ZOSicK
April 19th, 2004, 11:06 PM
http://www.motortrend.com/motor/roadtests/coupe/112_0307_luxlex_l.jpg
The SC 430 is the refinement leader in this already polished group.
Unveiled in the '02 model year (and Lexus' first convertible), the SC 430 proved an instant sensation. On the sunny, self-conscious SoCal streets that surround MT headquarters, SC 430s are as plentiful as tofu stands and Oscar-aspiring barmaids.
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Press a single switch, and the folding hardtop of the SC 430 whirs down and into the trunk in less than 25 seconds.
The SC 430 is the refinement leader in this exceedingly polished group. The suspension creams over the road, the engine purrs, the five-speed automatic shifts without a ripple, and the cabin's switches and knobs send soothing messages to your fingertips. The steering wheel is a gorgeous wood-and-leather model, exquisitely stitched leather wraps every nook and cranny, and warm wood adorns the console and the dash--including pop-up doors that conceal the standard GPS navigation screen and the controls for the Mark Levinson audio system.
We're less enamored of the SC's exterior, one of those nontoxic, "organic" shapes that looks neither unattractive nor memorable. And while none of these three roadsters is generous with cargo space (folded hardtops take up more room than Geraldo Rivera's ego), the SC's trunk seems designed for, maybe, a banana. Fortunately, the SC 430 offers optional run-flat tires that eliminate the need for the space-stealing spare, and it has the group's only rear seat--which can carry briefcases or even golf bags.
With a 32-valve four-cam 4.3-liter V-8 equipped with variable valve timing and delivering 300 horsepower at 5600 rpm, the SC can sprint 0-60 mph in just 6.75 seconds. Alas, the tuned-for-comfort suspension is less eager to play hero: The Lexus posted just 0.78 g on the skidpad and came home third in our braking and slalom tests.
At an as-tested price of $63,884, the SC 430 is this group's value leader. For many buyers, the words "bargain-priced Lexus" might be all the convincing they need.
http://www.motortrend.com/motor/roadtests/coupe/112_0307_luxlexi_z.jpg
The leather-and-wood-lined cabin is a paradigm of luxury and civility, featuring handsome shapes, astutely arranged controls, and a level of craftsmanship second to none.
The SC 430 is the refinement leader in this already polished group.
Unveiled in the '02 model year (and Lexus' first convertible), the SC 430 proved an instant sensation. On the sunny, self-conscious SoCal streets that surround MT headquarters, SC 430s are as plentiful as tofu stands and Oscar-aspiring barmaids.
advertisement
Press a single switch, and the folding hardtop of the SC 430 whirs down and into the trunk in less than 25 seconds.
The SC 430 is the refinement leader in this exceedingly polished group. The suspension creams over the road, the engine purrs, the five-speed automatic shifts without a ripple, and the cabin's switches and knobs send soothing messages to your fingertips. The steering wheel is a gorgeous wood-and-leather model, exquisitely stitched leather wraps every nook and cranny, and warm wood adorns the console and the dash--including pop-up doors that conceal the standard GPS navigation screen and the controls for the Mark Levinson audio system.
We're less enamored of the SC's exterior, one of those nontoxic, "organic" shapes that looks neither unattractive nor memorable. And while none of these three roadsters is generous with cargo space (folded hardtops take up more room than Geraldo Rivera's ego), the SC's trunk seems designed for, maybe, a banana. Fortunately, the SC 430 offers optional run-flat tires that eliminate the need for the space-stealing spare, and it has the group's only rear seat--which can carry briefcases or even golf bags.
With a 32-valve four-cam 4.3-liter V-8 equipped with variable valve timing and delivering 300 horsepower at 5600 rpm, the SC can sprint 0-60 mph in just 6.75 seconds. Alas, the tuned-for-comfort suspension is less eager to play hero: The Lexus posted just 0.78 g on the skidpad and came home third in our braking and slalom tests.
At an as-tested price of $63,884, the SC 430 is this group's value leader. For many buyers, the words "bargain-priced Lexus" might be all the convincing they need.
http://www.motortrend.com/motor/roadtests/coupe/112_0307_luxlexi_z.jpg
The leather-and-wood-lined cabin is a paradigm of luxury and civility, featuring handsome shapes, astutely arranged controls, and a level of craftsmanship second to none.