Alrighty so I have basically dedicated this summer to making my rx300 a little bit faster. Any suggestions on what might be best. Here's a little video clip of my 0-60. Lets make it Faster!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9RDK...ature=youtu.be

 

I've always noticed there's plenty of clearance for a turbocharger under the hood if anyone came up with one. I'm afraid I'm not smart enough to provide you with practical ideas, though. Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

When you say faster, is there a number you have in mind? or just faster than what you have today?
What is your budget?
What are you willing to give up?

Weight:
Remove any thing that you can.
User-manual, spare, seat(s), carpet, empty out bins, remove door panels and so on.
Go on diet, drive without passengers.
Swap out to smaller and lighter battery.
Drive with as little fuel as possible.

Things that rob power:
Remove AC
Cats

Increase air intake
Discard current intake and put in bigger and cooler intake

Increase Exhaust:
Larger dia free flowing.

Getting power to the wheels
Stickier tires
Swap torque converter.

Generate more power: [keep in mind the ecu mapping will restrict you so do the home work]
Turbo


Concerns:
Be careful as you will stress the transmission.


At the end, you will not be driving a Lexus and the gain will be marginal. You will be better off buying a civic or subaru to modify for speed or a real sports car. Lexus Rx is not meant to be transformed to a speed demon.

Salim

 

My budget is about 3k. I would like to get an extra 40-50 hp. I have looked at the Weapon R intake and was thinking about searching around for a cat-back exhaust. Other than that weight reduction seems very practical. I would still like to maintain daily driver capability so no major interior mods.

 

If I were you, I'd look up user Lexmex (I'm sure he will post in this thread once he gets time). And look all of his threads!! Yes, that will take you forever! Take a look at his youtube channel as well to see the improvements he's made in the performance of his RX. (youtube channel- lexmex1)

I've personally read every single thread Lexmex has created thus far, well as far as CL will let me see anyways and there is an amazing amount of information in there. You will find a ton of things you can do. Also read his cardomain page, lot's more applicable information in there.

 

I agree with hypervish - if anyone know how to speed up the RX, its Lexmex. He used to race his '99 RX.

 

Take a look at my signature, but if you have any questions, please ask away.

If you look at some of my videos on youtube, see lexmex1 on a youtube search, you can see some of the 1/4 mile videos from the cabin view. Keep in mind those runs were at high altitude so the acceleration would be slower than at sea level, but it still gives you an idea.

 

Just my frugal $.02. With 200,000 miles and still used as a daily driver, myself I'd think about reliability and the stress these mods will put on other (well broken-in) components of your 15 year old RX. What is it you will gain by being slightly quicker away from the stoplight or on the onramp? Your budget might quickly be "blown" rebuilding the transmission or something else... But for $3000 you might find another fun car to toy with that would not need to be relied upon for transportation needs, and you would still have a fairly spry RX.
Have fun!

 

I had to laugh at Salim's post -- at first, I thought he was kidding about cats robbing power. Good thing I don't allow cats in my car. Dumb me, I suddenly realized he was talking about catalytic converters! These guys know about what they're telling you, reflex99. I trust what they say!

 

It was meant to be part funny and part factual. As I re-read it looks discouraging, which was not the intention.

Salim

 

I didn't read it as discouraging; I think you offered lots of different avenues to pursue depending on how much faster he wants it to be. You always have good advice!

 

you wont get 40-50 hp soley off bolt ons (i.e. intake, exhaust, etc.)

 

I don't race my RX anymore, that was over 5 years ago, but the whole reason I originally did modifications was due to high altitude and difficult performance of my daily driver, the racing came later, and many of those same modifications also help the vehicle in terms of MPG and reliability.