Thank you for the review! As an owner of a SC430, I agree on what you said. One thing worth mentioning is even though the throttle is lazy/laggy from the factory, there's aftermarket solution from a cheap throttle controller to a ECU remap/tuning, which immediately changes how the car feels! Honestly, adding these mods to my car makes me appreciate the SC much more and realizing SC actually stands for Sports Coupe
I just purchased the exact same year and color with 125K miles on it. I hope I love it like everyone else on the forums! Can't wait to use it on weekends!
- 2000 SC 430 MSRP, and selling price as $63,000 - this car was WITHOUT spoiler which, in my view, does not help the car one bit. I removed mine - HP 288 (you will often read ads claiming the car puts out 300 hp. This is untrue - you are correct that in 2006 they change the transmission to six speed. With the extra gear you get almost a second and lag time. Terrible terrible terrible! That's why if you want this car, do not get anything past the 2005. - 0-60 6.2 seconds - you are correct that car came with run flats. However, go over a single pot hole, and your tire is broken. Also, for a nicer ride, go with normal tires - The IS space for a full set of golf clubs if you have one flat tires and you do not have the spare tire - Storage cubby is for CD jewel boxes - driving is MUCH more responsive when in the "ETC. Power mode" At the moment, I have a 2004 that just turned to 62,000 miles. I've been driving the same vehicle, I have had four of them, since the year 2000. The stereo is superb, and car tremendously comfortable. At the time I purchased my first one, I also drove the Mercedes CLK. Compared to the Lexus SC 430, the Mercedes felt like a toy. No comparison whatsoever. My car is in perfect condition and I get a lot of compliments. And you are correct, if you had to buy that car today, it would cost in the $100,000 range. FYI, one can be purchased w/ around 60,000 -70,000 miles for about $17,000. Before Covid, they were about $13,000. So, prices going up.
I have a 2004 SC430 and love it. It has 81,000 miles but I'm starting to drive it more. Very quiet and smooth ride. Considering upgrading with a rear camera and new radio.
I've got a 2008 SC430 and it is without flaw at this point. Your review is very accurate on all points. It's a cruiser and great for road trips rain or shine.
I have a 2002 that I bought in 2013 with only 5,000 moles on it. It now has 35,000 miles on it and still looks like it just came out of the showroom. I love this car. My only repair has been been on oxigen sense. Great can if you can find a low milage one.
Nice review, I love these cars. The hard top convertible, tilting wood door for GPS and radio is the most impressive thing in these. To correct you, Crown Vic was the last car offering casette player until like 2011-2012
Quite the (still) underrated car. I like these ones quite a lot. I know they're not top performers, because they've gotten heavier compared to the previous generation, plus not everyone's a fan of convertibles (me neither, actually!). But, to me, they're among the best bang for the buck out there. The "combonation" of luxury, style and (even if not top-notch) still very decent performance really is kinda hard to beat. Other cars may be faster, but not as reliable. Or as reliable as it, but not as luxurious, so there are always trade-offs. This one's a beautiful example! Thanks a lot for the vid! 👍
Couldn't agree with you more. I'm about to get rid of my ls430 and upgrade to one of these for a proper late mid-life crisis. I consider it a gentlemen's hot rod.
@@dl733sak Way to go! 👏🏻😁 Although I'd be tempted to keep the LS as a daily and the SC for that pleasure weekend drive. 🤔 Not that the SC can't be used as a daily, probably just me wanting to keep both anyways, LOL! 😂
@@Roddy_Zeh Thank you for the reply. I totally agree with you.But i'm just trying to be a little more practical now in my old age. I would have about as much use of a two cars as I would a hole in my head
@@dl733sak No worries, gotta do what's best for you. 😎👍🏻 If there's no need for the extra space or larger trunk from the LS, the SC will meet your needs perfectly. 😁
Very well done! I have a 2004 Egyptian Sand Pearl with a saddle interior which has 235,000 miles. I've had for two years, bought from single owner owner who took excellent care of it. It's my daily driver and best and favorite car I have ever owned. The 3UZ-FE is a great engine and the 5 speed transmission is smooth. I have had to replace the lower control arms, the fuel vapor hoses, power steering hoses, radiator, blower motor, AC compressor, and power door locks. Fortunately I'm able to do this myself so definitely saves on the maintenance costs and in my opinion makes it definitely worth it. No fluid leaks whatsoever and everything works. I plan to keep it to at least 300,000 miles, I've seen some with as much as 700,000 miles.
Exactly my combo - Sand Pearl with Saddle. Love it! Just got my center arm rest recovered for $60. Your 235,000 is impressive. I'm wondering when (or if) I should get the drive train placed.
I have 207,000. No real issues either I’ve replaced the hydraulics in the trunk and some hoses. I now have to replace the horn but other than that nothing. I love it so much.
You are awesome brethren. I was in the market for a 2nd gen SC but now I’m even more interested in purchasing one. Although the prices have skyrocketed, I’m going to at least get my money’s worth. Thanks again.
I have one of these gems as a 2004 model. Great video! Two addendums: the gauge cluster switched to electroluminescent backlighting in 2005 or 2006 along with the 6 speed AT upgrade model refresh you mentioned. For the last model year in 2010, they got rid of the cassette player for the stereo at least as shown in the Lexus brochure. I wonder if they had plans to keep the SC around longer since they made this one change for only 1 year.
@@BernonCars Hi 👋🏾 I purchased a 2005 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love this car. Only problem is finding an fm Bluetooth adapter to fit in the cigarette lighter. I ordered one from Amazon but it didn’t work. I figured since your friend owns one…you have a suggestion on one that is compatible. Thanks again
Hey man do you take requests on cars to review? I’d love to see an Xterra or first gen Armada on your channel, or maybe some more Toyota trucks and suvs. Keep up the great work!
Enrique- We had a 2006 Solara SLE convertible and loved it!!! Metallic blue with a tan top and creme interiorOnly sold it because we needed a Sequoia to tow our travel trailer.
Proud owner of 2008❤ If I decided to let it go it will be for 2010 with a lower mileage. I love this baby! Best in class! Reliable, comfortable, stylish! I don't see myself drinking another convertible unless it's LC500 convertible 😊
Awesome review, I have a 2006, and probable why the Nav door doesn't open, is because if you put in a aftermarket radio in, the door won't open, but I once owned a 2003 SC, and replaced the radio with a aftermarket, and the Nav worked, installing a newer radio, didn't have the function as my older SC, hope that bit of infor helped.
I just bought one yesterday...1/12/2024! A nice 2006, "black pearl" color, Cal car, 100k miles. At the shop today getting timing belt updated, some other odds and ends. Hope it brings us lots of good times here in the Sonoma/Napa county wine country and the coast!
Thank you for this informative video. I'm going to get rid of my Ls 430 because I now want to enjoy my late mid-life panic into a hard top convertible. I hate regular cloth drop tops. It's not as nice inside when the top is up and not to mention noisier. Nothing beats a hard top for nice and quiet.
Your review of the SC430 is very professional and top class. Top Gear are totally against Anerican and Japanese cars so their opinions do not matter for us.
@@BernonCars it would’ve made the GS a beast! They also make a tune for the LS430. Thank God someone finally made a tune for these cars, it really makes them come fully alive with all that unleashed potential
The problem with the SC, and the reason why Top Gear called it the worst car of all time, was that Lexus marketed it the wrong way. They NEVER should have called it an SC (sports coupe), when it really is a touring car. By calling it an SC, people were bound to be disappointed when they took it out for a drive and found that it wasn't really sporty and lacked the performance and handling of true sports cars. If you look at the SC 430 as a grand touring car that is going to give you a quiet, comfortable ride on highways and mostly straight roads, then it's a great car for that purpose. But it's NOT a sports car, so it never should have been given the letters SC in its name.
I got my second sc430 last year first one was a 2003 with ppe headers and magnaflow exhaust and my new one is a 2006 which to me feels faster and rides better the added Bluetooth is cool too
@BernonCars actually my first one I got hit by a drunk driver going the opposite way on the road I got hit straight from the front totaled my first sc430. The guy died on scene and I walked away with a broken wrist , he wasn't wearing his seat belt
Nice review! Seems that collectors are scooping up mint condition units and padding the cost exponentially. I guess that's the business when vehicles are no longer produced.
Since 07 I've owned 4 of these all under 30k miles ..... Wouldn't be without one ....... Currently White over euro.... 28k miles ........ excellent cars! If you remove the run-flats
I just got one in April And l love it Although it's not as fast As My 500 SL but it's a bit more Comfortable And love the convertible top As a pose to struggling With My SL top witch has not Work sence day one Terrence Hamilton Atlanta Georgia Thanks PS I want a black and red Pebble Beach edition
More important is the lack of quality of the M.B compared to this Lexus especially after all these years the Lexus quality still holds up & the M.B does not.
Slow! This car is not slow. Compared to a high-performance race car yes; but to 90% of the cars on the road no. Unless you are on a racetrack, this car has enough power to hold its own. Had mine for over 5 years, it has its quirks, but being slow it is not one. You might have a defective model.
No, nope, no way. This was my dream car, then Scotty Kilmer did a video on these, they have a timing belt and it's an interference engine. Nope! I will never buy a car that doesn't have a timing chain.
Have never heard of a timing belt going out on one of these. No need to change one out until approaching 100k The car is well worth the cost of changing the belt
