Serious Question (Repost): What do you think of the SC430?

Kinja'd!!! "404 Name Not Found" (404namenotfound)
04/05/2014 at 13:05 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 21

Hear me out for a second. You probably think that I have gone nuts, but I have some reasoning behind this. Yes reasoning. The main competition for this car is probably the Audi A4, Mercedes SLK, CLK 430/500, MB SL, Jaguar XK8, Cadillar XLR.

Now all the aforementioned cars do one thing and one thing only. They cruise, some better than others. Not every car has to be a track monster and a canyon carver.

All the cars that I listed as competition have problems. I can list each and every single problem with each car. But the Lexus is a beast when it comes to reliability and with prices hitting close to rock bottom. I think that it is a decent car, because it does what it suppose to do better than anyone else without killing your wallet. A little bit of give and take is required.

Kinja'd!!!

DISCUSSION (21)


Kinja'd!!! Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:14

Kinja'd!!!2

I like this one.

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Somethingwittyer likes noisy > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:15

Kinja'd!!!2

Ewwwwwww. Find a nice first gen SC430. They don't look like a turd.


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:16

Kinja'd!!!9

Didn't Top Gear name this the worst car ever?


Kinja'd!!! Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:17

Kinja'd!!!2

For me its the looks, they are just terrible. It almost looks like the sport version of a Beetle but not in the good way the first gen TT does it. The all rounded edges of just dont inspire any real interest in it.

That being said you could probably make in insane sleeper out of one and embarrass some bro in a Camaro.


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:19

Kinja'd!!!2

you know, i thought they actally looked ok. i know its wasnt really any good at much, but i didnt think that was too ugly of a car.


Kinja'd!!! oldirtybootz > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:20

Kinja'd!!!0

I'll take Hammond's Mustang.


Kinja'd!!! 404 Name Not Found > Brian Silvestro
04/05/2014 at 13:22

Kinja'd!!!0

But Jalopnik didn't. I base all my buys off Jalopnik.


Kinja'd!!! AthomSfere > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:26

Kinja'd!!!1

And I think we all trust Top Gear pretty heavily, even with the expectation that TG is half review, half comedy routine.


Kinja'd!!! GeorgeyBoy > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:27

Kinja'd!!!1

Kinja'd!!!

Is that a die nasty.

But on the SC430 note, no. I feel like I need to be either retired, an old woman, or a troubled Asian to buy one of these. The troubled Asian thing actually has a story behind it.


Kinja'd!!! Brian Silvestro > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:27

Kinja'd!!!4

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! GeorgeyBoy > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:28

Kinja'd!!!0


Kinja'd!!! AthomSfere > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:47

Kinja'd!!!2

Looks: Not that bad. If it handles and performs OK it would have been a decent looker for what it was.

Performance: 2002+ it had roughly ~300HP, ~300 ft/lbs, and a 5 speed available. This is good! A V8 means potential too, and the engine was proven in GT500 (heavily modified though I think) Performance says it should be at least OK, although my Civic Si bone stock has better 0-60 times.

Feels: Toyota / Lexus steering feel is what kills it for me. I would have to drive one to see how bad it was, and if I thought it was worth trying to fix. Even in a cruiser I don't want to feel like I am the gyro, and the body roll are a better measurement for my speed and cornering than the steering wheel is.

What's the price on these now? I think for under $4k it would be worth a test drive.


Kinja'd!!! My hovercraft is full of eels > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 13:56

Kinja'd!!!0

My personal opinion: I have nothing against the technical content, but the exterior design is a dealbreaker for me. I'd take any of the other cars listed, except the SLK.


Kinja'd!!! Zohaibman72 > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 14:27

Kinja'd!!!4

I honestly find it pretty damn ugly, I know that is the typical answer, but it just looks awkward. But RWD + V8 sounds great, especially for something reliable like a Lexus. I've never driven one, but im sure V8 RWD and reliability will make up for the automatic-only.


Kinja'd!!! Collin > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 14:47

Kinja'd!!!1

The guy on Sister Wives drove one, so I assume it's a polygamist's car.


Kinja'd!!! Merkin Muffley > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 15:37

Kinja'd!!!1

it is illegal to purchase this car in 36 states if your penis is capable of achieving an erection without the aid of pharmeceuticals.


Kinja'd!!! hethoughtofcars > AthomSfere
04/05/2014 at 17:16

Kinja'd!!!1

A five speed wasn't available in the second gen (2002+), it was a standard 6 speed Auto (like in the GS430). Besides, if he just wants it for a cruiser a manual isn't necessary and probably not even desirable. I agree with you on the steering, though, and would lean heavily toward the Audi or Jag, myself. Then again, if reliability is the number 2 issue, take the SC430.


Kinja'd!!! AthomSfere > hethoughtofcars
04/05/2014 at 17:21

Kinja'd!!!0

Eh, I didn't know they took out the manual! Not even a choice then. I wouldn't own anything without a manual, whether its a cruiser, or a mini-van!

Exceptions, McLaren / Lambo... Even those I would prefer the manual though.


Kinja'd!!! Milky > 404 Name Not Found
04/05/2014 at 23:46

Kinja'd!!!0

I had a 400 and IMO its just the better car to get. You lose the folding hardtop but you gain a actual backseat and looks that aren't terrible (a bit plain though). Mine had 210k on it when I crashed, some serious reliability with that car. AND it was built along side & shared a chassis with the Supra, so it handled pretty well for a GT.

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
04/07/2014 at 01:14

Kinja'd!!!0

That downforce though.


Kinja'd!!! Grindintosecond > 404 Name Not Found
04/07/2014 at 22:22

Kinja'd!!!0

Yeah Top Gear had a special dvd called the worst car in the world. Jeremy and James pronounced this car the winner not because it was bad...but because it did nothing for anyone and was just not exciting or boring...but so blah that they left it on richard's driveway.