I own a 1999 Maxima SE Limited and my mom just bought a 1992 Lexus LS400 fully loaded with traction control. I have driven both and I feel that the Max is quicker out of the hole but the Lexus has some real pull after about
40 mph. I am interested in hearing of anyone racing one and how they matched up. Peace!!

 

Race your mom and tell us.

 

The 1992 LS400s had relatively equivalent performance numbers as the Maxima. I believe it was 250HP/ 260 Lb-Ft. from its 4.0L V8. In a relatively heavy car such as the LS400, that lead to 0-60 times in the 7.2 second range. I have driven several of these before and find them to be very good at straight line performance, but leaving a floaty/isolated feeling in turns (just like a Maxima). Over 100, the LS400 will pull on you on its way to a governeed 155 MPH speed limit. Congratulate your mother on a good purchase and ask her to borrow it often.

 

Thanks for the info Medicsonic. If the Lexus does 155 with a governer, then how fast do you think it would go ungoverned? And what is the minimal amount of mods I can do to keep up with it to at least the top speed of the Maxima. I hear that the y or b-pipe gives alot of top end power. Would the pipe, JWT popcharger, and underdirve pulley be enought to do that? Later man.

 

LS400 are pushing about 5800 at that speed, so they only have about another 5-10 MPH in top speed over that. In order to get any Maxima over about 145, your going to have to supercharge, which will give you about 280 HP and a ~150-155 top end. that'll cost ya about 3000. All of the other performance mods bring power up fractionally, usually less than 10 HP at a time. They'll help a little, but as cars go faster and faster, drag plays a bigger and bigger role into the top speed and acceleration question. Keep up? I guess, but remember, you have to take into account your driving ability, engine performance, tire performance, tranny performance and a host of other problems. Keep it under 100 and you SHOULD be able to hang. An average person with good automotive knowledge should be able to install their own Y-Pipe and Popcharger, but if your going to go fast, start with safety and handling, not the engine. Get a good set of tires and get a Front Strut tower brace and rear sway bar. I hear they take a lot of the floatyness of Maximas away.

 

im actually thinking about selling the max and picking up a 92-93 ls400 instead. that was the car i originally wanted to buy but i ended up with a maxima instead. ls has great power very quiet and isolated and not as floaty as the max while being a lot smoother. i can sell max for $12.5 and get ls for $1000 more.

 

Change the tires before you go 155mph+. Lexus LS400 comes stock with V-rated tires which are limited near or at 149mph. They do not come with limiters. Stock form, they can run right up to the stock tire limits of 149mph. Keep in mind that this was tire limited and this car can go faster. The car kicks *** on the highway. I test drove a 92-93 a couple of months ago. Ultimate quietness! That V8 just rocks.

 

no way man 94-96 Q45 is better!

 

Yeah, but they hold NONE of their value, and the 2nd Gen Q45s got both weaker, slower and alot less distinctively styled. Of couse that just my opinion. BTW, SS2001, are you takig the sound system and the sound deadening out of the car when you sell it?

 

I will have to sell the box and the kick panels at a great loss....the sound deadening is not really removable... But i do feel that it adds a premium of maybe $500-1000 to my car. Although just the labor is worth about $1500. I will post my box and kicks soon is for sale section. I have an offer for my box with the subs in it so far for $420...the subs retail for $349 each and the box cost me $500 to have it built. And i have all the paperwork for the subs 3 year warranty...let me know