The Lexus SC 430 blends performance and agility with smoothness luxury. With the hardtop raised and symphonic sound swirling through the leather-lined cabin, the SC 430 isolates its occupants from noise and rough roads. Its engine and transmission are very smooth and the suspension handles bumps and road undulations superbly, far better than most cars.Drop the top and the wind swirls above you, but even then this flagship from Lexus protects its occupants from the undesirable aspects of the environment. Wind buffeting is minimal at normal highway speeds. Even at high speeds, there's little buffeting and it's easy to conduct conversation without raising your voice.
The Lexus SC430 is not a sports car in the sense of a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. With its soft suspension, the Lexus floats and wallows on winding, bumpy roads. Take it to the limit in a tight corner, and it understeers (the front tires lose grip before the rear tires). It offers neither the grip nor the transient response of the 911, the Mercedes-Benz SL 500, the Jaguar XK8, or the Cadillac XLR. We also noticed some susceptibility to strong crosswinds.
The SC 430 is enjoyable to drive, however. In fact, it's quite wonderful when driven at a brisk pace on winding mountain roads. Its rear-wheel-drive is the proper layout for a performance car, giving it handling balance and responsiveness that no front-drive car can match. But it is not intended to be driven like a race car. It is, after all, a Lexus, designed to excel in the areas of comfort and refinement.
Similarly, the SC 430 is quick, but not lightning quick. It's capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds. The double overhead-cam 4.3-liter all-aluminum V8 produces 300 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 3400 rpm. The SC 430 offers acceleration performance comparable to that of the Mercedes SL 500 and Jaguar XK8, which is fast company, but it isn't as quick as the Porsche 911 or Cadillac XLR. Top speed of the SC 430 is limited to 143 mph, more than fast enough.
Around town, the Lexus is smooth, quiet and sophisticated. The four-cam V8 delivers strong torque at low rpm and has a flexible powerband, which gives it solid, smooth response around town. These are benefits of the VVT-i variable-valve timing and drive-by-wire electronic throttle control.
Adding to the smooth power delivery is a five-speed automatic transmission that shifts so smoothly it's almost seamless. It features three shift modes (Normal, Sport, Winter). Mounted on the floor console, the shifter has a C-shaped gate, allowing semi-manual shifting, though not as deftly as with a Porsche Tiptronic or similar automatic. We prefer to put it in Drive and let it do its own thing because it does it so well. The Lexus transmission is designed to be smooth, not quick, however, so it does not respond as quickly as a Mercedes or Porsche transmission, even in Sport mode. But it makes up for that in smoothness.
Active-safety features help the driver maintain control by reducing the chance of a skid. ABS prevents the brakes from locking up to help the driver maintain steering control in a panic braking situation. Electronic brake-force distribution enhances control under hard braking. Brake Assist helps maintain hard pressure on the brake pedal when the system detects the driver is not applying the maximum brake pressure. Vehicle Stability Control helps control traction by sensing the onset of a skid and adjusting throttle and brakes to help keep you on track. Traction control reduces rear wheel spin when accelerating on slippery surfaces. If all that isn't enough, the SC 430 has excellent seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, and emergency locking retraction, so be sure and wear your seatbelt. It has side airbags in addition to the mandated dual frontal airbags.
The 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted with P245/40ZR18 Dunlop summer tires. Optional run-flat tires ($400) eliminate the need for carrying a spare tire in the tiny trunk. Puncture a run-flat tire and you can continue driving until you reach a repair facility, but you shouldn't drive over 55 mph or for more than 100 miles. Run-flats also eliminates the need to stop in a dangerous or unfriendly area. Run-flat tires introduce a ride quality that's rougher and not as quiet, however, so choose this option carefully.
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