I think the RL's speed governor is set by the ECU. I've seen that the RL Euro ECU's are set at 155mph v. the American 134 (or 138).

Do you think a RL Euro unit would match-up with an American RL?

 

Are you really driving that fast, in a 40,000....wtf are you thinking...

 

Then for Godsakes, why do they put a speedometer with a 160 mph printed on it. Just give me one that says 134.

 

Then by your logic... every car in USA should be set with governors that limit it to the highest speed limit in all the states.., with +5 for some passing power.
Geesh, what a person wants to do with his property is his business.
Maybe he wants to take it to a private track...
did you ever think of that?

 

I don't think that changing the ECU will change the angle of bends in freeways, specify bump tolerances on roads, change driving habits, make everbody indicate, make overtaking illegal on the inside, make people move to the right unless overtaking, change the speed rating of the tires, change the suspension damping etc etc. My point is that there are a lot of differences between Europe and the USA - The driver, the environment and the cars.

 

I know the above was only part of what you said and meant, but this topic (stay right except to pass) is one of my pet peaves.

We can't have right-side overtaking/passing being illegal without first making people move to the right unless passing. In Europe, this isn't much of an issue. In the US, everybody who sits in the left lane no matter what, seems to wonder why anyone gets pissed at them when they have to pass them on the right. I've asked a number of younger folks (pretty much everyone for me now) if driver education even mentions anything about staying right except to pass and to not left-lane hog. They looked at me like I had three heads. Of course, those signs on a lot of expressways telling everyone that slower traffic needs to stay right, etc. don't mean anything. Unbelievable.

 

I was planning to go to a track to have a bit of fun.

 

Honestly, you WON'T hit 134 on any quarter mile track. Its a luxury vehicle that, when compared to it competitors handles curves better than str8 lines. Its not a fast car and if you consider a 15 second pass in a completely stock (for lack of an aftermarket) fun then I suggest you get try going down the drack in a shopping car to double your fun.

Truthfully, I know you all have to know this car isn't gonna come near limit on the track. I'm not trying to bash anyone and I'm definitely not trying to say that we should limit car speeds to only the speed limit (something which is a HUGE leap in logic and actually made me lol).

A good story is in order. Its about a good friend of mine who was into the ricer scene. Couldn't wait till he got his new ECU to take advantage of all of his mods on his turbo charged cougar (400+ to the wheels). Well he finally got it up and running and was all excited about it. I told him why on earth would anyone want to drive that fast without proper supervision and safety precautions...he said "I'm not gonna hurt anyone, what I do with my car is my business" Needless to say he went out racing and ended up wrapped around a pole dead the next day. Since then I've always preached the message....

Fun is good, 155+ MPH is retarded unless you've had proper training and have a car that is designed to cushion possible accidents. Of course the RL is easily one of the safest cars on the road, but safe cars don't save stupid people. lol...but we do live in a world now where 134 mph just isn't fast anymore is it.

*sigh* carry on.

 

The faster you can stop makes you go faster on the track, not your top speed. You'd need to seriously upgrade your RL to have it handle the track, in addition to training. Suspension mods, brake mods, tire mods, etc...

 

I suggest that you start with a car that has an inclination to a track. It makes as much sense as racing F150 trucks! Besides the EU ECU will be expensive and track time isn't cheap either. If you want speed and to go around a corner check out the WRC.

 

[QUOTE=lflorack]I know the above was only part of what you said and meant, but this topic (stay right except to pass) is one of my pet peaves.

I'm with you but my other pet peeve is why do cars in the USA have red turn signals at the rear? Even the TL has them and everybody knows that they are harder to recognise except the authorities in the USA. So a car made in a country that mandates amber turn signals is bastardised for the US users. Maybe is just 2 cents cheaper to manufacture and they figure that most americans don't know how to operate them anyway.

 

Not to mention tires -- the stock Michelins are going to last you about a lap, and are likley to send you skidding off the road at the first corner, anyway.

No, I think it's about bragging rights... because the 17 MPH difference in top speed has no application in real world driving, even in Germany. Nobody's really going to track an RL, and let's not kid ourselves -- it's sporty, yeah, but it's not a sports car, nor was it ever meant to be.

Want to have a ton of fun at the track? Go buy a used 1993 MR2 turbo or an '84 Alfa GTV6 or heck, an old Miata, fit it with the proper rubber, a cold air pipe, and a real sport exhaust (not one of those fartbox mufflers, but a real set of pipes) and you can have yourself a really, really good time at the track.

Better yet, go spend $2500 on a used Kawasaki Ninja or Suzuki Gixxer, another $500 on leathers and a helmet, and have yourself a BETTER time on the track for less money.

Of course you might want to take some lessons first on the latter, before turning yourself into a red smear.....

 

What track is long enough to get an RL over 134 mph and still leave you room to brake? Cars get real slow on acceleration as they approach top speed. It takes real long distances.

 

Charlotte Motor Speedway. They have a few days a year when the public can tank around the track.

 

But thr RL can turn right too.

 

From their webpage:
# Length: 1.5 miles or 7, 920 feet
# Frontstretch: 1,980 feet
# Backstretch: 1,500 feet
# Turns 1 & 2: 2,400 feet
# Turns 3 & 4: 2,040
# Radius Turns 1 & 2: 685 feet
# Radius Turns 3 & 4: 625 feet
# Banking in corners: 24-degrees
# Banking is straightaways: 5-degrees

Don't waste the money on the ECU -- in 1/3 of a mile on the straight, you're not going to get to 138 before you have to brake in the RL.... even in the 1/2 mile coming out of a turn into another. I would estimate you might make it to 110-115 or so, and that's if you're really good, have a great line, and get on the gas as soon as you come out of a corner.

I hope you own your car outright, too -- because if you eat a wall, it's not covered under insurance, and if you break something it might not be covered under warranty.

Do you have to paint a big "Tide" or "Viagra" decal on the front of the car before they let you out there? And just how fast can you turn left towing a trailer, anyway?

EDIT: All kidding aside, I'd suggest taking a driving school there and strapping on a real racecar. You can get to 140+ easy, have fun, and if you break something it ain't your car....

 

Longest straight there is 1980 feet turns radius is only around 650 feet. And the banks are 24 degrees.

Save your money you won't get anywhere near even the U.S. top speed.

Also, I have done a lot of instruction on various courses and I don't know one that is going to let somebody out there without some kind of certification or an instructor riding along. And nobody is going to want to be along with a student trying to top speed on a, relatively, short course!

It's great to go fast but build up to it.

 

Man some of you talk like you are the most perfect law abiding citizens and the best qualified drivers in the world The man asked a simple question.

 

We may not be the best drivers or do we obey the law but we may have just saved this guys life, money, time and his car.

 

Unfortunately, this type of question always begets this type of response...

 

you didnt do anything of the kind.
all you did was perputate the illogical thinking that another persons 'concerns and cares' are a valid reason to intrude into another persons life.
You cant stop him from reading a book and driving (as many have done on the xpressway at the legal limit as I have seen) you cant stop him from driving drunk, and you didnt make his driving skills any better.

He wasnt breaking the law.

 

When that persons question relates to an action that breaks the law:

"I think the RL's speed governor is set by the ECU. I've seen that the RL Euro ECU's are set at 155mph v. the American 134 (or 138).

Do you think a RL Euro unit would match-up with an American RL?"

I.E. - changing the ECU for the objective of travelling up to 155mph is not an intrusion of another persons life by me, it would be an intrusion of my life if he killed me by implementing his proposal.
That is the reason that there was a reaction by people to his question. I didn't mean to imply an intrusion, my motive was solely self-preservation.

 

If he is making the change for the purpose of private use- you have no right to intrude.
Furthermore, changing tires incuding changing the apsect ratio of the tires is the equivalent of changing the ECU...similarly as is recoding the ECU the same thing as changing the ECU which is done by modders all the time.
The point of changing the ECU, or modding any part of the car us moot as soon as the individual goes above the speed limit, therefore the fact that the ECU limits the car to 134 is immaterial to this discussion.
As soon as YOU drive above the limit, or drive faster than the road conditions allow (lower than the limit-but faster than is safe due to rain snow etc) you put my life in danger.
So the point is-you need not intrude into someone elses personal property rights.
He stated he was thinking to use it on a private track. At that point you have no rights.
If he wants to use it on the public highway...then all mods that change the cars functioning away from factory specs are taboo according to your logic.

 

1) its only an opinion right now, intrusion would be someone stealing the ECU outta his car once he put it in.

2) once he asked for an opinion about compatibity he opened himself up to the safety issues that it seems were overlooked

3) Even if it was a private track, its still not possible for him to make it to 134 mPH, let alone 155 so we're simply helping him Cost benefit analysis

4) as stated in 3, he can't go that fast on any stretch of any private track...maybe if he tried it in the white sands desert possibly...but then whats the point.

5) Faith in our SH-AWD is commendable but since it could very well be established that theres no where he could possibly max the stock ECU, except a long stretch on a Highway, then theres a small possibilty that he'll be maxing the new ECU on a long stretch on a highway.....streetracing. Since streetracing is illegal that mean's he's probably breaking the law, therefore indangering other peoples lives.

6) This car wouldn't benefit ANYTHING other than a high MPH from getting the ECU change. So ask yourself why would you do that? You're not getting more HP, no better timing, nothing...you're just able to go faster. Why would you want to do this in a 40,000 dollar car? You cannot fool yourself to believe for one second that this could be anything other than street racing. Unless this guy has, upgraded suspension, better sway bars and stabilizers, upgraded brakes, Intake, exhaust, internal work....etc, then you upgrade your ECU....but you don't go with that Euro-stock one...you get a fresh reflash to take advantage of your upgrades. How much since does it make to spend that much money and not get any performance out of it? But of course thats just me. I could be wrong

 

To tone it down abit, my friend has an NSX that will smoke me at CMS. I just wanted to have some good fun with him with when he goes to the track later this year. I figure the Euro RL is just like the North American version with the exception of the ECU. I assume brakes, tranny, and suspension would be the same and could handle a little over the American limit.

Yes at CMS, you have to sign a release form, wear a helmet, etc.

BTW, I'm using a bunch of my AMEX points to do the Richard Petty driving experience. Hopefully that will give me a little feel for the track before taking the RL up even with an American ECU.

I have to get an oil change on Saturday; I'll ask the Acura tech about changing ECU's and if the car performance would be improved.

I think the big hurdle will be the EPA. A change in the ECU may make the car non-compliant with polution standards.

Speed only on the track fellows.

 

Your opinion is limited in function to yourself.
When you make statements trying to IMPOSE your opinion on others, then you become a dictator. (dictator as is classically defined)

He did not open himself up to safety issues, you are using safety issues as the method to inject your opinion.
Any talk of safety is limited to a recommendation... you are stating that he should not be allowed to modify his car for his usage...
If safey is really the point here, you would have to say that no car should be able to go faster than 134, and since MB, BMW, et al, have limiters set to 155... they are unsafe... because they can put your safety in peril.

Now cmon... he has the right to do anything he wants with his car as long as it conforms to EPA, DOT and local laws.
Dont open pandora's box.

 

Show me where anyone stated he shouldn't be allowed to modify his car. I recall only questioning his reasons for wanting to.

Big difference.

 

originally he stated that the car is limited to 134, and the Euro car is set to 155... and wondered if the euro ecu would work-implying he wanted to raise the limiter.
your reply was:Are you really driving that fast, in a 40,000....wtf are you thinking...

By questioning his desire to unlock the limiter, and raising the point of 'Are you really driving that fast, in a 40,000....wtf are you thinking...' yeah, you are questioning why he should modify his car.

Its the nuance of your reply.
If I am wrong, then please correct me.

 

Quite honestly I never replied to him. I'm taking issue with your statement previously where you stated that people stated that he shouldn't be allowed to modify his car.

Your examples support the fact that people questioned his reasons for wanting to make the modifications.

Nobody said he shouldn't be allowed.

As for questioning it, once you post on a public forum, you open youreslf up to that criticism. If you're too thinskinned to get past that, then you shouldn't post that info.

 

I think it was more about 'why' than anything else.

 

either way if the man wants his car to go that fast its not our right to say no. If you have a opinion on to wether hes qualified to drive that fast or any thing else leave it to yourself. He asked a question on wether or not the europen ecu would work, and some of you jumped all over him on how unsafe it is.

And yes tehre are tracks out there that he could top it out on. I have had my 2000 Tl which is down quite a bit in hp to the rl, at the rls top speed on the straight.

 

I'm in no way attempting to legislate my own tastes just stating my opinion, which in the most basic sense is "WHY?"

To answer the original question the answer is probably...lol. No one knows because no ones has tried. Try it out and get back to us.

Hows that for a reply? Of course it would have been easier but i so completely disagree with that idea, unless he's putting up nascar numbers, that my immediate reaction was WHY. Thats why I posted it. No disrespect no anger, no dictation...just wondering, what are you doing that is maxing out the stock ECU?

 

Just curious what track you topped a car out on? I've had a 380 HP (dyno) C5 Corvette on RoadAmerica, Blackhawk Farms, Gingerman and a few others and never accomplished that feat. It takes a ton of time and distance to get a car to it's true top speed. In fact the only place I know of that true top speeds take place is the huge research track in Ohio?

 

Didnt say i toped it out, said i ran the speed of the governor of the rl (130's) It was at R.A. (black hawk and gingerman are to tight and small for that feat) If you couldnt get a c5 to 134 there there is something wrong with the car or the driver ( sorry not trying to start a fight) i know of guys with integras that hit 130 at R.A.

 

Doing top end runs???


Ive done it numerous times on old country roads where there were no cars or side roads no nothing (so that it was done safely)

 

Who said anything about 134? What do you think the top speed of a C5 HT with 380 HP dyno?

 

If you are talking about Wisconsin I am curious what roads?

 

As an old fart that truly enjoys high speed and racing, I can relate to wanting to go faster (145 at Las Vegas Speedway in a modified Champ car was boring since my 95 Integra GSR does 125+ on Montana highways - though not around the Highway Patrol ).

Rather than replace the ECU with a European one, I would suggest that you look for a chip tuner. Though Acura probably has tweeked a fair amount, since all you are really looking at doing is allowing the revs to take you higher in top gear, thus higher speed, check into anyone of a dozen companies that advertise in Sports Compact Car or call Tim Suddard (904-673-4148) at Grassroots Motorsports for some leads. I would guess that their would be someone out there willing to take a look at the inner workings of the RL brains and burn you a new chip. Install the new chip for race day/weekend and then when your fun weekend is over, you can remove the "rogue" chip and be back in compliance with all the people on this forum who are worried about your nefarious ways. lol

As always just my

Ben

 

Just so you konw, Grassroots Motorsports is a magazine. Didn't want you thinking you would be talking to a hod rod shop owner, But Tim has more contacts than you can imagine and is a good resource for all things that like "fast".