While it's fun to be the center of ogling bystanders' attention, it's out on the open road where the SC 430's attributes shine. Few cars are capable of offering top-down motoring with the same level of wind protection, no matter what the speed, as are few so silent when the roof is fixed in place.
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| On the open road is where the SC 430 shines, and few are as silent or serene as the SC when its top is fixed in place. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
All that can be heard is the racy growl of the engine's exhaust note, but then again only under full throttle. When idling, it's almost as serene as an LS sedan, once again refinement being of the utmost priority. The V8 in question sports 32-valves and dual overhead cams, plus Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), resulting in excellent fuel economy considering the SC's healthy 1,740 kg (3,836 lb) curb weight and socially conscious ULEV (ultra-low emissions vehicle) rating. What's more it delivers impressive power for takeoff and passing. At its peak of 5,600 rpm, 300-hp is available while 325 lb-ft of torque arrives at a very low 3,400 rpm. Its broad torque curve results in immediate power all the time, an important element in making an automatic equipped car feel sporty.
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| The racy growl of the SC 430's 300-hp V8 engine comes to life at full throttle. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Rowing through the Super ECT's (electronically controlled transmission) gated shifter allows 0 to 100 km/h sprints of just 5.9 seconds, truly sports car territory. While sequential-type automatics have become more popular as of late, allowing a quick tap forward or back, or side to side, to upshift or downshift or even better, steering wheel-mounted controls to initiate the same process, the SC 430's gated shifter suits the car well. I usually don't bother with gated shifters, as they often are unsatisfying. The SC's, however, was wonderfully intuitive causing me to only leave it in drive for the purposes of testing.
First gear is furthest to the rear and one notch to the right, the perfect position to launch the car with the quickest results. A quick flick to the left shifts it into second, which almost runs the car up to highway speeds. To make the most of the power third gear is a tap forward and to the left, with fourth one notch forward again. The fifth and final gear is a simple move to the right at which time the transmission remains in Drive, reacting to throttle input for passing purposes, or back to manual input from 4th to 1st with the gated shifter if so desired.