8 speed transmission. How do you like it? (1 Viewer)

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Jan 11, 2020
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San Jose
I’ve got it in one of our cars (aisin 8), a rx350, and it’s terrible. Constantly trying to upshift for mpg and coming off the line is the worst, jerking up and down gears. Many tsbs have come and gone for this surging and hesitation but it still stinks. I’ve heard that 2018 LC is better than 2016 but I just watched a 2018 review video where the transmission is knocked again. Did it improve? Is it tolerable? Toyota and Honda have really struggled with the 8 and 9 speeds (pilot) in recent years.
 
I have a 2016 Honda Pilot and the 9 speed transmission performs just ok. After about 45,000 miles, it started developing a high pitched whine when I accelerate hard, entering the highway and getting up to speed quick. Other than that quirk it's fine. Normal driving no problems. But keep in mind on this Honda the 9 speed is made by ZF, not Honda. They put a 9 speed German tranny in the higher end Pilots. But since this is a Toyota forum I won’t go into too much more on that. I just hope the transmission in my new LC performs better. Fingers crossed.
 
I don’t think the Aisin in RX (FWD) and LC (4WD) are the same unit.

I don’t have an issue with the 8 in LC. It has better gearing for towing and off-road than the old 6-speed.
 
After the reflash for harsh shifting, my 16' 200 is awesome with the ECT PWR button depressed
 
I have a 18 LX, wife drIves a 19 RX350. The RX transmission Is better after all the recalls but still clunky/hesitant compared to the LX. I came from 2008 LX, personally I prefer the 6 speed. The 8 speed seems to be clunkier, especially on downshifts - even after all the TSBs.
 
I've had an 3FE/2FE with a440 (4 speed, heavily modified), 4.6 with a760 (6 speed GX 460), and 5.7 with aa80 (8 speed LC 200). And I've spent a good amount of time in an a343. Each has been an improvement over the previous. I don't find that my 8 speed hunts more than my 6 speed did (which is very little). If I had to pick, I'd say I noticed harsher shifts occasionally with the 6 speed. The one place I see both not handle well is from a rolling stop. They want to be in a lower gear gear and then suddenly realize they need to shift. But these are very minor things. Both are excellent in my tiny sample set of one each.
 
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A343 has too few gears (wide spread of RPM when shifting, hard/impossible to find the right gear in some loads/speeds).

AA80 does a great job of keeping RPM in band in almost all circumstances. With full time ECT, shifts are right on and acceleration is brisk (for a 7K vehicle). As @Moby notes, rolling stops are not as expected... but it does self correct after a few seconds.
 
I’ve owned both versions on LX570. Put 117k on the 6spd and it was solid as rock. My 20 LX570 has 8spd, and it’s an improvement over 6spd, much better gearing.
Same experience you have had. 2010 LC 6 speed with 104k, new 2010 HE and the 8 is great.
 
I had a '15 LC, have a '17 LC (that got commandeered by the wife), and a '20 GMC 1500 AT4. I'm comparing the 6, 8, and 10 speeds. By far the 8 in the '17 LC is the clunkiest of the 3 in low speed. If I slow down to go over a speed bump and coast for a bit, the resulting add of power is really jerky. I had the dealer upgrade the software, make sure the driveline zerks were greased, and it's still one of the least smooth transmissions I've ever driven. Did it make me regret getting it? Absolutely not. But it's definitely something to be aware of from my opinion on the vehicle. On the highway it finds gears pretty well and is enjoyable to drive at speed. The GM-Ford 10 speed sounded like it had some growing pains, but I have been very impressed thus far in both city, highway, and mountain driving.
 
Thanks all. The hesitation when you come to a near stop and then get going again worries me the most as that bucking sensation is terrible on my RX. Makes me miss the smooth 4 speed in my 20 year old 4runner. Our previous gen RX with the 6 speed was perfect too.
 
It’s not hesitation. It’s programmed to downshift to 1st when coasting below 10mph. The 6 speed does not exhibit this behavior. The low gearing and clunkiness of the drivetrain caused bucking which is what folks are experiencing.

The downshift is repeatable. Every time.
 
I don't get bucking, but engine revving for sure.

2020
 

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