LS-400 Top Speed? (The Mother Thread)
07-09-13, 03:28 PM
#106
I'll go ahead and add mine to the list. I've had my 93 up to 140mph or so, maybe a tad over. I just remember looking down at the speedo after I let off the gas and it was still at 140mph. That was with the coilovers and my 18's on the car. It handled great, as I was racing a RX8..... 
02-15-14, 07:40 PM
#108
Talking about top speed of the Lexus ls400 they will go 140-160mph but here is an interesting fact a company in San Diego CA used to use the LS 400 motor in boats and could run them at 6000 rpm's all day and no problems. They said the Lexus motors were the best in the world also how true this story is about the LS motor is the only auto engine that can be used in a home built aircraft and it is the only car engine approved by the FAA I cannot say if this is accurate but knowing the quality of the LS motor I am not surprised.
02-15-14, 08:38 PM
#109
Talking about top speed of the Lexus ls400 they will go 140-160mph but here is an interesting fact a company in San Diego CA used to use the LS 400 motor in boats and could run them at 6000 rpm's all day and no problems. They said the Lexus motors were the best in the world also how true this story is about the LS motor is the only auto engine that can be used in a home built aircraft and it is the only car engine approved by the FAA I cannot say if this is accurate but knowing the quality of the LS motor I am not surprised.
On topic: I've had my car up to 120 (I know, that's wimpy) on the highway once. Car was actually really smooth on the OEM 16s and old Michelin MXV4s.
02-16-14, 06:22 AM
#110
Even though the 1UZ is one of the highest quality production engines ever manufactured, the aviation application stories are not true.
VW engines (and others, such as Rotax) have been used in homebuilts for many years.
I have heard about the 1UZ being approved by the FAA, but can find no record of it. As far as I know, all Type Certificated or STC'd aircraft recip engines must have dual (independent) magneto ignition systems.
There was a rumor about 20 years ago that Toyota was considering getting the 1UZ engine (with necessary modifications) approved, but I believe that the project was cancelled.
VW engines (and others, such as Rotax) have been used in homebuilts for many years.
I have heard about the 1UZ being approved by the FAA, but can find no record of it. As far as I know, all Type Certificated or STC'd aircraft recip engines must have dual (independent) magneto ignition systems.
There was a rumor about 20 years ago that Toyota was considering getting the 1UZ engine (with necessary modifications) approved, but I believe that the project was cancelled.
02-21-14, 08:47 AM
#112
Driver School Candidate
Top speed
According to the manual the 98 Lexus LS400 is capped at 149mph for a top speed. Here in North Carolina I was able to get up to 152. It could be possible that the governor/electronic limiter has been removed. I bought this car brand-new in 1998 and used it as a patrol car New York City (I am a retired NYPD detective). For the first year or two it was maintained by Hendrick Lexus in Manhattan. Subsequently for the next couple of years it was maintained by the NYPD Motorpool. Brakes and suspension were upgraded to heavy-duty pieces. So it may have been possible that they removed the speed limitation. I have never chased anyone in it, my partner and I mainly drove it for UC operations and arrest warrant executions. But I can say it is a fine car for police work and occasionally if anybody was in the backseat they got a luxury ride to jail. Seems five years of severe duty did not have an adverse effect on the car's performance. It performs just as well today as it did when I first bought it.
Last edited by charlesw62; 02-21-14 at 08:52 AM. Reason: Grammar correction
02-21-14, 11:18 AM
#114
Lexus Champion
to all of you boneheads who are inspired to go and try this high speed topping out even on the wide open roads of Nevada, Montana, etc. - don't even think about it until you have replaced every suspension and steering component that wears and have a brand new set of V, or W, Z, or Y speed rated tires, otherwise, it was nice knowin ya!
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 02-21-14 at 10:05 PM.
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Amskeptic (03-19-21)
02-21-14, 02:54 PM
#115
Driver School Candidate
02-21-14, 07:08 PM
#117
Pole Position
to all of you boneheads who are inspired to go and try this high speed topping out even on the wide open roads of Nevada, Montana, etc. - don't even think about it until you have replaced every suspension and steering component that wears and have a brand new set of V, or W, or Y speed rated tires, otherwise, it was nice knowin ya!
02-21-14, 07:37 PM
#118
Talking about top speed of the Lexus ls400 they will go 140-160mph but here is an interesting fact a company in San Diego CA used to use the LS 400 motor in boats and could run them at 6000 rpm's all day and no problems. They said the Lexus motors were the best in the world also how true this story is about the LS motor is the only auto engine that can be used in a home built aircraft and it is the only car engine approved by the FAA I cannot say if this is accurate but knowing the quality of the LS motor I am not surprised.
Google....toyota boats
02-22-14, 04:06 PM
#119
Lexus Test Driver
Had my 90 at 160 more than a few times. It was a early production one made 9/1989 and it really hauled some ***. Haven't had my 95 to 160 yet only cause the car is a lot older than my 90 was when I had it and it just seems kind of fragile. I'm scared something is gunna blow if I push it that hard and it's my only car at the moment. I've had it up to 140 and it was absolutely screaming. Seems like I could do 160 in my 90 and the RPMs were around 4,000. At 140 I was almost at 5k in my 95. I'm thinking something isn't right. I know the 1uz is bulletproof but everything has it's mechanical limits and at 19 years old with 170k miles without a major tune up and a bad ECU.. Idk....
