3.3 NVH

[700t]

I love the 1mz-fe (3.0) in the 1st gen Solara. It is ultra smooth, quiet,and responsive but I would love to try out the new 3.3 in the 2nd gen Solara. This 3.3 is also in the Lexus RX330 , ES330, Sienna, Highlander and Camry.
However I have heard reports from Lexus owners that the 3.3 is not as smooth and quiet as the 3.0.
How do you with Solara V6 rate this engine for NVH (Noise,vibration, harshness)?

[slingshot]

It isn't as quiet when pushed and that's a GOOD thing. It's more throaty when putting the pedal to the metal and I like that very much as it feels more sporty (I found the Gen1 V6 just too quiet when pushed). Otherwise, it's smooth and responsive and you can feel the power difference over the Gen 1/1.5 V6.

[got sport]

I think it's very silent and smooth. Sometimes I forget that I'm "cruising" at 80mph on the freeways.

[Blazed04]

I think it's very silent and smooth. Sometimes I forget that I'm "cruising" at 80mph on the freeways.

...Or on the back roads

[TW85]

It has a nice throaty sound when pushed but is otherwise very quiet. The 5-speed transmission is not perfected in how it shifts according to throttle input, but I think the throttle-by-wire plays a role in the sometimes strange shifting. The transmission and throttle-by-wire have been complaints on every Toyota/Lexus model using the 3.3/5-speed combo.

[NOBOOST]

The 5-speed transmission is not perfected in how it shifts according to throttle input, but I think the throttle-by-wire plays a role in the sometimes strange shifting. The transmission and throttle-by-wire have been complaints on every Toyota/Lexus model using the 3.3/5-speed combo.

Well I think the problem with the shift points are in the fact that it takes time for the computer to "learn" how you drive the car... what felt like a problem when I first got my 3.3 has now gone away and the car seems to shift as I would expect...it shifts as well as my buddies 545i and that says alot.

I think the people complaining have never driven a 5-speed auto before... there just are more shifts...duh!!

The power delivery is WAY better than that of our 3.0 camry...you cannot even compare the two it is so different

I personally cannot hear the engine and exhaust in my car??? It is way too quite...in fact the cabin is insulated from sound 10x better than our camry.

the engine has never showed any signs of a vibration but either has our 3.0...

[TW85]

One additional shift is not what I'm talking about, LOL.

For the most part, the transmission shifts very smoothly. But several times in the course of a day it will get "confused" as to what gear it should be in or have slow shifts (mostly the 1-2 shift). I think part of it is the throttle-by-wire. My car has almost 4,800 miles on it so it is definitely not still trying to learn my driving style.

I am not the only person to bring this up. Many Lexus owners have talked about it and a few 2004 Solara owners have mentioned it.

[Weedo]

As far as NVH, this motor is one of the best I've owned in that respect. But many of the cars I have owned are "sports cars", which, no matter how smooth, still have some NVH. The M3's that I've owned are probably the smoothest "sports cars" that I've owned.

When compared to the old 3.0, the 3.3 does not show any more NVH, but it does have WAY more power (in many ways thanks to low gearing and 5 gears). It does have a strong growl to it, but it's not noice, vibration, or by any means harsh.

Shift issues: the only thing that I notice is that the car will tend to "allow" you to stay in a higher gear than what you might want to be. Example: when you turn a corner and don't give it a lot of gas, it may stay in 3rd instead of downshifting to 2nd as you might expect. This is due to the fact that the computer is programmed to allow you better fuel economy when you're not "getting on it". My last tank I got 26.5mph and this tank I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and averaging 27.3 right now. And no, I don't baby the car. I've hammered it probably 5 times this tank, and my wife has driven it twice (she loves the power). Yes, I have the 3.3 V6. I think they've done an incredible job of keeping the shift points were they need to be to get 1. the best gas mileage and 2. the best power when you need it.

Ok, enough of writing a book...

[NOBOOST]

For the most part, the transmission shifts very smoothly. But several times in the course of a day it will get "confused" as to what gear it should be in or have slow shifts (mostly the 1-2 shift). I think part of it is the throttle-by-wire. My car has almost 4,800 miles on it so it is definitely not still trying to learn my driving style.

I am not the only person to bring this up. Many Lexus owners have talked about it and a few 2004 Solara owners have mentioned it.

Well there is no way it is the throttle by wire system... the processor is way to fast for a simple task as that...

On my camry when it shifts from certain rpms it has a lag also... and sometimes gets confused and doesnt behave the way I want it to...I just think its normal in the design...

My point about "lexus" people not realizing the difference between a 4/5 speed auto is true... my buddy is ALWAYS complaining that his 545 is shifting too much...its a mental thing ... people are not used to driving a 5-speed auto yet!!!

I do experience a "lag" sometimes when shifting from 1-2 but it is only under very light throttle conditions which makes me believe it is that way by design and for the people that want a smoother transition ( the same people that drive with a light throttle....not me )


when I am going heavy on the throttle it shifts very fast and crisp 1-2-3-4... but when feathering the gas it takes way more time between shifts 1-----2---3---4-5.

[cosmicstarr]

My car can get confused when I'm in stop and go rush-hour traffic. Sometimes, it wants to hold the lower gear and then abruptly shifts.

When going down a hill and I brake, the downshift is not very smooth. I can always feel the car lurch forward slightly.

I have 3700 miles mostly in stop and go driving, so I would think the transmission would have "learned" how I drive by now. Who knows. Maybe it takes longer.