Danced with a GS400

[96Qowner]

I took a trip to Minneapolis Sunday. As I was approaching the city with a slow driver in the left lane, I had to brake and wait for him to clear the lane. Saw in the rear view mirror a black Lexus coming up fast behind me. When the lane cleared I resumed my cruise, only to see the Lexus pushing me, coming up fast again. So I floored it. I saw him lose for a sec and then come at me again, as he did the same. But he never did manage to gain anything more. I pulled away steadily until 115, when I decided enough was enough.

He pulled alongside in the right lane and we gave each other a thumbsup. It looked to be 2000 vintage or so. I think the 300hp one. I had him all the way.

[maxnix]

So much for the "slow" OBD II G50!

[vicQ45]

the things people call slow these days :-P

great story!

[sijoko]

Good kill.

If I am right the GS400 hits 4th gear by 100mph, which is a 1:1 ratio. The Q will hit 3rd by around 90-95mph which is also a 1:1 ratio.

The rear end gear on the GS is, I believe, a 3.27 whereas the Q has the 3.54.

The torque output between the cars are similiar, so the Q will have the gearing advantage at speeds over 100mph. I won't bother doing the math, but you get the idea.

I like to see the look on people's faces when the Q keeps up or pulls away at high speeds.

I raced a guy in a C5 Vette automatic a long time ago (1999) when my car was stock except for a Stillen intake.

We both went at it from 70 to around 120. I thought I would surely get left in the dust, but the funny thing was that he never pulled away. When he punched it, I was behind him in the right lane and stayed there all the way.

Later, I found out that the Automatic Vettes have really low (2.73) rear end gears. Once they get into 3rd gear, which is about the same speed as the Q, the final torque output at the wheels drops below the Q45's.

Bet you didn't know that.
Modified by sijoko at 6:58 PM 4/4/2005

[Fastlane]

Nice run 96

[rsiwicki]

Hey Eddie.....did you get your transmission fixed?

sorry to hijack???

btw...very nice kill and as sijko says....the Q (especially mine after all the mods) is so damn deadly from 95 to 135 while locked in 3rd gear and putting down a solid 250+ rwhp across the entire power band of 4,000 to 7,000 rpms.
Modified by rsiwicki at 7:52 PM 4/4/2005

[elwesso]

Excellent... Show those lexus owners!!!!!!

[Fastlane]

Hey Rob......New transmission from Scottsdale....$1601.00 and $900 to put it in. The car feels stronger than before...shifts quick and tight...I think I'll head out of Moroso Wednesday night,and see if there is any difference. Too bad it's not cooler.---------------------------------------------------96Q...160k 2000 Anniversary Q45..62k

[97Q45t]

Are you sure it was a GS400? All my friends have GS400's and to be honest, they're the beasts, low and high speeds. Anyway, I got to find a G50 for a test drive. All the fun stories make me itching for a G50. Perhaps it's time to show them who the daddy is.

[FarFetched]

Today I had a bit fun on 520 going from work. I see a Corvette trying to push car in front away. Then he takes off, I fallow(trying my best) we hit about 120 and staying at that speed for about 3-4 miles (open road no cars) I am behind! I am sure if he wanted to lshake me off, he would have a slightest problem with it Then he signals off ramp, we got even and we waived at each other!That was fun.Ther is no Q45 that will beat 00-01 Corvette. Corvettes are pure EVIL

[rsiwicki]

Hey Eddie....Wednesday night at Moroso sounds good for me to if my car is out of the dealer. I am taking it there for an alignment and to bump up timing to 17 degrees and have them check a few other things out, but it should be ready by the end of the day. I will call 95BlackQ (Ft. Lauderdale) to see if he wants to run with us on Wednesday night as well.

Glad to hear the new transmission is doing great for you.

[maxnix]

Ther is no Q45 that will beat 00-01 Corvette. Corvettes are pure EVIL

It sure will if you want to cruise interstate distances in comfort. The Corvette will beat you up on a 800 mile day. In a Q, you will only stop because it is time to.

[FarFetched]

What I ment is Corvette has a lot to offer speedwise!I had to floor it to catch up with the guy! Comfort, I am sure Q is a lot more comfortable than many cars out there even in brand new condition.

[96Qowner]

sijoko, that explains a lot. I'm still always a little stunned at the powerband on the G50. It just feels like there's nothing on the road that can catch it over 70mph - just climbs and climbs, smooth power all the way to scaredycat land.

Sometime, it'd be nice to find a table of sedans and their speed characteristics. I wonder how many are as fast or faster than the G50. Can't be many - not at freeway speeds.

For those of you who don't get theirs out onto the open road, sheesh, just do it, do it. NOTHING like its intown performance. It OWNS the highway.

[maxnix]

For those of you who don't get theirs out onto the open road, sheesh, just do it, do it. NOTHING like its intown performance. It OWNS the highway.

Amen. Take a two or three day trip, preferably out west. It is truly an incredible car when everything is up to snuff. Few cars can match it from 70 mph - to triple digit speeds.

Can't tell you how many truckers I had to pass on the right when they pulled out too soon to pass another truck. Should have let the Q45 pass them on the left first!

[Black95Q]

Nice run!

I got a sweet kill on a GS300, but no 400s yet.

Rob, I've been on the dayshift so I'll be free tomorrow night for Moroso....even though my Q will be limping a bit with the bad steering rack.

Give me a call.

[rsiwicki]

Larry....great to hear that you are on for tomorrow night. Now I will definitely request that the dealer have my car done tomorrow so we can have 3 Q's all running with each other at the track. That will be awesome.

btw...just make sure you have nothing obvious loose (battery, etc.) or leaking as they were really tight on making sure that the cars were in very good & safe condition for you and others to run on the track. They got me for not having the battery tie down bar fully tightened which was a little nick picky since it still held the battery down securely.

Will call ya tomorrow afternoon.

[TgduMg]

All my friends have GS400's

How could they possibly be your friends if they have GS400's? Just kidding. A couple of my friends have GS400's and another had a GS430, and they do move out. Actually, it was Motor Trends test of the then new 98 GS400 that made me unsatisfied with the G50's low 15 second 1/4 times, but more recent tests of the previous gen GS400/430 and the 06 GS430 are in the mid 14 bracket. This explains why rsiwicki and sijoko are my 1320 heroes!

Danisiti 1

[maxnix]

The GS is a smaller car, and thus usually a tad bit faster. Never have trouble passing them on the highway though.