Did the later models of the sc430 get an improved
throttle response so that a sprint booster isn't
necessary ? Or can the later models benefit too?

 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but in my humble opinion, no car benefits from a sprint booster (also called a pivot throttle controller).

All those things do is fool the engine into thinking you are pushing the pedal harder. Meaning at half pedal action, the engine thinks you are at full pedal action, for example. But you could achieve the same result (and save $300) by just pressing the pedal farther yourself.

The downside is that now the full range of the pedal action is no longer used. In the example above, with the sprint booster, pressing the pedal from half to full range would result in no change in throttle. This means your ability to make small changes is compromised because you have reduced the overall range of the pedal action.

To me, they are basically "snake oil" but obviously not everyone agrees.

 

Let me get a drink, this could get better than "the best oil" thread!
LOL

 

JonnyCake
I think I like the snake oil way. that just my opinion of the sprint boost. Sling I know I know.

 

I have the sprint booster and find that if I had a do over I would of not installed it but since I went to great trouble to hide it in the ashtray and made it look like it was OEM I just kept it. Most of the times when I d.rive I have it off since I am not looking to drive it jack rabbit style

 

Mine is '05 and I have never driven a post '05. Can anyone verify what did Lexus do to the throttle in '06? How is the result? can we retrofit on pre '06 models?

I really want to have a more responsive throttle, my '05 sometimes felt like having turbo lag.

 

As far as I know the diff between 2005 and 2006 was the 2006 was a six speed trans and I think electric controlled . I am pretty sure the drive by wire was the same for all the years . The thought behind drive by wire and not direct linkage was that it should be the same. Drive by wire was tied in to the engine ecu and was they way to go. Linkage was not as reliable and was subject to mechanical adjustment and wear and tare

 

I have to agree with johnnycake...it puts all the travel in the 0 to 50% pedal
range. I would, however, like to see a unit that is staged...one that gives
more response early when you need it, but turns more linear and less
agressive as you speed up....the problem is, its overall non-linearity
could lead to some pretty squirrley driving behavior.

 

When I do you use my sprint booster I SET IT at SP1 and that more then gives me the pedal sensitivity that I like. Does it really make a difference if not that much. I never go beyond SP! indeed it feels really funny at those higher settings

 

I set mine on the highest setting and that it.

 

The Sprint Booster allows for much better driver input. For around town driving I keep it in 3rd with the SP on the first (green) setting. Not great for fuel economy but who's counting. Also works great for those mountain climbs.
I wouldn't drive this car without it.
It's the best $300 you can spend and if you want you fuel economy back, for a long highway trip or whatever, you just turn it off.

 

Sprintbooster completely changed my car. Went from pressing on the gas and waiting for 1 to 2 seconds for the throttle to kick in to almost an instantaneous pop from the wheels. The only downsides are the decreased mpg and tendency for wheels to break loose under the highest setting. End of story. Get it.

 

Hey Lex, what year of sc430 do you have ? Does the booster remember your last setting
when the car is off ?

 

Mine remembers the last setting but when you restart the car you have to turn it on. Once on it will go automatically to the last setting when you turned it off.

 

Yes, it remember the last setting used. Therefore, you can even unplug the programming unit (the box) when the setting is either green or red and the car will continually stay in that mode.