Does the SC400 FEEL fast?
10-28-11, 07:23 AM
#48
Intermediate
I first drove my SC when I was driving a WRX daily and, while I didn´t feel it faster, I realized it was faster than the subbie. In the city it felt instantly more agile off the line as I have much more power and torque from start instead of turbo lag and on long trips I can go 170-200kmh and have a nice conversation while if I drive the wrx the noise and the stiff ride demand more attention.
10-28-11, 08:36 AM
#51
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Location: Alberta
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From my experience, most big cars with more power than the 98+ SC4 experience a diminishing returns in terms of "wow" factor. I have never floored my SC4, I don't think I have even come to about 3/4, it has never been required. I don't think someone should really buy an factory SC if all out speed is their motive. There are better cars for that, but if you want to have one of the finest luxury cruising coupes ever made - it makes a fantastic choice.
(< 98 guys, don't take any sort of offense to what I wrote above, I love all gens
)
Last edited by Neil4Speed; 10-28-11 at 08:43 AM.
10-03-15, 06:39 PM
#54
Back from the dead. I had to post on this super old thread because I just drove an SC400 98 model before buying my SC300. Boy was I NOT impressed with the V8, you could hardly tell a difference between the I6 with VVTI and the V8 VVTI. The I6 actually pulled a little better off the line though kind of fell on it's face until much higher RPM's. The V8 was slow to take off, SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW to shift into any gear, and didn't throw you back in your seat AT ALL. Now was it faster than the SC300 after take off, yes, the V8 ha a little more pull after 2000rpm's but barely noticeable. For something that apparently retains it's resale value SO well for having the V8 and VVTI and having good numbers on paper, I did not at all think it was worth the price premium at all.
This message is intended for people like me that have always liked the SC and are trying to decide between going all out for the 98 SC400, paying these hugely inflated prices or going with a similar year SC300. My thoughts, the SC300 jumps off the line the same way the SC400 does, which is important, both cars "FEEL" similarly fast IN TRAFFIC. Will the V8 have a highway advantage, likely yes, but nowhere near a DOUBLE the price premium over the SC300. Also, think of this, the SC400 has double the parts to go wrong (cylinder heads, cams, etc...) and that pesky starter located under the intake manifold to worry about when/if it goes bad.
If you are looking at SC400's and are frustrated with these crazy prices, I can save you some time, both cars are fairly slow, at least the SC300 feels like it puts down what's on paper, the V8 feels like it was rated a little optimistically if you ask me. Go for the SC300, let these people sit on their SC400's until they have to give it away. I love a good V8, but the SC400 feels slower than my old 1998 Accord V6 coupe, which is saying quite a bit.
This message is intended for people like me that have always liked the SC and are trying to decide between going all out for the 98 SC400, paying these hugely inflated prices or going with a similar year SC300. My thoughts, the SC300 jumps off the line the same way the SC400 does, which is important, both cars "FEEL" similarly fast IN TRAFFIC. Will the V8 have a highway advantage, likely yes, but nowhere near a DOUBLE the price premium over the SC300. Also, think of this, the SC400 has double the parts to go wrong (cylinder heads, cams, etc...) and that pesky starter located under the intake manifold to worry about when/if it goes bad.
If you are looking at SC400's and are frustrated with these crazy prices, I can save you some time, both cars are fairly slow, at least the SC300 feels like it puts down what's on paper, the V8 feels like it was rated a little optimistically if you ask me. Go for the SC300, let these people sit on their SC400's until they have to give it away. I love a good V8, but the SC400 feels slower than my old 1998 Accord V6 coupe, which is saying quite a bit.
10-03-15, 08:16 PM
#55
I've owned a 98 SC300 and recently picked up a 98 400 and drove it around a month before it went in for some body work. During that month, the 400 felt more quick and the trans shifted more smoothly than the 300. Is it worth paying the extra amount? It is for me since the car is a cruiser and not a bruiser for my daily use.
However, the one thing that I am not liking about the 400 is that there is an odd delay when you let off on the gas pedal before the car starts decelerating. Not sure if that's the way it's supposed to be but my mechanic believes it is due to it using an early version of the drive-by-wire setup.
However, the one thing that I am not liking about the 400 is that there is an odd delay when you let off on the gas pedal before the car starts decelerating. Not sure if that's the way it's supposed to be but my mechanic believes it is due to it using an early version of the drive-by-wire setup.
10-03-15, 10:34 PM
#56
If you want to make your car feel faster there are a basic few things you have to consider!!!!
Free up your intake bfi, free up the exhaust from your cats back, then replace both front seats Oh and remove the spare tire!!!
My 2000 sc400 it a launch missile, my 98 red 400I just got, is stock and with all that stock stuff in it, it does feels sluggish compared to my white one
In stock form 97+ 400s are still very quick torquey and smooth but heavy *** hello.
Free up your intake bfi, free up the exhaust from your cats back, then replace both front seats Oh and remove the spare tire!!!
My 2000 sc400 it a launch missile, my 98 red 400I just got, is stock and with all that stock stuff in it, it does feels sluggish compared to my white one
In stock form 97+ 400s are still very quick torquey and smooth but heavy *** hello.
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