Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Lexus SC 430
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
by the way, have any of you ever used "slick stuff" to polish your sc430? i tried some on my black/saddle. it's amazing, the car looks like it just got off the showroom floor when you're done with it.
As for the 60K price maybe I'll pay a visit to the local guy to see what he'll do. But in JAX, he's the only game in town. I think the next closest dealer is in Savannah, GA. Anytime I give my zip code to one of the buying services they come back not available.
A very happy camper
ron
so leebro, you don't have to wash a dark green car very often? i'm jealous. i clean my black exterior almost weekly!
by the way - governor or not, please, please be careful. a good friend from years ago, promising young heart surgeon, was killed in july going 120 just testing a jaguar xk8. left a widow and four children. it's not worth it, my friend.
congratulations, ron. you'll love it. i bought this car thinking i'd have the top down every day - and now it's been the coldest winter in miami history. proof that god exists, and enjoys toying with me (well, the weather and about a hundred other reasons)...
Ron
Thanks!
In my case, they wanted to keep the car overnight and gave me a free loaner car to use, which beats sitting around the dealer's place for hours and hours.
The new bushings improve the ride and soften the impact you feel when hitting bumps and potholes in the road. It's worth the time to get it done if you have the original bushings.
they already have it in the ls430 - and yesterday i saw an ad for the voice-activated system in the new accord...
Still, I doubt you will see one in a convertible since, in my experience (with a voice activated phone) ambient noise renders the voice recognition virtually useless.
How dumb would you look driving down the street in your swell new convertible yelling at the dashboard?
It won't answer back.
The only positive thing going for that car would be a nice interior. But it would otherwise be an underperforming, overpriced hardtop coupe with extremely limited appeal. A nicer interior than the Infiniti G35 coupe, I am sure, but an inferior driver's car.
Having casually test driven the SC430, SL500, 911 and a few other more sporty copes/roadsters over the past few months, I think Lexus would be well advised to put their effort into improving the driving dynamics of the current SC430 rather than fool around with an underpowered hardtop coupe version. As I see it, the SC430, does serve a niche for those wanting a reasonably priced hardtop convertible with quality fit and finish and Lexus reliability. But if Mercedes brings an SL350 version to the States at a competitive price, the SC430 will face stiff competition for buyers who do not appreciate it's uninspired Buick like ride and handling, in spite of all it's other attributes. It's just too damn boring to drive, in my opinion, and Lexus should put more substance behind the style.
Bear in mind that your idea of substance is not everyone's. Personally, I think the SC430 is just fine and doesn't need to be a "driver's" car. Everyone whines about a lack of pure sports cars, and loves to point to a S2000 or Elise and exclaim, "oh, it's nice to see that someone still wants to build a sports car." Well, isn't it equally refreshing to see that someone still wants to build a nice, old-fashioned luxury car? I grew up in and around some of those old uninspired Buicks, and there was something to be said for them--sumptuous seating, lots of room for the intended passengers, and a smooth, quiet, refined ride. Now it seems that every "luxury" car has to have lots of road feedback through precise steering, a bumpy ride with a "sport" suspension and low profile rubber wrapping big alloy wheels, a great sounding "engine note" and so on. That's great--I love those kinds of cars, but I recognize that there are many people who don't. These people are going to see the SC430 being the perfect car for them--more perfect than a SL, a 911, and the rest.
Who would buy a SC300? A fair number of people, I think, because right now while everyone and their dog has a luxury sport coupe, there aren't any luxury coupes left for the people who want them. There's the base Jag, I suppose, and the soon-to-be-killed Caddy Eldo. That's it. EVERY other luxury coupe on the market is a pretend sports car, with the big rims and the sport packages and the stiff seats and the optional "performance" model which offers extra juicy drag racing or road racing track times. SC430 fan to these coupes: "yawn."
So if I want a quality coupe with serious luxury, and I want a soft suspension, a great sound system, a lot of quiet, and elegant but not "exciting" looks, there's the $70k Jaguar and, uh, that's it. Give me a Lexus that looks ok, drives smoothly, lasts forever, and has all the luxury of the $60/70k cars but without the V8, and doesn't try to be a "sport" anything, and sell it to me at $40k, and I just might take it if that's my cup of tea.
I think there's a pretty solid niche for this vehicle, and I doubt a SL350 would take it simply because the SL350 (like its big brothers) will try to be equal parts sport and luxury. Plus, Mercedes would have a real problem trying to get anyone to buy a CLK or SLK if they started selling a SL350 for anywhere near $40k. That gem will be priced like a Boxster S, and therefore put it well out of the range of many who might be interested in a $40s Lexus coupe.
To the actual SC430 owners here, what has been your experience with the roof mechanism in various weather/temperature conditions? My sister in law is looking at a pre-owned SC430 for sale in Chicago and the roof seems to have some slight squeeking noises. The car owner claims the roof noise only occurs at very low ambient outside temperatures. My sister in law lives in Phoenix, so perhaps this would not be an issue. Any comments / experience from cold climate owners?
I do understand what you're saying though, the CLK isn't trying to be a sports car either. Automobile Mag pointed that out a few months ago when the did a story about the G35 Coupe vs the 330Ci. While not as soft as a Lexus, the CLK isn't as stiff as the others. BTW, the Eldorado has been out of production for almost a year now.
M
I have had my SC430 through two winters in Ohio with no ill effects. I have a good friend who has had an SLK since that car came out (4 years?) and he reports no problems with the top on that car.
I lowered and raised the top several times last weekend for various reasons, even though the temperature was in the 30's and everything is working fine. I watch these boards a lot and all SC430 comments I have seen are to the effect that the top is quite weather tight.
Finally, this car sells best in California and Florida, for obvious reasons, and I'm sure the car from Chicago would enjoy retiring to Phoenix.
Who wouldn't?
Have washed and driven my SC 430 and have had no "0" leakage problems. Nor is there any wind noise at the windshield or the mid roof joint. I have not noticed any squeaks but then again I live in Alabama and the winters are quite mild.
I have been totally satisfied and have had no problems with the car whatsoever.
Although not a sports car it is still fun to drive, especially with the top down.
Ron
Thanks again.
I would.
Ron
Even with the swell interior, I am not sure if this car would interest me at this price range as a coupe.
I'm no marketing expert, but I have my doubts.
But I could be wrong.
I was told that the price would be much lower than an SC 430 due to the car having a 6 cylinder engine and a non-retractable top. No price range was quoted but I would suspect it would be around 50k +- a few K.
Ron
- $10K for No Convertible
- $10K for No 8 Cylinder
- $2K for No Navigation/Runflats Option
= ~$40K SC330
A 2004 model with an April 2003 intro date to coincide with the 2 year anniversary "refresh".
The cars of interest are the jag xk8/xkr(very expensive at 70-85k)the sc430(odd styling, no back seat even for just luggage ,poor handling response, but great quality,features,interior and
value
mb clk500(low rent interior, high price w options)
Infiniti g35 coupe(excellent handling and power nice exterior stying low price but lacking interior quality and features such as seat memory,power tilt telescope wood leather lexus/jag quality)
I would be interested in a 45K sc330 hardtop especially if it had more of fastback to accomodate rear seat room as well as give a sleeker style.better handling and sportier wheels would be a big plus(lose the cheap pie plate look of the current wheels)
Toyota offers a soft luggage enclosure, but it's just something that stretches over the rear seats. Fine as it goes, but not secure and not nice-looking.
(See small picture only here or in context here).
Rather, I'm thinking of a manufactured item that would entirely replace the rear seats; like the pictured soft item, but sturdy, hard-walled, looks like a factory or dealer option. The seat bottoms and back pop out pretty easily; I'm thinking of a hard-walled complete replacement of them, lockable, etc. (Any of you who've wanted to car-trip with two carryons and still be able to put the top down know what I'm thinking.)
Who would be interested? What would you pay?
--Laird
First, I don't know what bill means when he says no back seat, even for luggage. The back seat was made for luggage (and little kids). If you mean a 27" suitcase, that's probably going to sit sideways, but any kind of soft luggage travels well back there.
As for wanting to travel AND put the top down, I have taken a lot of trips in the car, several times with two people, and I have never yet wanted to put the top down while traveling on the highways. With the top up, the trunk can hold a large amount of stuff, if you use soft luggage and canvas duffel bags, and that kind of thing. The trunk is high, and more things can fit toward the front of the car than you think at first. There's room for garmet bags to sit unfolded.
Years ago, a good friend of mine got an MB SLK and took off on a trip out west (2,000 miles) with his wife. They packed carefully so as to be able to put the top down while traveling. (The SKL is much smaller than the SC430.) He said that the top went up less than 100 miles from home and hardly ever went down again.
It's a convertible in town and a coupe on the highway.
That's why I like it.
the xk8 and xkR were awesome. but they're a heck of a lot more expensive, and i think the interior quality is lacking for the price. and i do have some concerns about the reliability. i found i'd have to get a 2001 to get in the price range of the 2003 sc430.
infiniti g35 - fun car, but no comparison to any of those others. of course, it's a lot cheaper. buddy of mine has one - actually blew me off the line one day.
the clk500? oh yeah. great car. if you have that kind of cash to drop, it's probably a great acquisition. or you could adopt a full-grown adult son and will me the money instead.
and those last two aren't convertibles, depending on how important that is to you. it was a must for me in south florida.
oh, the back seat? it's a very nicely coach-leather-appointed luggage rack, and that's about it. unless you have any double-amputee midgets with you. but it fits two pieces of luggage comfortably.
oh, one last thing: the m3 (hardtop or convertible) is *amazing*, if you're willing to put up with the very aggressive ride - it's noisy, loud, and pretty physically taxing. but man, does it drive. i couldn't take it after about 10 minutes, i needed a massage - not my kind of daily driver. but wow, what a car!
hope that helps.
I just took delivery (25 JAN) of an SC430. The 03s DO have the new bushings. As for tires, I assume the car of your interest has run-flats, all cars ordered for stock have them. You would have to special order a car with the spare (120 days). In any event my car came equipped with Bridgestone Potenza's. I find the ride very good and quiet. That said, when crossing RR tracks, pot holes,etc the ride is jolting. On normal roads the ride is quite acceptable.
Now here is the catch. Lexus has issued a TSB increasing tire pressure in the run-flats to 38 psi. The owners manual and door sticker indicate 32 psi. The increased pressure actually improves the ride. I know what you are saying increased pressure=harder ride, but it ain't so!
I can't explain it, but at 38 psi the ride actually improves. Hope this helps.
Ron
i got a black with saddle interior - it's very striking. as a surprise, my girlfriend at the time bought a pair of knee-high boots from Coach which matched the saddle interior perfectly. they looked awesome.
JImw12: Are the chrome wheels a factory or a dealer option? do they have the lexus "L"in gold?
/*****
[...]
First, I don't know what bill means when he says no back seat, even for luggage. The back seat was made for luggage (and little kids). If you mean a 27" suitcase, that's probably going to sit sideways, but any kind of soft luggage travels well back there.
As for wanting to travel AND put the top down, I have taken a lot of trips in the car, several times with two people, and I have never yet wanted to put the top down while traveling on the highways. With the top up, the trunk can hold a large amount of stuff, if you use soft luggage and canvas duffel bags, and that kind of thing. The trunk is high, and more things can fit toward the front of the car than you think at first. There's room for garment bags to sit unfolded.
[...]
It's a convertible in town and a coupe on the highway.
That's why I like it.
*****/
Well, different opinions are what makes a horserace.
I would tend to respond that you have much too narrow a concept of "road trip" -- if I have to go somewhere that will put me on a highway for more than a couple of hours, the car was the wrong choice in the first place. That's what flying is for, and if you can take scheduled service on Southwest, it's cheaper than driving as well.
On the other hand, if you're taking lazy backroads, or the coast highway, where driving from night-1-stay to night-2-stay would take an hour if you tried, but it takes you 8 because there's 3 wineries, the ostrich farm, the World's Largest Rubberband Ball, and two nice places that you just felt like stopping and hiking for a while, well then that's more my kind of "road trip". By the time we're done, we'll also need room not only for two rollybags and two briefcases, but for 3 cases of wine as well.
Do I want to have my cake and eat it too? You bet -- I want to be able to put the top down and leave it down for extended periods including occasional stops, I want to use that otherwise useless backseat space for secure storage, and I want to do so without marring the nice leather seats.
--Laird
Color is Absolutely Red with Saddle interior.
I only drive the car in the summer, consequently whenever I take her out the top is always DOWN. I have taken trips on the Interstate (to Casino's) and love driving at highway speeds with the top down. The SC is great with nominal wind buffeting compared to other convertibles. Nothing like cruising at 80, top down, sun shining and running through the CD's. Can't wait!!!!!
Ron
Ron
At 18K I bet they weren't chrome, but gold.
I'd pass on wheels at that price myself.
And I buy all kinds of crap.
Sorry, I meant to say 1.8K($1800.00).
Ron
I wonder how many people get faked out by the fact that if you ask for "Lexus" and "SC 430" before hitting "GO" you find there are not Lexus SC +430 boards. It seems the board monitor either hasn't got it figured, or hasn't enuf pull to get it fixed, or hasn't given it a shat.