100+mph virgin.
100+mph virgin.
This past sat i was suckerd in to a little race on the beltway here in dc by a friend i a solara and a 350z. We enter the highway and soon as the cruising state trooper takes his exit the solara took off(pretty quick car to my suprise). Nevertheless I followed. This was the first time i ever been hind the wheel of a car goin 100+. The experience was one to remember. If it wasn't for one of my cheap *** hankooks needing balancing, I could've went faster for sure. At 110 this car is dead silent except for the tire noise and vibration. Couldn't even hear the engine all that much. I LOVE THIS MACHINE YOU HEAR ME!. As i started to walk the solar to let him know who's boss i slowed just a bit only to have both of us hunted down like dears in africa by a cheeta- like 350z that looked at ease as it passed us at atleast 130mph. 
What an experience!
What an experience!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 87
From: Delaware
Solara = deer.....LS = ? ...
LOL! Nice post!
I know the majority of the time that I drive the LS
, the seat's leannned back a lilbitttt more than my work truck with my R hand on the passenger's side headrest or even in the passenger's seatback area and my L hand just dangling at the 12 of the wood, TagHeuer glistening, nearly blinding w/reflections in the sunlight, jus chillin--know what im sayinnnn?......but ALL the "coolness" ENDS during a situation that you just described! 
If "it's time" to get on it, or be aggressive for whatever reason (racing, defensive/aggressive driving, etc), it's all about 2 hands on the wheel at the 9 & 3 positions!
I hope you had a firm grip during your adrenaline rush!
Disclaimer---this is neither an endorsement nor encouragement for fast or aggressive driving.
ps..awesome visualation of the cheeta hunting down a deer..altho maybe the LS is more of a hippo?? lol! (the hippo is surprisingly FAST for such a large beast!!)
I know the majority of the time that I drive the LS
, the seat's leannned back a lilbitttt more than my work truck with my R hand on the passenger's side headrest or even in the passenger's seatback area and my L hand just dangling at the 12 of the wood, TagHeuer glistening, nearly blinding w/reflections in the sunlight, jus chillin--know what im sayinnnn?......but ALL the "coolness" ENDS during a situation that you just described! If "it's time" to get on it, or be aggressive for whatever reason (racing, defensive/aggressive driving, etc), it's all about 2 hands on the wheel at the 9 & 3 positions!
I hope you had a firm grip during your adrenaline rush!
Disclaimer---this is neither an endorsement nor encouragement for fast or aggressive driving.
ps..awesome visualation of the cheeta hunting down a deer..altho maybe the LS is more of a hippo?? lol! (the hippo is surprisingly FAST for such a large beast!!)
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Shame on me, but I have gone beyond the century mark on my LS too... and it's so much different in every way than my only other 100mph car my 1995 Honda Civic. Where that car grunted, roared, and chocked all the way to 100 and sounded and felt like the wheels were about to fly off, the LS handled the big 100 without even hinting that it's stressing.
Would I do it again? Probably not, because this is still a car to be used for 70-80 mph cruising.
Would I do it again? Probably not, because this is still a car to be used for 70-80 mph cruising.
Moderator
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,761
Likes: 72
From: Atlanta, GA
The fastest I have been in the LS is 118MPH and yes it is dead quiet and smooth just an incredible machine! BTW that was the first and the last time I will do that, it was late going home on I-20 E a S-Class (guessing 01-?) and BMW 740 came flying past me so I could not let them just dis me like that. I had to show em the LS430 is a old man cruiser ha-ha they were surprise to say the least.
Last edited by Tee; Nov 9, 2009 at 07:35 PM.
Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 7
From: Quebec
) but we are at the reach of much cheaper cars.ie at ~$33000 a stock new Nissan 370Z will bring you to 160mph.
Add couple grants under the hood and you see it climbing to 200mph.
Now bring the two cars at 130mph and slam the breaks.
That’s where our extra weight catches us back.
It was a spare of the moment thing that i don't think will happen in the foreseeable future. I love this car to much to subject her to treatment of the sort on a regular basis. Plus, im too much of a chicken to be going that fast anyway. I'll leave the speeding to the "Mod" family. I was just nice to see potential of this car although i wouldn't recommend a Z as your opponent. You would never think that the LS was capable of such things just by looking at it but it will indeed surprise the hell out of you.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 430
Likes: 11
From: CA
I bet these cars feel smooth at those kind of speeds but still fricking dangerous.
I did about 140mph in my brand new, at the time, 87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 5speed. Supposedly the car did 143mph so I wanted to see what that felt like. The speedo max was 140 and I had the needle pegged. On a deserted section of I-40 near Flagstaff, AZ. Since then I've never taken any of my cars past about 85 or 90, hell I don't think I've gone over 75 for years!
I did about 140mph in my brand new, at the time, 87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 5speed. Supposedly the car did 143mph so I wanted to see what that felt like. The speedo max was 140 and I had the needle pegged. On a deserted section of I-40 near Flagstaff, AZ. Since then I've never taken any of my cars past about 85 or 90, hell I don't think I've gone over 75 for years!
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Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 7
From: Quebec
In comparison, the SC430 does 0-60 in 5.8s and got a 155mph top speed which is also electronically limited. So yes 130mph is dangerous and illegal but the car can easily take it.
This one is for LS430inDE -> Solara = Deer = LS ;-)
Solara specs:
0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds
0-100 mph: 14.5 seconds
200-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g
Top speed: 130 mph
Braking (60-0 mph): 127 ft
700-ft Slalom Speed: 63.6 mph
Last edited by Yaff; Nov 10, 2009 at 04:14 AM.
i was on 95 south jersey turnpike section omw back from nyc to dc area last monday afternoon and i had the cruise set on about 77mph or so. i was just cruising along and i saw this big new looking sedan catching up quick and then it flew past me doing well over 100+ mph and it was a brand new looking 750 white bmw with big 20" chrome wheels and blacked out windows so well you know me i had to pursue. my wife was a little pissed and as we approached 130mph on my dial the dude was still gaining on me by a lot after i almost pulled up along side him at like 115. so with my dial at like 125-130 i just let him go as we approached some traffic and i just watched as all i saw was break lights and blinkers as he fought his way through the traffic ahead. i really don't mind doing some higher speeds but not if i have to use a lot of blinkers and especially not brakes at that speed. just not worth the hassle let alone the safety and risk of tickets and horrible fuel economy 
..
i didn't know that our cars (05 ul here) were limited to 130?? if this is true i guess you could say i reached it then, or pretty damn close to it at least.
..i didn't know that our cars (05 ul here) were limited to 130?? if this is true i guess you could say i reached it then, or pretty damn close to it at least.
Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 7
From: Quebec
I've seen couple of youtube videos, around 130mph the RPM is next to the redline.
ls430 next to redline at 130?? i wasn't exactly paying that close attention but i don't recall it being that drastic, the car felt like it had a little bit more in it for sure, and i really hadn't heard of this 130 governor before, i would have guessed it would be a little higher like alexus mentioned.
boy racers? in an ls?? hmmm not exactly the right platform for racing but if you are referring to the triple digit speeds then sure why not
the tracks around here are only going to tell you 1/4 mile though right? not top speed. and i doubt the ls 430 will get hardly above 105- 110 ish in a .25 mile.
boy racers? in an ls?? hmmm not exactly the right platform for racing but if you are referring to the triple digit speeds then sure why not
the tracks around here are only going to tell you 1/4 mile though right? not top speed. and i doubt the ls 430 will get hardly above 105- 110 ish in a .25 mile.