As outlined in my road kill post I have now seen 120mph in my 96 LS400. This is extremely wimpy of me, every car I have ever owned I have top ended except my LS400. As soon as I buy new tires I must rectify this. Still, I would wager that FEW LS400s have been past 100mph and VERY FEW have been past 115mph. One of the magazines ran a 97 LS400 (same as 96) to 156mph and I want to see how my ride compares. I think Lexus speedometers are very accurate.

 

It's fast enough, I think I took my LS to about 125, middle of the night, empty road, etc. Got chicken around then since it didn't feel as stable as our old 7series. It would be really cool if my stock GS shocks/springs would work my 93 LS I really felt that the body roll on the LS was excessive, though I haven't driven a 95+ LS to compare. Are you getting some suspension changes before your 100hp blower?

 

My 96 feels very stable at these speeds. I haven't decided on suspension yet. I love the cush ride. Steel fist, velvet glove.

 

I've bounced mine off the limiter just north of 150MPH. Its a VERY stable car at these speeds, stays smooth and quiet.

Remember though everyone, be careful with driving this fast, do it only on an empty, flat, level road, and only if you have experience at such speeds.

 

My Lexus goes up to 270 km/hr which is unbelievable! The thing about the Lexus is that its a smooth car .. even when you speed up u feel relaxed.

 

I had it at 155 - 157 with a friend in a passanger seat. I tried alone and whimped out on 160+. Kinda weird this is my '91 LS. Pretty smooth on these speeds. Just don't be trying to make any turns at those speeds.

 

RE: Retrodrive, I thought the Govt put a limit on the LS @ 150 mph, or at least that is what i have always been told ( I have only gotten to 90-92 mph in my 1994) I will crack 100 mph SOMEDAY and hey is it normal to get a bit depressed when getting close to the 100,000 mile mark ??? I dunno or is it no big deal just a # to most , I will be their soon and I dunno if i am looking forward for another digital # to pop up on my ODO , ok talk to ya later.
Happy Lexus Owner,
Paul

 

retro has his limiter taken off i believe,i have hit 128mph on mines on the surface street, never again will i do it.

1994 LS 400 100K miles aint nothin,I have seen some LS's with 360K miles on it and more.

 

I believe there is no limiter on mine (removed). I need to find a long straight road to top it off...never did. If there is some airport ot a really long track, I would really like to try and go way above 160 (if my car can). I really want to find the speed detector unit that would tell you your speed. That would be fun to do a flyby when someone is filming that.

I am kind of depressed about the car milege, however I will probably drop a newer engine into it and might add some mods while the new engine is out of the car.

 

I've been 110 in the RX Felt very stable, no turns though:eek:

 

122 MPH, it was a rural road, but it was just paved, so I had no "unstable sensations" once so ever. Although I bet I could of gone faster, I just chickened out. It was in a '93 ES300. It handled well, but it was starting to get a little less stable as it passed 100.

 

I've gone 145mph on a long straight side road next to a highway. The way i understood it, the first gen only had a limiter at 180mph as said in some review i read on an old mag. The car stayed very stable and i didn't get scared at all. I've probably done this 6 times all in the 120mph to 145mph speed just to have some fun and see the people's faces on the highway as someone flies by them at double thier speed. Heres a tip, slowing down a little too quickly will melt your brakes which is what happened to me. When i slowed down too quick the brake peddle vibrated alot and then started making a high pieched squel whenever i braked. It turned out at my dealer that there was blue burn marks on the barkes and that they had to be reworked. Luckily, this fixed the problem of the squel. I haven't gone those speeds again in a long time and probably won't again just because of the risk of death and of a hefty dealer charge for new brakes. Does going this fast do any damage to your engine or put too much strain on the car??? *My car is completely stock*

 

WELL.... this is an OLD post. I received an email that someone had replied to my thread. This is the first time I have received such a notice so I a unsure what has changed.

Anyway, I posted again several months ago that I had hit 130mph and wimped out again. I did this once more and haven't topped 100 for a while. Car & Driver lists 156mph as the top speed for 95-97 model LS400s. This is around 6mph faster than earlier (1st gen LS)

250hp models (pre 95) are rated between 145 and 150mph depending on the tire size (wider tires create more drag and result in lower top speed). It is my understanding that these cars do NOT have a speed limiter. If you lower a car its top speed will generally increase due to the improved aerodynamics. Obviously, if you add power the top speed increases.

As far as test purposes go, stock speedometers may NOT be accurate at high rates of speed. Old X band radar guns are available for reasonable prices for those wishing to DOCUMENT their terminal velocity.

BTW, 1SICKLEX, thanks for asking about me...

 

Took it to about 125 mph with 5 ppl in car (one person weiged 250+ lbs)

static911

 

tacshose, As I said, it is my understanding that 1st gen (90-94) LS400s do NOT have a limiter. If they did it would not be 180mph as the aerodynamics of these cars would require about 375hp to reach 180mph. These cars reach top speed as a function of the total friction and aero drag. Some cars are limited by their gearing and engine redline, NOT LS400s. A 250hp LS400 should be able to touch 150mph. 160mph would probably take 275hp. 170mph around 315hp and 375hp should touch 180mph. Notice that as speed increases that the power goes up more and more. Consider that 60mph only needs around 20hp.

As far as damage to your car from high speed driving... should not be a problem. As you found out, LS400 brakes are not designed for panic stopping from 150mph Of course a flat tire at those speed could cause SERIOUS damage to both vehicle and occupants. :O