IS350 vs 550i
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: NY
Like Kurtz said, 1/4 tank gas, no spare tire (to remove as much weight as possible). Make sure your car is obviously warmed up to operating temperature (this may sound like a no-brainer, but I've seen members on this forum complain about losing to lesser cars because they tried to race one a minute after a cold start).
Traction control off, ECT-Normal. Don't try to launch the car by brake torquing. There's a good chance you'll fail.
Instead, suggest to your friend that you want to do a race not quite from 0 but from a 3-5 MPH rollout. Rollout at 3-5 MPH for 3 seconds (counting down), and then go. This will give both of you a much better chance of accelerating cleanly to start.
The IS350 and 550i are very evenly matched.
IS350 Acceleration:
2008 550i Acceleration:
According to these tests, you'll reach 80 MPH in 8.3 seconds having traveled 181.1 meters, while the 550 will have reached 80 MPH in 8.2 seconds having traveled 180.5 meters.
It's really really close.
Looking at the tables again, 0 to 70 MPH is the best comparison because both cars reach 70 MPH at the exact same time (6.5 seconds). The IS350 by 70 MPH will have traveled 124.5 meters compared to 123.5 meters for the 550i. 3 foot difference.
You'll be ahead by a hair by 70 MPH. Anything beyond that, you'll lose. I wouldn't put money on this race if I were you. These are two very evenly matched cars. The IS350 has a hair of an edge in the 0 to 60 realm, so having a strong start (3-5 MPH rollout) is essential.
If you don't start strong, you'll lose every time. The only advantage the IS350 has is in the 0 to 80 MPH realm (really 0 to 60, actually). Your friend is right to be confident, although I think he's probably underestimating the IS350 a bit.
The fact is, both cars are even under optimal conditions, and it's easier for the 550i to overcome a poor launch from the start because the 550i is simply stronger after 80 MPH.
Fractions of a second matter. If you were to start .2 or .3 seconds before your friend, you'd win the race. If he started .2 or .3 seconds before you, he'd win the race (assuming this isn't really going to be done at the track).
Traction control off, ECT-Normal. Don't try to launch the car by brake torquing. There's a good chance you'll fail.
Instead, suggest to your friend that you want to do a race not quite from 0 but from a 3-5 MPH rollout. Rollout at 3-5 MPH for 3 seconds (counting down), and then go. This will give both of you a much better chance of accelerating cleanly to start.
The IS350 and 550i are very evenly matched.
IS350 Acceleration:
2008 550i Acceleration:
According to these tests, you'll reach 80 MPH in 8.3 seconds having traveled 181.1 meters, while the 550 will have reached 80 MPH in 8.2 seconds having traveled 180.5 meters.
It's really really close.
Looking at the tables again, 0 to 70 MPH is the best comparison because both cars reach 70 MPH at the exact same time (6.5 seconds). The IS350 by 70 MPH will have traveled 124.5 meters compared to 123.5 meters for the 550i. 3 foot difference.
You'll be ahead by a hair by 70 MPH. Anything beyond that, you'll lose. I wouldn't put money on this race if I were you. These are two very evenly matched cars. The IS350 has a hair of an edge in the 0 to 60 realm, so having a strong start (3-5 MPH rollout) is essential.
If you don't start strong, you'll lose every time. The only advantage the IS350 has is in the 0 to 80 MPH realm (really 0 to 60, actually). Your friend is right to be confident, although I think he's probably underestimating the IS350 a bit.
The fact is, both cars are even under optimal conditions, and it's easier for the 550i to overcome a poor launch from the start because the 550i is simply stronger after 80 MPH.
Fractions of a second matter. If you were to start .2 or .3 seconds before your friend, you'd win the race. If he started .2 or .3 seconds before you, he'd win the race (assuming this isn't really going to be done at the track).
Ouuu thanks for advice! Then why on power mode feels that car is pulling more or going faster?
The car is designed for 91.
Anything lower will slow you down, anything higher is useless.
Your imagination.
Power output is identical in both cases.
But ECT-Power will shift at a lower RPM in a 0-to-some-speed floor the gas race... which is the opposite of what you want.
Normal mode for the quickest 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.
No.
In fact it mentions at least 2 or 3 times in the owners manual to never tow with an ISx50.
Power mode is useful in part-throttle and on/off throttle and brake type driving. (ie weaving through traffic type stuff) not drag racing.
Here's what ECT-Power actually does, straight from Lexus:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5807368-post24.html
Anything lower will slow you down, anything higher is useless.
Power output is identical in both cases.
But ECT-Power will shift at a lower RPM in a 0-to-some-speed floor the gas race... which is the opposite of what you want.
Normal mode for the quickest 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.
No.
In fact it mentions at least 2 or 3 times in the owners manual to never tow with an ISx50.
Power mode is useful in part-throttle and on/off throttle and brake type driving. (ie weaving through traffic type stuff) not drag racing.
Here's what ECT-Power actually does, straight from Lexus:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5807368-post24.html
I still haven't seen on here what you're actually racing - I assume a quarter mile? It would be extremely difficult and somewhat silly to race to 60. So what are the specific terms of the race? That will influence your chances, since the IS may have an edge at the beginning but the 550i will pull harder for longer.
Make sure to follow the advice of syzygy and Kurtz above. And more than anything else, make sure to report back here afterwards. Don't let us down!
Make sure to follow the advice of syzygy and Kurtz above. And more than anything else, make sure to report back here afterwards. Don't let us down!
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: TX
The car is designed for 91.
No.
In fact it mentions at least 2 or 3 times in the owners manual to never tow with an ISx50.
Power mode is useful in part-throttle and on/off throttle and brake type driving. (ie weaving through traffic type stuff) not drag racing.
Here's what ECT-Power actually does, straight from Lexus:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5807368-post24.html
No.
In fact it mentions at least 2 or 3 times in the owners manual to never tow with an ISx50.
Power mode is useful in part-throttle and on/off throttle and brake type driving. (ie weaving through traffic type stuff) not drag racing.
Here's what ECT-Power actually does, straight from Lexus:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5807368-post24.html
I still haven't seen on here what you're actually racing - I assume a quarter mile? It would be extremely difficult and somewhat silly to race to 60. So what are the specific terms of the race? That will influence your chances, since the IS may have an edge at the beginning but the 550i will pull harder for longer.
Make sure to follow the advice of syzygy and Kurtz above. And more than anything else, make sure to report back here afterwards. Don't let us down!
Make sure to follow the advice of syzygy and Kurtz above. And more than anything else, make sure to report back here afterwards. Don't let us down!
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As others said, let the ECU shift for you... it can shift alot faster than you. Keep it in D.
ECT to Normal Mode... it will hold the gear longer and gives you more usable power. Don't use ECT - Power Mode which will shift faster, but you miss that usable power range.
Disable Traction Control...
Kurtz already nailed down the basics you need to be doing. Go practice a few times on launching your car properly. Over-rev and you waste precious time spinning your wheels. Under-rev and you'll be slow off the line. You got to find that sweet spot for your tires...
ECT to Normal Mode... it will hold the gear longer and gives you more usable power. Don't use ECT - Power Mode which will shift faster, but you miss that usable power range.
Disable Traction Control...
Kurtz already nailed down the basics you need to be doing. Go practice a few times on launching your car properly. Over-rev and you waste precious time spinning your wheels. Under-rev and you'll be slow off the line. You got to find that sweet spot for your tires...
so much fail in this thread. just go to the "track" line up next to him, take off VSC TRAC and DONT brake launch, you wont get it down right.
KURTZ
I know your a god when it comes to these cars but ETC POWER (under FULL pedal depression) actually makes your gear last longer not shorter. Still I would leave it on D and not touch anything else but the TRAC/VSC off button....
and if you cant seem to beat him out of the whole, ask him to do a 20 mph race... use the paddle shifters (1st gear) to hold you at a contanst high rpm, count to 3 and drop the hammer.
KURTZ
I know your a god when it comes to these cars but ETC POWER (under FULL pedal depression) actually makes your gear last longer not shorter. Still I would leave it on D and not touch anything else but the TRAC/VSC off button....
and if you cant seem to beat him out of the whole, ask him to do a 20 mph race... use the paddle shifters (1st gear) to hold you at a contanst high rpm, count to 3 and drop the hammer.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 1
From: WA
Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 1
From: WA
ECT Power is for tracking your car on a course, not straight line racing.
yes, and you're about to engage in some yourself
Datalogging has shown that ECT Power shifts sooner than Normal does.
Here's the data from Gernby-
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/3042656-post38.html
ECT-Power shifts sooner. Which is why it sucks for a drag race.
See also all the fastest 1/4 mile times being run in Normal mode on the 2IS