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Lexus SC 430

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Comments

  • eljefedeltacheeljefedeltache Member Posts: 7
    Great...I'll give that a try...thanks. Guess I didn't read the manual as closely as I should.

    Also, regarding my point #1, I figured out last night that if you press and hold the 'mode' button on the steering wheel, that will turn off the stereo (that's probably in the manual, too).
  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    At my local Lexus dealer here in Chicago they had 5 SC to choose from. They don't keep them together for obvious reasons. One in the show room, one on the front sidewalk two in rear lot and one on the side. My guess is recent events have help create this surplus. I personally love the car, however the BMW M3 convertible may be a better bang for the buck.
  • opentopopentop Member Posts: 3
    I have put 3,000 miles on the car including one 500 mile trip averaging about 70 miles an hour. No rattles at all with top up or down.I did get rid of the run flats day one (Dunlop S9000's) and this may help the ride. No regrets, no complaints and yes, plenty of people stare and tell me how much they love the car.

    Only thing I would change would be an optional 5 or 6 speend tranny.
  • rezo00rezo00 Member Posts: 103
    #1 If you are going to buy a car because you like the look...who gives a dam if other people think its ugly, as long as YOU like it they can all just grimace in disgust as you drive by with a smile..

    #2 Looks are subjective.

    #3 So what if its .3 sec slower 0 to 60... in the real world on normal roads such diferences are almost impossible to feel by everyone...want me to prove it? have a friend hold a stop watch and start it....then tell him when you think 6.0 seconds are up, next do it again but tell him when you think 5.7 seconds are up (while not confirming if the 6 secons were actually 6 seconds from the last time..)
  • anthonyp1anthonyp1 Member Posts: 27
    If there is a foot of snow on ground, it does not matter what type of tire, or how powerful the engine, or for that matter how the car is shaped. They all look alike Tony
  • dh50dh50 Member Posts: 5
    Ref..."the need to keep the mirror adjust out of "lock" for the mirror to drop while in reverse are silly oversights."

    I'm not sure of what the discussed problem is about this feature. The driver has the option of having the mirrors drop down by simply leaving the rearview mirror master switch in the "L" or "R" position. If the driver does not want the mirrors to drop the switch can be changed or left in the neutral position. This takes about a second. Having the mirror drop all of the time, when in reverse, sometimes impairs your rearward visibility.
  • 98seahawk98seahawk Member Posts: 2
    Have not seen any on the local dealers lot here? Anyone know different?
  • hvan3hvan3 Member Posts: 630
    My sister is planning on getting the SC430. She wants to buy it used. Anyone here from CA coming off a lease? I tried to convince her to get the Honda S2000 instead.

    Somehow, I can't stand the look of the SC430. It doesn't even look like a sports car. Is it me or does the SC430 look like a lady bug? Put some black dots on a red SC430 and you'll get a GIANT lady bug.
  • joeyb1joeyb1 Member Posts: 5
    I just purchased an SC430 on Saturday in NJ. I paid MRSP. The dealer had 4 out back and one in the showroom, but I don't know how many were already sold.

    I'll keep the Lady Bug idea in mind just in case I get bored with it.
  • hvan3hvan3 Member Posts: 630
    Red SC430 looks like a red lady bug.
    Black SC430 looks like a black beetle.
    Brown SC430 looks like a pregant cockroach.

    Man, I'll be stuck looking at one of these bugs on my drive way when my sister gets an SC430.
  • dh50dh50 Member Posts: 5
    You certainly are stuck! Where did you see a brown SC 430? That color does not exist on a SC 430. I must admit, when I first saw the concept car, I thought that it looked like a cockroach. But now I love the look of the car. Your sister has good taste. It's doubtful there will be many coming off a lease since the car has only been available for ten months.
  • lexusfan2002lexusfan2002 Member Posts: 12
    This is what I'm saying... super hot SC430!

    <img src=http://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=177621.
  • lexusfan2002lexusfan2002 Member Posts: 12
    And another shot...

    image
  • sphinx99sphinx99 Member Posts: 776
    I saw a bunch of them in Beverly Hills this weekend. Whatever people think of them, they sure are being snapped up and paraded around over there. Overall they actually look nice, definitely stealing attention from the SLs and Z3s. They look a *lot* like Porsche Boxsters when buried in a sea of traffic, and you sense that was the aim of the SC430, to apply 'luxury cruiser' to a Boxster.
  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    It does have a beautiful roofline, but even with that said, I still feel like the styling is only "almost" there. I think the worst offending areas are the headlights, taillights, and that ugly lip spoiler.

    Anyway, it is a nice ride, and I do like the interior, but I will never say its a good looking car until they fix those three things.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You've definitely flattered the car with the angles of the photos. Somebody post a full head on or butt-on and let's have another look.
  • sphinx99sphinx99 Member Posts: 776
    Well, almost no car looks good from the front or the rear. Side profiles are 90% of the story because it's from an angle that people see the car 90% of the time.
  • hvan3hvan3 Member Posts: 630
    Yep. That's one heck of an ugly black beetle. The only thing that looks great are the wheels.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh, c'mon, a car can look good from all angles, even from the top looking down on it. Why not?

    image
  • gearhead7gearhead7 Member Posts: 15
    What is that picture you posted? It looks an awful lot like a slammed Supra or something. :)
  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    a slammed supra looks like that ferarri?
  • hvan3hvan3 Member Posts: 630
    Everyone knows that's a Ferarri! It's internationally known.

    Unlike the SC430, it can be mistaken for an ugly bug. LOL
  • gearhead7gearhead7 Member Posts: 15
    After you use the internet, and/or write for a while, you may notice that certain people will say things that they don't necessarily mean literally. They will often suggest this with this symbol :) This is referred to as satire.
  • hvan3hvan3 Member Posts: 630
    This piece of BUG is not worth $60K! You can get TWO Nissan 350Z for the same price! The new Z is way better sport vehicle for those who demands performance.

    Unlike the SC430, this BUG is for poseurs who can't afford the SL and want to be group with the elites. I guess my sister is one of them. LOL
  • rezo00rezo00 Member Posts: 103

    image
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    A very frustrating car for me.

    M
  • zuma13zuma13 Member Posts: 35
    Lexusfan,

    I just saw the pictures you posted of your vehicle. It is absolutely awesome. Those are the most complementary wheels I've ever seen on the vehicle.

    Could you please advise the board who is the mfg. and where they can be purchased and installed? What was the cost?

    I have a 2002 Indigo Blue with Ecru. I never found fault with the original wheels until I saw your posting. Mag-nificent.
  • lexusfan2002lexusfan2002 Member Posts: 12
    They are Auto Couture Magnifique's, currently only available in Japan but there is a guy on ClubLexus getting them for his SC.

    Very expensive and for that look, you'll need to lower your car as well.
  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,497
    ...are finally coming down. Whereas, locally here, they were asking more for the slightly used low mileage car than the factory new one, things are changing. The "gently used" asking prices were from $72- 78,500, and are now coming back to earth with asking prices of $63- 65K. One can now expect to possibly get $1K or more off sticker now. Obviously the previous short supply, and to a lessor degree, recession and post-Sept. 11th factors are influencing these prices.
  • gearhead7gearhead7 Member Posts: 15
    Were those Japanese License plates on those pictures? Did you import your car?
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    A few months back, there was a discussion about ways to remove the airbag decals from the sun visors on the SC430.

    We resolved that heat and a steady razor knife could take off the ones on the top of the visor, but no one had any idea at all about removing the ones on the bottom of the visor. These are the ones visible to the driver and passenger when the visors are in the normal position.

    Thanks to some friends with a BMW group, I have found out how to do it, and it works great. You use a product called "Goof Off" which is a solvent designed for removing dried paint. It is readily available at Home Depot. I just used a terry cloth rag, and rubbed the edges until the solvent softened the decal, which then started to peal off from the visor. It takes a few minutes for it to start to work, but the solvent does not seem to effect the visor at all.

    Very clean and no knives.

    The visor looks much more better.

    And let's don't talk of lawsuits from subsequent buyers. Really!

    I do not know if this works on the stickers on the top side of the visor, because I removed them some time ago with a hair dryer for heat, which softened them and allowed them to be peeled off. This is much harder and takes longer than using this "Goof Off." My guess is that the solvent would work fine for both visors.

    I wish I had known of this earlier.

    You're welcome.
  • gigisqrdgigisqrd Member Posts: 11
    I am that close to ordering a Carrera Cab that is a financial stretch. I got to drive one and was hooked. I have been a SC430 fan for some time but haven't driven one, Has any of you driven both? How did they compare.
  • autos3autos3 Member Posts: 24
    We have a 01 S2000 that is in storage for the winter, and have decided to trade it in this spring for something that better suits us. We have only 3,000 miles on the car, but feel it is to uncomfortable for long summer trips. We are both in our mid 30's and are looking towards a new SC (we also have a 02 ES300, which we love). Can any current SC owners tell us if they have been in a S2000 and how they would compare the ride, interior comfort and overall driving experience between the two. I understand these cars are not comparing apples to apples, but I am willing to bet we are not the only ones who have compared the two. For us the joy of owning a "toy" car, part of the equasion has to be "comfort".
  • eljefedeltacheeljefedeltache Member Posts: 7
    On my way to HD now to look for Good Off.

    Thanks.
  • eljefedeltacheeljefedeltache Member Posts: 7
    I test drove an S2000 before purchasing my SC430 and you are right, there is no comparison between these two cars. That's not to say there's anything wrong with either, they are just completely different. The S2000 IS a "toy"--low to the ground, you feel the road in every positive and negative sense of the word, fast, responsive, etc. But it's also loud, rough, not at all luxurious. On the plus side, as you know, it's also a hell of a lot cheaper.

    The SC430 is simply a joy to drive. It's heavier and thus less responsive than the S2000 but vastly more comfortable and smoother. And that's not to say that there isn't plenty of response from the steering wheel or accelerator, because there certainly is. And if you enjoy the "comforts" of your ES300 you will not at all be disappointed with the SC.

    Bottom line: if you want a true weekend sports car, the SC is not the best choice. But for an optimal blend of performance, comfort, and luxury, I do not think there is a better car on the market.
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    You will find "Goof Off" in the paint department with the clean up stuff. It's a yellow can with red lettering.

    Also, there is a product called Goof Off 2; this is a less strong version for less drastic circumstances. I don't think that it will work. Get the hi-test; you won't use all that much, but it looks to be handy stuff to have around.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I'm reading a can of Goof Off right now. It says:

    "May damage palstics, vinyls and oxidized metals. Eye protection recommended. For plastics, vintyls and other incompatible surfacs, try low oder Goof Off2 or Goof Off Citrus Goo Remover"

    It also says you aren't supposed to drink it, so keep that in mind.
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    It says you're not supposed to drink it? Did you get a wiff of that stuff? Who would even think of drinking it?

    Anyway, yeah, it disolves the plastic/vinyl warning sticker. It will turn gooey and eventually rub off. At least on my Lexus, it did not damage the visor itself. Maybe if more were applied it would, or maybe it's just not the right solvent if you want to disolve your visor, and I'm sure there are some visors out there that this stuff might start to soften right away.

    All I know is that the BMW crowd told me it works on their stickers, so I tried it on mine and it works fine to get rid of that ugly sticker (that I first read carefully, them memorized, then removed.)

    My guess is that you would not want to put a match to it, either.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    And it also says not to squirt it in your eyes.

    But seriously, just test it on your car's interior is some inconspicuous spot.
  • eljefedeltacheeljefedeltache Member Posts: 7
    Yeah, I goofed off this weekend, too. I don't know what's in this stuff, but it basically smells just like turpentine (and I hope we didn't all pay a bunch for turpentine in a fancy can). Anyway, the stickers in my SC atop the vanity mirror covers more or less dissolved while the ones on the other side disintegrated. No damage to the visors themselves whatsoever, although the smell was pretty strong until I washed the visors with some water and then put a little Zaino's leather treatment on them....that's done the trick nicely.

    Thanks again, squid.
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    You're welcome.

    I have noticed that I'm starting to actually like the smell; each day I can take more and more of it.

    But I can stop anytime.
  • jbradbjbradb Member Posts: 39
    Anyone leasing? What residual? How much are payments? Many thanks.
  • jimxojimxo Member Posts: 423
    The first are engines with Turbo's, the second are convertibles. What complaints do you have with this car? Has there been any problems that would make you not buy this car again?

    TIA
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    I don't know why you are afraid of turbos (or turbo's, as you call them) or convertibles. You must get over this fear. We are here to help you.

    I have had two Audi 5000 turbos, and each ran fine for over 75,000 but less than 100,000 miles before I sold them. They were great fun. I do know that if the maker just bolts a turbo to a standard engine and does not alter the engine to handle the extra heat and speed, then the turbo will just tear the engine apart prematurely. For this reason, a turbo version should cost at least $5,000 more than the same car without the turbo, and probably more. For example, pistons need to be stronger, the ignition system needs to be different, and the cooling system (electric water pump)should continue to run for about 5 minutes after the car is shut off.

    If the turbo is built right, it should run great for its normal useful life. Turbos will die, however, at about 100,000 miles, if not before. The heat and speed will just eat them up, and this is a normal happening and the cost of replacing a turbo should be considered as a part of the upkeep of the car. It will not last as long as the engine, and owners who do not know this can get upset, but an honest salesman will let you know if you ask. (He probably won't volunteer this.)

    As for convertibles, my SC430 is my first, and I could not be happier. I have always wanted one, but never liked the rag tops, and never found one I wanted to buy as much as the SC430. I had some concern about the complexity of the top mechanism, but I have had a SC400 for 10 years with no problems at all, and my friend who has a MB SLK reports no problems with his top after 3 years or so.

    I have no complaints with this car, and would gladly buy another.

    Life is too short not to live it up a little.
  • sluglineslugline Member Posts: 391
    For anyone else that saw last night's episode: Was that an SC430 being wheeled around by Willows? If so, it was a nice product placement for Lexus.
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    I'm not sure who Willows is, but I'll check the Tivo in the morning and see.

    It might be a nice product placement, but if Willows is one of the CSI team, it's kind of a pricey vehicle for a municipal employee.
  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,233
    Yes, it was a 430, but Willows didn't own it. Was owned by the guy in the passenger seat. Tmart
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 4,686
    Just FYI: I recently bought a (what else?) '02 RX300 for the evil wife. While I take advantage of the free car washes at the dealer, I oft wander the warehouse. Last visit, they had 20 SC430s. White, black, silver and a couple of Indigo blue. All nice colors. I believe at least 2-3 had sold tags. This does seem like a fairly decent in stock supply.
    While I find the overall styling a little bulbous, I think the biggest styling affront are the wheels (pie plates!). But, styling is subjective and there are certainly much more horrifically styled vehicles out there (e.g.Aztek, as if it even needs a mention, Caddy CTS & Eldorado, Chevy Monte Carlo...)
    Evil wife loves the RX.

    '21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)

  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    You think your wife is evil . . . my ex used to meet weekly with Satin for lessons on how to be more evil.

    I don't know what she charged him, though.
  • squidd99squidd99 Member Posts: 288
    I finally watched the CSI episode mentioned above, and the SC430 played a fairly big role.

    First, it's owned by a "millionaire real estate developer," and Willows (the CSI babe who drives it for most of the show) calls it a "sports car." Most of the time the characters refer to it as "the Lexus."

    After the perp escapes at the end, he gets picked up again by the same cop who stopped him at the beginning of the show, who explains to Willows that the "SC430" (mentioned clearly by name) is an unusual and beautiful car that I don't see every day, so when I see the same one twice in two days, I remember, especially when it's speeding, so he stopped the guy -- happy ending.

    Yes, a great product placement and praise for the Lexus "sports car" but no one ever put the top down, no one explained why a guy with enough taste to buy an SC430 would also buy that giant Cadillac SUV, and no one explained why this guy who everyone admits was as clever and as smart as they come, after making the perfect escape with a million in cash, was dumb enough to stay in a conspicuous car AND SPEED. But the hour was almost up, and we can't let him get away with murder, even if he does have cool wheels.

    By the way, the car was silver with black interior, and photographed pretty well.
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