Not sure about elsewhere but Canadian RX330s are speed limited to 118Mph (190Kph).

I'm not sure I want to go any faster in an SUV. Not only would it be unsafe, it wouldn't be enjoyable. There's a difference between going fast and being glued to the road with a sports car (you get to enjoy the speed, the g-forces during handling, etc.). In a floaty SUV (and I don't care what SUV you have, it'll be floaty), the uncertainy detracts from the experience.

 

I agree completely.

We have discussions like this in other forums, but I didn't expect this in the RX section.

 

There's a world of difference between some "SUV's" and others when it comes to high speed handling. Here are excerpts from two online reviews that I just read on my car, an Infiniti FX45. I suspect that the BMW 4.4/4.6 and the Porsche Cayene would be similar:

From Cars.com:

"In the FX45, the rear wheels get 100 percent of the torque until slippage causes the system to direct up to 50 percent to the front wheels. As a result, the FX45 has the feel of a rear-drive car. Nail the gas and the rear wheels balance out the 54/46 (front/rear) weight distribution and boot you out of a turn with authority and control. Overdo it and the front wheels engage, eliminating slip. If the situation gets dodgy, the standard Vehicle Dynamic Control electronic stability system kicks in and makes you look good.

At a gathering of vehicles and journalists sponsored by the Midwest Automotive Media Association at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., the FX45 was one of the only SUVs allowed on the 4-mile racetrack, so I took the opportunity to push this sports-car wannabe to the limit. Its limits were remarkably far away. I didn’t baby it. I flung this beast around the track with abandon, and never did the notion of rolling over enter my mind. That’s not to say it’s impossible, because any vehicle can roll, but the FX45 feels more grounded to me than the X5 and ML-Class ever have."

Click here to read the entire article.

Also, from Auto Spies:

"FAST AND FURIOUS! Best power/handling/Bang for the buck in its class. Cruise all day long in the FX (except for numerous fuel stops) at 100MPH with absolutely NO drama. It rides like it is on rails."

For the full Auto Spies review click here .

By posting these excerpts and links I am in no way knocking the RX330 - in fact we have one on order - but I think with some of the newer crossover vehicles that handling is becoming much more of a priority/selling point than the more traditional body-on-frame SUV's. Arguably some of them (like the FX45 perhaps) and even the Lexus cannot be called an SUV in the traditional sense, but most people looking at them would be the opinion that they at least look like SUV's. The line is getting a bit blurry and it's certainly getting more difficult to categorize many of the newer models, but underneath the skin they have some important differences and obviously are trying to appeal to different kinds of buyers.

 

Here in California the top speed limit is 65. I have never gone any faster than that in my RX. No really Mister Occifer!

*chuckle chuckle*

badams

 

RX is heavier than cars so the float feeling comes from soft suspension and poor aerodynamics. It is not hard to have RX lowered with stiffer springs, bigger rims with sports tires, and take off roof rack and mud guards.

 

Quite an achievement for all speed demons out there.

How come no one posted pictures of speedometers? I got picture of 100 mph on my last car. I've never taken my RX300 beyond 80 mph though. It's an SUV so I wouldn't go crazy with it.

 

I am not sure anyone will feel comfortable when going > 80mph and taking a picture. Unless you have someone crawling on your back, I am not sure taking your eyes off the road and use at least one hand to hold the camera is a good idea.

 

Here in Mexico, this is way to easy to hit the max. However, the car will automatically block you just above 112 mph.

The best way to check your mph is to get a GPS and check the max.

In the 1/4 mile my speed ends up being somewhere just above 72 mph, but this is at high altitude. I managed to lower my time from 18.406 to 18.290 recently.

 

Boy, was it scary too. the steering wheel got all stiff and there was a slight breeze, and I thought I was gonna lose control.

you're a wuss

 

Last night, I was able to crack 120 on our toll road on the western part of Mexico City going north. I could only do it by accelerating at the top of a steep (but fortunately straight) dive downhill just before 112, where the fuel cutoff is. Hit 120.9 and had to run it 3 times (and pay the toll to go there and back). Several track buddies also use this hill to hit max speeds. Fortunately no highway patrol at 2 am.

Almost forgot to add, that I used a Garmin eMap GPS to verify the speed as I had done in the previous post.

 

113 and limiter cut right in. Rx felt smooth and stable. Iwant to remove limiter. anyone knows how to do this? and how much it costs

 

anulex,

It has been discussed. Not sure if these work, but you are welcome to investigate. Even if I go ahead with my RX turbo project, there is no way I will even hit close to 113 mph on a 1/4 mile track. Although at 7,400 altitude in Mexico City, the best velocity trap I get is 76.3 mph at the line. Fastest I have seen any vehicle do is a little over 120 mph.

You will also need to change your tires to a higher speed rating if you want to do it for extended periods.

HKS SLD (Speed Limit Defencer)
http://www.hksusa.com/products/?id=781&rsku=0

Link below shows it is supposed to work on the RX300
http://www.tte.de/tuning/website/Cer...exus-RX300.pdf
TTE V-Max Kit (above link is in German
Electronic removal of the 180 km/h speed limiter
TÜV approved top speed over 200 km/h
No change of the electronic engine management
Three years warranty on the kit
Incl. TÜV approval (only in combination with "H"-tyres e.g. 17" standard tyres)

BTW, not that I would advocate anyone else doing what I did previously on a downhill run, but it does work as the fuel cuts off but the car can get just enough intertia (and remember brakes don't engage automatically) to jump to 120. Just like a rollercoaster and scary as hell.

 

thanks dude that is soemthing i am definetely looking into. since u hhave been so helpfull, do u have an application that can change engine mangement to preserve gas and/or encourage sprited driving when i need to?

 

Absolutely, I like what you are thinking

The only one I can think of (and I will have to use it on a turbo system) is the Greddy eManage system, which is for Japanese vehicles. I have consulted with several experts in the field who advised me this is my only reasonably priced option. Be warned, in some other forums I have heard that the ECM will fight you and attempt to return to normal. It has also been doing that even with my mods below.

The real secret is increasing the air flow from my experience, but even then you might get a CEL from time to time.

BTW, some dude on cardomain I think might have installed that speed cutoff device,

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/477172

Read through his profanity and you will find out. I could handle that dude in the 1/4 mile easily.

When I get some parts I have on order installed, I plan to show some pictures of my setup to give you and everyone else and I idea of what I have done.

I have no problem being the forum Guinea Pig.

A couple more things you might want to look at are the following:

Sun Automobile HyperGround (S-Type) and HyperVoltage kits (MR series), I am ordering these tonight (hey it's payday)

Optima Red Top Battery 34/78 size (terminals are on opposite sides from the present battery and you have to clip the plastic ties currently holding the battercables down).

Toyota TRD T-Stat (just ordered from Carson Toyota)

TorqueMaster Spark Plugs (needs 6) (ordered from Carson Toyota)- my buddy with an RX-7 bought these for me as I am still not a believer that they will do much, but hey if I ain't paying OK

Vitek Performance Ultra Series Spark Plugs wires- ordered these the other day, the 99 ES300 wires fit according to them for my 99 RX, if you look at OBX's site you will see the unit number is the same for ES and RX. Could not find anything in Nology and I asked.

Tom's Radiator Cap (can get at Carson Toyota)

Weapon-R intake (forget the Cold Air Box) and wait for my pictures and I will show you something really cool. Tuned RX300 has something similar that works really well to take air from the lower part of the car. You can actually use a cut up cooking pot as a heat shield.

Direct muffler- There are so many types.

Wider exhaust pipe- go from 2 inch to 2.5 inch (won't throw a CEL), better to do together with a direct muffler with the same size entrance.

Highflow Catalytic Converter from Magnaflow. In Connecticut for your 2001 RX you should just have the OBDII test. It won't throw a light and even if you had tailpipe emissions, I know from repeated testing you will pass. I even pass without precats on tailpipe test.

Fluids- Amsoil or Mobil1 for your oil 5W-30 is fine for where you live, K&N oil filter, Valvoline Powersyn Brake Fluid and PSF, Redline WaterWetter Coolant Additive.

I plan to have custom-made set of headers made for my RX in Mexico, but still need to do some snooping.

The turbo project is also feasible, but I need to figure out some of the plumbing.

Understand I believe in the idea that the RX300 is not a soccer mom vehicle, but should be perfomance based. The words the Fast and the Luxurious ring for me.

 

u r my kinda guy. i dont experience the body roll i hear people taking about. This RX has TSC. VSC and AWD. and u still scared to push it. Then again i am also sitting on bigger shoes. i will be saving this post and doing some different things. However, my concern is wont the ECU try to adjust the managemnt to bring the engine in line with the performance from the Factory. I hear that if u put a lets say a cold air kit on the the engine adjust the air mixture so as to opmitmize factory settings. so all u really get is a nicer sounding engine compartment. I have one b/c it sounds and feels a little faster to me