A10Driver
SILVER Star
Interested to hear what settings you are running and how you like it after driving a little longer
Pedal Commander or other throttle controller thoughts?
- Thread starter mcgaskins
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
I've been waiting to respond until I had more time and driving conditions under my belt, and I have now put about 200 miles on it in mixed city/highway driving since Sunday. In a word, the truck has been transformed.
There are 4 modes: eco, city, sport, sport plus, and within each mode you can dial it from -4 to +4. I have found sport +3 is perfect for me. Anything more it's a bit too twitchy, although sport plus turned up all the way is hilarious because it's so responsive, but it's essentially impossible to drive smoothly. Sport +3 is just about on par with the stock sensitivity of the 08 LX570 which is perfect IMO.
My wife recently borrowed the truck for a weekend, and I told her to take it for a spin after adding the Pedal Commander. She put it in drive, took her foot off the brake and eased into the gas pedal and literally within 2 seconds said "Whoa! What did you do??". She agrees it's a different truck and much more enjoyable to drive. I've never purchased a tuner, chip, or anything that manipulates the throttle like this, but I'm 100% sold now. If I was to buy another 16+ LC, this would literally be the first thing I bought for it even before Weathertech mats.
I'm very particular/sensitive to how vehicles drive, and one thing that has annoyed me with the two 200s I have is that in the Lexus the gas pedal is very sensitive (good) yet the brake pedal has more travel than I'd like (bad). The 16 LC has a great brake pedal feel that doesn't require nearly as much force, but the gas pedal used to require a lot more pressure than I'd like and essentially forced me to go deeper into the pedal travel to get it to accelerate and cruise the same way the Lexus does. I hate when there is a big disparity in pedal pressure between the two pedals next to each other, so I find it much more comfortable and easy to drive now.
Also I will need to do a full tank mpg test, but so far it appears I'm averaging a solid 2mpg better than before which is a material increase.
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What is this witchcraft???
- Thread starter
- #24
Black magic no doubt. There is no earthly explanation for what's going on here.
Wow so I might see double digit MPGs again?
- Thread starter
- #26
Wow so I might see double digit MPGs again?
For you - not a chance!
FWIW I've been getting about 12.5mpg in the 2016 over the last 6 months, and about 16mpg in the LX over the last year in the same type of driving. Both have 34s, and weight is probably very similar. The LC has drawers (offset mostly by third row being removed), fridge, sliders, rear ARB bumper, but the LX weighs 180 more in stock form and still has the third row seats in place. The LX is a bit more aerodynamic with the lower ride height and likely has a little bit more slippery shape, but I'm grasping at straws here to find differences. With the PC27, it looks like I'll be getting very close to the same mpg as the LX which I would be ecstatic about as the cost of the device would be recouped by increasing average mpg by 2 over the course of 12,000 miles based on current gas prices.
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For you - not a chance!
FWIW I've been getting about 13.5mpg in the 2016 over the last 6 months, and about 16mpg in the LX over the last year in the same type of driving. Both have 34s, and weight is probably very similar. The LC has drawers (offset mostly by third row being removed), fridge, sliders, rear ARB bumper, but the LX weighs 180 more in stock form and still has the third row seats in place. The LX is a bit more aerodynamic with the lower ride height and likely has a little bit more slippery shape, but I'm grasping at straws here to find differences. With the PC27, it looks like I'll be getting very close to the same mpg as the LX which I would be ecstatic about as the cost of the device would be recouped by increasing average mpg by 2 over the course of 12,000 miles based on current gas prices.
I got about 11-11.5MPG going up to Green Bay last weekend. Mostly flat, 77-82mph. I got 12-12.5 when I drove to Baltimore in the spring before the new bumper (but 34s, mild lift, roof rack still full of crap, etc). That was without a trailer - with it attached I'm happy getting 7-8MPG...
I'll be curious to see if you mileage holds or if it's a fluke. I do find when I'm paying attention to my MPG I get a bit better mileage than if I leave the MID set on remaining cruising range.
- Thread starter
- #28
I'll definitely give an update after a few tanks of gas to see what the long term trend is. I have a feeling I'll drive with a lot more thought going to mpg, so it could inadvertently increase mpg on its own. I'll try to maintain the same driving style as much as possible to keep the results from getting skewed, and I nearly always fill up at the same pump at Costco which keeps that variable to a minimum.
indycole
GOLD Star
I'm really thinking about picking this up as sometimes there's a multi-second delay between pushing the pedal and feeling the effect in the truck.
- Thread starter
- #30
You will absolutely love this. I had the same thing, and I hated it. It was the only material complaint I had about the truck, and it is 100% remedied now. They have a flexible return policy, so no harm in trying.
Just wondering and forgive me if this is off topic but my '08 LX has a tendency to move rev from 1000 to 1500 RPM, particularly when I am making a low speed right or left turn and then accelerating. I figured this was a normal TRANNY characteristic to appeal to hill climbers that want the jump in speed/torque on initial climb or turn.
Thanks!
Thanks!
indycole
GOLD Star
Installed tonight. It’s awesome. Thanks for posting about this as it’s something I never would have considered or tried without some firsthand feedback.
I still need to explore all the levels but Sport+ is pretty hilarious around the city. I thought I was going to snap an axle.
- Thread starter
- #33
I’m glad to help! I’ve been incredibly happy with the purchase too, and it really dials the truck in the way it should be from the factory.
I am entertaining the idea of this on both the LX and my 4Runner.
My only concern is the possibility of this device over-gaining the output signal and damaging the ECU?
Is the TPS a typical potentiometer with a 4-20mA output? This device amplifies the rate of signal output in relation to TPS/throttle position? What keeps it from outputting too much signal if it were to fail?
My only concern is the possibility of this device over-gaining the output signal and damaging the ECU?
Is the TPS a typical potentiometer with a 4-20mA output? This device amplifies the rate of signal output in relation to TPS/throttle position? What keeps it from outputting too much signal if it were to fail?
- Thread starter
- #35
That’s a question for the manufacturer. I can tell you first hand it’s not going to give you the same kind of night and day difference on your LX that it gives us on the 16+ LC. The throttle mapping on the LX is the same from 08-15, and it’s already nearly perfect IMO from the factory.
Thanks for posting mcgaskins.
I too would have never considered without firsthand experience.
It just so happens I looked them up and they are located 10 mins from my house, so im gonna go check em out.
I too would have never considered without firsthand experience.
It just so happens I looked them up and they are located 10 mins from my house, so im gonna go check em out.
Excellent! When I first drove Matt's '16 in early summer, I just felt that with the transmission ratios and power output from the motor, the driving experience could be better, esp. once you add bigger tires. The problem was not hardware related, it was software. So I then nagged Matt for 3 months before he caved. For how I drive and prefer my vehicles to react to throttle input, I'd want one for a stock 200, let alone one with some extra tire size or weight.
- Thread starter
- #40
Glad to hear you like it too. I think anyone on the fence for purchasing an 08-15 or 16+ would be well served to drive a 16+ with the pedal commander. I would have likely bought a 16 sooner if the ones I drove had this throttle mapping.
