2009 Lexus SC User Reviews

Pros

Fun to drive, solid feel with top up or down, retractible top's the best, very low maintenance

Cons

why did they discontinue it?

Purchased As Used

I bought my SC430 used, although everyone assumes it just came off the showeroom floor. I do take care & have it detailed now & then, and it does look brand new thanks to the quality of the materials in the car.

The ride is excellent. It handles beautifully, and when it downshifts you can feel the speed really coming on. It's also incredibly civicilized with the top up, although I usually drive with the top down. It seems a lot of carmakers have finally caught up to the 2004 hardtop convertible retraction in the 430 SC.

The only time the car's been in the shop is for its scheduled maintenance, except once I ran over a nail. The run-flat tires worked as advertised, and I didn't even realize I had a flat except for the "lower tire pressure" light on the dashboard. There have been no mechanical problems with the car.

It's about time to buy another car but honestly there's no reason to get rid of this one, so I'm just holding on (my dealer kids me that's he'd likes to sell me something else but he doesn't really have anything better suited to my needs). I've tried the usual convertibles: the BMW is just no fun to drive at all, the Miata is fun but not luxurious, the Mercedes is a seriously overpriced status symbol (the parking lot where I work looks like a BMW/Mercedes dealership), I have an exotic which is major fun except getting in & out, trying to talk while you drive, trying to hear the sound system, and when it starts raining you need about 1/2 hour notice to get the top on.

I've also driven some of the "i" serious Lexus and haven't been overwhelmed. They have a cheaper, lighter feel, no doubt to improve gas mileage, and when you punch it for speed one seemed so overpowered I thought I'd lose control of the car. I don't know where Lexus will go now that the 430SC is gone, but I honestly don't have high expectations.