Test drive Lexus SC 2001 - 2005 compartment
With steering wheel and windbreaks
If you pronounce the word relatives very quickly, then Road and Star are heard - a road star. A quite appropriate definition for the new Lexus SC430 relatives. For the first time we saw this car in the form of a concept prototype at the 2000 Paris Motor Show. Then-as a serial car on Geneva 2001. But I want to not only look at such cars. You can truly evaluate them when you own it. Let a short time.
HOLY SIMPLICITY.
The flagship of the brand was developed in the European design center of Toyota on the azure bank of France. This says a lot - the least Lexus SC430 resembles a Japanese car. Designers caught a successful ratio between a large and massive body and a small cabin: Rogster resembles a powerful and swift sports plane.
Of the other cars, this Lexus is most close to Porsche, but the Japanese, perhaps, is even more elegant by the German. There are no extra moulets in the body decoration, as well as there are no frightening air intakes and spoilers the size of the wing of the Boeing. It seemed to the designers to make several small stamping on the body panels and the almost inconspicuous anti -wing on the trunk - here, in their opinion, is the perfect sports car. A special charm is given to the appearance of 18-inch alloyed collapsible disks of the original structure. The back is very interestingly designed - the white background lanterns are placed in the bumper, just below the license plate. Firstly, it is functional, and secondly-fresh and harmonious-they look great next to powerful chrome muffler pipes.
Money for the air. But you can forget about the place under the lid of the SC430 trunk if you are going to travel with an open top. In the position of the roof at the top, the size of the luggage space sounds as if it is solid - 450 liters. But there is not so much useful place, if the roof is folded, only 130 liters. These liters are enough for a small suitcase or a portfolio for papers and a laptop bag. Well, what did you want to carry boxes, suitcases and skis invented other cars. This is to carry yourself and maybe her. In order to ride with a breeze, the driver does not need much effort and technical bustle. No additional stoppers and valves, as on some convertibles and relatives, is not provided on the Lexus SC430 - the automation itself does everything. It is enough to switch the checkpoint of the checkpoint to the P position and tackle the key on the control panel. In just a few seconds, the compartment turns into a convertible.
Leather, tree metal. Lexus SC430 exists in a single configuration - it is also standard. The buyer can only choose the colors of the body and salon. As well as varieties of wood used in the decoration of the steering wheel and salon: a light Karelian birch or dark nut. In the cabin of our car - a gentleman's set of relatives: dark leather, walnut panels and polished metal. The latter was finished with climate control and some service functions - everything is placed on a narrow and laconic panel with a liquid crystal display. In a similar style, an audio system is designed, which deserves a separate mention - it is from Mark Levinsov. This name is clearly familiar to fans of pure sound-the cost of complexes of equipment produced in the United States ranges from $ 20-120 thousand.
How much is the music that is installed in the SC430, the sellers found it difficult to answer, and the opinions were dispersed, but, definitely, it will beat many audio systems regularly installed in cars worth $ 100 thousand: the total capacity of the system with 9 columns is 440 w. At the same time, the design Very compact: the amplifier and a CD chamber CD are hidden in one silver case, which is located on the front console under a wooden lid. It opens with an electric drive. But this is not some exception-in the SC430, everything is on electric drives: seats, steering wheel adjustments, side mirrors. Only the doors must be opened manually. Yes, they almost forgot: the motor is on gasoline.
The law of acceleration. The Lexus SC430 transmission will iron quite archaic against the background of modern types, steps and other thrones. A classic 5-speed machine with a Mercedes curved trajectory of the gearbox handle and the ability to switch to low ranges-up to the second gear. The first feeling from driving is terrible disappointment. Here we go to the ring, drown the pedal - but nothing happens. No hurricane acceleration to you, no frantic dynamics. The resistance of the gas pedal was surprised - it is tight and it has to be pressed on it with obvious effort. Before the Kick-Down mode, the pedal must be trampled directly, but I want the instant jerk of the herd of all 286 horses.
The antidote was found only after half an hour. Still, they spoiled users of modern machines with sequential boxes-we obviously forgot how to ride on the old good machine. But it was enough to switch the checkpoint selector from position D to one gear below. It is not without reason that for the most disagreeable, such as us, the box modes are not only numbered (4-3-2-L), but also duplicated by indicator lights on the dashboard.
Having played with a gearbox, we deduced the Lexus acceleration law: the tachometer arrow must be kept around 6 thousand revolutions - then you can get the desired reactive acceleration in the spine and the dose of adrenaline in the blood. A Lexus machine is magnificent. He reacts to all switching instantly, without tangible shocks or jerks, but quite smoothly. Active and assertive riding SC430 a little resembles a computer game - one eye on the road, the second - exclusively on devices. Keep stronger! Ah, how the front -wheel drive is felt in this machine! Especially - on the slightly rumpled asphalt of the Novorizhskoye Shosse. Despite the fact that the steering wheel on the Lexus SC430 is quite tough, and constantly seeks to return to the zero position, at the time of a sharp start it is required to chop up a little. Equally nervously steering reacts to bumps and potholes - the steering wheel involuntarily twitches in the hands as lively and at decent speed - at 130 km/h - requires the driver of increased attention.
The SC430 suspension is a little tougher than on the GS430 sedan, but, in our opinion, very soft for a sports relatives. Obviously, the car was designed primarily for the American and European markets, the path to which is leading through even highlights and autobahns. On our roads, an exhausted transition to the market and early spring, to drive at high speeds is not very pleasant. All vibrations are transmitted through the body to the driver and also affect the course stability. As a result of the sensation - neither that nor. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the manufacturer will configure the Lexus suspension specifically for our roads-not the same level of sales, despite the fact that the brand has finally received the official status in Russia. Another but we express in a convincing request to the manufacturer - well, put the parking system! It will not be too expensive against the backdrop of other magnificence. And then the review through the rear window is practically no and it is very inconvenient to park. 
The ingenious - simple. The novelty from Lexus is admirable. Without using revolutionary innovations in the design, working exclusively on time -tested material, the company has created a wonderful modern car. Roadster SC430 is perfect from the point of view of mechanics and from the point of view of design. In it, in the entire way, a perfectly thought out active security system consisting of a standard set of electronic systems that control course stability and brake effort that truly help the driver, and not interfere with him. Still - a powerful and reliable engine, as well as a perfectly proven automatic transmission, which gives opportunities and space for drivership improvisations. Laconic design, nevertheless striking with its sophistication - praise to Japanese managers who trusted European designers. There is always a place for small nit -picking, but anyone agrees that Lexus has created a stylish and catchy thing.
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin
Model/Modification Lexus SC430
The manufacturer/country Toyota Motor Co. Ltd./yaponia
BODY
Type of coupe/convertible
Number of doors/places 2/2+2
ENGINE
Basin type with electronic injection
Front location, longitudinally
Working volume (cubic cub) 4293
Number/location of cylinders 8/V-shaped
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 210 (286) at 5600
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 419 at 3500
TRANSMISSION
Front drive
Gearbox automatic, 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front/rear independent, such as McPherson, reptile stabilizer/independent, multi -link, reptile stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 10.8
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated
ABS 4-channel, with EBD, BA, TRC and VSC systems
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4515/1825/1370
Wheel base (mm) 2620
Mass weight (kg) 1740
Tires 245/40 ZR18
Disks alloy, collapsible 7.5J
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 6.4
Economy
Average fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 12.0/9.0
The price in Moscow is $ 96.7 thousand.
Source: "Autopilot"
