Considering SC...two questions please..
04-18-03, 08:56 AM
#16
Driver School Candidate
Buy the SC430
I have had some experience driving this car in real winter conditions. Yes, you must put on serious
winter tires. In Ontario, my dealer recommended Nokian Hakkapeliitta 235/45 R 17's. They are
amazing, providing smoothe, solid handling and excellent breaking in anything I experienced this
winter...ie. freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow packed roads up to 8 inches deep. Using the
'snow' button to cut the throttle and the ECT and traction control made it feel very safe. My tires are
from Finland I believe where their winter suffering is far worse than here. The package with cool
looking Lexus rims was $2200 Cdn.
For that money I can't see myself getting a winter beater and insuring it. Besides I 'need' to hear that
Mark Levinson stereo regularly to relieve the stress of daily life!
The comment about the Infiniti FX45 is true. They are a beautifully designed sport SUV and should
make anyone looking at the X5's with care.
So do not be afraid of the SC430 in winter conditions.
Enjoy,
iamcdn
winter tires. In Ontario, my dealer recommended Nokian Hakkapeliitta 235/45 R 17's. They are
amazing, providing smoothe, solid handling and excellent breaking in anything I experienced this
winter...ie. freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow packed roads up to 8 inches deep. Using the
'snow' button to cut the throttle and the ECT and traction control made it feel very safe. My tires are
from Finland I believe where their winter suffering is far worse than here. The package with cool
looking Lexus rims was $2200 Cdn.
For that money I can't see myself getting a winter beater and insuring it. Besides I 'need' to hear that
Mark Levinson stereo regularly to relieve the stress of daily life!
The comment about the Infiniti FX45 is true. They are a beautifully designed sport SUV and should
make anyone looking at the X5's with care.
So do not be afraid of the SC430 in winter conditions.
Enjoy,
iamcdn
04-18-03, 10:31 AM
#17
Lexus Test Driver
Re: No way
Originally posted by Knicksfan
Assuming you don't have any people or possessions to carry and you can try to avoid snow I suppose you'd be OK. I live in NY and tried to drive in snow and it was a disaster. I didn't change my tires so that certainly might help but it was SO bad that I can hardly believe it will be anywhere near as acceptable as you might have experienced with the X5. I suppose that if you plan to stay away from snow then on the rare instances where you do get stuck in something unexpected you can survive or wait it out. But don't kid yourself into thinking that this is a reasonable snow car....its not.....my .02
I had an RX 300 when I added the SC and now have a GX so the SC sleeps from Nov-April. This is my third spring/summer with the SC and I only have 10,000 miles!
Assuming you don't have any people or possessions to carry and you can try to avoid snow I suppose you'd be OK. I live in NY and tried to drive in snow and it was a disaster. I didn't change my tires so that certainly might help but it was SO bad that I can hardly believe it will be anywhere near as acceptable as you might have experienced with the X5. I suppose that if you plan to stay away from snow then on the rare instances where you do get stuck in something unexpected you can survive or wait it out. But don't kid yourself into thinking that this is a reasonable snow car....its not.....my .02
I had an RX 300 when I added the SC and now have a GX so the SC sleeps from Nov-April. This is my third spring/summer with the SC and I only have 10,000 miles!
The key is you tried to take it in snow with the stock tires... A BIG MISTAKE...
The car handling/ride quality is NIGHT and DAY with proper snow tires!!!!!!!!!!
This was the same exact thing with my former Z3 Roadster... IT was a completely different car with the snow tires... it went NOWHERE with the stock summer rated performance tires.....
So many people don't seem to realize the HUGE difference the tires make...
Lexus put that snow button there with the assumption that you would ALSO be on snow tires... THUS the reason for the A/B switch to use winter snow wheels/tires!!!!!
Of course you won't have the clearance of an X5 or other SUV but how many times did you have to drive in snow so deep that only SUVs were on the road?????
04-18-03, 12:18 PM
#18
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: California
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There is nothing in the manual to suggest that the snow button should only be used with snow tires. Not that I disagree that would be a good idea. But Lexus does not 'assume' that in its documentation. Quite frankly, I would never buy a car like this expecting it to perform well in the snow in either case. It's a sporty convertible, after all.
04-18-03, 12:49 PM
#19
Lexus Test Driver
o.k. perhaps not but I believe the intent was to use that WITH a snow tire package and the a/b switch.
...after all, why else would TireRack sell an 18" run flat snow tire package to SC430 owners ONLY?????
...after all, why else would TireRack sell an 18" run flat snow tire package to SC430 owners ONLY?????
Last edited by ceboyd; 04-18-03 at 12:50 PM.
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