07 V6 Rough downshift into 1st Gear

[RedruM7]

Ok this is my first "semi-automatic" or whatever they are called... I've noticed whenever manually downshifting into first gear while not almost completely stopped, it shifts very roughly and the car slightly jolts from the shift. So far I've been completely avoiding downshifting into 1st and leaving it in second letting it automatically downshift when I accelerate from stop. This is not a huge problem but I find it annoying, as I have to always watch the tiny lcd gear display to make sure I'm not going to downshift into first, plus at times I want the extra torque while coming out of a corner. For some reason it will smoothly downshift under acceleration, but to slow down prior to stopping, I cant use it.

I thought this might be common with all semi-autos as I've been told when learning to drive my 3000gt with a true 5speed that shifting into 1st while moving is not good, but I tried in my brothers IS250 semi-auto and it downshifts fairly smootly into 1st.

Any ideas? Is there a TSB for this? Or does everyone experience it?

[PRINCESS PEACH]

perfectly normal...

Why manually shift through the auto tranny? Just let the computer do it.

[RedruM7]

Arg... I use the manual mode about 95% of the time. I can actually feel a huge difference between the two, in "S" mode the throttle is much more responsive, probably the most responsive automatic I've ever felt, going to auto mode it feels like most autos, slow and laggy, plus with the 6 speed I dont trust the computers judgement 1/2 as much as my own seeing the road ahead and knowing I can drive hard at the higher revs at anytime.

The auto transmission was the biggest problem I had buying this car, driving stick is just more satisfying and invlolving, but I will admit the Camrys semi-auto transmission is at the least satisfactory.

I find it odd as my brothers IS250 downshifts fine, is it bad to downshift into first then? or does it just "feel" bad?? because there are lots of times when I want to, does everyone avoid downshifting into 1st like me and let it auto downshift when accelerating?

[PRINCESS PEACH]

in my knowledge, most cars whether manual or auto, if you shift to first, its always going to be lurchy.

[BlackCamSe]

i shifted mine into 1st when breaking hard one day at the max speed it would let me. The car lurched so badly, and made a loud bang. I thought i lost my trans.

[midnightmach]

You should never downshift into first.

[RedruM7]

Originally Posted by midnightmach

You should never downshift into first.

Sure seems that way, I was curious if these new automatic transmissions were different. In my manual 3000gt I actually had to downshift into 1st or launch the car in second a lot of the time because my particular car would bog down on lower rpms. Oh well, I still like my Camry over my bros IS250 even though it downshifts smoothly into first...