The Lexus SC430 had big shoes to fill when it debuted in 2001. Unfortunately, it fell short of high expectations and was deemed a flop. Many years later, the SC430, like the one currently for sale on eBay in Cleveland, Tenn., warrants a second look.
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A Revelation
The Lexus SC300/400 luxury coupe was a revelation when it debuted in 1992. It was a bold declaration of what Toyota’s new premium marque could do. And it looked like nothing else on the road.
It came in two flavors. The SC400 shared a powerful V-8 with the flagship LS400 sedan. The engine was so smooth that an advertisement showed a tower of wine glasses balanced on it as the car reached triple-digit speeds.
The SC300’s slightly less powerful straight six and its chassis came from the acclaimed fourth-generation Toyota Supra. It blended confident handling with smooth and effortless power delivery. Both SCs’ sleek styling made them among the most beautiful cars of the era.
Harshly Judged
The SC430 shocked and disappointed enthusiasts at its debut. Its styling was bulbous rather than svelte. Lexus offered it only as a hardtop convertible with a V-8 and automatic transmission. Moreover, the weight of the metal folding roof contributed to less-than-nimble driving dynamics.
Its critics graded the SC430 against what Lexus could have built. The SC430 is actually quite good. It’s a comfortable cruiser with all the Lexus hallmarks: vault-solid quality, quiet luxury, and stone-cold reliability. It sold quite well, too, in numbers any modern carmaker would envy for a specialty vehicle.
In hindsight, the SC430 was judged too harshly. Its mechanical steering feels direct and responsive compared to the dull electronic steering found in most cars today. Its 3,840-pound curb weight is a fraction of a modern midsize crossover. Even its automatic transmission is far more satisfying than today’s CVTs.
Shop now for OEM SC430 partsFactory Red
The car for sale is finished in distinctive factory Absolutely Red, which is unusual for SC430s. At 73,000 miles, it has plenty of life left. Its only flaw is its rebuilt title, which is the result of an accident. The right-side door has since been repaired. Prospective buyers should inspect the work with a trusted source and also be aware of any difficulties there may be when registering a rebuilt-title vehicle in their state.
A 2005 SC430 sold for around $69,000 when new, the equivalent of $114,000 today. The seller is asking $14,500. This SC430, unfairly maligned in its time, is a lot of Lexus for that money.
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