LS430 Humbled by a Mercedes S65 on the highway
08-09-11, 10:20 AM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
LS430 Humbled by a Mercedes S65 on the highway
Was in the fast last yesterday. Several folks moved over for me to let me by. "Make way for royalty" 
Then all of a sudden I see an Ice blue S65 AMG. 
Made me immediately slow down to his pace as if he was a state trooper. I cautiously followed at 3 car lengths for about 5 miles at 80 mph staring at the wide rear wheels and huge Quad pipes. I wanted him to punch it so I could watch him leave me as if I hit a wall !
Nice to have all that power under the hood on tap, just to have it. My next move is an 2007-2008 Jeep SRT8 next year. I need an "SUV" to haul a few things
Then all of a sudden I see an Ice blue S65 AMG. Made me immediately slow down to his pace as if he was a state trooper. I cautiously followed at 3 car lengths for about 5 miles at 80 mph staring at the wide rear wheels and huge Quad pipes. I wanted him to punch it so I could watch him leave me as if I hit a wall ! Nice to have all that power under the hood on tap, just to have it. My next move is an 2007-2008 Jeep SRT8 next year. I need an "SUV" to haul a few things
08-09-11, 11:05 AM
#3
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If you have the scratch, add a custom turbo kit. A $10,000 job if done right. Your lexus LS430 would still have cost less than that Merc and you would be able to keep up with it. Plus you would be unassuming, which is so much more fun.
Cheers,
Ian
Cheers,
Ian
08-09-11, 11:40 AM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
I was humbled the other night by a DBS Volante. Driving along the Chicago freeway in the middle lane following traffic and a DBS comes up in the left lane. Driver then cuts across 3 lanes and nails the throttle. Needless to say the sound was incredible!! Wish I could have more humbling experiences like that!
. Driving along the Chicago freeway in the middle lane following traffic and a DBS comes up in the left lane. Driver then cuts across 3 lanes and nails the throttle. Needless to say the sound was incredible!! Wish I could have more humbling experiences like that!
08-09-11, 11:50 AM
#6
Other Drivers seem to underestimate the small powerplant of the LS430 as well. It has decent getup for it's size.
Nowadays these new Vehicles are coming equipped with powerful small V6's and turbo powered 4's. Kinda got smacked around by a Sonata 2.0T the other day. also humbling! lol
Nowadays these new Vehicles are coming equipped with powerful small V6's and turbo powered 4's. Kinda got smacked around by a Sonata 2.0T the other day. also humbling! lol
08-09-11, 12:25 PM
#7
Racer
Sorry the hear you felt humbled, lol
The LS430 is not a fast car with 300 h.p. and 4,000 pounds. The 6.3 puts out 500 + h.p., so yes, it's a lot fast, but that is, IMHO, its only advantage. Since I like driving slow and easy, the Mercedes would never humble me.
and for sure I'd rather drive a "slow" Lexus LS than any Hyundai.
The LS430 is not a fast car with 300 h.p. and 4,000 pounds. The 6.3 puts out 500 + h.p., so yes, it's a lot fast, but that is, IMHO, its only advantage. Since I like driving slow and easy, the Mercedes would never humble me.
and for sure I'd rather drive a "slow" Lexus LS than any Hyundai.
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08-09-11, 12:55 PM
#8
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ummm ^ ^ ^ the s65 back in 08 was 604-hp & 738 lb-ft of torque, twin-turbo V-12, 0-60 4.2 5000 lbs, and with the designo package it was $208,000 new. i am trying to hold out for one of these but at the moment am eying some s600 (same body, almost (minus the flares and cutouts of the amg)) and a slightly lesser twin turbo v12.
humbling yes i would say it should be. to him/her in the s65 you were just another hyundai driving down the road in the fast lane trying to be cool. i say this because i snicker when i pass a hyundai chillin in the fast lane trying to be slick with their choice of cars.
engine light coming on and amount of required service may be a downside, but having one of the most power and luxurious if not the best performance sedan in the world would make it all worth it to me thus the search continues for an s65 i can afford.
@ian - i'm all about making a car perform better but i'm not sure what all would have to be done to make our car a 0-60 champ in say 4 seconds flat. i think it would take a lot more than 10k and a turbo, and unfortunately our engine light would then be coming on all the time i should think.
humbling yes i would say it should be. to him/her in the s65 you were just another hyundai driving down the road in the fast lane trying to be cool.
i say this because i snicker when i pass a hyundai chillin in the fast lane trying to be slick with their choice of cars.engine light coming on and amount of required service may be a downside, but having one of the most power and luxurious if not the best performance sedan in the world would make it all worth it to me
thus the search continues for an s65 i can afford.@ian - i'm all about making a car perform better but i'm not sure what all would have to be done to make our car a 0-60 champ in say 4 seconds flat. i think it would take a lot more than 10k and a turbo, and unfortunately our engine light would then be coming on all the time i should think.
08-09-11, 01:06 PM
#9
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14.5 '05 LS430 1/4 mile (stock)
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
08-09-11, 01:33 PM
#10
14.5 '05 LS430 1/4 mile (stock)
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
08-09-11, 04:10 PM
#11
Pole Position
I'm guessing some that celebrate a MB over the LS haven't owned a recent one; the time mine spent in the shop makes it impossible for me to ever consider them a "luxury" brand again.
Fast? Sure, but so is a Cobalt SS or Camaro.
Fast? Sure, but so is a Cobalt SS or Camaro.
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phillydane (03-04-21)
08-09-11, 04:39 PM
#12
ummm ^ ^ ^ the s65 back in 08 was 604-hp & 738 lb-ft of torque, twin-turbo V-12, 0-60 4.2 5000 lbs, and with the designo package it was $208,000 new. i am trying to hold out for one of these but at the moment am eying some s600 (same body, almost (minus the flares and cutouts of the amg)) and a slightly lesser twin turbo v12.
humbling yes i would say it should be. to him/her in the s65 you were just another hyundai driving down the road in the fast lane trying to be cool. i say this because i snicker when i pass a hyundai chillin in the fast lane trying to be slick with their choice of cars.
engine light coming on and amount of required service may be a downside, but having one of the most power and luxurious if not the best performance sedan in the world would make it all worth it to me thus the search continues for an s65 i can afford.
@ian - i'm all about making a car perform better but i'm not sure what all would have to be done to make our car a 0-60 champ in say 4 seconds flat. i think it would take a lot more than 10k and a turbo, and unfortunately our engine light would then be coming on all the time i should think.
humbling yes i would say it should be. to him/her in the s65 you were just another hyundai driving down the road in the fast lane trying to be cool.
i say this because i snicker when i pass a hyundai chillin in the fast lane trying to be slick with their choice of cars.engine light coming on and amount of required service may be a downside, but having one of the most power and luxurious if not the best performance sedan in the world would make it all worth it to me
thus the search continues for an s65 i can afford.@ian - i'm all about making a car perform better but i'm not sure what all would have to be done to make our car a 0-60 champ in say 4 seconds flat. i think it would take a lot more than 10k and a turbo, and unfortunately our engine light would then be coming on all the time i should think.
14.5 '05 LS430 1/4 mile (stock)
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
11.97 '08 S65 1/4 mile (stock)
i don't know all the numbers and math involved but to even match that the ls430 would need to be putting out somewhere around 550hp and 650 tq. There was a guy on here racinstyle who had a nice expensive turbo setup and i believe he spent well over 10k and was looking at either 50 or 100 hp gain (i forget if it was 50 or 100). i think the wald supercharger is like 20k and adds like 50hp sadly.
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phillydane (03-04-21)
08-09-11, 06:35 PM
#13
I'll keep to my LS430... the car is exciting enough for this old man... Plus, I don't want to hit 50 and start getting speeding tickets when I've avoided it for over 25 years.
Plus, I don't want to hit 50 and start getting speeding tickets when I've avoided it for over 25 years.
08-09-11, 07:55 PM
#15
Well come to think of it in my "younger days" I used to humble Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW owners in my Ford F-150 Never thought of trying to run against a Lexus LS as I figured most of those owners would be older more mature drivers who would turn a blind eye to those acts.
Never thought of trying to run against a Lexus LS as I figured most of those owners would be older more mature drivers who would turn a blind eye to those acts.