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Lexus SC 430
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Comments
If your last car was front wheel drive, be especially careful. If your last car was rear wheel drive with at least a fair amount of power and torque, you probably will not have too much trouble.
I don't think you need an advanced course, but you have to realize that this car has very wide tires and lots of torque. If you apply the gas going around a corner or coming out of a corner, you can loose traction on the rear wheels and the car can start to spin. That happened to me in an SC400 many years ago.
I do not know how well the anti-skid system (which is different from the anti-lock brakes) will handle this situation. I can sometimes feel it working (and I think it beeps) when I take a corner very fast on dry pavement, but on wet streets I don't want to find out.
I have had the car since March of last year and think it handles extremely well. With rear wheel drive and wide tires, it will not perform well in the snow, and with all that torque, you can make it loose traction on wet pavement if you don't know what you are doing. This is no fault of the car. You can do the same thing in a Porsche, and I see plenty of them in the body shop.
In summary, I think the car handles better in wet weather than the SC400, and as well as any rear drive car (MB, BMW, etc). And whoever is out there saying drivers need advanced training is probably some wimp who spends most of his time tooling around in some mini-van worrying about rolling over if he takes the on-ramp too fast.
If you could save $3-4k (5-8%), then the decision is tougher.
Jack
You can respond here or over at the Repair Board.
thank you
Host
I know that I have no experience with replacing tires on the Big or any other island in Hawaii. You are on your own there.
Most owners were told at purchase that tire life might be in the 10,000 mile range, but I am seeing many reports of owners hitting 10 and 15,000 miles with good tread left. I have 9,000 miles and my tires show no real loss of tread that I can see, and I often corner pretty fast, because it's fun.
The cost to replace will depend on what's available at the time, and we don't know what that will be. Ask a local tire or Lexus dealer what that would be right now, but that will change. For example, the newly announced Cadillac hardtop convertible is designed to run on a new Michelin run flat, which will add a new competitor to the market for run flats. This will change price and availability in the next year or so. Both Caddy and Michelin say the new run flat is a great improvement over other run flats (so you expected them to suggest it would be not quite as good??).
It's hard to answer the question: "How is ride/handling impacted by the factory installed tires?" because the car was designed for these tires, and it does pretty well. It's a harder ride than an SC400, but not as harsh as some hard core sports cars. Be sure you are getting the new rear bushings. I had this replacement done (free warranty work) and the harsh ride, which didn't bother me too much to begin with, was softened considerably. I have no complaints about the ride, and I have taken several 8 hour trips so far.
I don't know what "replace in kind or upgrade" means. Surely you can replace worn tires with the same brand and type; if upgrade means replace with non-run flat tires, be sure you know all the consequences. For example, the spare will take up virtually all the space available when the top is down, and you will have to buy a 5th wheel, too. The tire pressure sensors will probably not work, although that may be a problem experienced with different wheels, not different tires, I forget. If the non-run flat replacement tires are the same size and profile, as they should be, you still have a low profile tire and ride harshness will not be improved as much as you probably think, since the sidewall is still small, although admittedly less stiff.
Many of the early complaints of ride harshness that the first models had (sold during the first 6 to 9 months) have been dealt with by the new bushings. My guess is that the newly made cars have these installed on the line. Ask your dealer. Since this is a free warranty upgrade, have it done before you take delivery if your car was manufactured with the original style bushings.
As for repair and replacement in your area, you will have to look around, but it is always a risk I take when I leave the big city and hit the road through rural areas with a new and relatively hi-tec and electronically sophisticated motoring machine. But I like living on the edge.
Aloha, and happy motoring.
I currently own an M5, but previously owned a 540i and have a business partner who traded a GS400 for an SC430 recently.
Although it is an exceptionally beautiful car, the SC430 is not a sports car. It corners slightly flatter than the GS400, but not as flat as a 540i sport and nowhere near as flat as an M5. The reason I point this out is that body roll wrecks havoc on low profile soft compound tires. My partner went through 3 sets of tires on his GS in less than 35k miles and he drives relatively conservatively (he mistakenly opted for the 17" rims and sport tires on the GS).
If I owned an SC430, when it came time to replace the original tires, I would opt for longer treadlife "Z" or even "V" rated tires. The "V"'s would likely be cheaper and, IMO, not reduce performance to a noticable degree. They might even make for a smoother ride.
Lexus still hasn't learned the lesson that you don't increase handling by forcing the tire to do more work than it should. You design the suspension and balance the car to corner flat. But, like I said, the SC430 is a work of art and you should have just as much fun driving and enjoying it with less expense using V rated rubber.
Everything is a compromise. Softer rubber grips the (dry) pavement better, but wears out quicker. And I think the whole SC430 is a compromise; it's not a Porsche, and it's not trying to be. It's more luxurious than that, and is not aimed at sports car buyers who will drive it like a Porsche.
I'm very happy with mine, and it handles just fine for me, and I greatly prefer the luxury touches that are absent in "true" sports cars, including the BMW M and Z models. (I talked to a driver of a Z8 today, and we admired each other's cars a lot -- I know who's going to win in a race, and I knows who's going to feel better after a 400 mile drive to the beach.)
Take your pick.
I experienced when I turn on the radio, there is no sound to begin with, when I turn the volume up or down, all of sudden it wen to the MAX volume.
I can't replicate the problem, I had been experienced this at lease 5 times already, each time I had to reset the volume level
Please email me jshue@usa.net
Thanks a lot
Regards
John
John
I've never heard of any such system that makes a rear wheel drive car go well in the snow. It's not the fault of Lexus; this is an inherent problem with rear wheel drive cars with big heavy engines in the front.
If you are going to drive such a car in the snow, you need either 4 good ice/snow tires (with a compound that stays soft at low temperatures) or extra weight added to the trunk above the rear wheels, or both.
Salesmen sometimes try to sell traction control as helping in the snow. Maybe it helps a little bit, but not so much as I can tell any difference.
Or you can move south.
I'm in a similar boat. My Honda S2000 only has a highway range of about 250 miles, but it seems I now have to pee more frequently than that, so it doesn't matter.
The dealer rotated them a few months ago, and we both looked them over and agreed that there are no spots, no uneven wear, and they have at least another 10,000 miles or more left. To my eyes, they did not look very worn at all, but I'm no tire expert.
Tires, however, are subject to bad batches, and it's not unusual to find some bad tires in a line that generally has a good track record.
Bad luck for you.
(Of course, I guess it might be something in the car that could be causing the tires to show that, which would also be bad luck for you, but from what I read here, tires have not only not been a problem, other than the harsher ride of the run flats, but their tread life is longer than we were lead to believe at the time of purchase.)
Thanks for people respone my to my radio problem.
Now I want everyone to know.
It is documented and you need go to your dealer ASAP to fix the following:
1. Radio AMP
2. Suspension
Good luck guys,
jshue@usa.net
me also thinks that the engineers who designed the car have a better idea of what tire pressures to run rather than the salesman...
-Chris
I've had it there all summer with no lights, and the ride is fine.
After doing quite a bit of research I discovered the run-flat tires produce 5 times the rolling resistance as compared to conventional tires. The sidewalls are 6 times thicker producing a harsher ride and the run-flat tires in general are considerably heavier per tire. Tests conducted on a 3 series BMW showed an increase in slalom times by over two seconds when shod with run-flat tires.
The conslusion being to put run flats on a high performance vehicle is to hobble it. Run flats provide an element of security at the sacrifice of comfort and handling.
For all the above reasons I'm changing over to the Bridgestone S03 Potenza for a considerably smoother ride and better handling. In lieu of a spare, I've decided to carry a couple cans of aerosol inflator and sealant.
This would save on gas.
i don't have a sc430, but i DO have s-03's (and had s-02's before that, i'm a bridgestone type of guy)... there is no doubt in my mind that the
s-03's will give you a MARKED improvement in handling/roadfeel over the runflats...
that being said... if this car wears tires the way that anecdotal reports seem to indicate, you might want to think a little bit before dropping 250 (or so) apiece on the s-03's... or at least be mentally prepared for the fact that you are going to be dropping better than a grand every 10k or so...
-Chris
However, one of the chief mechanics advised me about a bulletin he'd received from Lexus advising the increase of air pressure from 33 psi to 40 psi. I tried this tip and much to my amazement, the car runs so much smoother and handles more sportscarlike. Instead of a hard slam over railroad tracks and pot holes, there is now an uneventful "thud" when hitting those irregularities in the road.
Not having tried this vehicle with conventional tires, I am now wondering do I bother making the switch. Will the ride and handling be that much better considering the new tires, though not as stiff in the sidewall, still have a narrow sidewall and presumably a stiff ride.
Has anyone driven the vehicle without run flats? If so, is there an appreciable difference?
Also, there is a new generation of run flats, especially one from Michelin (originally designed for that new Caddy convertible to be out next August) that have a softer sidewall. These tires are standard on the 2003 SC430.
So if you think the ride is close to being what you want, maybe you should hang in there because when the time comes for you to get a new set of tires, the ride will improve.
That's my plan.
The Dunlops have a much more aggressive tread design than the Bridgestone. The sidewalls of the Dunlops are also more rounded and not as sqaure as the Bridgestone's. I would presume that the Dunlops must run smoother.
I am attempting to determine if the Michelins are in fact available yet for the SC. Will keep you posted when I find out.
By the way, there is a new replacement center cap for the stock wheels. They are pictured in the '03 SC catalog. They look pretty sharpe; much better than the stock garbage can lids.
ummm, zuma? what you got rid of is "sportscar-like" ride and replaced it with "buick-like" ride...
theory - lexus misjudged the desired "roadfeel" amoungst their target market, and are now bloating the tires to make up for it...
-Chris
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MICHELIN: NO MORE SPARES
Most new vehicles sold a decade from now, especially premium vehicles, will not carry a spare tire, said Michelin Group chairman CEO Edouard Michelin Wednesday at an industry event sponsored by J.D. Power and Associates and Automotive News. "The spare tire is prehistoric," said Michelin, who says it will take another decade for consumers to accept not having a spare. "Most people do not know how to change a tire anyway," said the Michelin scion. The Renault Scenic in Europe is one car, noted Michelin, that does not carry a spare. "Look at the size of the spare tire sitting under the trunk in a Mercedes S Class, and how much room that opens up," said Michelin.The costs of a run-flat tire are still higher than traditional tires, but the costs are coming down, said Michelin, and there is clearly interest at the consumer level and by regulators, especially in the U.S.
As for rattles and squeaks, I have not had any in over 18 months, although some have. Most have been traced to the front passenger seat back.
In no instance have I heard of the lining of the roof squeaking. Maybe it was a mouse.
The ride is much improved and the noise level is back to where it was when the car was new. Maybe Michelin will come out with the right size for the SC430 before I hit 30,000 miles.
any feedback about folks' having problems with rattles or squeaks would be appreciated.
Hubby has fallen in love, and although I too adore the car, I have serious sticker shock. We won't be looking to (maybe, dear, maybe!) get one until April, so there's little or no point in talking numbers at the dealership. Plus they wanted a deposit to test drive the only one they had left last Saturday - but I can't blame them for that
Also, how ARE those tires holding up? I don't want to be shelling out more money to replace tires if they're going to wear out fast. Or have some of you been showing off at the lights?
Now it seems that many owners have twice that many miles on them and they are still going fine.
My car has 9,000 miles (after 18 months) and I just had the dealer rotate the tires. My inspection reveals little wear, and I do show off at lights any time I can, not to mention tearing around corners just because I can.
Or must they be preset either off or on by the dealer??
As for the trip computer's MPG readings, I have never found anyone's to be particularly accurate. My M5 is slightly improved over my previous 540i, but it's still not that accurate when I check my own math. As best I can tell, the sensors that calculate the remaining fuel left in the tank are only calibrated to be accurate to within about 1/4 to 1/2 gallon, so that leaves a lot of room for "rounding" error. On my last highway trip, I actually averaged 23.2 mpg, but the computer said 22.0.
Can't help you on the sulpher smell.
As for the average MPH, who really cares?
And the range reading I find to be very misleading, but on the conservative side. If you are getting 18 to 20 mpg and you have (about) a 20 gallon tank, your range should be about 360 to 400, but my range readouts on a full tank are about 280; I don't think I've ever seen it over 300, and I know it should be about 400.
With a quarter of a tank left, it says about 50 miles, which is only 2 or 3 gallons, but there are about 5 gallons in the tank. I consider this readout to be just a VERY EARLY warning system regarding low fuel. As I recall, the range warning comes up by itself at a certain point, then flashes, then finally, when you get really low on fuel, the red light comes up on the dials in front of the driver. I don't put much faith in the accuracy of this readout, but I do appreciate the several different notices of low fuel.
The only really accurate readings come from the NAV system. Miles to destination is very accurate, and time to destination is usually pretty accurate also.
The windshield wiper noise does not bother me; I haven't realy noticed that it's louder than it should be. It's certainly not louder than my previous cars.
But, of course, the rain is making a lot of noise at the same time.