Difference between manual mode and downshifting while in D?

Manual Mode upshifts and downshifts faster. When upshift/downshifting from the paddles in D mode, it will eventually revert back to D mode after a few seconds of being idle. It will basically operate like regular "S" mode on the ISx50 and IS300 e-shift....downshifting and upshifting to the highest gear you select on the indicator.

I also noticed if u hold the upshift paddle it goes back to D after u engaged the paddles in D. I also noticed no blipping when in D

I'll have to double check the manual again, but I believe if you downshift in D what it does is lock out the higher gears. Basically, if you down shift to sixth and then floor it the tranny will go down to the lowest possible gear and continue to upshift until it reaches 6th and then wont go above that.

I think downshifting in D reduces the range of gears available, as Cabinetman observed. I haven't tried this, except by accident. It might be a nice way to counter all the complaints about "too many gears." Drivers could limit the car to 1-4 only by downshifting to 4. I'm gonna try this on the way home today. There's no need for 8 gears on my 35-mph road home.

I use it to down shift when I am slowing down. Just like in a manual car. I don't shift into first also just like a manual care (you get a jerk).

What Cabinetman said is correct. If your driving in D and hit the paddles, it'll downshift to the gear you select but will also continue to downshift while slowing even if you do not go past the selected gear. For example, if you paddle downshift to 4th while in D and you continue to brake, the car will downshift all the down to 1st. Now if you leave it in 4th when you take off again (if you don't use the paddles to shift for a short period of time or hold the + paddle for a few seconds, the car will return to automatic D mode) the car will upshift by itself until only 4th gear and then it will hold 4th until you upshift again

I share the same opinion as Cabinetman and Mike. But I can't figure out why when back in D, it only goes until your last gear prior to using the paddle. I wonder what gives?

Also, when you come to a complete stop, it goes back to normal D mode.

All the above is true. The single largest difference between the modes is this: When in sport and only in sport the torque converter remains locked in gears 2-8. This is what prmotes the ISF's quickest shifting. Also when in sport mode the transmission will automatically down shift under hard braking.

oarngemig said:

I share the same opinion as Cabinetman and Mike. But I can't figure out why when back in D, it only goes until your last gear prior to using the paddle. I wonder what gives?

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If you're in D mode, and you utilize the paddle shifters in D mode only, the car will revert to D mode after up or downshifting when idle for a few seconds. So if you're driving down the street, and you up or downshift gears, if you're cruising at whatever speed, it will revert back to regular D auto mode.

Now if you put the shifter in M mode, it will stay in whatever gear that's on the dash indicator.

Flipside909 said:

Now if you put the shifter in M mode, it will stay in whatever gear that's on the dash indicator.

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Until you come to a stop, luckily!

Rickk said:

All the above is true. The single largest difference between the modes is this: When in sport and only in sport the torque converter remains locked in gears 2-8. This is what prmotes the ISF's quickest shifting. Also when in sport mode the transmission will automatically down shift under hard braking.

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So sport mode shifts are definitely quicker than auto shifts?

IS-F-I-DID said:

So sport mode shifts are definitely quicker than auto shifts?

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Auto shifts, as well as manual shifts, are quicker in sport mode.