Author: Nathan Chadwick
Photography: Lexus
Maligned by a certain telly trio when new, was the Lexus SC430 really that bad?
It’s an interesting time for Lexus – Toyota recently announced its Century line was going to be the new company flagship marque. Where that leaves Lexus is anyone’s guess – downmarket? More of a sports focus, with rumours of an LFA successor abounding?
Lexus has always been a bit of a niche player in the UK – we are, after all, obsessed with our established marque, particularly those hailing from Germany. Yet look at something like the recently departed LC500, with its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, and it tends to make the usual suspects from Munich or Stuttgart look a little dull. Add peerless refinement and reliability only matched by the likelihood of a rain shower during a UK barbecue, and it’s easy to see why Lexus owners, while not a huge number, are very loyal.
However, not every Lexus has a good reputation, which brings us to the SC430, prompted by a comment on one of our articles. It’s perhaps more famous for scathing comments made about it on a certain popular BBC motoring show. It’s now available for upwards of £2500. Considering a Mercedes-Benz SL500 R230 of similar vintage will cost the same to buy and will likely cost about the same to fix its notoriously brittle suspension system, perhaps the Lexus deserves a second look?
It’s not the flashiest convertible on the block, not the fastest, nor the car that will make your mates drool – but it’s a proper, grown-up GT for the sort of chap or lady who likes things smooth, dependable and just a little bit understated. It’s a Japanese take on the continental coupé-convertible formula, launched in 2001 as a successor to the SC400 and SC300, and built to appeal to those who love V8 power without the faff of European quirks.
The styling was an acquired taste. The need to accommodate the folding roof meant the form followed function perhaps a little too closely, with a rear deck you could play ping pong on. Nearly 25 years on it perhaps looks dated for its over-curviness, especially as car design is higher, wider and more brutalist these days; remember, this was a car built for retirees who had fond memories of 60s roadsters. Well, at least from a visual point of view – hence the chrome. The folding roof would mean the leaks from those 60s roadsters would be a thing of the past.
There were some hangovers from those 60s roadsters – namely that when you tried to extend the V8’s engine and give it a bit of athleticism, it would roll a bit like a galleon. At a time when automotive journalism, even then, was obsessed with ultimate performance and oversteer, this distinctively chill dude of a car didn’t quite fit. The 4.3-litre V8 doled out its 282bhp at 5600rpm, and its 309lb ft at 3500rpm, which meant it could hit 155mph sail past 60mph in 6.4 seconds. But for its target owner, what would the point in that be? You’d get your cabin occupants’ hair messy.
There were some genuine problems beyond the lofty expectations of performance-obsessed hacks – namely the ride quality. Early cars were fitted with run-flat tyres that featured sidewalls with all the forgiveness of a cat unexpectedly in a bath. Less of a problem on the smooth boulevards of Miami, a disaster on the corrugated roads of Maidenhead, especially as it weighed a porky 1740kg.
Unsurprisingly, while the car made waves mainly across the Atlantic, in Britain it wasn’t a huge seller, but it found a quiet, loyal following. It was a cruiser through-and-through, especially once the awful run flats were replaced for more normal offerings. The steering feel on the one I drove was remote to the point of being almost only contactable via satellite phone, but again, this isn’t a hardcore performance car. The rear seats were also tiny and the styling, especially in bright red, was certainly an acquired taste, but this didn’t stop a steady stream of owners warming to it. Speaking to one, he says you could glide past your Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz-driving neighbours, while they ruminated on expensive out-of-warranty trips to disinterested main dealers.
Over its nine-year production run, Lexus kept things simple: refine, maintain, repeat. There was no need to change a winning formula, and buyers rewarded them with steady sales. In 2006 the car was upgraded visually with reshaped front and rear bumpers, a new six-speed automatic gearbox and suspension tweaks to improve ride comfort. The car was well-equipped when new, but the 2006 introduced an improved sound system and optional adaptive cruise control in some markets.
So, what about buying one now? The retractable roof is clever, but after two decades, hydraulics or latches can go wrong. Check they work as smooth as butter. Electronics are generally solid, but test the seat memory, air con, and all the buttons because repairs are not cheap if things have been neglected. The V8 is bulletproof if it’s had proper service, and rust is rarely an issue – but give the boot floor and door sills a look. Full service history will make your wallet smile and the car easier to sell.
So is the Lexus SC430 likely to be the Modern Classic to have? It’s unlikely – the styling is divisive and the bon mots from the telly trio will forever follow it around. But if you want a distinctively different cruiser to enjoy the rays next summer, without the pitfalls and perils from the German opposition at this age, then perhaps the SC430 is worth a look. We found a 154k-miler from 2003 in Stoke-on-Trent for £2495, but a respectable-miles 2005 car on 85k miles in Tunbridge Wells makes more sense at £5995. Prices for facelift cars are all over the shop, with between £8500 and £15k possible for sub-100k-examples.
It isn’t going to light your fire like a Porsche 911, but it will give you years of trouble-free V8 motoring with the roof down, a bit of style and a healthy dose of smugness when you cruise past perennially parked SLs and 6-Series convertibles. It’s comfortable, reliable and oddly satisfying in a way that makes it a real grown-up’s toy – and it’s a reminder that the joy of driving doesn’t always have to mean tailslides…
If you could pick one forgotten early-2000s convertible to drive daily, would the Lexus SC430 make your shortlist? Let us know in the comments below.
Classic car insurance from Hagerty
Keep your classic on the road with expert classic car insurance built by car lovers, for car lovers. Rated ‘Excellent’ on TrustPilot.
