VA

In news:wWfWb.31595$fZ6.22262@lakeread06,
News (Cox) <no-spam (AT) no (DOT) spam.com> being of bellicose mind posted:
Whaaaaaaaaaat? You don't like the way the computer controls your
car? Fly-by-wire throttle and black box transmission governance not
to your liking? Seems obvious that you are trying to drive the car
instead of driving the computer that controls your car. LOL Suck
it up! It's only gonna get worse!
--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

Welcome to the fly by wire transmission Lexus has used to try and get the
gas mileage up by having the 5th gear. It is been a problem since the 2002,
and though numerous fixes have been tried, it still remains. It is a flaw
and Lexus should admit it doesn't work . The car is too expensive and this
design is not up to perfection yet.
"News (Cox)" <no-spam (AT) no (DOT) spam.com> wrote

I will never buy another Lexus again. My 2002 ES300 has been a terrible
experience with the transmission/computer lag. The Lexus engineers truly
have no clue how to program the onboard computer on their vehicles.


"News (Cox)" <no-spam (AT) no (DOT) spam.com> wrote