I drive a 97 GLE bone stock auto and I raced my friend's GS300 a couple times tonight and I seemed to notice something wrong with my 3rd gear. His RWD gives him a better launch than me but I pass him in a few seconds in about 2nd gear. Right when I shift into 3rd gear however, the RPMs are at about 4k when i shift there and it just stays there for like 3 seconds not moving up even though my foot has never left the pedal! Right at this time, my friend flies past me while I'm stuck at 4k RPM on third gear. I slowly pick up after the 2 or 3 seconds and move into 5k RPM and about that time we both shut down with him a car length ahead. This has happened every time we raced (about 4 or 5?)
I believe this is definately not normal and anybody else experience such a thing? Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Max strongest in 3rd gear ? Anyways any suggestions would be helphful. Thanks