Hermosa

Hi fellas,

I know things are starting to roll on the whole SC400 turbo concept but I think I may have to get a SC300. This is not to say that I will necessarily sell the SC400 but I feel the need for speed. So...I have some questions for you...

1) Are the problems with the SC300 similar to the ones with the SC400? It should be but you never know.

2) Anything I should watch out for when buying a SC300?

3) What year is the best as far as all around features but also easy to turbo?

4) Of course what turbo is best for the value?

Thx

Toog4me

Regarding the SC3, i just found this and wanted to know if this was really true and if the SC3 was probably an automatic or manual.



Model Price
1993 Lexus SC300 $38,613

0-60 Mph 1/4 Mile Speed Skidpad Top Speed
6.6 Sec

1/4 Mile Speed
15.3 @ 92 mph


70-0 mph Braking
173 feet

Top Speed
140mph

Its just wierd to me that the sc3 is faster than the sc4

Toog4me

Regarding the SC3, i just found this and wanted to know if this was really true and if the SC3 was probably an automatic or manual.
Model Price
1993 Lexus SC300 $38,613

0-60 Mph
6.6 Sec

1/4 Mile Speed
15.3 @ 92 mph


70-0 mph Braking
173 feet

Top Speed
140mph

Its just wierd to me that the sc3 is faster than the sc4

Hermosa

That would be one heck of a launch with a manual tranny. Remember that the 93 SC300 had 225HP and the 93 SC400 had 250HP. Not too much difference. Also the 93 SC300 weighed in at around 3600lbs back then.

Toog4me

I knew that. I know the SC300 is not as powerfull as the V8. Thats why i asked the question. Road and Track released these results in 1993, so are they real? Everywhere else ive read that the 0-60 time is in the high sevens, not even in the 6s at all. So is this true or was the car an sc3 automatic?

ARB

These were the best stats(below) that I have ever seen for an SC300 5-speed. It ran a 6.8/15.4, 0-60/quarter mile and weighs 3532 lbs. If you figure the 257lb lighter(hardtop is 50lbs lighter still) NA Supra 5-speed ran 0-60 in 6.5-6.6 seconds then the stats below would be more on par than a 6.6 for the 5-speed SC300(which is a little optimistic IMO).




Stock Specifications sourced from Car and Driver December 1994 issue

Highs: Sexy sheetmetal, sports car sting, the pinnacle of cabin decor.
Lows: Seems out of place with these sports bar brawlers (Supra, 300zx, M3)
Verdict: If elegance ruled, this car would be king

Highlights from text: "Interior is truly beautiful. The seats look like they belong in a living room, and expensive one." "Body styling-
SC300's svelte shape is Cary Grant - dapper." "The Lexus tends to get tail happy if braking is carried deep into a corner or the driver
lifts throttle suddenly mid-turn". The Supra with the same chassis has wider tires in rear with no comments on tail happiness. Oddly
enough, in this test, the Supra is awarded a perfect 10 while the long time handling champion BMW M3 (widely believed to be the best
handling car ever) handling only receives a 9. I guess that would mean these vehicles (SC300, Supra) have some awesome potential.

C/D test results:
0-30 2.4
0-60 6.8
0-100 18.4
0-130 42.8
1/4 mile 15.4 @ 92
street start 5-60 7.2
top gear 30-50 9.1
top gear 50-70 9.6
top speed 138
braking 70-0 178
skidpad 300ft .84g
emergency lane change 59.9
interior sound level idle 40db
interior sound level full throttle 78db
interior sound level 70mph cruising 67db
interior sound level 70mph coasting 66db
EPA mpg city 18
EPA mpg hwy 23
c/d trip 1100 mile mpg 19
base price (1994) $41,037
price as tested (1994) $44,225

Engine Specs DOHC 24 valve inline 6, 183 cu in. (2997cc), iron block, aluminum head, port fuel injection
HP 225BHP @ 6000RPM
Torque 210LBS/FT @ 4800RPM

Transmission 5-speed, ratios, 3.29, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.78, max speed in gears, 36, 62, 92, 118, 138. Final Drive 4.08:1

Curb weight 3532LBS, Wheel Base 105.9 in., Length, 191.1in, Width, 70.5, Height, 52.4. Fuel Tank 20.6gal us,

Interior Volume cu ft: front 55; rear 30; trunk 9

Suspension: front: ind, unequal length control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar, rear: ind, 1 trailing link 2 lateral links, and 1 control arm
per side, coil springs, anti-roll bar.

Brakes front: vented disc, rear: vented disc, anti-lock control

Tires 225/55/VR16