I made the mistake of trying to tailgate a Lexus SC 430 last weekend. This idiot had come roaring up on my tail in the passing lane. I could do nothing because of the cars both in front and on my side. He proceeds to whip it across five lanes and then back to the passing lane, which is still clogged. The car in front of me had finally moved over, so I ran up on his azz at about 85mph. Just then, the passing lane cleared, and we both punched it at the same time.

I don't know if he was just fooling with me, but he steadily pulled away and was far in front of me and pulling away when speeds got too high for me. My last experience with the SC was the 400 back in the mid-1990's, when it only had about 260hp. Apparently, the newer 430 sports 300+hp in a 4.3 liter V-8.

Oh, well. At least he didn't slow down to laugh at me.

 

R U in a 3.0 or a 3.5??? In a 3.5 at highway speeds this should have been a much closer race unless you were caught in a high gear...

 

Well, actually you could always have laughed back since they are butt-ugly and cost twice (if not more) as much as your car.

 

Agreed. I was in a 3.0 2000 GLE with virtually no engine mods. I guess I was just surprised that car had such "get up and go," because it certainly "got up and went."

 

Did you mean the GS 430 (the 4 door) or the hard top convertible SC 430 like your post mentioned?

 

haha...well put. V-8's can do that to ya. At least you gave it a shot.

 

Was it a New SC-430 or the Older SC with a 2JZ Conversion

 

It was a brand-new SC 430 (I think), a red convertible. The car looked okay. The guy driving it looked like one of those blonde fraternity guys in Revenge of the Nerds that you love to hate, he he.

 

I smoked one of those V8 Grand Cherokees last night. Does that count?

 

I think the Designers at Lexus got Canned after that car showed up at the dealerships

 

If They wanna Try and Race, Sure I'm Game

 

They should have been drawn and quartered. That thing is HIDEOUS!!! Looks like the bastard child of an Audi TT, an MR-2, and something else...just not sure what that is.

 

Hideous or not, with that V8 it's a highway monster. You never had a chance with a 3.0L auto.

 

Oh Yeah, The Auto guys, be careful with the Lincoln Mark VII and VIII

 

I just don't get it. With the WRX, yeah it's freakin fast, and ugly as hell, but it's somewhat affordable. I guess I could see that...sortof...on the other hand, The Lexus is freakin fast, ugly as hell and $50K!!!!

 

Amen! Even worse, I looked on the Lexus website. That thing is $62,600 MSRP! With $2,000 in options yet! I guess this guy's bonus wasn't quite big enough to permit him to buy the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

 

Us auto guys have to remember to keep O/D off at all times when playing on the highway. Even so, the SC has a 4.3 V-8 putting around 300 horsepower at the crank, I think it would be tough for even the 3.5 to beat them cause they are all auto (SC) and aren't goverend till about 160, so any idiot can make that car go fast.

 

 

I ain't skurd

 

 

yeah the auto 2k1 guys should look out...but I enialated a Mark VIII last November...that guy had no idea what hit him....

I left him

-vq

 

Actually the SC 430 is $62K MSRP. Better get a BMW/MB for that kind of money!

 

How come all of the sudden the 3.0 gets no respect? I know it's not as fast at the VQ but geeze, the car is still quick.

 

i hope that i'm not misuderstanding you, but the 3.0 in a maxima is a vq as well. VQ30, vs. VQ35

 

Sorry to say folks, I only have a GS400 which is about same weight and slightly less torque (same HP) and killing 3.0 liter Maximas on the highway is pretty easy. I haven't broken in my 2003 SE so not sure how the 3.5 liter feels on the highway but I think I'll probably still have an edge in the Lexus. Don't mess with Toyota power. If that guy had a 2JZ conversion it would have been MUCH uglier so I doubt that.

 

Monday I got behind a new BMW 740LI/IL whatever and was very shocked as I wasn't gaining on him much at all. I thought with the size of the beast that I'd be able to take him easily. Amazing looking car.

 

Ah, the new SC430. My boss has one of these that he had to wait 6 months for when he bought it last year. I knew it had 300 horsepower, but had no idea it was a v8. It's automatic only and a good old man sports car I guess. It is ugly though, and I've only ever seen women and a couple of gay guys driving one. That's not a putdown, its just what I have seen. It runs a 14.5 quarter mile if I'm not mistaken, so it is quick. You guys are right though, for the money you could get a much better (faster) car.

 

If it was new it would be a 745. With 325 hp/330ft lbs and German engineering for Autobahn busting, those things can be brutal.

 

Yeah, with tested 0-60's under 6 seconds (5.92 I think). That's a huge car to get up and go that quickly. Then try to catch it past 60. Freakin' engine just pulls and pulls and pulls...

 

Yea, I meant VQ35(at work and trying not to get caught), sorry for the typo. It just seems like alot of people who now have the 3.5 seem to think the 3.0 is not capable anymore. I know it's not a sports car but it still goes pretty good, I think anyway.

 

Yep. And don't forget, at highway speeds you're fighting wind drag, not weight - so it's basically the 745's HP (yikes!) vs. Maxima's HP, assuming the drag coefficient is similar. And we lose...

On the other hand, while I like the way the 740s look the 745 looks like an overgrown Volvo. You know there have been complaints when BMW started advertising the 2004 7 series redesign in 2002!

 

I don't even want to tell you about what happened to my on 675 South here in Georgia. BMW 745 ate me alive on the merge from 75 South. We both hit WOT at the same time, and it was all but over.

 

 

it disagrees with my eyes also, but i see a ton of em in the houston medical center. apparently it's some kind of new "doctor" car or something.

 

I guess I don't feel so bad then. I was pulling very, very little, but it wasn't until I was at 80. That thing was a beast. Now I definately know how the Mustangs must feel when we beat them. That's amazing that such a huge car can get up and go like that. Personally, I really like the looks of the new ones. I do not like the old body style.

 

i think that because the SC430 is heavy, and has an automatic transmission...it's on par with the 6 speed Maxima...

 

How do you like that GS400, Guru? I'm thinking of rolling into a GS430 after the lease is up on my Max.

 

You don't like the old 7-series?
I think this is the best 7-series ever designed.

Going from the above design to the new one....

is like going from the design of the 2k3 maxima to the 2k4 design.

 

It's a confortable car yes and VERY reliable. Great solid feel to it and good power. Handling is god aweful but nothing a Tein CS kit won't solve. Brakes are okay at lower speeds. An easy and cheap upgrade which I'm doing is Supra rotors with LS430 front calipers and Endless brake pads. Should help a lot with high speed stopping. Stock are 2 pistons and I'm moving up to a 13 inch rotor and 4 pistons all for under $1000. Pretty cheap. Overall it's a fantastic daily driver if you dont mind that it's automatic only. I'm getting a 6 speed STi WRX in June to fix my aching for a stickshift.

 

the prob with the sc430 is a faulty design so that if you dont run the a/c all the time your feet get too warm. the engine heat goes into the cabin. my cousin took his back because of this.