Buying a cabriolet is always an emotional purchase, if you don’t like the way it looks you probably won’t bother test driving it. In this respect the Lexus SC430 becomes an immediate challenge. Designed with the American market in mind its bulbous lines look more at home in a parking lot in LA than a multi storey in Blackburn. But if you can live with the unusual looks then buying a used one is likely to be a safe bet, with satisfaction rates amongst owners second to none thanks to the cars superb build quality and attentive dealer network.

Introduced to the UK in March 2001the SC430 went head to head with more established offerings from Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Porsche. But unlike its rivals the SC430 comes not with a fabric roof but a folding metal hard top. Press one button and 25 seconds the coupe becomes a cabriolet. But don’t believe any one who tells you that this is a four seater, despite its large dimensions the rear seats are virtually upright and legroom is cramped so even small children will grow tired of the novelty of open air motoring quickly.

Leave the roof up and on the move the cabin is ‘Lexus quiet’ but drop a window even a fraction of an inch and wind noise and buffeting become a real issue. With the roof down completely the situation gets even worse, the car never feeling as slippery through the air as its low 0.29 CD score would suggest.

At he heart of the car is a 4.3 litre V8 engine that also powers the Lexus LS430 luxury saloon. At tick over this unit is virtually silent but prod the throttle and it has the potential to deliver a hefty 282bhp powering the coupe to 60mph in just over 6 seconds. That kind of performance should be exhilarating but strangely the SC430 never actually feels that fast.

The list of optional extras on a SC430 is short, very short with metallic paint as the only option at a price of £375 on new cars. Therefore all used cars come with an impressive list of standard kit including dual zone climate control, electric memory front seats and a superb DVD driven touch screen satellite navigation system. But the cars trump cars is its stereo, created by US Hi-fi expert Mark Levinson. The system is hugely powerful and completely distortion free, even adjusting its acoustics when the roof is lowered to maintain flawless sound reproduction via its nine speakers.

Less impressive are the cars driving dynamics the car suffering from a fair degree of ‘scuttle shake’ when confronted with bumps and pot holes. The steering and suspension is also on the soft side, far more at home on the billiard table smooth tarmac of the US than the A and B roads of the UK. And further problems are created by the absence of space for a spare wheel; Lexus therefore fit the car with ‘run flat’ tyres which on certain motorway surfaces create an unacceptable level of road noise.

Another disappointment comes in the form of the standard fit 5 speed automatic transmission. It may be virtually bullet proof but lacks the absolute smoothness offered by some rivals, most noticeably the 6 speed unit fitted to later Jaguar XK8’s.

Second hand values on SC430’s are holding up well, a new one would have cost £50,000 three years ago and even now those cars fetch around £37,000 on the used market. Such strong residuals look set to continue with only limited numbers of new cars being registered and buyers wanting Lexus luxury combined with open top motoring. To compare used examples buyers are advised to start searching via the www.lexus.co.uk website or by checking the Times Online stock locator.
      

Check the following

 

• Headlamps – Xenon headlamps are standard and amongst the best I’ve ever used
  
• Boot space – with the roof up boot space is good, but with the roof down it shrinks to virtually nothing
  
• Colours – the only option on a new car metallic paint costs £375. Used cars are colour sensitive and non metallic red is less desirable
  
• Stereo – Mark Levinson stereo is the cars best feature
  
• Alloy wheels – standard 18 inch rims are prone to scuffs
  
• Servicing – Superb Lexus dealer network is unlikely to disappoint even the most discerning owners, service interval is 10,000 miles
  
• Electric aerial – Body mounted aerial now looks old fashioned
  
• Wind noise – Open a window or lower the roof and the wind noise becomes intrusive
  
• Run flat tyres – absence of spare wheel means run flat tyres essential but unfortunately this creates road noise
  
• Steering – Speed sensitive steering is on the light side
  
• Handling - soft suspension does not allow the driver to exploit the cars performance potential
  
• Reverse park aid – standard on some Nissan Micra’s costing £10,000 it is however not fitted to the SC430
  
• CD player – 6 disc dash mounted unit as standard
  
• Seats – extremely comfortable front seats are electrically operated and have two position memories
  
• Satellite navigation – touch screen system standard
  

 

The one to buy 

 

• Lexus SC430 in Montrose Blue metallic

• 5 speed auto gearbox

• 2001 '51' with 20,000 miles

• Pay £37,250 at a dealer with 12 months warranty

• £35,500 privately

 

 

 

Mileage	10,000miles	20,000 miles	40,000 miles
2001 ‘51’               Trade	£35,500	£34,200	£31,800
Retail	£38,500	£37,250	£34,750
2002 ‘52’               Trade	£39,300	£37,700	£35,300
Retail	£42,250	£40,750	£38,250
2003 ‘53’                Trade	£42,500	£41,000	£38,400
Retail	£45,500	£44,000	£41,500

 

 

 

 

	Vital Statistics
Model	Lexus SC430
Engine	4,293 V8 DOHC
Power	282bhp
Transmission	5 speed auto
Fuel consumption	23.5mpg (combined)
Acceleration	6.4 sec (0-62mph)
Top Speed	155 mph

 

 

 

5 Alternatives for similar money	Year	Mileage	Retail price	Trade price
Jaguar XKR convertible auto	2001 ‘Y’	30,000	£37,250	£32,700
Mercedes Benz SL500 auto	2001 ‘51’	30,000	£36,500	£32,600
Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet Tip S (auto)	1999 ‘S’	40,000	£37,250	£33,200
Aston Martin DB7 Volante auto	1997 ‘R’	70,000	£36,750	£30,900
Bentley Continental R coupe auto	1992 ‘J’	120,000	£37,000	£24,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Jason Dawe Productions Limited August 2004