Lexmex

Worse...I have had friends who have lived in both places.

Worst place I heard in the world is Cairo, Egypt. I didn't believe this, but a few fellow foreigners confirmed to me, "If you though Mexico City was bad, try Cairo".

mandyfig

I envision Cairo, Egyt as subtle, historic, slow and traditional. Of course the pyramids are always running in my mind and camels. But it is true that because of pollution, the great pyramids are slowly disintegrating. There must be a tremendous amount of pollutants out there.

Lexmex

There is a lot of stop and go driving there. A roommate of mine in college lived there for a good part of his life and he said one hand was always on the horn.

This gets me back to the original discussion of the transmission. As I understand it the way I drive, left foot on the brake and right foot on the accelerator, is not common. A habit I learned from my father after our experience in Venezuela (stick I drive just you normally would), and I am almost always using the brake here. Obviously, I have to keep my tranny in tip top shape, including going up and down hills of all sorts, plus the track runs on the weekend.

I don't know personally the exact lag many of you are feeling as we don't have your series vehicles down here, but I have felt a lag on an ES300 rental we had at Lexus a few years back (2004).

One of the tricks we have used in our RX300s to get better throttle response (and credit goes to ES forum member Pheonix for this ) is to tighten the accelerator cable, so that the two nuts go as far left as possible. Pheonix's original thread is here, https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=169193

mandyfig

Better check on the RX 330 if the potential exists for a tighter mechanical response, thanks for the tip.

AM1

iTrader: (6)

i might have to check that one out......

Losiho

Might have trouble doing that to an RX330, which has an electronic "drive by wire" throttle.......

mandyfig

RX330's have drive by wire? I did not know that. Anybody confirm this?

Lexmex

Sorry. Forgot about that. What I could do is check it out tomorrow or this afternoon at Toyota, a 3MZFE Sienna, as that should have a similar system. Offhand, what about your accelerator (one you step on, not the cord in the engine bay)?

Lexmex

One way or another this generation of RX is also going to get modified

The G Man

The RX330 has the vehicle stability system right? That usually requires a drive by wire system as well.

mandyfig

I will check on the ACC pedal, a mechanical lag there will add to the overall feeling of "lag" whic happens to be the predominant complaint on the RX330's. I will get my ECM updated for the shifting lag.....another TSB.

mandyfig

Also, did you know that the TSB for the ECM upgrade (for shifting lag, etc.) is for 70K miles, as part of power train warranty?

Lexmex

The 3MZFE in the Sienna or Solara should give me enough ideas. I will take notes (probably tomorrow morning) and see if I can take some photos (usually have good relations with a few Toyota dealers here).

I know several of the modifications on my RX300 do work on an RX330, have heard of a few people doing them before, mostly the electrical and cooling. The real problem appears with doing a good lower air intake.

Lexmex

The ES series has also had some issues.

I have driven the RX330 several times in the states, can't say that I have felt a lag, since it felt similar to the performance of my modified RX300 at altitude.

Lag in some older vehicles is often just the result of A/F ratios (of course a big reason for tuning them).

Not too long ago, I saw our friends at a Toyota out in Malaysia attached an eManage to a Harrier and got what appeared to be about 10 more hp out of it, http://www.mutiaramotors.com/Mutiara...ccessories.asp (see the link that says E-Manage Mutiara Motors Version).

mandyfig

These guys in Malaysia are working overtime on stuff like these. Great stuff! Can we avail of these? I am sure we have the US version of these guys, right?