Is Lexus Lying to us?!
09-08-06, 01:43 AM
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Is Lexus Lying to us?!
I was curious so i went and started checking out specs on various cars that ours compete with. For reference, my 2001 GS430 supposedly does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds. For comparison i picked the Mercedes E500 and BMW 540i. E500 does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and weighs 100lbs more. BMW 540i does 0-60 in 6.0 seconds and weighs 100lbs more. Just to branch things out for comparision i checked out other cars. Mercedes SL500 does 0-60 in 6.01 seconds and weighs 4000lbs. Our cars (GS V8 series) weigh about 3700lbs, have 290-300hp and 315-325ft-lbs of torque but our 0-60 is only 6.3? Whats going on here? The SC430 does 0-60 in 6.7 seconds and weighs about 140lbs more than the GS430. OK and how does the LS430 do the same 0-60 as the GS430 when it weighs over 200lbs more? I wasn't able to find a whole lot of specs but i certainly found enough that makes me think twice as to why are our cars slower than the competition?
09-08-06, 02:33 AM
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the sc430 does 0-60 in 6.7? you kidding me right? i don't see my sc430 being any slower than my gs400 stock.
all 98+ gs400/430 and sc430 they do 0-60 from high 5s to low 6.
and if you think tq/hp together with weight is all you need to determine speed, that's just wrong. my gs400 still has the exact same hp, but by changing the tc and lsd my car is substantially faster. bottom line is a lot of other stuff contribute to how fast a car is
all 98+ gs400/430 and sc430 they do 0-60 from high 5s to low 6.
and if you think tq/hp together with weight is all you need to determine speed, that's just wrong. my gs400 still has the exact same hp, but by changing the tc and lsd my car is substantially faster. bottom line is a lot of other stuff contribute to how fast a car is
09-08-06, 06:18 AM
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09-08-06, 07:34 AM
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First of all, 0-60 doesn't mean very much. 1/4 mile trapspeed is a much better indication of how much HP a car has. 2nd of all, you're comparing peak HP numbers. The MB and BMW probably have a lot bigger torque curves than the GS430.
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09-08-06, 07:43 AM
#8
Very true, 0-60 is an ill used measurement that only describes time to a speed, not distance which is what most people should care about if they are interested in performance.
Your numbers seem erratic and pulled from a variety of sources. Keep in mind that even the same mag test cars under different conditions such as altitude, weather,etc.
I have seen GS400's list from 5.8-6.3, SC430's from 5.8-6.4, LS430 from 6.0-6.4. It just varies from source to source. I ran my GS400 against my SC430 and things were pretty much even all the way.
Your numbers seem erratic and pulled from a variety of sources. Keep in mind that even the same mag test cars under different conditions such as altitude, weather,etc.
I have seen GS400's list from 5.8-6.3, SC430's from 5.8-6.4, LS430 from 6.0-6.4. It just varies from source to source. I ran my GS400 against my SC430 and things were pretty much even all the way.
09-08-06, 08:11 AM
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man...you guys so technical...i love it though...i get to learn a lot from you pros. Just a short thanks to all you guys assisting and helping everyone out with questions. Thanks!!! 
09-08-06, 09:29 AM
#11
Very true, 0-60 is an ill used measurement that only describes time to a speed, not distance which is what most people should care about if they are interested in performance.
Your numbers seem erratic and pulled from a variety of sources. Keep in mind that even the same mag test cars under different conditions such as altitude, weather,etc.
I have seen GS400's list from 5.8-6.3, SC430's from 5.8-6.4, LS430 from 6.0-6.4. It just varies from source to source. I ran my GS400 against my SC430 and things were pretty much even all the way.
Your numbers seem erratic and pulled from a variety of sources. Keep in mind that even the same mag test cars under different conditions such as altitude, weather,etc.
I have seen GS400's list from 5.8-6.3, SC430's from 5.8-6.4, LS430 from 6.0-6.4. It just varies from source to source. I ran my GS400 against my SC430 and things were pretty much even all the way.
1) how you drive and whether you know your car enough
2) how's your driving habit and the ecu setup
if the cars are setup right (ecu reset so it doesn't have any memory of your driving) and you know how to drive the 430 5 speed drivetrain (it's harder to master that car), then both would be dead even.
when i first got the sc430, it was hard to drive the car fast coz' of the weird throttle response. but once i get used to it. i could still nailed a lot of cars just like my gs400. if it's anything slow as high 6s, i don't think i could have done this much
09-08-06, 06:33 PM
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well, take this from me and lee below (gs400 and sc430 owners)
imho it depends on
1) how you drive and whether you know your car enough
2) how's your driving habit and the ecu setup
if the cars are setup right (ecu reset so it doesn't have any memory of your driving) and you know how to drive the 430 5 speed drivetrain (it's harder to master that car), then both would be dead even.
when i first got the sc430, it was hard to drive the car fast coz' of the weird throttle response. but once i get used to it. i could still nailed a lot of cars just like my gs400. if it's anything slow as high 6s, i don't think i could have done this much
imho it depends on
1) how you drive and whether you know your car enough
2) how's your driving habit and the ecu setup
if the cars are setup right (ecu reset so it doesn't have any memory of your driving) and you know how to drive the 430 5 speed drivetrain (it's harder to master that car), then both would be dead even.
when i first got the sc430, it was hard to drive the car fast coz' of the weird throttle response. but once i get used to it. i could still nailed a lot of cars just like my gs400. if it's anything slow as high 6s, i don't think i could have done this much
09-08-06, 10:44 PM
#13
Curious as to what you mean regarding how one drives the 430's 5 speed drivetrain - do you mean manually shifting at certain RPMs when accelerating from a stop, instead of letting the transmission change the gears automatically results in quicker 0 - 60 times? If so, at what RPM do you recommend to shift at?
09-08-06, 11:24 PM
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yeah i got the times off edmunds.com so the ECU reset actually makes it that much faster? i havent reset my ecu since i bought the car so its possible the previous owner drove it easy and it learned that. i thought since its a learning ecu that it would learn how i drive and adjust to that without me having to reset the ecu. all the cars with learning ecus ive driven adjusted to my style of driving within about 2 weeks to 1 month maybe these are different?