Lexus RX300 2001 Owner's Manual page 202

31R044
" 1 Brake pedal
2 "D" (Drive) position
3. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, shift the
selector lever to "D".
CAUTION
Never put your foot on the accelerator pedal while
shifting.
4. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Depress
the accelerator pedal slowly for smooth starting.
The vehicle will start in the first gear and automatically shift to
the most suitable gear for the running conditions, such as the
vehicle speed, hill climbing, hard towing, etc. However, while
the engine coolant temperature is low and the vehicle is
traveling at low speed, the transmission will not shift into the
overdrive gear even with the overdrive on.
When the lever is in the "D" position, the automatic
transmission system will select the most suitable gear for the
running conditions such as hill climbing, hard towing, etc.
If you need to accelerate rapidly while driving, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. The transmission will
automatically downshift to third, second or first gear, according
to the vehicle speed.
If engine braking is needed, such as in descending a long hill,
see "(c) Using engine braking".
2001 MY RX300_U (OM48431U)
STARTING AND DRIVING
183