This was originally posted in the "Mods I wouldn't do again" thread but I wanted to repost to get suggestions from other members that did not read the original post.

I have never been able to spin the tires on my 02 GS300 from a dead stop but it has a great top end. I beat most challengers off the line but they are not Lexus GS. I did beat an newer IS300 the other day from a traffic light but I am not sure he was really trying as much as I was to beat the lane merge. No power mods on my car of any kind that I know of. Stock air box etc. but the 98 has a much better low end for some reason. When I drive the 98 I have to take it easy especially leaving my gravel driveway. Not spinning the tires on pavement but a bit more "spunk". I never really tried to spin the tires in the 98 since it is the wife's car. Club Lexus member LALexusGS suggested that the 98 may have more low end due to the different rear end gear ratios in the different year models. I would like to increase the power of the 02 car without breaking the bank like boost etc. Any advice? Do performance chips do any good? I don't want to do major mods like an engine swap or anything like that.

In hindsight I would have bought the 430. I could have had a 430 back in Nov. 05 in black on black with ML and Navi that was an 02 for the same $27k I gave for my 02 GS 300. The only other major difference is that mine is certfied pre-owned with the warranty to 100k miles. The other car had no warranty and a few thousand more miles.

I am not looking to race and I really don't need to drive any faster or spin my expensive (IMO) rubber but too many "putter" around here. They race to get in front of you or pull out in front of you then drive really slow. I am not usually in a hurry but some of these idiots are bent on blocking you for some reason. With opposing traffic, it is difficult to pass on a 2 lane highway. I want to blow past them then return to a more reasonable speed. I usually drive about 5 or 10 miles over the limit but many other drivers prefer to drive under the limit. My routes are usually 2 lane highways and it seems that the more people you get in front of, the less you are behind exponentially as other drivers in front let at least 1 car in front at each intersection. 3 cars in front at 3 intersections = 12 cars in front now. That could be the difference between being in front of or behind one or more rock throwing, windshield and paint dinging, slow moving, black exhuast spewing gravel trucks that seem to permeate the morning traffic.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

I'm not an expert, but I think some of the least expensive mods you can, and some might be diy, are: intake, exhaust, headers, performance chip, lsd and torque converter.

 

I cant spin the tires on mine either and I have the SRT intake w/ ECU and OBX headers. But I also have 10" wide tires on the back. I can spin the tires if I hold the brakes down though.

 

Take out the chip and LSD and maybe the torque converter and you might be spinning tires..

 

Well like I said, I am not trying to spin the tires, just a bit more kick when it is needed. Another member in the "Mods I wouldn't do again" thread stated that the intake he installed cut his low end performance so he removed it. I am not sure if it was just the particular type or what. I could do that type of mod if it were to improve performance but at this point, I am just not sure. So far it sounds like a performance chip is a possibility. What is the recommended chip and where is the best place to get it? Of course, I will search for it on ebay when I know which one to get. I just don't want to get the wrong one and fry a computer or somthing.

 

The intake the guy was referring to that loses a little low end TQ, but adds high end, was probably the SRT. I now have the OBX header that puts the low end back with interest.

 

The easiest way to accomplish my goal and is an upgrade that would take only a couple of hours of my time with minimal effort and sweat. Just buy a GS 430. It would just be a bit more than I want to spend.

 

Actually I have the Injen intake and that one also robs you of low end torque.

 

header / catback exhaust - free flow cataytic converter....

 

Exsys2000, I believe I'm the guy that you are referring to in the would do/would not do thread. I had an AEM intake. That thing seriously KILLED my low end. I was having a hard time spinning the tires on wet ground! I would have to hold the brakes and floor it to spin/break traction at all. Note: This is with my old stock 16's.

Needless to say, I put my stock intake back in. I can spin tires on dry ground if I launch the car correctly, and on wet ground I can spin the tires all day just by punching the gas. I can still do this with my new 18's.

For your mods. I recommend the following. I'm not sure how old you are, but this is what I would get. If I was to do all N/A mods. I'm going with F/I so I guess this doesn't apply to me

SRT Intake (possibly, I've never tried it but heard good stuff about it)
Headers thats remove the first two cats. Leave the third one in there and the rest of your exhaust system stock to prevent it from being too noisy.
If you don't mind the noise. Go ahead and get the full exhaust system. This will free up a few HP.
Torque Converter
Don't get LSD unless you plan to have some FI since the LSD unit has a lower gearing that will actually make your car slower.
After that you might think about lowering the car and dropping on an aftermarket suspension. Have some fun carving the twisties

Even with the above few big ticket items installed, you might only gain about 25-30HP or so. Honestly theres not much you can do with the inline 6 unless you go with F/I.

 

Thanks guys. The exhuast is do-able. SRT intake could be done but that is a good bit of money for a little bit of parts. It would have to be highly recommended by others. TC seems to be a waste for a GS 300 according to many others. We will see. I don't mind spending money on my car but I have other priorities and expect value for my money. That is why I bought a used Lexus instead of a new one. I am on the tail end of a complete kitchen remodel that cost me over 10 grand. Now I need to recover.

 

oh man... the mod bug got to you huh?