BrianV

My 95 LS400 just rolled 99K miles and I swear it's faster then other 95-97's.


The reason why is I've seen many posts about ppl with 90-97's . The posts say how these people can't do burnouts or even chirp a little. Well my car when stepped on off the line really barks. It doesn't sit there and smoke them, but it spins them through about 4,000 RPM and wags a bit (and to my knowledge it's both tires that are spinning {I do not have TCS}). My tires are Michelin MVX4's and they both have over 50% tread.

Also, it just fells darn fast. Today I merged on the FWY and gunned it, it went into second, and the Camaro SS in front of me was pulling just slightly (it was mod'd, and I know he was gunning it cause it was loud and I could smell the cat converters working).

Finally, if I'm cruising at 20 and gun it, it downshifts and it'll lose traction, I've had the backend skip a little bit.

I've driven and raced a lot of cars, including cars that are in the low 15 second realm, I also own a high 12 second Maxima, and this Lexus feels like it's like a 14.5-14.7 or something.

Just wondering if anyone else has any input. The car has been well cared for mechanically, fluids changed religously, never driven fast except for the last month or so and still I only gun it on rare occassions.

JBrady

Brian,

Your LS sounds VERY quick indeed. I had a 96 and it would NOT spin the tires in the dry without brake torquing. In fact my 99 does not easily spin the tires unless I am at least turning slightly. Although I did have it engage the traction control light (actually VSC) when it downshifted today at 25mph into 1st gear. Still, it does not do what yours does and it is quick by even 98+ LS400 standards.

I would recommend getting your car to a track. I really have no answer for you except possibly a previous owner modified it in some way... maybe a torque converter?

BrianV

Yeah more times then not mine spins it pretty good, I've had it grab a couple of times though. I know it isn't running anything close to a 14.22 and I know the previous owner didn't mod.

I have all the records of this car's maintence, and it just doesn't seem right. An older man from Dallas who was a doctor. He had the car serviced at Lexus for everything and knew nothing about cars, he wasn't into speed or anything. However, I might look into a TC.

JBrady

Brian,

Bring that BA LS400 to Houston and we will get some performance numbers on it from my GTech Comp and swing by HRP to make it official.

BrianV

I'm in Houston frequently so I'll take you up on that offer.

However, new news: it's been raining and it's made me realize that there's something definately wrong with traction on this car. I've driven many RWD cars (most without traction control systems) and this one just spins WAY too easy. With throttle at 5-10% coming around a turn or out of a driveway the rear right wheel loves to just spin. As easy as it spins in the wet I can completely understand why it spins in the dry.

I'd be interested in seeing waht it can do, it doesn't feel that fast in 1st gear, but 2nd gear really cooks.

THanks