I’m not sure what capital letters are worth, but you certainly get lots of them on your $64,859 2005 Lexus SC 430, including VVT-i, ECT-i, ACIS, ETCS, VSC, HID, DRL, ASL, and not one but two sets of SRSs.
If you don’t really care what all that stuff is — and I wouldn’t blame you — feel free to skip the next paragraph.
VVT-i is “Variable Valve Timing-intelligent,” which alters the opening and closing cycle of the engine’s valves to maximize performance. ECT-i is “Electronically Controlled Transmission-intelligent,” which is a system that tells the automatic transmission to shift at just the right times. ACIS is “Acoustic Control Induction System,” which varies the length of the intake manifold to help the engine breathe better. ETCS is “Electronic Throttle Control System,” otherwise known as “drive by wire,” meaning the accelerator and the engine are connected by electric wires, not by a cable or rod — when your foot presses the throttle, it’s telling the computer to tell the engine to go faster. The accelerator is not directly linked to the engine. VSC is “Vehicle Stability Control,” which can cut the gas and apply braking if the system senses the car is skidding. HID is “High Intensity Discharge,” meaning really bright headlights. DRL is “Daytime Running Lights.” ASL is “Automatic Sound Leveling” on the stereo. And SRS is “Supplemental Restraint System,” or air bags, and the Lexus has them on the front and the side of the seats.
All these letter combos wouldn’t be so bad, but most aren’t universal: Only DRL, SRS and HID are likely to show up on window stickers of manufacturers other than Lexus and Toyota. The other companies make up their own names.
Really, though, it’s difficult to talk about the SC 430 without mentioning all its sophisticated electronic nannies. For a reasonably fast car with a neat retractable hardtop, the SC 430 is awfully sterile, falling into the same category as the Cadillac XLR and the BMW 645Ci — sports cars that aren’t that sporty. Still, the SC 430 is so calm, so stable, so nicely bolted together that its Stepfordian personality seems appropriate. In a car-as-servant world, this is Jeeves.
That’s kind of unfair, though. The leather-and-wood interior is impeccably done. The ride is smooth, the handling is crisp enough. The 4.3-liter V-8 is whisper-quiet, and nicely matched to the five-speed automatic transmission. And with the retractable top, you have the joys of a convertible without the hazards of a cloth roof.
A little more soul would be nice, though. Not mandatory, but nice.
Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith’s TV reports air Wednesdays on Central Florida News 13.
