Yeah, me too! In the USA it may be a different story. First time was when a car was coming at me the wrong way on the freeway here in Central California. Reviewers from Car and Driver magazine praised the SC 430 for 2002 as "an unqualified success," calling it "comfortable, fast, smooth, and quiet" with "all of the virtues expected in a patrician roadster." 2005 Lexus SC 430 Pebble Beach Edition. By using Powered by Invision Community, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Soarer, Electric fan conversion melting fuses out. And, until relatively recently, the model was just another cheap 1990s luxobarge that few drivers wanted to see in their driveway. For both the front and back wheels, the SC430 chassis used a double-wishbone configuration. The SC was discontinued three years later, with 2000 being the final model year; the car was replaced in 2001 by the 2002 SC430 convertible. One of their more recent offerings was the "Pebble Beach Edition" trim, which was first introduced in 2003 as a trim level on the much-maligned SC430 before being extended to the RX350, EX350 and LS600hL. The SC430 featured in a Top Gear DVD where Jeremy Clarkson and James May crowned it the worst car in the history of the world thanks to its very ugly styling and lack of power. The SC430 made its premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April 2000. An aspect of driving that often falls by the wayside is how you feel behind the wheel. Moreover, retractable hardtops were initially popularized by the SC430 luxury convertible. With the highwater mark set at 14,462 vehicles in 2002, 2009 saw just under 1000 SC 430s sold, with 720 of them in the U.S. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ive recently installed an after market apple play to my original 2002 and live it! Extensively modified from the factory car, the engine used is a modified version of the SC 430's 3UZ-FE V8 that was also used in the Toyota Supra race car from previous years. Its much rarer in the UK than it is in the USA. In 2020, cars pegged in the SCs segment are often so laden with features as to be daunting to drive. The Lexus SC430 has a 0-60 time of 6 seconds thanks to its 4.3l V8. In 1991, Lexus introduced its first premium-coupe designed in the U.S. Its flowing lines and curvy appearance were right on the biodesign ascending trend. One was the Callaway Golf Experience Package, which came with a set of clubs and personalized balls for you to deposit in your local water feature. Another cause for discontinuation was the dwindling sales, and despite rumors of a successor, no direct replacement from the SC line was ever brought to the public. SC300 buyers could choose between a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic, but the SC400 was exclusively offered with the latter. Lexus introduced the SC in 1991 as a 1992 model, a few months before the marque launched the second-generation ES. The SC300 was equipped with a 3.0-liter, 225-hp straight-six producing 210 pound-feet of torque. By contrast, Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson rubbished the SC 430 as "clunky," faulting the standard tyre setup, and gave it his informal "annual wooden spoon" label for 2003. Related: This Is How Much A 1996 Lexus SC 300 Costs Today. The V-8 was the same 1UZ-FE found in the first-generation LS, albeit with a slightly lower compression ratio. [25] Standard luxury features include Burl Walnut or Bird's Eye Maple wood trim, a Mark Levinson premium sound system, DVD-based navigation system, and headlamp washers. The current owner has been very transparent in the state of the vehicle and let me know the battery range isnt what it used to be, but its still in good shape overall. I did get my favorite car of all time and it truely makes me happy to drive it. [2] The LC replaced the SC lineup in 2017. With 288 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 4.3-liter V-8 engine, the SC 430 was no slouch, capable of hustling from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 149 mph. Mazdas New CX-90 Has a Straight-6 Under the Hood, Mercedes-Benz Celebrates the 500,000th G-Wagen, The Auto Industry Needs a Better Way to Explain Electric Range, Works of Art: We Are Porsche and the 911 Targa 4 GTS, Visitor The car offers everything you might want on a comfortable road trip, including air-conditioning and power-operated seats, and nothing superfluous, like a scent diffuser that makes the whole cabin smell like organic Malaysian bamboo three hours after a storm. He says there was only ever one in existence, but that doesnt sound right to meanother racecar nerd. Designed for Americans in America, the 430's only desire in life was to ferry no more than two fat, rich Americans across . This number is also a testament to its success because the newer . [53] In 2010, the SC 430 continued in Super GT competition, where the MJ Kraft SC 430 and other Lexus Team Kraft SC 430s won victories at the 2010 Autobacs Super GT at Fuji Speedway. Research. (2) Lexus built on that, developed customer loyalty and started eating into Mercedes and BMW's sales figures. The Lexus brand has almost since its commencement, led the luxury market, taking 29% of BMW sales, 19% Mercedes-Benz, and 35% of the Lincoln and Cadillac sales in its first year and by 1991 (its second full year of sales) was the U.S.'s top-selling premium car import, although how much of this is due to the fact that Lexus' were sent into the . When development work began in 1987, Toyota executives knew that American buyers were more likely than those in Europe or Asia to purchase a big, V-8-powered coupe. [44] The interior features a remote touchscreen control system linked to two liquid crystal display (LCD) screens that measure 12.3 inches (310mm) in width. Around half of the cars ever produced were manufactured in 2002 and 2003, with sales slowly declining year on year from 2003 onwards, making the later cars much rarer. The car wasnt new enough to show off in, and it wasnt old enough to take to a car show. The car weighs about 3600 pounds, neither particularly light by 1990s standards nor particularly heavy. Lexus SC430 convertible has also obtained ULEV emissions certification. [25] The coupe has four seat belts and could technically seat four, but rear-seat space is limited. [41] Lexus subsequently announced the production of the SC 430 model for 2009,[42] and in 2010. But this hasnt stopped the huge demand for these cars, especially since the Covid pandemic swept the world in 2020. While it was meant to be on the same market segment with the American luxury coupes of the '90s, it ended up being more a competitor for the BMW 6-series (E24) and the E-Class Coupe (W124). Finally, Lexus had something unique against its main rivals. Lexus SC Questions - Color of Lexus sc430 - CarGurus That said, it shouldn't surprise many that Lexus will discontinue production of its luxury hardtop convertible this July, confirming our previous reports. Lexus hoped to lure Mercedes-Benz owners into showrooms, so it wisely followed in the German marques footsteps and adopted an alphanumeric naming system. View all. Nothing illustrated the brands relentless pursuit of perfection tagline better than hinges more advanced than the rear suspension on many of the eras pickup trucks. Notably, the SC430's best features included a gorgeous, luxuriously designed interior, a refined V8 engine, and a sturdy body. The car features a retractable aluminium hardtop, all-leather interior, and 18inch aluminium wheels. Nope, not here, though you can manually engage first or second with the gear selector. The average cost of a Lexus SC430 is $19,000 in the USA, and 14,000 in the UK. Your previous content has been restored. The first time a Mark Levinson audio system was featured in a Lexus (Toyota's luxury brand) was in an LS 430, the flagship Lexus model, in 2001. In fact, the great majority of them were sold in the United States of America. [12] The engine sits behind the front axles, which makes it a front mid engine rear wheel drive vehicle. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. "The all new IS entry-luxury sport sedans, which debuted in October, enjoyed a best-ever overall combined sales month of 4,518 units, an increase of 573.3 percent over the same period last year. Despite the meaty V8, servicing costs are relatively inexpensive even at main dealerships, but when the time comes to replace certain Lexus parts it can get a little more costly. Thousands of hours of research and engineering . Initial base price in the U.S. was $63,825. With the help of a five-speed automatic gearbox, power was transferred to the rear wheels. Currently, production of the SC 430 occurs at the Kanji (Kanto Jidosha) assembly site in Japan. Join the Lexus Owners Club and be part of the Community. [40] A company spokesman did not confirm or deny the rumors, but called the report in the possible replacement with the introduction of the Lexus LFA as "unfounded speculation". How many IS's were made in total? | Lexus IS Forum The Procomp Lexus SC430 Big Brake Kit is a sophisticated bolt-on brake upgrade designed to enhance brake power under sustained . But not every car needs to have Ferrari power and styling, and these days the SC430 is considered to have aged very well. Lexus SC 430. Becoming a classic is subjective, whereas value increases are factual. Its a common misconception that cars can only become classics if they were loved from the moment they hit the showrooms. This car was built in an era when luxury meant a quiet, comfortable cabin, not a television-sized screen propped up on the dashboard. That 400/300 was basically a Supra (well, a Soarer anyway) with leather and a Lexus badge slapped on the front. Required fields are marked *. nveiled at the 'Lexus Style in the Fast Lane' fashion show on August 13 at the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, this 2005 SC features stunning black and red vintage styling cues from automotive classics. Really fun car to drive, the top goes down with the push of a button in about 15 seconds or less. Demand for the SC 430 has been steady decline for the latter half of the last decade. Production and sales data for Lexus SC generations are as follows. Answered on Dec 16, 2022 Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent. Its great for those who want to calmly waft around, not so great for those who prefer an engaging driving experience. SC-V8 Convertible 2D SC430 Popular on JDPower.com Top-Rated 2020 Family SUVs in QualityTop-Rated 2020 Small SUVs in QualityTop-Rated 2020 Trucks in QualityTop-Rated 2020 Small Cars in QualityTop-Rated 2020 Luxury SUVs in Quality All LEXUS SC Models by Year (1991-2010) - autoevolution Space is another trait that never becomes unfashionable, and the SC offers loads of it. [3] The Lexus SC platform was used to develop Toyota's next generation Supra, both vehicles were manufactured in the same plant.[11]. It's a far cry from Erwin Lui's SC300/400 design that made it an Automobile Magazine All-Star for many years. Its inside has been updated with a new instrument cluster, shift plate, and redesigned trim components. The second-generation model, the SC 430, went into production in 2001. Used car buying guide: Lexus SC430 | Autocar [43], The LF-LC features a front-engine, rear-wheel drive drivetrain layout, which incorporates a next-generation Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system. Your comments make me want to buy one. This engine was the same model as that found in the UCF30 Lexus LS. Those already missing the SC 430 will have to wait until a reported all-new next-generation SC debuts in 2014. In 2007, Lexus SC fully replaces Supras in the Toyota side, a Zent Cerumo SC 430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa was victorious in the GT500 opening round race. And, like in the LS, the SCs cabin radiates humility. Most owners have changed them for regular tires, which transforms the feel of the car to what it should have been from new. Throughout the car's journey, only minimal modifications were made. Write a car review . ). Buyers in Japan, where the SC was sold as the Toyota Soarer, could order a twin-turbocharged, 2.5-liter variant of the six, but this engine was never sold in the United States, much to the chagrin of every 19-year old who wanted a cheap, solid Japanese engine to tune the hell out of.