Ok, to many of you guys out there this may not come as a surprise to you, but for me the obviousness was shocking.

Today me and my dad had to go into Seattle to pick up my mom's 98 MB C280 so we drove there together and I drove the C class home. Now, I know that my SC400 is a nice car, but having just turned 17, I haven't had a chance to drive many other cars and I haven't hardly driven my mom's baby benz since I got the SC back in November. By driving my moms car, i could actually describe the differences in how it performs. NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE SC. I realize they're on opposite ends of the spectrum according to model line up, but the 96 SC cost about 30K less than the 98 Benz and is far superior. First off, in the benz the driver feels so disconnected to the car, the shifter is almost out of reach and the sensitivity of the brake and gas feel as they should be switched. The gas is soooo loose and the brake is unbelievably stiff. The body rolls excessively and the steering fights to return to the straight position. Even the sound system which I guarantee has been played easier than the Lexus' has a blown sub and screwed up speakers. radio reception comes in worse and the seat leather could easily be from a cardboard box. The ride is harsh and the lag on the gas is the biggest PITA from any car I have driven. It is seriously about a full second between the time you floor the car to when it downshifts. I've been outta comission form the Lex because I just got my wisdom teeth pulled and havn't driven my baby in about five days due to the painkillers I've been on, but you better believe me and her are gonna go on a nice freeway ride on the way to work later on. I love Lexus, but the 2004 CLK500 thats gonna be here in about 3 days should be a niiiiice replacement for the C . My sister gets the C280 and that's gonna be just fine with me.

James

 

The new CLK should make your preference a bit harder... But, I will tell you, several years ago, I was able to partake in a "Taste of Lexus" head to head drive comparison. They had all the Lexus models and upto 5 of the nearest competitors for each Lexus model respectively. I remember going to the SC booth. They had an SC400, a then new MB CLK 430, jag XK. I was totally expecting the MB to own the comparo since it was new and the SC was already many model years old. Boy was I wrong. More road feel, better cornering, better accel, and a way better stereo (MB sound has always sucked, IMO. Still does). Thats why I still have my car.

 

The part about the downshifting lag with other cars is a very good point... In case you havent notice, these SC400s tend to downshift right on time, and pull all the way through the gear. The only time you cant get it to downshift without the kickdown switch is from 2nd gear into first again... if you accelerate gently thorugh first and it shifts into second at about 15 or 20 mph, then its basically stuck and you have to live with the slightly slower acceleration of 2nd gear until you hit about 40 mph when it really starts to move! When it comes from shifting from 4th into 3rd or 3rd into 2nd, it never fails to amaze me.