Jeremy Clarkson and James May didnt help matters by calling it the worse car in the world......this car is in my opinion is a hidden gem that does what it wants to do properly and perfectly....yeah the SPORT in S might have done some bad for everyone not for me.......add some extra bucks,put cooler wheels...and this would be a stunner.....
I like the previous generation alot more but these are definitely a good car and very capable track car. It's like a Toyota v8 miata that has alot of luxury. You also have the fact of its not what everyone else is driving so that's always a plus, it's good to be different. I want one, would like nice sitting next to my 2005 gs300
While I think the SC430 drives fine for what it is - a luxury cruiser coupe, I agree with Clarkson and May that this car is too plain for a coupe, especially compared to its predecessor. For me though, I don't think any of the cars from this time of Lexus look good except the LFA. At best, their cars from this time just look plain - not good, but not bad.
He hated the Lexus RCF because it wasn't the LFA. The RCF was never meant to be the next LFA or even close to it. That never stopped me from buying one a year after it came out, and i still have it! Lol
When I first saw this car back in the day I thought it was the most beautiful car Lexus ever made I had no idea I was in the minority,I can still appreciate it today cool review 💯
You weren't in the minority. The supposed non existent reputation imbued by Top Gear never actually existed. I've had so many people come up to me over the years, even recently, asking me if this was a new Lexus model and they couldn't believe how amazing it looked.
@@stevevlahos1 THIS. I have a pearl white, saddle leather 2004 and just the other day a stranger came up to me 'How long have you had that and when are you selling it to me?' People think it's a brand new model. Happens all the time. It's also fun to put the top down during (long enough) red lights. Kids think it's a transformer.
I talked my ex into buying an SC 430! Black on red. Beautiful and FUN car. And he still has it as far as I know. He definitely loved this car more than me, which is fine, because I loved it more than him, too 😂
It wasn't supposed to be particularly sporty. It was supposed to be a comfortable cruiser but everyone thought 2 door = sports car. The jellybean looks didn't help.
Price as not discussed, but the comment that the LC500 is better, and to NOT mention that car is over 100K is a bit off the mark. Sure, it is "better" but is it better relative to the price? For me, no. Of course, to big bucks buyers, sure, maybe better even with the price. But it is always about price--for 99 percent of us drivers. Put another way, what is the "bang for the buck?" Pretty damn high, to me.
(15 years ago) I knew somebody that had one of this, I didnt like it at all, but about 5 years ago I started to liking it, and I wasl lucky enough to find a 2005 PB edition, black with red interior. I totally love it, its a well made vehicle, not sporty but very responsive engine. this was never meant to be a sport, rader than a luxury coupe with a convertible hardtop. this will outlast any MB, BMW and AUDI
It is a beautiful car n super reliable... Top gear are biased... Could they talk about reliability on their british cars german cars, etc ??? NO, right?
My wife still has her 2004 in Egyptian Sand. The car does look better in dark blue or black, which she didn't get because dealer wanted a premium. It's not a sports car, but it is a two-seat coupe as reliable as a Corolla. And it runs fine on regular. Unfortunately, it is impossible to update the NAV system, and this is a real problem in our area where the roads have been significantly altered since 2004. So, navigation is now by phone. It's easy enough to replace the trunk struts, but pricey ($150 ea) from Lexus. I did have to replace the blown-out Mark Levinson door speakers, which were unlistenable, but those were really pricey ($700) even with a discount from the parts guy. Does sound like new, though. The styling still looks contemporary, especially from the front. It would be stupid to sell this car with only 118,000 miles, since all you could get for it would be a base Kia. Scotty Kilmer had a client in Texas who had 690,000 miles on one. And the underside of the car, with that mileage, is DRY AS A BONE!
It wasn't ever supposed to be a sports car......I mean it's the same category as a personal luxury coupe remember .....thunderbird ,eldorado, Toronado, Riviera, Mark series, though these cars were spirited they weren't performers. Luxury was first on the list. Not performance.
Of course it is not the worst car ever as Clarkson would tell you. Having just placed one in my garage I can say the only thing Lexus got wrong was classify it as a Sports Coupe (SC). All they needed to do to keep Clarkson from vomiting was to call it what it actually is, a Luxury Coupe (LC). Its also true that the engine is silky smooth and mated to a silky smooth 6 speed. The suspension however needs to be silky smooth as well. Modern suspension alternatives will make this car perfect. It will be a classic now that it is the most reviewed car ever thanks to Top Gear. I will also have to buy the LC500 because it as good as they say it is. The LC500 is perfection on steroids. That said, the LC500 was also classified incorrectly as it is a sports coupe (SC). Lexus makes the best cars but their car naming office needs a readjustment.
I think they are beautiful pieces of mobile art in motion. There was one thst just sold for only 11K with only 60K miles. There's one for sale right now by me thst has higher miles but it's a rare Azure Blue Colour so I've been wanting to get it possibly .Great video and look forward to Many more.
I always loved this vehicle. I personally think some people just don't want to give credit to Lexus because it is a Japanese vehicle. This car was very expensive when it came out.
They have so much criticism about the SC 430 is because it's ugly to them. It was nice and different to me and to ofter car enthusiasts in America The reason why it was ruined by non-car enthusiasts that don't care, it's because they don't appreciate good things that was brought to America from overseas, that we never get the cool cars. Only boring trucks and crossovers of what they ask for.
These will be collectable one day. Very nicely designed & super reliable. My neighbor has one that he added a performance exhaust, which was not obnoxiously loud but gave that V8 engine a nice, throaty tone.
no it wont ..every small 2 seater ever made their are owners who keep saying my car is gonna be a collector's car ! lol the only people who love these and other 2 seaters are the owners except for Ferrari's and some Porsche which is a whole different level
Not bad or ugly cars imo but these are misunderstood and “hated” because it was totally different from what previous Soarers/SC have been. Not unlike what Mitsubishi did with the Eclipse.
My dad had a Blue 2004. The back seats were there because it lowered importing taxes per what I had read. You can only put an adult in there sideways. I feel the looks aged well.
Great video and Thanks for sharing! I own a 2008 Pebble Beach Edition (360 produced) and I love it for its luxury power and all round comfort. The color combination is awesome!
the person who said it was ugly, was.....STUPID. Why stupid? Because that sort of thing IS a matter of taste, an as an automotive critic, to not know that, is STUPID. You, or I don't like it--fine. But to make an absolute statement (it is ugly) shows a real lack of intelligence. To me, by the way, it is good looking and again, if someone else hates it, fine. But no absolutes please on personal taste.
Blue and black help the looks a lot but don’t forget that a lot of the hate comes from the fact that most of these were spec’d by old people in boring beige, silver, and white so they’re seen as a boring old person’s car but your review has made me appreciate the build quality and potential with the right spec.
People hated these because Jeremy Clarkson said they were terrible and if Jeremy Clarkson said they were terrible, that's all they needed to know. Personally, I never thought these were ugly. It's very difficult to nail the proportions on a hardtop convertible and I think Lexus did a great job with that especially compared to cars like the Volkswagen Eos and the Peugeot 206 cc. I would absolutely own one of these, as I prefer a relaxing drive over sporty. I would relish in putting the top back on a warm spring day and putting the XM Watercolors station on as I head to the beach in this thing. Anyway, I found it amusing that the trunklid on this car wouldn't stay open, as my Pontiac G6 convertible has the same problem (but my trunklid weighs a TON!).
My mom has owned this car for 10 years and I have a 2016 rcf The contrast of the best and worse driving Lexus in my driveway is hilarious And by worse I mean this is one of the smoothest slowest best built cars that exists, it’s amaZzzing vehicle, get on a smooth road and u can almost fall asleep in the wind lol
If you actually watch the whole Top Gear episode, it can see that Clarkson was extremely subjective in description of the SC. Haven’t drove one, only seen online reviews, and almost all of those reviews counter his position.
Everyone that has one loves it. My wife actually has people in the backseat quite often. Granted it is her coworkers and they only drive like 5-10 minutes with the top down to get lunch
When I was a kid, I always wanted to buy this car. It look awesome to me. Now I'm older :p and they no longer have it in production. I'm thinking of buying a used one. I don't like buying use cars reason is simple you don't know how people abuse their cars.
Got this car a year ago, 128,000 miles for 8,000, i didn’t know it was a convertible or a v8 it was my first car I didn’t know what I was getting and they didn’t know what they where selling cuz I got it for a Absolute steal I love this car so much
I had an 06 with 20k mi when I bought it. Sold it @ 60k mi. It was a great 2nd car. The chassis was a little flexy as with most convertables but overall a cool car. Love the hard top convertable idea. Im 6'4" so it was never going to be my forever garage queen.
Apparently they can't see any at all if they say this car is unattractive... The vision for one of these would be coilovers to help the stance and nicely fitted set of 19's with updated LEDs a front spoiler and update the radio and there you have it. 💯⭐😎
The engine alone is why you buy this car. The 4.3L V8 is Lexus' second greatest engine of all-time behind the OG 4.0L V8 that came out in the introduction of the Lexus 300.
We bought one new in 2006 still owe it updated the wheels to Chrome made a big difference. I agree with what you have said. It could have, however, used more horsepower on the highway. It’s heavy and sluggish but rides great. Keeping the horsepower at 300 would’ve been a good idea
Top Gear did get it wrong but the SC430 never had a reputation for being ugly or compromised. It did exactly what it was supposed to while looking amazing. Still the quietest convertible I've driven measuring an average of 67 dBs WITH the top down.
I am planning to buy one within the next month. I just love how sleek this car is on the inside. The fact that is a hardtop convertible is the cherry on top. My only concern is the rear wheel drive. I live in NY and snow storms can get pretty nasty, in any case, I think the positives outweigh the one negative. But will def invest in good winter tires.
Manufacturers should take notes from this SC430 & certain Audis on their Infotainment Systems instead of the the ones that look stuck on top of the dashboard!
I hope they stop doing that soon with new cars. I just don't understand. I am looking at the new NX350h and they finally started getting them more integrated into the dash
8:52 Jeremy and James dedicated an entire Gaiden special about "The Worst Car In The World" late in their tenure on Top Gear and this thing is what they ended up with. They tested 70s American land yachts, Eastern Bloc cars, Italian cars, Malaise-era British stuff, modern cars, old cars, etc. etc. etc. and THIS is what they decided was the worst car in the world (all things considered). With their influence, that's why everybody decided to hate these... I'll throw in my two bits and say that this thing isn't any worse than most roadster/convertible/2+2 cars from the 2000s. Almost all of them targeted retiring boomers (from Vette to Sky to this to the Cadillac Vette to even the NC Miata) as their primary market and almost all of them did precisely what they were supposed to do: yes, in theory it's quick or something, but it's meant for an elderly person to take it out once or twice a year when the weather's good and they aren't in a "mood." Frankly, the car wasn't built for me (a poor excuse considering my daily drivers) and (more importantly) the era is not to my taste. But, thanks Zack for confirming my suspicions that this is no worse than an NC Miata (my least favorite Miata. lolz)!!
Clarkson didn't hate the car because he didn't understand it: he hated it because, on a very deep level, he did understand this car. It is the future. Compare it to an open top RR Corniche: which one will give you fewer problems after 20 years? Moreover, how many of us will ever drive our cars at over 150km/hr? I know some people who do go to the racetrack on the weekends. But I also know some people who have died. The type of sports cars JC liked to test drive were amusing and good entertainment. But they were also ridiculous toys. Toys for people with too much time on their hands.
I also think it is a beautiful car! Not AS beautiful as the current Lexus convertible,though. Strange...i always thought headlamp washers or wash/wipes just operated when you washed the windscreen,not with a separate button!
This is a good review, taking the car as it is, without any preconceived prejudices. I am biased as l own a 2002 the same colour as this one. l love my car, a great long-distance cruiser that is very comfortable and well built. The style has aged very well. The back seats were included for insurance purposes. This is a strictly 2 seater car.
When I first saw this car, I didnt like the look. Later on, it grew on me and the 2006 and up facelift version with the 6 speed auto is much better looking in my eyes. They watered these cars down from the factory with the tune, since the car can move a good deal faster than stock with just a tune and without adding power. The lag when you step on the gas is atrocious, but a simple mod to remedy that will make a massive difference and it can smoke the tires easily just by stomping on the gas pedal without holding the brake and cheating. They do no handle too good, and its more a cruiser but there are mods that can turn it into a decent handler that is capable of being pretty quick. There are a lot of hidden features with this car as well - I ended up buying a 2006 myself in the same color but with the eccru cream colored interior which is great but shows dirt VERY easily. The cup holders are not to be trusted, but you can buy a weathertek cup holder insert to use with this car that will make the cup holder function much better. As for the back seat - its really only for show, unless you have small kids. These cars were way ahead of their time with the level of luxury and holds up even to this day with the build quality, and this along with the LS were the top trim models. The look of the car has aged well, and holds up to this day, and it gets a TON of attention whenever I drive it as most people do not know what it is or that the car is actually 18 years old. All SC430 models have 300hp, but 2006 and up was rated differently, but 2006 and up move quicker with the 6 speed auto. A remap of the ECU would really bring the character out of the car, and make it much more fun to drive. A new SC was supposed to come out, but they decided that the LC is the new SC, when ironically it should have been the other way around. Parts are pricey for this car if you get quality OEM parts (as you should) but this car does not break very often if you stay up on the maintenance on it. They made maybe 75k total of this model with very few of them in Los Angeles where I see one maybe once a month at the most, so in other areas they are almost never heard of. I was going to go wild on mine and turn it into a beast with a supercharger and other supporting engine work to make a ton of power, but decided to fall back on my places and just go with a light 6psi blower setup, and I decided to look into a Viper instead of getting an LC, since I want to keep my SC. By FAR the rarest one is the 2010 model where less than 400 made it to the US and those are the ones to look for in my eyes, but if you cannot find one then a 2006 and up looks all the same. The Pebble Beach models are nice, but there is not really too much different with them compared to the regular models.
I have 2002 with 57k miles drives like a cloud if I want too drive sporty I drive my c4 or c6 I call my Lexus my turtle because it kinda looks like it with the top up 😂
Looks like you are straining to reach the steering wheel, sitting WAY back there. And barely able to see over the top of the wheel?? "Visibility is not amazing" you say--sure, laying flat on your back, pretty hard to see I would think.
That little cubby in the console is for the old, small non-smart phones of the mid aughts. No charger, they had no computing power compared to today and could last a week without being lit up.
I’m planning to get one of these and remove the front seat and just sit in the backseat for driving my wife has always said I’m a backseat driver. I guess she’s right.
Had this car a couple years now and love it! Lowered mine one inch and put some wheel spacers for a more flush aggressive stance.it already had an exhaust from manifolds back no cats and a computer.its pretty quick but feels a little heavy.my other cars are 95 vettes.one convertible one coupe.the convertible is about the same as the sc speed wise.its definitely not faster than the coupe .its much lighter and the 5.7 just has that torque.the 4.3 does get going with the dual cams and vvt in higher rpms.better build quality and reliability in the sc.
Nice! What color combo and year did you get? This SC has coil overs and wheel spacers too. Makes a big difference in the stance….The stock stance is very very bad. Kinda a Toyota issue during those days of the “skinny track”.
Passenger side is mostly because especially with toyotas there were quick access seat folding and passenger seat can be moved far mkre forward so both rear and front passenger can fit and have leg room. Coupes still need more spread out leg position, but still can be comfy if people in front set the seata right in most 2+2 cars. Not so much in ones that are completely hopeless like BMW i8, LC500 or RCF.
Imo, it depends ALOT on either the outgoing or incoming model to have people decide if the model is a good looking one. In this case, like you mentioned, the previous gen was sporty & luxury, whereas this was intended for luxury only. You may rather call this the first gen LC. This car really doesn't look bad unless when compared to the predecessor.
Ok, who tuned in just to see Zach get in the back seat :) I knew someone who had this and loved it - it suited his personality (yeah he had the chrome manhole cover wheels), yet it was pretty universally trashed by reviewers. I was always intrigued and I love the interior color here, but it's a single purpose car and I don't have a 3 car garage.
I don't understand why they steered so far away from the sporty nature of the sc300. While the Soarer (the JDM car this originates from) was never exactly a sports car, it was never exactly an extreme luxury cruiser either.
A cassette player option was actually pretty desirable way beyond the point where cassettes had been surpassed by CDs (then MP3s, etc.) Lots of folks, especially those in the target demographic agewise for this thing, had accumulated a vast library of cassette tapes, and had only begun to transition to the latest medium. Spending big bucks on a luxury car where you couldn't even play your "obsolete" jams was not exactly a selling point.
I had the first year 2002 black / Tan & it was a great looking car & very reliable car & very beautiful interior especially compared to any of its computation at that time. And the car was only $68.000 dollars fully loaded & a much cheaper than any of its completion, Mercedes Bendz or Porsche, But as much as I loved it it had one very large problem. The tires were run-flat tires which made a very harsh ride that was not like any other Lexus product which had very smooth ride. The car kept getting flat tires & only Lexus was able to fix it.There was no spare tire in the trunk because of no room. The wheels would bend over time because of the bad ride / runflat tires. And there was no kits in those times to inflate the tires. Maybe because of the harch ride it affected the sales to mainly older customers who were not happy with the lack of the smooth ride? I had the car for 5 years & never had any other problems & trouble free.
Jeremy Clarkson and James May didnt help matters by calling it the worse car in the world......this car is in my opinion is a hidden gem that does what it wants to do properly and perfectly....yeah the SPORT in S might have done some bad for everyone not for me.......add some extra bucks,put cooler wheels...and this would be a stunner.....
I like the previous generation alot more but these are definitely a good car and very capable track car. It's like a Toyota v8 miata that has alot of luxury. You also have the fact of its not what everyone else is driving so that's always a plus, it's good to be different. I want one, would like nice sitting next to my 2005 gs300
track car jesus christ put the crackpipe down@@slim_gs3005
Clarkson loves to be controversial, he also said Pug 307 was poor & later retracted the statement, has not a clue
While I think the SC430 drives fine for what it is - a luxury cruiser coupe, I agree with Clarkson and May that this car is too plain for a coupe, especially compared to its predecessor. For me though, I don't think any of the cars from this time of Lexus look good except the LFA. At best, their cars from this time just look plain - not good, but not bad.
He hated the Lexus RCF because it wasn't the LFA. The RCF was never meant to be the next LFA or even close to it. That never stopped me from buying one a year after it came out, and i still have it! Lol
When I first saw this car back in the day I thought it was the most beautiful car Lexus ever made I had no idea I was in the minority,I can still appreciate it today cool review 💯
You weren't in the minority. The supposed non existent reputation imbued by Top Gear never actually existed. I've had so many people come up to me over the years, even recently, asking me if this was a new Lexus model and they couldn't believe how amazing it looked.
The design is timeless
@@stevevlahos1 THIS. I have a pearl white, saddle leather 2004 and just the other day a stranger came up to me 'How long have you had that and when are you selling it to me?' People think it's a brand new model. Happens all the time. It's also fun to put the top down during (long enough) red lights. Kids think it's a transformer.
I would love to find one of these beautiful cars😍
I talked my ex into buying an SC 430! Black on red. Beautiful and FUN car. And he still has it as far as I know. He definitely loved this car more than me, which is fine, because I loved it more than him, too 😂
Gay car guys unite!
@@SlitWristMisfit_ HELL YEAH!
Love the features these had. They deserved more respect than they got.
It wasn't supposed to be particularly sporty. It was supposed to be a comfortable cruiser but everyone thought 2 door = sports car. The jellybean looks didn't help.
Price as not discussed, but the comment that the LC500 is better, and to NOT mention that car is over 100K is a bit off the mark. Sure, it is "better" but is it better relative to the price? For me, no. Of course, to big bucks buyers, sure, maybe better even with the price. But it is always about price--for 99 percent of us drivers. Put another way, what is the "bang for the buck?" Pretty damn high, to me.
(15 years ago) I knew somebody that had one of this, I didnt like it at all, but about 5 years ago I started to liking it, and I wasl lucky enough to find a 2005 PB edition, black with red interior. I totally love it, its a well made vehicle, not sporty but very responsive engine. this was never meant to be a sport, rader than a luxury coupe with a convertible hardtop. this will outlast any MB, BMW and AUDI
OMG!!! I recently picked up a 2005 PB EDITION TOO!! Exactly black with red interior 😅that’s so cool
It is a beautiful car n super reliable...
Top gear are biased...
Could they talk about reliability on their british cars german cars, etc ???
NO, right?
So true! Unfortunately Japanese vehicles don't get respect from some people. I could care less what they think. This is a great vehicle in my eyes.
My brother has an Aston Martin. It's been dead in his garage for at least six months.
My wife still has her 2004 in Egyptian Sand. The car does look better in dark blue or black, which she didn't get because dealer wanted a premium.
It's not a sports car, but it is a two-seat coupe as reliable as a Corolla. And it runs fine on regular.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to update the NAV system, and this is a real problem in our area where the roads have been significantly altered since 2004. So, navigation is now by phone.
It's easy enough to replace the trunk struts, but pricey ($150 ea) from Lexus.
I did have to replace the blown-out Mark Levinson door speakers, which were unlistenable, but those were really pricey ($700) even with a discount from the parts guy. Does sound like new, though.
The styling still looks contemporary, especially from the front.
It would be stupid to sell this car with only 118,000 miles, since all you could get for it would be a base Kia. Scotty Kilmer had a client in Texas who had 690,000 miles on one. And the underside of the car, with that mileage, is DRY AS A BONE!
Always thought these were neat
And they are
It wasn't ever supposed to be a sports car......I mean it's the same category as a personal luxury coupe remember .....thunderbird ,eldorado, Toronado, Riviera, Mark series, though these cars were spirited they weren't performers. Luxury was first on the list. Not performance.
Absolutely!
A ecu/tcu remap tune from quantum auto makes throttle response virtually instantaneous, faster shifts and a small increase in hp and tq
Regina George's car from the movie "Mean Girls" 😅
mine has 155 thousand and is cherry get looks everywhere
Of course it is not the worst car ever as Clarkson would tell you. Having just placed one in my garage I can say the only thing Lexus got wrong was classify it as a Sports Coupe (SC). All they needed to do to keep Clarkson from vomiting was to call it what it actually is, a Luxury Coupe (LC). Its also true that the engine is silky smooth and mated to a silky smooth 6 speed. The suspension however needs to be silky smooth as well. Modern suspension alternatives will make this car perfect. It will be a classic now that it is the most reviewed car ever thanks to Top Gear. I will also have to buy the LC500 because it as good as they say it is. The LC500 is perfection on steroids. That said, the LC500 was also classified incorrectly as it is a sports coupe (SC). Lexus makes the best cars but their car naming office needs a readjustment.
Whoever called this car as the worst car made really helps not making the price not skyrocket even more! :)
Even though it is still expensive. Lol!
Should have been the LC430 tbh.
Yeah, that's a nice looking car, especially with that color combo. Not the biggest 'back seat' I've ever seen, but still.
The side profile with the long curvy trunk is reminiscent of the "business coupe" body style of the 30s and 40s
I love this car. Not ugly but interesting.
The Pre LC500
I think they are beautiful pieces of mobile art in motion. There was one thst just sold for only 11K with only 60K miles. There's one for sale right now by me thst has higher miles but it's a rare Azure Blue Colour so I've been wanting to get it possibly .Great video and look forward to Many more.
I always loved this vehicle. I personally think some people just don't want to give credit to Lexus because it is a Japanese vehicle. This car was very expensive when it came out.
They have so much criticism about the SC 430 is because it's ugly to them. It was nice and different to me and to ofter car enthusiasts in America The reason why it was ruined by non-car enthusiasts that don't care, it's because they don't appreciate good things that was brought to America from overseas, that we never get the cool cars. Only boring trucks and crossovers of what they ask for.
These will be collectable one day. Very nicely designed & super reliable. My neighbor has one that he added a performance exhaust, which was not obnoxiously loud but gave that V8 engine a nice, throaty tone.
no it wont ..every small 2 seater ever made their are owners who keep saying my car is gonna be a collector's car ! lol the only people who love these and other 2 seaters are the owners except for Ferrari's and some Porsche which is a whole different level
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
Not bad or ugly cars imo but these are misunderstood and “hated” because it was totally different from what previous Soarers/SC have been. Not unlike what Mitsubishi did with the Eclipse.
My dad had a Blue 2004. The back seats were there because it lowered importing taxes per what I had read. You can only put an adult in there sideways. I feel the looks aged well.
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
Great video and Thanks for sharing! I own a 2008 Pebble Beach Edition (360 produced) and I love it for its luxury power and all round comfort. The color combination is awesome!
I have a 2008 in Smoky Granite Mica with Ecru (light beige) interior. 38k miles
This car looks like a great summer cruiser
Check. Especially in the early evening hours.
This car is gorgeous clarkson is on crack
the person who said it was ugly, was.....STUPID. Why stupid? Because that sort of thing IS a matter of taste, an as an automotive critic, to not know that, is STUPID. You, or I don't like it--fine. But to make an absolute statement (it is ugly) shows a real lack of intelligence. To me, by the way, it is good looking and again, if someone else hates it, fine. But no absolutes please on personal taste.
Blue and black help the looks a lot but don’t forget that a lot of the hate comes from the fact that most of these were spec’d by old people in boring beige, silver, and white so they’re seen as a boring old person’s car but your review has made me appreciate the build quality and potential with the right spec.
This is a handsome car
I have a 2006 PB Edition...i love the car...no problems, like my service adviser says its a tank..very reliable and it suits me great..
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
It's a car you either love or hate. I love it, but hate that awful colour wood, the maple I love. A very practical alternative to a Mercedes SL.
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
People hated these because Jeremy Clarkson said they were terrible and if Jeremy Clarkson said they were terrible, that's all they needed to know. Personally, I never thought these were ugly. It's very difficult to nail the proportions on a hardtop convertible and I think Lexus did a great job with that especially compared to cars like the Volkswagen Eos and the Peugeot 206 cc. I would absolutely own one of these, as I prefer a relaxing drive over sporty. I would relish in putting the top back on a warm spring day and putting the XM Watercolors station on as I head to the beach in this thing.
Anyway, I found it amusing that the trunklid on this car wouldn't stay open, as my Pontiac G6 convertible has the same problem (but my trunklid weighs a TON!).
This was elite level content production. Thanks man
I loved the sc430.. but sc400 had more room far as back seat, but it was a coupe
if I could buy one I totally would
My mom has owned this car for 10 years and I have a 2016 rcf
The contrast of the best and worse driving Lexus in my driveway is hilarious
And by worse I mean this is one of the smoothest slowest best built cars that exists, it’s amaZzzing vehicle, get on a smooth road and u can almost fall asleep in the wind lol
If you actually watch the whole Top Gear episode, it can see that Clarkson was extremely subjective in description of the SC. Haven’t drove one, only seen online reviews, and almost all of those reviews counter his position.
They disagree with JC for a reason. JC was wrong.
Great review; very underrated car. 144k miles and it looks showroom ready.
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
Everyone that has one loves it. My wife actually has people in the backseat quite often. Granted it is her coworkers and they only drive like 5-10 minutes with the top down to get lunch
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
love this car ! so, so good and a pleasure to drive !
I love the sc430. Would buy one for sure if I had the money. This particular one looks beautiful
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
When I was a kid, I always wanted to buy this car. It look awesome to me. Now I'm older :p and they no longer have it in production. I'm thinking of buying a used one. I don't like buying use cars reason is simple you don't know how people abuse their cars.
Check out this guys sc430, it's the coolest sc430 build on RUclips! www.youtube.com/@Atlanticbeachcustoms
Art work on wheels even when sitting still....
Agreed
Thanks for this amazing video, it helps me so much to have an idea about this car, that actually I love it! Greetings from Italy ;-)
Check out this guys sc430, it's the coolest sc430 buildf on RUclips! www.youtube.com/@Atlanticbeachcustoms
Got this car a year ago, 128,000 miles for 8,000, i didn’t know it was a convertible or a v8 it was my first car I didn’t know what I was getting and they didn’t know what they where selling cuz I got it for a Absolute steal I love this car so much
what model year is yours?
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
I had an 06 with 20k mi when I bought it. Sold it @ 60k mi. It was a great 2nd car. The chassis was a little flexy as with most convertables but overall a cool car. Love the hard top convertable idea. Im 6'4" so it was never going to be my forever garage queen.
I always found this car beautiful. Especially in this color and rim combo.
Check out this guys sc430, it's the coolest sc430 build on RUclips! www.youtube.com/@Atlanticbeachcustoms
I love mine
These are neat
These are so expensive now just like everything now days.
Apparently they can't see any at all if they say this car is unattractive... The vision for one of these would be coilovers to help the stance and nicely fitted set of 19's with updated LEDs a front spoiler and update the radio and there you have it. 💯⭐😎
Yep check out this guys sc430 build, he has all of that! www.youtube.com/@Atlanticbeachcustoms
The engine alone is why you buy this car. The 4.3L V8 is Lexus' second greatest engine of all-time behind the OG 4.0L V8 that came out in the introduction of the Lexus 300.
Lexus 400*
I saw nearly this exact same spec on the skyline drive the other day! 271k miles and looked brand new. I want one so badly now
We bought one new in 2006 still owe it updated the wheels to Chrome made a big difference. I agree with what you have said. It could have, however, used more horsepower on the highway. It’s heavy and sluggish but rides great. Keeping the horsepower at 300 would’ve been a good idea
Beautiful Jewel of Lexus 💎
Top Gear did get it wrong but the SC430 never had a reputation for being ugly or compromised. It did exactly what it was supposed to while looking amazing. Still the quietest convertible I've driven measuring an average of 67 dBs WITH the top down.
A very nice car!
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
I am planning to buy one within the next month. I just love how sleek this car is on the inside. The fact that is a hardtop convertible is the cherry on top. My only concern is the rear wheel drive. I live in NY and snow storms can get pretty nasty, in any case, I think the positives outweigh the one negative. But will def invest in good winter tires.
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
Manufacturers should take notes from this SC430 & certain Audis on their Infotainment Systems instead of the the ones that look stuck on top of the dashboard!
I hope they stop doing that soon with new cars. I just don't understand. I am looking at the new NX350h and they finally started getting them more integrated into the dash
It looks like Lexus's take on the Miata. So it is weird anybody wouldn't like it. unless they thought it a pricey imitation.
This was significantly heavier and nowhere close to the Miata's "personality"
@@doug6191yeah it was a luxury hardtop convertible competing against legendary Mercedes SL line. So you know the SC gotta be good!
Toyotas take on Miata is not this, its MR2 especially last generation.
Just because it’s a convertible doesn’t mean it’s a Miata competitor, such a clueless take.
1:40 I've not seen them do with with a 2000's Lexus. They did it with the LS400 in 1989, and the LS500 recently to celebrate 35 years of Lexus.
8:52 Jeremy and James dedicated an entire Gaiden special about "The Worst Car In The World" late in their tenure on Top Gear and this thing is what they ended up with.
They tested 70s American land yachts, Eastern Bloc cars, Italian cars, Malaise-era British stuff, modern cars, old cars, etc. etc. etc. and THIS is what they decided was the worst car in the world (all things considered). With their influence, that's why everybody decided to hate these...
I'll throw in my two bits and say that this thing isn't any worse than most roadster/convertible/2+2 cars from the 2000s. Almost all of them targeted retiring boomers (from Vette to Sky to this to the Cadillac Vette to even the NC Miata) as their primary market and almost all of them did precisely what they were supposed to do: yes, in theory it's quick or something, but it's meant for an elderly person to take it out once or twice a year when the weather's good and they aren't in a "mood." Frankly, the car wasn't built for me (a poor excuse considering my daily drivers) and (more importantly) the era is not to my taste. But, thanks Zack for confirming my suspicions that this is no worse than an NC Miata (my least favorite Miata. lolz)!!
It is still very reliable and comfortable there is no denying that
@@RAFAEL199O Oh, without question. Which really calls to question the whole "Worse Car In The World... All Things Considered" thing.
Clarkson didn't hate the car because he didn't understand it: he hated it because, on a very deep level, he did understand this car. It is the future.
Compare it to an open top RR Corniche: which one will give you fewer problems after 20 years? Moreover, how many of us will ever drive our cars at over 150km/hr? I know some people who do go to the racetrack on the weekends. But I also know some people who have died.
The type of sports cars JC liked to test drive were amusing and good entertainment. But they were also ridiculous toys.
Toys for people with too much time on their hands.
I love just looking at this design.
I also think it is a beautiful car! Not AS beautiful as the current Lexus convertible,though. Strange...i always thought headlamp washers or wash/wipes just operated when you washed the windscreen,not with a separate button!
Im about to buy one of these.
This is a good review, taking the car as it is, without any preconceived prejudices. I am biased as l own a 2002 the same colour as this one. l love my car, a great long-distance cruiser that is very comfortable and well built. The style has aged very well. The back seats were included for insurance purposes. This is a strictly 2 seater car.
When I first saw this car, I didnt like the look. Later on, it grew on me and the 2006 and up facelift version with the 6 speed auto is much better looking in my eyes. They watered these cars down from the factory with the tune, since the car can move a good deal faster than stock with just a tune and without adding power. The lag when you step on the gas is atrocious, but a simple mod to remedy that will make a massive difference and it can smoke the tires easily just by stomping on the gas pedal without holding the brake and cheating. They do no handle too good, and its more a cruiser but there are mods that can turn it into a decent handler that is capable of being pretty quick. There are a lot of hidden features with this car as well - I ended up buying a 2006 myself in the same color but with the eccru cream colored interior which is great but shows dirt VERY easily. The cup holders are not to be trusted, but you can buy a weathertek cup holder insert to use with this car that will make the cup holder function much better. As for the back seat - its really only for show, unless you have small kids. These cars were way ahead of their time with the level of luxury and holds up even to this day with the build quality, and this along with the LS were the top trim models. The look of the car has aged well, and holds up to this day, and it gets a TON of attention whenever I drive it as most people do not know what it is or that the car is actually 18 years old. All SC430 models have 300hp, but 2006 and up was rated differently, but 2006 and up move quicker with the 6 speed auto. A remap of the ECU would really bring the character out of the car, and make it much more fun to drive. A new SC was supposed to come out, but they decided that the LC is the new SC, when ironically it should have been the other way around. Parts are pricey for this car if you get quality OEM parts (as you should) but this car does not break very often if you stay up on the maintenance on it. They made maybe 75k total of this model with very few of them in Los Angeles where I see one maybe once a month at the most, so in other areas they are almost never heard of. I was going to go wild on mine and turn it into a beast with a supercharger and other supporting engine work to make a ton of power, but decided to fall back on my places and just go with a light 6psi blower setup, and I decided to look into a Viper instead of getting an LC, since I want to keep my SC. By FAR the rarest one is the 2010 model where less than 400 made it to the US and those are the ones to look for in my eyes, but if you cannot find one then a 2006 and up looks all the same. The Pebble Beach models are nice, but there is not really too much different with them compared to the regular models.
I had one! 2004 was fun to drive with top down or up it was great!
There’s a dude here on RUclips who bought one for $2000 from auction and has been fixing it up! youtube.com/@atlanticbeachcustoms?si=Tmq9TBJ682A_rL95
I would buy this car just as it's shown here....perfect color combo
I have 2002 with 57k miles drives like a cloud if I want too drive sporty I drive my c4 or c6 I call my Lexus my turtle because it kinda looks like it with the top up 😂
Looks like you are straining to reach the steering wheel, sitting WAY back there. And barely able to see over the top of the wheel?? "Visibility is not amazing" you say--sure, laying flat on your back, pretty hard to see I would think.
That little cubby in the console is for the old, small non-smart phones of the mid aughts. No charger, they had no computing power compared to today and could last a week without being lit up.
I just inherited a 2004 Pebble Beach edition. Amazing car to drive!
I’m planning to get one of these and remove the front seat and just sit in the backseat for driving my wife has always said I’m a backseat driver. I guess she’s right.
For convertibles you need to jump over the doors
Beautiful car IMHO. If I could afford one as a 2nd car, I'd seriously consider one!
Had this car a couple years now and love it! Lowered mine one inch and put some wheel spacers for a more flush aggressive stance.it already had an exhaust from manifolds back no cats and a computer.its pretty quick but feels a little heavy.my other cars are 95 vettes.one convertible one coupe.the convertible is about the same as the sc speed wise.its definitely not faster than the coupe .its much lighter and the 5.7 just has that torque.the 4.3 does get going with the dual cams and vvt in higher rpms.better build quality and reliability in the sc.
Nice! What color combo and year did you get? This SC has coil overs and wheel spacers too. Makes a big difference in the stance….The stock stance is very very bad. Kinda a Toyota issue during those days of the “skinny track”.
It's black on black I wish it was another color tho.may paint it that stock purple color they came with.tess? Exhaust? Not sure
@@nunyabeeswax3061 sorry typo… it was year? 😆. Black on black is slick! Keep it clean
@@mechanicalintentions5431 lol 2002 it happens to me all the time!
Add a tune from quantum auto and your sc will feel much faster. I have it and it’s the best thing I did to my SC430
The days when Infiniti and Lexus shared body designs and headlights, messed up
The Quantum ECU Tune will wake up the 3UZ engine big time. Good review
Pretty car
But it's engine is... Too comfortable.
Passenger side is mostly because especially with toyotas there were quick access seat folding and passenger seat can be moved far mkre forward so both rear and front passenger can fit and have leg room. Coupes still need more spread out leg position, but still can be comfy if people in front set the seata right in most 2+2 cars. Not so much in ones that are completely hopeless like BMW i8, LC500 or RCF.
I always liked this car. A comfortable cruiser convertible.
Imo, it depends ALOT on either the outgoing or incoming model to have people decide if the model is a good looking one. In this case, like you mentioned, the previous gen was sporty & luxury, whereas this was intended for luxury only. You may rather call this the first gen LC. This car really doesn't look bad unless when compared to the predecessor.
Ok, who tuned in just to see Zach get in the back seat :) I knew someone who had this and loved it - it suited his personality (yeah he had the chrome manhole cover wheels), yet it was pretty universally trashed by reviewers. I was always intrigued and I love the interior color here, but it's a single purpose car and I don't have a 3 car garage.
Definitely looks 100X better with the top down!
people compliment my 04 all the time when I am parking it . I love this car
This is a beautiful car and I get constant compliments on it b
Thank you. I’m looking at a red one.
That tanned leather interior is beautiful
no way that car has 145k miles wow
Great review! Love the detail about the cover restricting top operation.
Check out this guys sc430, it's the coolest sc430 buildf on RUclips! www.youtube.com/@Atlanticbeachcustoms
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white person drive one of these.
😂😂😂 weird take
that's all Ive seen drive them. Rich old White ladies
Pretty much only white people drive these 😂
Definitely Not The Ugliest
I don't understand why they steered so far away from the sporty nature of the sc300. While the Soarer (the JDM car this originates from) was never exactly a sports car, it was never exactly an extreme luxury cruiser either.
A cassette player option was actually pretty desirable way beyond the point where cassettes had been surpassed by CDs (then MP3s, etc.) Lots of folks, especially those in the target demographic agewise for this thing, had accumulated a vast library of cassette tapes, and had only begun to transition to the latest medium. Spending big bucks on a luxury car where you couldn't even play your "obsolete" jams was not exactly a selling point.
They are definitely bland looking but most Lexus'are.
I had the first year 2002 black / Tan & it was a great looking car & very reliable car & very beautiful interior especially compared to any of its computation at that time. And the car was only $68.000 dollars fully loaded & a much cheaper than any of its completion, Mercedes Bendz or Porsche, But as much as I loved it it had one very large problem. The tires were run-flat tires which made a very harsh ride that was not like any other Lexus product which had very smooth ride. The car kept getting flat tires & only Lexus was able to fix it.There was no spare tire in the trunk because of no room. The wheels would bend over time because of the bad ride / runflat tires. And there was no kits in those times to inflate the tires. Maybe because of the harch ride it affected the sales to mainly older customers who were not happy with the lack of the smooth ride? I had the car for 5 years & never had any other problems & trouble free.