to SC430 or not? any experience 1SC to 2SC?
08-04-15, 01:22 PM
#1
to SC430 or not? any experience 1SC to 2SC?
I have been slowly coveting an SC430.
Their price range wildly varies. anyway there are some 2002s around 13k used.
I am hoping to find one garaged / low miles at affordable price at some point in the future.
Anyway, are the SC430s finicky in their tech and parts.. ?
Their price range wildly varies. anyway there are some 2002s around 13k used.
I am hoping to find one garaged / low miles at affordable price at some point in the future.
Anyway, are the SC430s finicky in their tech and parts.. ?
08-04-15, 02:41 PM
#2
SC430's are very nice cars. I've driven one. VERY different from 92-2000 SC's. They were both called SC/Soarers and offered similar 1UZ-FE V8's with near identical rear differentials. The refinement is comparable to today's Lexus models rather than the 90's models. 1st gen SC's are the sports machines and (if tweaked) luxury muscle cars. The 2nd gen SC's are very luxurious and quick cruiser/tourers.
The main quirk they have is their power hungry electrical systems which can make you think the car is going haywire if your battery is even a little bit low on charge or is simply starting to go bad. It pays to have a very good battery in there with slightly more cold cranking amps than the manual requires. They have many more computers than 1st gens and use either multiplex ECUs or early CanBus unlike the individual ECU's for each and every function that 90's Lexus cars had. As far as I know, all those multiplex ECUs aren't known to cause any major issues but I have not studied or owned one to give an expert opinion there.
Like the 98-2000 LS400's, the biggest obvious quirk is just the need for a very good healthy battery and healthy alternator. If you leave an SC430 parked for weeks on end it might be a good idea to have a battery tender hooked up.
Now things like the retracting hard top and service on them over time... you'd be best advised to more specific questions like those in the SC430 forum.
If you're set on one I am sure you'll find the right car at the right price
The main quirk they have is their power hungry electrical systems which can make you think the car is going haywire if your battery is even a little bit low on charge or is simply starting to go bad. It pays to have a very good battery in there with slightly more cold cranking amps than the manual requires. They have many more computers than 1st gens and use either multiplex ECUs or early CanBus unlike the individual ECU's for each and every function that 90's Lexus cars had. As far as I know, all those multiplex ECUs aren't known to cause any major issues but I have not studied or owned one to give an expert opinion there.
Like the 98-2000 LS400's, the biggest obvious quirk is just the need for a very good healthy battery and healthy alternator. If you leave an SC430 parked for weeks on end it might be a good idea to have a battery tender hooked up.
Now things like the retracting hard top and service on them over time... you'd be best advised to more specific questions like those in the SC430 forum.
If you're set on one I am sure you'll find the right car at the right price
Last edited by KahnBB6; 08-04-15 at 02:46 PM.
08-13-15, 11:54 PM
#7
^^ The Z40's are a very beautiful design but yes they are much more luxury cruiser coupes whereas the Z30's are a cross between luxury cruiser and GT/muscle coupe.
Halon, the engine in the Z40's is the same 1UZ VVT-i as in the 98-2000 SC400's, plus about 10 horsepower. Some very few have gone about hot rodding them but it's much easier in the 300/400. I've driven the SC430 and it's just a different character on the road than the earlier models. That's not a criticism, just an observation that they are meant to give you a very nice, brisk and smooth drive in a very luxurious package. Acceleration is very good too.
However, the 92-00's are the more performance/driver oriented models, albeit heavily detuned in stock form in the USA compared to how they were designed.
To note, the SC430's also use the same exact rear differential we use and therefore accepts exactly the same LSD options. I could have sworn that I saw a Torsen LSD as a factory option for early Z40 Soarers in a Japanese brochure/ad book I have covering all years of the Soarer from 1982 until they were discontinued but I just checked and I couldn't see it in the fine Japanese print. I may have been mistaken.
Halon, the engine in the Z40's is the same 1UZ VVT-i as in the 98-2000 SC400's, plus about 10 horsepower. Some very few have gone about hot rodding them but it's much easier in the 300/400. I've driven the SC430 and it's just a different character on the road than the earlier models. That's not a criticism, just an observation that they are meant to give you a very nice, brisk and smooth drive in a very luxurious package. Acceleration is very good too.
However, the 92-00's are the more performance/driver oriented models, albeit heavily detuned in stock form in the USA compared to how they were designed.
To note, the SC430's also use the same exact rear differential we use and therefore accepts exactly the same LSD options. I could have sworn that I saw a Torsen LSD as a factory option for early Z40 Soarers in a Japanese brochure/ad book I have covering all years of the Soarer from 1982 until they were discontinued but I just checked and I couldn't see it in the fine Japanese print. I may have been mistaken.
Last edited by KahnBB6; 08-14-15 at 12:07 AM. Reason: Information correction
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08-14-15, 12:47 PM
#9
In the past I have read about a couple of people swapping in the V160 but since those have just been formally discontinued and prices have shot up that won't be a reasonable option any longer.
There is always the A340E 4-speed automatic which can be beefed up just a bit. Those should bolt right up to the newer 1UZ-FE VVT-i in the SC430. But specific electronic control or shift solenoid retention from the A650 would be required with any transmission swap for the ECU to be happy.
Last edited by KahnBB6; 08-14-15 at 12:56 PM.
08-14-15, 01:07 PM
#10
what I keep hearing about the 430 is that Lexus left hardly any space for you to do anything without removing something first. a manual swap would bring it alive and should fit where the auto was, but things like adding forced injection it pretty difficult and the stock motor is already tuned up as much as you would want to without a rebuild.
toyota racing team had tuned one up to 500hp and it showed up alot of cars.
For formula drift there was another one with a 2jz swap (just plain awesome), how hard it is to do that.. no idea.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_SC#Motorsport
toyota racing team had tuned one up to 500hp and it showed up alot of cars.
For formula drift there was another one with a 2jz swap (just plain awesome), how hard it is to do that.. no idea.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_SC#Motorsport
08-14-15, 01:14 PM
#11
The SC430 is awesome in its own way. It shares many suspension parts as the 2nd gen GS. Back seat is near useless but I use my other cars for the family. When I'm lazy to take my Tacoma out, I put the top down and haul my small items such as copper / pvc pipes, crown moldings and stuff. I do agree it is more of a luxury cruiser but you still can tweak the 3UZFE to lay more power. Good luck on your decision!!
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