Well, maybe the 2003's don't delay the shift but on my 98 LS400, the transmission delays shifing from 2nd to 3rd until the RPMs hit 2500. But this is only when cold and only for the very first 2->3 shift. It is that way to allow for proper warmup.
Oh, another thing I need to warn you about. Owning a Lexus 'may' turn you into a hyper-critical car owner, expecting perfection from your machine. Hey, after all it is a
Lexus. Yeah, but still engineered by human beings. So, try to ignore the small quirks and just enjoy the ride!
Right on Landar...thanks again. I am coming into my 2003 LS430 from a five year romance with a '97 Infiniti Q45. I traded it in with 270K miles. I put the last 125K on the car, with only routine maintenance (aside from a $230 fuel injector).....it was a dream the entire time. I must admit, I really liked the firm seats, very comfortable (I'm still trying to get used to the pillowy LS). Definitely a different ride and feel, but I'm sure over time I'll adapt and appreciate.