2004 Lexus SC430 Review
Luxury coupe turns into convertible in 25 seconds.
2004 SC430 Review Summary & Specifications
The Lexus SC 430 is a luxurious roadster that converts to a hardtop coupe with the press of a button. It's smooth and quiet, powerful and enjoyable to drive. Its interior is beautiful, comfortable, and luxurious. It's a terrific car for a long drive assuming you pack light. Though it has a vestigial rear seat, the SC 430 is, for all practical purposes, a two-seater.The SC 430 does not offer the crisp reflexes of a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet or Mercedes-Benz SL 500. But it's very smooth and very pleasant and costs much less than the other cars in this class. It is a Lexus.
|
|
| Vehicle Category | Sports Cars |
| Editor | Mitch McCullough |
| Model Lineup | Lexus SC 430 ($62,575) |
| Engines (standard) | 4.3-liter dohc 32-valve V8 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 5-speed ECT-i automatic |
| Engines (optional) | 290-hp 4.3-liter dohc 32-valve V8 |
| Transmissions (optional) | 5-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual frontal and side-impact airbags; 3-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, front and rear; ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist; traction control; vehicle skid control (VSC); four-sensor tire pressure warning system; projector-type high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps; ISO-FIX anchor brackets for child seats in the rear |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | none |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Higashifuji, Japan |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-872-5398 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.lexus.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 62575 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Lexus SC 430 ($62,575) |
| Standard Equipment | automatic climate control; leather seats and armrests; headlamp washers; central locking system with keyless entry; theft deterrent system; dual heated and electrochromic exterior mirrors; electrochromic interior mirror; power windows with auto up/down feature; power tilt and telescope steering wheel; 10-way power front seats with heat; 3-spoke leather/wood steering wheel; wood-capped gear shift knob; wood trim on center console and instrument panel; cruise control; Lexus Navigation System; Lexus/Mark Levinson AM/FM/ ETR/cassette/CD audio with six-disc in-dash changer, seven-channel high-power amplifier and nine speakers plus automatic sound leveling (ASL); electric trunk and fuel door releases with valet lockout; first aid and tool kits in trunk; 18x8-in. alloy wheels with chrome-plated ornamentation; 245/40ZR18 tires |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | Pebble Beach Special Edition ($2,000) includes run-flat tires, rear spoiler, azure metallic paint, azure painted wheels, lighted blue scuff plates, black bird's-eye maple wood trim, Pebble Beach Special Edition emblems and floor mats, Pebble Beach golf bag |
| Destination Charge | 625 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | 65200 |
| Price as Tested | 65200 |
| Layout | front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Horse Power | 300 @ 5600 |
| Torque | 325 @ 3400 |
| Fuel Economy | 18/23 |
| Wheelbase | 103.1 |
| Length/Width/Height | 177.8/72.0/53.1 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 35.4 |
| Seating Capacity | 2+2 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.2/55.7/43.6 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 33.9/49.5/27.1 |
| Trunk Volume | 9.4 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent |
| Rear Suspension | independent |
| Ground Clearance | 5.6 |
| Curb Weight | 3840 |
| Stock Tires | 245/40ZR18 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist |
| Fuel Capacity | 19.8 |