Lexus SC 430 Pebble Beach Edition revealed

Yawn... time for a redo.
T

Don't be an ass. The Lexus SC430 is such a great car. Effortless performance, class leading comfort and interior and quality and it drives very sporty too. Much better than say the Jaguar XK or Benz SL. It is like nearly on the same level as a Porsche 911 or BMW 6 series. Almost.

Don't be an ass. The Lexus SC430 is such a great car. Effortless performance, class leading comfort and interior and quality and it drives very sporty too. Much better than say the Jaguar XK or Benz SL. It is like nearly on the same level as a Porsche 911 or BMW 6 series. Almost.

I am no Lexus fan and I have to agree that a redo is overdue. The car generally looks good but there are three ugly aspects to the design that I hate. The first is the ugly rear end with its overly oriental-looking rear spoiler. The second is an "indirect ugly", namely lack of protective side strips to prevent lo-lifes from dinging the car doors in parking lots. How ugly do you Lexus fans think that this car will look after a couple of door dings?

Last but not least, and typical of several rice burners, these 5-bolt wheels have 6 spokes. I want the number of spokes to match the number of bolts for symmetry. Five-spoke wheels seem to work best, especially for cars that are supposed to look sporty. Six spokes belong on 6-bolt truck wheels. Japanese car manufacturers just don't seem to understand that and deliberately deisgn wheels with a weird number of spokes that offend my eyes. Is lack of symmetry considered good practice in Japanese art or something?

What is your almost sexual attraction to protective side-strips. Can you actually go one post without mentioning a car's "lack of protective side-strips to prevent parking lot door dings"?

Tme for a discontinue!

EnnNorak:

GET YOUR A$$ OUT OF 1998! Nobody uses those ugly "protective side strips to prevent parking lot door dings" any more! I can't imagine how ugly the SC430 would be WITH them!

"car manufacturers just don't seem to understand that and deliberately deisgn wheels with a weird number of spokes that offend my eyes. Is lack of symmetry considered good practice in Japanese art or something?"

http://www.carbuyersnotebook.com/archives/2007_SC_430_02.jpg

Short answer, NO!

Sorry, but that post of yours was HIGHLY retarded and shows no understanding of Japanese design or appreciation for its culture.

Examples: "with its overly oriental-looking rear spoiler," "Japanese car manufacturers just... deliberately deisgn wheels... that offend my eyes," "Is lack of symmetry considered good practice in Japanese art or something?" "typical of several rice burners..."

Now GO eat some sushi!

Well said buddy. Lexus rules so much.

Still as ugly as it was from day one. No wonder sales are so bad, doesn't even compete with the 6 series or the class leading Mercedes SL.

You're right. It has a $67K MSRP.

Yes, great design... but even great designs need a refresh and redesign. Just because it needs a refresh doesn't mean it's a bad design or that they have failed in any way. I love the car but I do think it's time for something fresh.

definitely time for an update on the SC. i beleive 2010-2011 is the predicted change. no surprise seeing the 1st gen SC lasted 8 years before it was redone.

BMW and Benz has their following, but Lexus has taken away from those sales in this segment when they introduced the SC conv. the next gen SC should do the same.

It's hideous and the interior looks like a cheap version of a British interior. It has no personality.

The interior of the SC is not cheap in feel or look. Sit in one and compare it to
other automobiles in this class. It is far and away one of the best interiors out there.

Its just the overall effect of the interior that comes across as tacky, this Top Gear video explains it well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVeZLFBT8Mw

LOL, great video, Kinger.

Kinger, I love you!

That is exactly my point!

Guys please, i'm blushing :)

well then ugly must sell...look at the stylings of the 7-series/s-class/6-series

beauty is in the eye of the beholder...Lexus has taken this design and milking it out. in the end, the car was intended to take away sales from its competitors (which it did) and the next gen will do the same and offer class-leading enhancements/technology. its the way Lexus does business, if you ever study their focus.

SC has rank highest in realiability pretty much since it's introduction, but frankly it is nothing more than a shrunk Toyota Solara.

the SC is miserable looking. It's a car for old women. Looks like an inverted bathtub.

I laugh every time I see one of these cars on the road. It just looks so ugly! I wonder what kind of person buys this thing???

Im a Lexus fan, but I dont like this design. Seems too Audi TT-ish in some ways. I still prefer the SC300/400's shape. It looked so much cleaner than the SC430. And this this design is WAYYYY overdue for an update.

A true Lexus fan wouldn't diss Lexus. You're just a German fanboy who pretends to like Lexus.

Are you saying that looking like a TT is a bad thing? LOL. TT looks like a supermodel to this car's pre-diet Kirstie Alley.

What's with all the Kirstie Alley analogies going on lately? The other day, it was the Camry that looked like Kirstie Alley. If Kirstie Alley is the SC, the 6-Series is Rosie O'Donnell.

Ha funny david989, I could say the same for you. I own a Lexus IS350 so please, shut up. And no S4 the gen1 TT isnt bad, when I read a review about the SC430, they stated that this car had similar designs cues from the TT. I can see what they were saying. I still stand by the fact that the SC300/400 is alot better looking than the 430.

Another nice edition. The best was the "Silver Belle" Neiman Marcus from a few years back.

But, Lexus does need a new SC soon. The original SC had a long life, but it was both unique and beautiful. The second gen isn't ugly, but it's specialness has worn off.

And Lexus, please don't make the next SC a convertible.

How about BOTH? A coupe and convertible? Wow, what a concept!

Can i just please say, i know it may of stolen 1 or 2 sales in America. But in the U.K and the rest of Europe. It DID NOT steal sales away from MB or BMW, i see maybe 1 or 2 SCs a month travelling around. And God knows how many SLs and 6 series about, and it's no mystery as to why.

So ugly, i woudn't buy it if it was half priced.

If it were half-priced ($32K), I would just stretch for a 328i convertible instead. Or at least an A4 Cabriolet, even a 2.0T.

I had a SC430 and I hated it, it was the worst gift given to me.

Lexus: The cow has run dry.

Lexus: The cow has run dry.

Well if someone gave it to me, I wouldn't turn it down. Some of you are just riding the Lexus hate train that you guys just love to ride. When the SC was first introduced it was dubbed "sexy." It's a classic and elegant design that at least isn't jarring and plain scary like so many other designs out there now (BMW). The SC's design to me is very reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster, a classic car hailed for its brilliant aerodynamic styling.

Okay, you're going too far. The SC is NOT a classic. NOT timeless. NOT beautiful.

Some days, I like it, and on others I don't. But even when I do like it- I would never compare it to the Porsche Speedster. If this were a Mercedes, you'd abhor it. If it were a Mercedes, I'd hate it, too. How horrible of Mercedes to go in this direction!

Thank God for the SL...

"When the SC was first introduced it was dubbed "sexy." It's a classic and elegant design that at least isn't jarring and plain scary like so many other designs out there now (BMW). The SC's design to me is very reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster, a classic car hailed for its brilliant aerodynamic styling."

You gotta be kidding me

This car looks dated already, and isn;t hailed as anything but ugly by most. We ride the Lexus hate train, just as many ride the BMW/MB/Audi hate train. It's not a classic design, it looks ugly and dated in only 8 years. The SL for all generations HAS been dubbed one hell of a sexy car and from the outset has influenced many other manufacturers in their designs.

Such a European fanboy response...

"..only 8 years..."

I agree that the car could use an overhaul, but I don't agree that it's current design is the worst on the planet as all of you are making it out to be. I can think of many more cars that rank higher on the "ugly" list than this, and it includes several German makes. Oh, I forget I'm ignorant, and that it's a Lexus, therefore it IS the ugliest thing out there, right?

You have to stop. Stop while you're ahead.

Oh, I forgot, you're not. Whoops.

Agree Will. 6-Series convertible is horrible. Now talk about ugly. Compared to the 6-Series, the SC is beautiful.

I don't think the 6 series is good looking either, but compared to the SC, the 6 series is a beauty while the SC is a dog.

All these Euro fanboys need to zip it. The SC430 is a monster that can hang with a BMW M6 for so much less money. The handling is superb and the quality and ride quality are unmatched! Best of all it comes with Lexus leather (the best leather the world has ever seen better than that cheap junk found in a Rolls or Maybach.....) and is very comfortable yet also handles. The SC430 is still the class leader and a very groundbreaking car and design. Jaguar and Mercedes are copying it as we speak.

Alright, prove it. Show us all the facts that the SC430 can outhandle and "hang" with an M6. I dont see how you can compare a V10 engine with a older model V8. Obviously you head is up your own @$$. Maybe when the LF-A debuts itll give the M6 a run for its money, but not the SC430.

I hate to tell you this, Jaguar is not ripping off the SC the SC interior is a simple and blatant rip off of a Jaguar interior. The basic forms of the interior of the SC have been present in Jaguars since before Lexus even existed.

In addition, you are not doing those who would support Lexus any favors by polarizing the opinions of people. It only makes for a bunch of useless ad hominem posts.

The SC430/TOYOTA Soarer is a POS. Worst car in Lexus lineup.
It drives more like a boat, looks like a boat, and the rear looks like a bloated Toyota Solara.

It's a hairdresser's car.

The SC needs a redesign. Who doesn't agree?

It's settled then.

Stop bitching.

a 7 year old model introduces a new color/'special edition' to prop up sales.

this is newsworthy?

Nope.

PS: It's 8 years old. That could be news.

Despise some of the comments here, the SC is a success both visually and
status- wise for Lexus. I am sure the next generation will do the same whenever it is introduced.

The SC430 is a dud. No one is buying them and I haven't seen one on the road for years.

lexus is only able to move a few thousand of these tired cars per year. how is that a success for a $65,000 car?

"...the SC is a success both visually and status- wise for Lexus."

From the king of down-playing status/prestige, for Lexus's benefit, ladies and gentlemen!

If Park Avenue wives who like "L" badges, three-pointed stars and roundels are what you mean by "status-wise success," then yes, I agree. They couldn't care less about the actual design of the car; my wife just thinks it's cute because it's a fancy convertible.

Finally, a Lexus fan that admits this car needs a redesign.

I think this is the only Lexus car that hasn't received the L-finesse treatment. And 1 of 3 remaining lexus models that are still badged as Toyotas. I'm sure the next SC will be a lot better. This one is just plain ugly.

I agree with you both.

I am eagerly anticipating the new SC model, not only because I see it being a huge success but because, IMO, it is a sorespot for Lexus' lineup.

This new edition should be introduced at Leisure World... It was ugly from the onset-disjointed design that couldn't decide if it was coming or going.

The only people I see driving them are septuagenarians.
This car hasn't held up at all in design terms at all...so don't count on there being any value for this in the classic car world...target market keeps dying.

The SC 430 looks like an egg. It's a great car for the purple hairs at Seizure World, or if you roll with a rainbow bumper sticker.

Car is old in the tooth. SL> this

SL > this

XK > this

911 > this

6 Series > this

You get it.

why even bother putting in rear seats.. ROFL.
smallest backseats ive ever seen.
i must say the last generation sc.. i loved..
this one is nasty

My late brother in-law had an SC400 coupe... great car.

Insurance (back seat thing... )?

...

i agree the original SC300/400 was a sleeker, cleaner design.

that said, i don't see why there's all this ruckus of criticisms. the current SC is not THAT bad looking. it has the simple lines of the TT, but with more substance so it does not look like a TOY CAR. and it has proven a FAR MORE successful design than the late, new thunderbird.

the main gripe i DO have with this design: the headrests for the back seats, which likely never get occupied by people.

That is supposed to be a surprise?

But some of us are too tall to fit in a Boxster and your fabric roof won't last as long as the hard top SC.

And what year was it that the Lexus LS was faster than a Boxster again? '98..'99??

i agree the original SC300/400 was a sleeker, cleaner design. dont forget and a classic, i still own 1..., i wish i can switch interiors, thats the ONLY thing i like about the 430, n yes its time 4 a upgrade/make over aka redesign...

Nice interior, ugly exterior...Overall doesn't match up to others in it's class.

This is one of those "luxury cars" that really doesn't even matter in the aout world.

Worst looking Lexus ever. It needs a redesign soon. I dont even see any. (they stopped selling them here because barely anyone bought them)