Lexus SC 430

Price Paid:  $35000.00 from North Palm Beach

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Lexus SC430

Summary:
Perfect car for this South Florida envirnonment, lots of straight roads put this car into it's element, cruising. Powerful, quite, elegant, stylish and well engineered goes a long way to satisfy all of your senses. Almost perfect for the personal luxury car because of its design, construction and reliability. My only criticism would be that my car seens to wander, being sensitive to all road services but much more nervous than I would expect from a Lexus. Maybe an alignment will address this issue.

Strengths:
Beautiful to look at
Reliable
retractable hardtop
Quality of construction on fit and finish
Good mileage for a 300HP V8 18-25mpg

Weaknesses:
Road wander?
Suspension not very forgiving, hard bumps

Similar Products Used:
Mercedes

Price Paid:  $62000.00 from Lexus of Jacksonvill

Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 SC 430

Summary:
Car is great to look at, but the irritating issue has been the tires. We had problems beginning at 8500 miles ended up with a cut tire at around 13,000 in which the tire dealership stated it was defective. The tire company replaced the tire. The tires needed to be replaced at that point. The lexus dealership (Jacksonville) offered no monetary assistance unless we replaced with run flats. They sent me a quote for regular tires & the reviews actually said that the survey showed that the customers who had that tire would not purchase them again. So much for advice. My Lexus is setting in my garage with another cut tire ( same wheel; looks like an identical cut). I now suspect that the wheels are causing the problems. I have not hit any large pot holes but I'm sure I have driven on rough highways. I live in a rural setting & no one stocks this tire, even in Tallahassee , Fla, which is where I had my first issue. I was towed home. My car will now be towed to the Macon dealership & I will never recommend the Lexus of Jacksonville as they have been absolutely no help. I've owned 2 infiniti's & the service was always great.

Strengths:
Looks great; I hope it drives more smoothly & quieter , when I get my new non flat tires next week; Everything else I love about the tire

Weaknesses:
Run flat tires.

Similar Products Used:
infiniti

Price Paid:  $70000.00 from Rallye Lexus

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 SC 430

Summary:
Great look, terrific handling and acceleration. No front end. Be prepared to replace $400 tires long before they wear out. Hard top goes automatically into trunk within 30 seconds. Fun to drive but please do not hit anything a normal city street. Great show room drive. However, when you hit a pebble you will know it and be prepared to go into your pocket to replace very expensive tires that never go flat.

Strengths:
Hanlding, acceleration, style.

Weaknesses:
No front end. Wheel covers will get beat up and tires will have to be replaced regularly. No traction in winter so you have to put snow tires on which cost $400 each and dealers charge over $400 to balance and put on the car.

Similar Products Used:
I have had Jaguars which never incurred these problems. I have had over a half dozen leased cars and no one but Toyota has asked for money because their car has no front end.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $41000.00 from Lexus

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Lexus SC 430

Summary:
Purchased my Lexus SC 430 from the local dealer. Certified auto. Excellent car with only one fault. The ride is somewhat firm and stiff even with relatively ride friendly Michelin Pilots (standard tires). Definitely, not quite up to the standards of the usual Lexus ride. Otherwise, the car is great fun to drive. The car accelerates nicely, shifts very smoothly, takes turns fairly well (though there is some body roll), and has great interior and exterior ambience and looks. The wood trim in the interior is very well done. The leather is of good quality and relatively soft. Controls are well placed and easy to use. The Mark Levinson stereo system is clear and strong; probably the best stereo system I have ever heard in a car. The navigation system is superb, but expensive to update (DVD based). The hard top convertible is fantastic; works flawlessly and raises/lowers fairly quickly. The car is VERY quiet with the top up (closed). Even with the top down, noise levels are moderate and the wind is not too instusive into the passenger area. All in all, a well crafted vehicle and one of the very best cars I have ever driven and owned.

Strengths:
Looks
Construction
Ergonomics
Quiet
Hard top convertible style and function
Acceleration
Smooth transmission
Interior components

Weaknesses:
Ride Quality
Some body lean in hard turns

Similar Products Used:
1991 Mazda RX7 Convertible (not really a similar product)

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $39000.00 from Private Owner

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 SC 430

Summary:
What an awesome vehicle! I specifically wanted a hard top convertible and looked at the Pontiac G6 but the price was over 40 grand from the dealer who sniffed I would have to wait in line! I then found an autobroker who mentioned I should look at the Lexus and then promptly found a beautiful used one with less than 19K miles on it.

Strengths:
Jaw Dropping looks - Do not drive one if you are shy, you will get stared at!

Good Gas Mileage - 30MPG at a steady 63 with the top down and AC off.

Quiet - With top down, you can talk with your passenger. With the top up the beast is creepy quiet!

Engine - Powerful yet quiet, but does have a nice growl when movign.

Weaknesses:
The back seat is a joke, Yes I know this is not an SUV but that back seat seems to only tease my kids into thinking they can ride with me. But I kept my SUV and my wife has her van so we can still cart them around and keep the SC 430 for us!

Similar Products Used:
Tried - Toyota Solara - Nice, but was worried about people cutting the top. Not as quiet at the Lexus.

Mustang - Nice, yet Lexus gets more looks.

Pontiac - Did not drive, less than pleased with GM's reliability from previous experience with GM products.