Hard to top!..Sort
of
The SC 430 is the first and only convertible Lexus
has ever made. It was introduced as a replacement
for the SC 400 five years ago. The SC name dates
back to 1992 with the SC 300 and SC 400 fixed-roof
coupe models.
The SC 430 is an upscale, luxurious
yet conservative hardtop coupe that with a flip
of a switch converts to a roadster. The aluminum
top folds in just 25 seconds. Top up or top down,
it's incredibly smooth, quiet and comfortable,
and turns heads like a bikini-clad guest at an
Arizona luxury resort. I received my share of
thumbs-up and positive comments during the weeklong
test drive. If your objective is to get through
life without being noticed you'd want to
take the SC off your list of cars to test drive.
Available in just one body style
and trim level, the SC 430 comes loaded with standard
luxurious amenities like a navigation system,
butter-soft leather seating with multiple memory
and adjustment functions. The standard Mark Levinson?
sound system is simply the best in the world and
sets a new standard for automotive audio. With
240 watts of power pumping through nine strategically
placed speakers, it's like sitting in the
orchestra pit at Dodge Theatre.
My tester was upholstered in black
leather with real walnut accent trim, an attractive
combination with the Millennium Silver exterior
color. Few cars can boast the interior amenities
of the SC with just about every luxury feature
on the list of standard equipment.
One of the classiest touches is
the illuminated scuff plate (on less expensive
cars it's called the door sill) in brushed
metal that has the name "Lexus" affixed
into it. At night, open the door and the "Lexus"
lights up in a harvest moon color. Take that,
Mercedes.
The glossy walnut maple trim adorns
the steering wheel, gearshift knob, console and
streaks across the dash and doors (bird's-eye
maple is also available). A power-operated wooden
door conceals the navigation system that was updated
for 2005, and the audio screen that tilts to eliminate
reflections.
For 2006, interior revisions include
a modest restyle of the instrument panel and shift
plate. Satin aluminum trim surrounds the three
sharp black-on-white dash gauges. Unlike other
luxury vehicles I've tested, all gauges,
buttons, knobs and controls for the audio, climate
control and vehicle operations are intuitive and
easy to use. Even the navigation system was among
the most user-friendly I've tested.
There's a pair of form fitting
rear bucket seats, but don't mistake the
SC for a four-seat sports car. Those seats won't
hold much more than a small overnight bag or attache©,
but at that they're helpful, given the tiny
8.8 cubic feet of trunk space.
A pullout plastic cover in the trunk
must be fastened over the trunk floor before the
top will lower. I just barely managed to get my
golf clubs in the trunk with the top up. Forget
about it with the top down, unless you can play
with just a four-iron and putter.
Stylistically, no other vehicle
on the road resembles the SC 430; it is a radical
departure for the traditionally conservative folks
at Lexus. From the rear, think Nissan 350 Z roadster
with its puffed up, big, rounded rump. Hood and
fenders seem to bulge and the entire car is devoid
of the chiseled look found on the BMW Z4 or Cadillac
XLR roadster. Most find the style appealing.
Exterior revisions for 2006 are
limited to a new front fascia design, new wheels,
brighter LED taillights and adaptive headlamps
that turn with the steering wheel and help light
the way when cornering.
Despite a few quibbles, the rear-wheel-drive
SC 430 is a first-rate competitor for the Mercedes-Benz
SLK, Jaguar XK8, Cadillac XLR and Porsche Boxter.
The 288 horsepower 317 ft-lbs of torque is down
from 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs torque from
previous models, due to new SAE testing standards.
However the actual power remains the same. It's
not a "push-you-back-in-your-seat"
kind of power, rather just smooth, quiet and powerful.
Seventy-five miles per hour comes mighty quick,
you just don't feel it. Zero to 60 mph takes
just 5.9 seconds, according to Lexus.
The five-speed automatic transmission
in previous models has been upgraded to a six-speed
automatic for 2006. Shifts are seamless and can
be set in one of three modes: Normal, Sport or
Winter. The standard 18-inch alloy wheels are
fitted with P245/40ZR 18 Dunlop tires and tuned
suspension delivers a ride equal to that of any
other vehicle with the name Lexus on the trunk.
Every bump, expansion crack or road surface imperfection
is handled with aplomb. In truth, the SC is more
luxury than sports car but, at the same time,
I felt it handled twisty roads and sharp cornering
exceptionally well.
Of course, the SC comes with all
the expected safety features and more, including
headlamps that are among the best of any vehicle.
Other safety features include electronic brake-force
distribution (EBD), traction control, Vehicle
Skid Control (VSC), and Brake Assist. VSC reduces
skidding in a corner by correcting the direction
of the over or understeer. Dual front and side
airbags are standard. The SC has not been crash
tested.
The SC 430 is a well-crafted, beautiful
coupe that quickly converts to a roadster with
a press of a button. With a base sticker price
of $63,890 including shipping, it's expensive,
but less so than Jaguar XK or Mercedes SL. The
ride is pure luxury and long trips will be comfortable
and enjoyable as long as you pack light -
very light.
Return to the
Auto Reviews home page.
