2002 SC 430

Following the disappointing results obtained with the previous generation of the SC, Lexus is back with a hardtop , the SC 430. The rigid aluminium roof folds down into the trunk. With the top up, the SC looks just like a coupe.

Inside

Despite the car’s low stance, it’s easy to enter and exit the front. The seats are extremely comfortable, with good side and lower-back support. The driving position is excellent, but the front of your leg can rub on the emergency brake pedal when you use the footrest. It’s also easy to step on the emergency brake pedal on the way in,.

The rear seat is so unusable and hard to reach that you can’t help wondering why Lexus even bothered. The seatbacks are much too upright, and there’s no semblance of comfort even with the front seats moved up to free a bit of legroom The designers would have been better off simply converting the space into a storage area. Rumour has it, however, that the rear seats are there for insurance purposes, a four-seater, even a make-believe one, being cheaper to insure than a two-seater.

The trunk will no doubt give new meaning to the notion of “travelling light”. Cargo capacity is almost non-existent. The only place where there’s room for one or maybe two suitcases is behind the front seats.

Convenience and safety

The cabin is very well finished in top-quality materials. However, we could hear creaking sounds, both with the top up and down. The level of road noise is too high for a car in this price range.

The star feature in this car is the folding hardtop that takes 25 seconds to disappear into the trunk after the push of a button. With the top down, you can hold a conversation without yelling. A small, transparent wind screen between the rear head restraints limits wind buffeting. With the top up, the SC 430 is just as free from wind noise as any other hardtop.

The various controls are easy to use and have a feel of quality. The instrument cluster is well designed. There are lots of useful storage spaces, but the cup holders are not very versatile.

Three things should be improved. First, the controls for the climate system should be relocated under the audio controls. Second, when the car is stopped, for example, at a traffic light, the fan speed drops, then picks up when you accelerate, which is something you used to see back in the 60s but which is inadmissible today, especially in a car in this price range. Third, the trip computer offers only three options: distance to go with the fuel that’s left, average fuel consumption, and average speed. Lots of much more affordable cars have a much more elaborate trip computer. Safety-wise, this Lexus has all the essential equipment, and more. However, rear visibility is limited when the top is up, and headlamp brightness is just average.

Engine and

The 4.3-litre V-8 engine develops 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough for responsive, almost instantaneous acceleration and passing. The engine is silky smooth at all engine speeds and growls pleasantly in hard acceleration. This high-performance engine also meets ultra-low vehicle emissions (ULEV) standards.

Though very smooth at all times, the five-speed automatic transmission is sometimes a bit slow to downshift.

On the road

The four-wheel independent suspension provides a firmly comfortable ride on smooth pavement. The reaction varies from firm to harsh as soon as you hit a rough spot and in our test car was accompanied by creaking sounds in the cabin. It should be mentioned that the 40-profile tires don’t provide much in the way of shock absorption, especially when they’re the Run Flat variety, whose rigid sidewalls let you drive even after a flat. In return, drivers get very good road holding, on practically all types of pavement. Of course, the rougher the road, the more the car can bounce off course. Though not the most agile of vehicles, the SC 430 provides genuine driving pleasure to anyone who likes to push it a bit.

The nicely weighted steering is stable, quick and precise. Even with stiff, low-profile tires, it provides little in the way of road feel but then again, Lexus has never been recognized for excelling in this respect. Braking is satisfyingly powerful, fade resistant, and smooth.

An inspection at the CAA-Quebec Technical Inspection Centre confirmed once more that Lexus products are not only impeccably built but also made to last, thanks to a sturdy structure.

Conclusion

The SC 430 is both a coupe and a convertible. The very refined construction makes a significant contribution to driving pleasure, as do the comfortable front seats, top-quality materials, and seamless drive-train performance. Nothing is perfect, of course, and in the case of the SC 430, issues Lexus should address in its “Pursuit of Excellence” include soundproofing, the trip computer, creaking noises, the impossibly small rear seats, and the stiffness of the suspension.

HIGHS LOWS Lively engine Perfectible soundproofing Smooth transmission Creaking sounds Comfortable front seats Rudimentary trip computer Retractable roof Impossibly tight rear seating Top-quality materials Tiny trunk Powerful brakes Suspension firmness 2002 LEXUS SC 430

Engine: 32-valve, 4.3-liter V-8 Horsepower: 300 h.p. @ 5,600 rpm Torque: 325 lb.-ft. @ 3,400 rpm Transmission: 5-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: 4-wheel disc Length: 451.5 cm Width: 182.5 cm Height: 135cm : 262 cm Weight: 1,742 kg Tires: 245/40R18 Towing capacity: non-recommended Air bags: standard front and side

Fuel consumption: - Transport Canada rating: city: 13.1 L/100 km (22 mpg); highway: 9.3 L/100 km (30.5 mpg) - Test result: 12 L/100 (24 mpg)

Fuel tank capacity: 75 litres

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 7 seconds 60-100 km/h: 4.5 seconds

Competition: Mercedes SL

Maintenance (amount may vary from dealer to dealer): Frequency:4 months/8,000 km; total to 100,000 km: $2,593

Warranty: - Full basic coverage: 4 years/80,000 km - Powertrain: 6 years/110,000 km - Surface corrosion: 4 years/80,000 - Perforation damage: 6 years/unlimited kilometrage - Emissions control system: 4 years/80,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module and onboard diagnostic device)

Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $812 Front brake disk: $141 Brake pads: $96 Muffler: $411 Front fender: $317

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, female driver or male driver 30 to 40 years old): $1,830 to $2,462

Price according to trim line: $84,000

Main options: None

Price as tested: $84,000 Freight and preparation: $1,500

Dealers: Quebec: 5; Canada: 28

Ó CAA-Quebec, September 2001