Item: Used Lexus SC430 Open 2001 - 2009
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

It's a bland, cumbersome car with limited rear space

Used Lexus SC430 Open 2001 - 2009

Lexus' reputation for strong reliability has kept second-hand prices high. And, these strong residuals should continue, so if you do invest in a SC430 you won't be too disappointed when you come to resell.

Servicing costs are not prohibitive: parent company Toyota has tried to keep its hourly labour rates down, but you can expect Lexus parts to set you back a pretty penny. And, with carbon dioxide emissions of 287g/km, it's in the highest band for Vehicle Excise Duty.

Fuel consumption is what you might expect from a 155mph, 4.3-litre engine: if you're lead-footed, you get 17.3mpg; on long stretches, you might get over 30mpg, but the combined fuel consumption figure of 24mpg is more realistic.

It's a bland, cumbersome car with limited rear space

There's only one to pick from. But, as you would expect from a car that cost £50,000 when new, it has a more-than decent level of comfort and equipment.

Eight-way adjustable seats, dual-zone climate control, touch-screen sat-nav and electric memory front seats are all standard. There's also an impressive stereo created by hi-fi expert Mark Levinson, that even adjusts itself when the roof goes down to provide a superior sound.

Later models got incremental revisions - with upgraded alloys and emissions reductions - but the differences were minimal. Non-metallic colours are less desirable; try to avoid flat red, but black examples are still sought after.

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top&nbsp;versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair. The Audi A5&nbsp;Cabriolet, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular A5&nbsp;– refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

Convertible

There's plenty to go wrong on one of these cars because the equipment levels are so high. But Lexus has a reputation for building bulletproof cars, so you'll be very unlucky to find anything going wrong. All the same, make sure that any electrical problems are ironed out before you buy, and check the service records, particularly on older models, which might be a bit more vulnerable in this area.

It's also worth looking out for the more attractive revised later models. You can spot these from modifications that included changes to the grille, front fog lamps and bumpers, a six-speed 'box and adaptive front lighting. The rear lights were changed to LEDs and the revised alloy wheels on the later models make the whole car look smarter.

Finally, watch out for slow roof mechanisms: the roof should fold back within 25sec, so get your stopwatch out.

The SC430 is a low-key offering. Its bulbous shape tells you that this is something Americans might like, but it's less likely to be the choice for Brits who prefer more sleek lines from their coupes.

With that in mind, it's odd that space is limited, particularly in the rear. The rear seats are virtually upright and so small as to be all-but useless.

The SC430 is powered by a smooth and refined 4.3-litre, 282bhp V8 and it will take you from 0-60mph in 6.2sec, which is plenty quick enough. But, other than that, the driving experience is bland and far from engaging. The automatic gearbox feels lazy and reluctant, and the engine note is a little disappointing.

On the open road, the suspension is too stodgy, the turn-in to corners lacks precision and you can feel the chassis flexing on bumpy roads. The dashboard controls, however, are easy to use, but the whole feel of the car is a little boring for an open-top that you might have expected to be a bit more sporting.

Used Lexus SC430 Open 2001 - 2009 review

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