04 Infiniti Q45 vs 00 Lexus GS400

[apreci]

I have the Q45 and my brother has the GS400. I got spanked!The GS has much more agressive shifts and starts walking away from the Q45 on the highway...I'm trying to figure that out!

[maxnix]

Smaller car, less weight.

[reid_houston]

You will have to put it in manumatic to get the most out of her. But You may not win if his car is still in good shape.

[szh]

And, disengage the VDC for sure!

Z

[apreci]

From a dead stop it's very close to 60mph.I tried with the manumatic and automatic at highway speeds, but he always starts to walk away from me.I have another brother who has a computer for tuning vehicles and he is going to look into making the Qship more agressive when shifting.

I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the feedback.

[DrewQ45]

Get a 90-93Q... He won't be walking away from you then.

[jamesmost]

my car and superior drining ability have stomped on gs 400 a # of times next week gonna stomp omn my friends 05 audi a8l concerned about the 6 speed the A8 has

[pito11213]

2004 Infiniti Q45

Wheelbase, in. 113.0Overall Length, in. 199.6Overall Width, in. 72.6Overall Height, in. 58.7Curb Weight, lbs. 3977Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 13.7Standard Payload, lbs. --Fuel Capacity, gals. 21.4Seating Capacity 5Front Head Room, in. 38.4Max. Front Leg Room, in. 44.0Rear Head Room, in. 36.4Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 37.3

dohc V8 4.5 / 274 340 333 5-speed automatic: 17/255-speed automatic: 18.1

2000 Lexus GS400Specification 4-door sedanWheelbase, in. 110.2Overall Length, in. 189.0Overall Width, in. 70.9Overall Height, in. 56.7Curb Weight, lbs. 3693Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 14.8Standard Payload, lbs. --Fuel Capacity, gals. 19.8Seating Capacity 5Front Head Room, in. 39.2Max. Front Leg Room, in. 44.5Rear Head Room, in. 37.4Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 34.3

dohc V8 4.0 / 242 300 310 5-speed automatic: 17/245-speed automatic: 17.9

[pito11213]

Sorry but aint not G50 stock taking out a GS400.

Even for a modified G50 its a challenge.

[szh]

a 2003 or 2004 M45 would do it though!

Z

[Jesda]

For any Q, any generation, the GS V8 would eventually pull away.

Even trucks these days are fast. A Tundra could outrun both cars.

[maxnix]

I think 135+mph the G50 has a chance with the NICO ECU. It would take that long to catch up from a standing start as the 400 lbs disadvantage will hurt the Q45.

A GS400/430 is basically a small Accord on the inside. Even less room than a Q , especially in back.
Modified by maxnix at 4:53 PM 3/9/2007

[marksport]

I noticed this as well. My brother had a '99 GS400 that he just sold. He also has a '97 Y33 Q45. The GS400 pulls abit harder and shifts quicker. No delay or slow shifting like my '02 Q45.

[Q45tech]

The only advantage the early Q has is not shifting from 50-98 [with ecu mods or 94-96]..............Any 5AT shifts around 63-75 mph, then stays in a gear thru the quarter mile [until 100 + mph]. Some shift slow and luxurous and some tight and fast.

The trick is to start the race at a speed so that the 5AT must down shift, then upshift a short time later to extract the maximum shift delays out of the opposition.

I try to spook them out while they do the funky shifting, usual works.

"All 2007 G35s get a 3.69:1 axle ratio, which works out to four percent shorter on manual transmission cars [3.538] and 10 percent shorter on rear-drivers with the five-speed automatic [3.313]. Sport models get a viscous-limited-slip differential. Gear ratios in the automatic are also shortened by 8.5 percent in first gear and by around four percent in second and third to further improve acceleration. Performance of the automatic is now expected to fall within a tenth or two of the manual's times. An improved sport shifting program and (on sport models) magnesium paddle-shifters with downshift rev-matching now make the automatic an attractive option for enthusiasts."

[maxnix]

I try to spook them out while they do the funky shifting, usual works.

"All 2007 G35s get a 3.69:1 axle ratio, which works out to four percent shorter on manual transmission cars [3.538] and 10 percent shorter on rear-drivers with the five-speed automatic [3.313]. Sport models get a viscous-limited-slip differential. Gear ratios in the automatic are also shortened by 8.5 percent in first gear and by around four percent in second and third to further improve acceleration. Performance of the automatic is now expected to fall within a tenth or two of the manual's times. An improved sport shifting program and (on sport models) magnesium paddle-shifters with downshift rev-matching now make the automatic an attractive option for enthusiasts."

Works for me against almost all BMW, Benzes, AUDI, Lexus. They don't realize how fast the Q ship is until it is too late.

G35 automatics turn 3000rpm at 80mph

G50 VH45DE turn 3000rpm at 100mph.

Sometimes old tech is better.

[pito11213]

I forgot about the old "my Q is fast from 70 mph thing."

The lexus transmission shifts pretty damn nice though. Even my old LS shifts smooth as glass just not that quick. Quick enough for me though.

I have gotten out of the habit of racing I am more of a tourer now. The G50 is quick but its true nature comes out on the highway at about 4000 rpm. It is mean at higher cruise speeds. From down below and mid though it kind of slugs.

My LS has a pretty good downshift and is quick to give it to me when I ask for it. The bottom line comes down to upkeep. There are so few G50's running at full potential that its hard to tell.

In retrospect a friend of mine with a 91 G50 tried to take me 5 times. 4 times were from the line where the Q nose was in front for a half second at the most. The last time I gave him a car length and still pulled on him at the green light. Mind you my upkeep of the LS has been good. His upkeep of the Q has been "below average."

I have 190k miles on my LS and the powertrain and drivetrain are still smooth aside from the strut rod bushing that is shot. Handling is impressive from a big body point of view and with the Falken tires I have on it stays planted and high speed curves. I outcurved my friends 2006 Civic Si on a 100+ curve. His back end came out mine did not. I did have tremendous body roll though as is expected. In retrospect, a 98 GS400 handed my *** to me from the line and that was that. My advantage is that most car classes that race me will not go the distance as they are scared to damage their pricey sedan/coupe or they cant handle it.

I would love to race a G50 on the Jackie Rob expressway here in brooklyn to see how the 2 cars would fair against each other.

[Q45tech]

"G50 VH45DE turn 3000rpm at 100mph"

Actually it's 3333 rpm at 100 mph with 215/65/15 tires.....333 per 10 mph in 4th.

The new 2007 turns 3200-3300+ rpm at 80 mph with a 5AT they bumped they diff gear up to 3.694.

Can't wait until the real [corrected EPA] comes out................suck fuel like a 4.33 V8............the 97-01Q will get better highway mpg.

[maxnix]

Actually it's 3333 rpm at 100 mph with 215/65/15 tires.....333 per 10 mph in 4th.

Might well be as I am in a curve on a flyover when I do that so no chance to study the tachometer.

Maybe my 235/60-15 are growing 10% at that speed?

[infinitinut2]

Brian, man, I luv ya! Keep touting our early Qs, and you will save me about 40 $ large!

Loved the 2007 G35 sport I test drove (after 3K miles in a 2006 G35). My Qship sits under a cover at NM home, awaiting my June return, so I could not do immediate comparison!

BTW, I am trying to put together a land deal, and build a new home, over near Boerne, in Hill Country. IF this happens, we will just have to have some brisqit and pintos and uncork a few Shiners, while we watch our lovely Qs!

Heath: I know you are going to hate me, but I cannot handle the low country any more! Too crowded and, if you do not speak NYese, you cannot even order shrimp and grits (grits??????? the off folks ask!) any more! Once the land of pickemups and long necks, now it is fois gras et mineral eau et Benz! Arrrrrgh!

[maxnix]

Brisket it is. If you need any help assembling the land or to get an opinion, let be know. Boerne is now a bedroom community for SA. Did you check out Bandera? Haven't been there for years, but it might be more to your liking. Other nice places out in the hill country if you don't need to be next door to a metropolis and in its path. The gulf coast is interesting too.

We identify Yankees by the ketchup on their hamburgers down here, or when they ask why the barbeque isn't shredded pork. But like Lyle says, "I can tell you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway."

Serously, give me ping on email for anything.

Dennis is correct as I opened it up a little prematurely on the straight away so I could look down, and 3.333rpm is very close at 100 mph. For $10 large one could do alot for tires, brakes and suspension. Robert's NICO ECM seems to be causing me some problems with rear wheel traction although 6/32nd left on my XGTH 235/60-15 still. PS2 are not that far off on the horizon.
Modified by maxnix at 3:08 PM 3/10/2007

[qship96]

Brian,hope you meant 6/32 left on the xgt`s!

[maxnix]

yeah,....duh

The other way they would be slicks.

[96Qowner]

Maybe the GS400 I raced wasn't giving it everything it had.

zerothread?id=110333

He wasn't gaining at 115 mph.