How did Road & Track launched the SC430 from 0-60 to get the times of 5.9seconds? Do you leave ECT on Power and traction control off? Do you keep on the break and bring the revs up to 2500rpm or what?

I got my *** handed to me in my SC430 by a stock Chevy Camaro Z28. I figured our 300HP was comparable to the 305HP of the Z28, but our cars are probably way heavier! It seemed like my car was doing a 0-60mph in like 6.5 seconds.

 

There is 400 Lbs. of extra weight that the SC430 has to lug around compared to the Z28 but that weight is your beautiful interior and silky transmission..

As for the 5.9 sec 0 - 60 it has to be brake stand at 2,000 - 2,500 rpm with VSC off and power mode on for that to happen.. Not that I have done that thou..

Put it this way our SC430 isn't a true sports car but a great touring vehicle that gets you 20 times more stares than a Z28.. So you may not beat him but damn you look good compared to him!

 

I think you got that number mistakenly from Motortrend. (BS magazine with BS number) Road and Track tested the SC430 at 6.2 sec which they described it fully in detail on how they did it, unlike that certain BS mag. I have the article if you want to see it.

 

I could probably elaborate on this subject for hours. First let me start by saying if you'd like a measure of a cars performance go to www.mkiv.com (Supra Website, stand for mark IV/4) they have many calculation and formulate tools.

Second, those are professional driversin the mags, go hang out at the local track one day you will be in owe of the time disparity on the cars. I watched Mustang Cobras run mid-to-high 15's all day long. I watched NSX not go any lower then 14 seconds. True the using timing lights instead of the mags who use radar guns and etc.

In my Supra I ran it to a best time of 12.80 without much consistency though, bottom line it comes down the driver. Now I think im a good driver, I think better then 98% of the population(in terms of the Supra), not many people could have driven that car better then I, but im willing to bet if it was handed over to one of the professionals the times would be more like 12.0-12.2.

You are supposed to have 10% wheel spin in a launch, much easier on an auto, which most drag cars are. Try launching a car at 6000 rpms when the wheels are spinning at 465hp (peek power). At the track I was probably running 0-60 in 4.4 seconds or so, but could I do that on the street, probably not. But neither could the Z28.

Best bet is go and practice if it means that much to you. I was next to a Ford lightining (380hp)at a light one time and he takes off and i took off like any other normal time, but having not wanted to be beat I floored it, my car was all over the place, the wheels spinning, I eventually blew by him and all, but my point is that there are many factors involved. Yes, they use the break until the stall converter kicks in and then you floor the car, it takes much practice and the factors, such as tires, pavement, temperature and etc all will change that. Now if you can tell the difference between 6.5 and 5.9 then you are a better man then I.

Finally, I used to race Ferraris and laugh at them they could not keep up, but you know what they still had a Ferrari and I still had a Supra. Its amazing the difference in speed between that Supra and the SC430, although on the highway the SC has a lot of power, its sluggish off the line do to weight and probably a torque curve higher up in the RPM range not attainable without a clutch, obviously. I dont miss anything about the Supra other then the 6-speed and its power, the SC is an unbelievable car and while Spring is moving north at 30 miles per day its only looking better.

So next time ask the guy if he wants to race to the junkyard.

As for the Superchargers they sound great, but tampering with the car is just a monumental worry. Ask me how I know.

 

Thanks for the great info. I tried what 2savvy mentioned about turning off VSC and turing on ECT to power. The car peels out a lot more, gives me the feeling of authority! I know it's not a sports car, just felt that I should have done better.