alphacat

They were designed on the lines of a boat I am not joking they really were) and driving it from the west country at this time should really test its seagoing qualities.

It is not 'nice' at that price. its unsalable. I cant believe anyone would want one at that price. The stupid road tax rules that charge any car after March 2006 a premium (£480 instead of £280) a year is just not acceptable to me. This was a product of the mad Scottish Chancellor who wasn't interested in fair economics. The only MK 2 (6 speed) to buy is a late 2005 early 2006 and there are not many of them. I have one. It should be worth a lot more than it is.. But I am sure I know why it isn't. Many people who like the SC430 sadly don't have a clue about what they are buying and how to do it effectively. Or is that harsh ?

No good for me I am always at fault...

That is interesting... but I cant see why it took 2 hours. Just take a fuse out or cut a wire !!Like Supabil, I also would have wanted that pile of mess removed completely from my car. Those of us who live with cars that only have occasional use, battery drainage is a fact of life I'm afraid. 2-3 weeks is about the norm for any high end car. I dislike trickle chargers and my preferred choice is battery isolators. Batter Isolator is a good idea. . . But as to the comment that 2 to 3 weeks is normal for a high end car I don't accept that. I had a new Audi S4 and could leave it for a month easily and did so on a number of occasions. 2 to three weeks doesn't cover a reasonable holiday. its unacceptable and if its common its bad design there is no need for it. I am off to Thailnd next week for two weeks... parking at Manchester airport. I wonder..

I agree I am too old............. to spoil perfection with a noisy exhaust.

I don't se the point in that. I just put loads of music on an SD card (or plug in a USB stick or ipod /MP3 via USB) and play it through the radio FM using a transmitter bought from Amazon. It fits into the DC supply in the center consul (lower level) so its not in view. It also has a remote control should it be needed to skip tracks, select albums etc.Hi. I've managed to now sort out the sound quality issue (result of the car battery running low), and now the bluetooth streaming is virtually indistinguishable from playing the music through the usb stick (again an option through the Grom). I stream through bluetooth as I have a spotify account with all my playlists in sync with my music at home and I can change tracks through the steering wheel controls. My playlists on the phone can be played offline. Fm transmision doesn't sound great and messing about with usb sticks is laborious compared to using a streaming service. That's why I opted to go down the bluetooth route. Costa. ps The Mark Levinson is a great sounding system. Yes it is isn't it best I have ever heard. FM transmission in my car from the transmitter is as good as listening to a CD. Cant fault it. There is of course no tuning issues as its a dedicated frequency.I suppose the way I use it takes all the labour out as I just load it up with tracks I want to hear and rarely choose on the move. Still as you suggest there are many ways to enjoy the sound system .

Didn't mean to make it sound like that !! Is that how it came across. ???

That's what my son said !! Exactly but I am still educating him.. Moving along in car quickly and quietly is what the 430SC was meant to do. Really the Japanese put so much effort into that. Its NOT a sports car. Its not meant to be a sports car. Its meant to be along distance cruiser that allowed you to drive across continents with ease and arrive fresh.. That's what it does best. I don't find overtaking people at high speed without a sound 'dull' I think its just 'special'. But I admit I am in a minority. So many seem to think like Jeremy Clarkeson these days. we even have car companies like Citron (I use the English spelling as I don't like the EU)(it would be wouldn't it) making cars with the noise coming out of the radio !! Whats the world coming to. !! I must be too old..!

I don't se the point in that. I just put loads of music on an SD card (or plug in a USB stick or ipod /MP3 via USB) and play it through the radio FM using a transmitter bought from Amazon. It fits into the DC supply in the center consul (lower level) so its not in view. It also has a remote control should it be needed to skip tracks, select albums etc.

Oh dear some ones bought the wrong car !!! Its not meant to 'sound'..... at all..Dear Alphacat, you're right, as manufactured it was intended to feature a 'quiet' engine note, but I hope the world is not meant to be as rigid as all that. Flatter me if you like but I'm no boy racer although I've had a few screaming masers in my time, I've just enjoyed 4 years in a sublimely quiet, very original V8 Soarer. My SC430 came with the powerflow exhaust and also with fuel 6 alloys, which I prefer to the original dinner plates. Why be so patronising to a fellow enthusiast? No its meant to be as rigid as that... If you buy a plane made to fly you expect it too fly.. If you buy a car built to be quiet you expect it to make no noise.. Its my sense of humour... ma

Oh dear some ones bought the wrong car !!! Its not meant to 'sound'..... at all..Alphacat. We like a bit of a rumble. On other forms I'm usually the reserved one. :) and I have been generally an anti-modding type person. My Z4MC is going up for sale and hopefully I'll be leaving the "boy racer" scene behind me. I must admit I'm having withdrawal symptoms from the screaming exhaust I'm used to. I'll probably be leaving the sc430 as it came from factory. It's too nice to mess with. My son now over 40 is still a boy racer and he has the same opinion as you... he says why have I bought a car (a V8 as well) that doesn't make any noise ??? One day he will grow up ..

Yes the water has to be coming rom somewhere. That needs stopping and absorbing it is just symptomatic..

I was always wary about doing this as in the old days it could blow a diode (or two) in the rectifier. Apparently that's now not the case and it will charge very well while in situ in fcat I have done mine recently due to the slow battery drain and little car use. It charged very well. One thing I have read is to limit the charger to under 6 amp. Mine is only a 4 amp battery charger so no problems even at the start of a charge with a low battery.

The wheels look good and suit the car unlike many aftermarket ones I have seen. O4 plate means its a Mk 1 pity but it has real low mileage. Probably only driven to church on Sundays ! (if people still do that).

Its not meant to sound at all..

Oh dear some ones bought the wrong car !!! Its not meant to 'sound'..... at all..

Please don't make it noisy don't change it, always stick to the manufacturers exhaust. This is what makes the 430SC special It is the character of the car. Its NOT a sports car. Its NOT a boy racer car.. Its comfortable quiet and smooth with the top up or down. When I take people in mine they cant believe it. That's how it should be and making it noisy is juvenile and pointless. Enjoy what you have bought its its got something other cars lack.. That's why its special.. I love it..

I think winter tyres are a big con job in the Uk. Sure in Europe (wherever that is)they can be useful but in the UK ? I don't think so. Most of the time if you replace ordinary premium tyres with winter tyres you will be on the wrong tyre (least effective for the conditions)for most of the winter.. All we need in the UK is for the prevailing wind to recover and temperatures and condition's change very quickly. Most winters if we do get snow it lasts not more than a few weeks at a time. Sure in some years we have had it longer but that's not the norm over the last 20 years. I know winter tyres (as they are called) are marketed as if the do the job in all weathers but of course they don't (they cant) if you take performance into account its even worse. Chances are if there is no snow and even in the wet driving at any speed on winter tyres will mean driving with less grip. Last year as I understand it for where I live you would have had to change tyres at least twice in 2 months to be effective. Winter tyres wouldn't be worth considering for at least 9 months of the year. So when did you put yours on?

What snow? and what about all the days before and after the snow? Are you going to change tyres three times a year to be on a safe set? If its not snowing if its not sleet or slush then your on the wrong tyres. A good set of decent tyres with a high water removal rating is probably the best option in all but really snowy conditions.. I never had any problem last year at all.. If I had fitted winter tyres I would have been on the wrong least effect tyre for 85% of the time. Or had to change tyres three times that year (its not going to happen is it?). I think its all hype. On top of that smaller diameter tyres will actually make driving in snow or slush more difficult not less. In effect its like driving in a slightly lower gear just what you don't want to do.

How cool is trying to save money? Some people spend more time worrying about how much fuel they use than they do about paying attention to what's going on around them.. I don't think anyone should bother with MPG if they just drive normally.. I have a 430 SC 4.3 ltr petrol normally aspirated V8 my son had a BMW diesel 3 litre turbo diesel. Besides being a lot noisier (and it was a nearly new car) than the 430SC on along run of 180 miles at over motor way speeds I averaged 32 mpg in the Lexus and he did nearly 36 mpg in the BMW ! The Lexus does 80mph at 2000 rpm (petrol engine) considering the hype about diesel economy and the size of the engines that's not a lot of difference..

I was told someone thought one of my lights was faulty (it wasn't) so I researched prices and found three levels of bulbs and prices.. Top quality high performance Osram or Philips at about £85 to £100 each. Standard Osram or Philips at around £30 to £45 each and special /style Usually a blue tint type light) at around £50 to £65 each.. It seems to me you cant go wrong with either of these brands it just depends what you want to pay. I will add the bulbs (lamps) are a standard manufactured size. Nothing special.

That is interesting... but I cant see why it took 2 hours. Just take a fuse out or cut a wire !!

Thanks for that

Have you got the suppliers contact / That's a big saving on new.