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Lexus SC 430
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Comments
2. the car is very sensitive to the crown in the road - it definately wants to follow the slope. I'm not aware of anything to do about that but be aware of the tendency and take it into consideration when braking (steer a little "uphill")
Just a suggestion
JTMav
We have decided to buy/lease an '07 sc430. Based on what I have researched, I have several questions:
1. I do not want the RFT's. However, the local dealer told me they all come with RFT's even though they are an option. Is that really true and if so why is it listed as an option? I will take the FT's at no extra cost or ask that they put real tires on it.
2. It's amazing the SC430 does not have a sateillite radio option; have to do after market. It has a nice NAV screen but its my understanding you can't interface with that. YOu have to put it below where the lighter is. any other options or has anyone heard they will make that an option in '07?
3. Lease vs buy. I have leased a car but am thinking I will with this one. Can you get the best lease deal through the dealer or should I look for a 3rd party leasor that will buy and lease back?
Thanks for any input,
Ron
This is a peculiarity of the SC, so don't knock the whole brand. I've owned several, including the SC, and it's by far the best for my tastes. Lexus just won every category in the latest JD Powers survey that they had a car in (I have no ties to Toyota, just a very happy customer).
I just replaced my runflats at 10K. Still fine with plenty of tread left, but I'd had it with the ride. The dealer gave me a really good price ($700 installed) on a set of Kumho ECSTA ASX tires I picked out(highly rated on Tirerack.com, relatively inexpensive at $125 ea, and with a 30K tread warranty). I'm thrilled I made the change. They also offered to store my runflats at no charge should I want to put them back on or needed them at lease end.
I think the SC has a unique radio so it doesn't have the satellite receiver option. We added Sirius, and have the radio control head velcroed to the passenger side of the dash near the passenger air bag light, and the antenna on the rear deck (the piece that folds up and forward when the top goes up or down). This works OK, but not as well as on the roof or trunk would on a sedan. Don't know the plans for '07, but you might be able to get some info on Lexus.com.
On the lease deal question, it wouldn't hurt to call some leasing companies. Like everything else, different companies have different gimmicks that make it hard to do a flat compare. One offers up to a $1500 forgiveness on minor damage (scrapes and dings). Occasionally Lexus (Toyota Motor Credit) offers to let you out of a lease early without penalty if you get a new car. Last time this was a general offer for people whose lease was within 6 mos of expiration. A great offer if are you close to or already over mileage with months to go (they didn't reduce the total mileage of the agreement even though there were fewer months, but you would have to pay excess mileage already accrued).
Like anything else it helps to shop around and find the best deal for your individual circumstances.
This week my service advisor told me that the SC430 is being discontinued, but wasn't certain whether the last year is 06 or 07. The replacement will be a less expensive V6.
I would suspect that a more likely change would be a Lexus SC460 (the new V8 that is showing up in the LS460). This is a company flagship car and as such, "keeping up with the Jones' is part of the deal". IMO
The SC will then morph into a true 4-Pax convertible, ala MB CLK( I think that is the correct designation for the MB 4-Pax convertible).
The SC engine will then carry over from the new LS, as essentially the new SC will be a LS convertible.
Hope this doesn't confuse.
Ron
To date - my SC is still in the shop ( day 12 ) and I firmly believe the dealership is making a good attempt to track down the issue. My dealership in Virginia is the most customer friendly I've ever experienced - including Mercedes and BMW. In summary - I simply want a dependable car to drive - one that can sit for days or even weeks at a time without worrying about it starting. It has not been an issue with any car I have ever owned - again, this includes most Japanese models, BMW and Mercedes. My hope is that they discover and fix my issue as I will not own a vehicle that must be started weekly. There are simply times I am not in a position to do so. If they can not fix this car, then I would hope Lexus offers me some type of compensation. The other alternative is to sell the car ASAP, in which case, it will not be a Lexus or to look into legal action - which may force the issue.
I just bought an '03 white/saddle SC 430 with 27K miles on it. It's the first time I'm owning a convertible, and I'd just like to check if it's alright to turn the A/C or heater on with the top down? Does anyone else do that while driving?
I was thinking that doing so would overwork the compressor or something, since automobile A/Cs are constant flow instead of constant temperature.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Ron
1. Top became sloppy landing into the a-pillar when closing and slams into the trunk when opening. Lexus says there is no motor adjustment. Had all 7 motors replaced under warranty but after a month, problem occurred again. now I just release the button at the end of top process and let gravity ease the top in.
2. auto leveling head lamp became erratic. reminded me of googly eyes from a stuffed animal bouncing up & down. warranty replaced leveling sensor.
3. Dead Battery. This is my main vehicle, stock battery wore out, not from non-use though. warranty replaced it.
4. bought summer rims and changed out both sets to standard non-run flat Netto brand tires. ride is so smoother. keep a couple cans of tire fix in the trunk.
A little over 45k miles and that is all that's been wrong with my car. The enjoyment, performance and head turns outweigh the bad. Only suggestion to convertable owners is to have dark interior. That light Ecru gets dirty in a heatbeat!
Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised to find that lexus uses std versus synthetic oil from the factory. Besides cost - which shouldn't be an issue with a high end car - I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't. Most high end cars nowadays do.
I plan to use the same recipe for success with the lexus as I did with the honda... change the oil & filter every 3,000 miles and use slick 50 every 35,000 miles. The honda has 170,000 miles on it and it doesn't burn a drop of oil.
Still better than holding the damn thing up to your ear while driving - IMHO
thanks
Joe
I've read threads about ditching the summer no flats, which I'd definitely would do for the winter.
But I was wondering how else the car handles in snow, rain, ice, etc.? A few years ago, my wife had an IS 300 with rear wheel drive and it really sucked in the snow.
Any help here is appreciated.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208954 under the thread '2002 SC 430 in snowy new york'. Hope it will help.
Now we have my LS, my wife's SC and the Blazer for the dog.
I'd say it's fine year round in the south or SW, but not where snow is anything but an infrequent occurrence.
We also took off the runflats as just being too harsh. Puto on Kuhmo Ecsta ASX's (inexpensive and highly rated). The dealer came as close as he could to tirerack.com prices and did the tires and install including the sensor adjustment for a total of around $700. He's even storing the runflats (still plenty of tread) for a couple of years until the lease is up at no charge (to ease any concerns I might have just in case I have to put them back, which he says I won't.)
I have decided to get an SC430, and given the probability that the current SC430 as known today is in its last legs and will likely be either significantly upgraded or maybe even replaced by a substantially different car (particularly now that the new LS460 is out), I have concluded that a previously owned SC430 is wiser than getting a brand new 2007. With this in mind, I have narrowed down my decision to either a 2005 or 2006 year model with low mileage (ideally under 12K). To this end, I need help in expanding my knowledge and decision base as follows:
1) Are there differences between the 2005 and 2006 model years? If so, can someone kindly list the most significant ones or direct me to a reliable source that would identify the differences?
2) I like to hear opinions/recommendation of buying a CPO car vs one that is not.
Most thankful for any and all help on this
FX
Can someone briefly enumerate the most significant
The '06 had a slightly revised nose, LED tail lights (instead of bulbs) and a six speed automatic (which displaced the '05's five speed).
The biggie IMHO, is the transmission. It's the "new" generation that is finding it's way into the rest of the Lexus line.
Buy the '06.
You will love this car and hate the tires (run flats)
Good Luck.
Oh yeah, I took off the run flats and it was the best thing I could have done. I might need to call AAA for a tow if I get a flat but the improved ride is woth the risk. My dealer is storing the run flats (for free) in case I ever change my mind.
That's what it sounds like to me, but there could be other things causing your problem as well. This just seems to be the most likely, based on what I read in your post.
Good Luck on this,
:shades: