Adding Another Lexus To The Garage

[arfur45]

Hi all

Just popped over from the ls forum

I'm the proud owner of an ls430 and it's a magical car in every way and a total joy to drive and own.

So to business;

We are so impressed with the whole ownership experience that we are considering investing in a sc 430.its mainly for the wife who wants a convertible.

We have considered jags, merc, porsche but I'm not a great fan of german build quality these days and the lexus reliability could very well be the clincher.

Is the sc as reliable as the ls? Can't see any reason why it wouldn't be and are there any things we should be aware of in particular? Difficult to find much quality info on these cars in the UK.

We would be looking to buy one of the later cars on a budget of £15000 approx - any advice would be most gratefully received.

Many thanks

Mark

[alphacat]

These days most cars are very reliable.. but the SC430 certainly has a good record. Of course if you do have problems it can be expensive and there are not that many dealers around some of which have to make as much money as they can from every customer. I don't like soft top convertibles so I wouldn't have a Jag as a convertible that leaves the Germans who do have e very wide base of specialist dealers in the UK and consequently its easier to get support . In the case of BMW parts cane be ridiculous so I would think a Merc would be more suitable for you with only reliability as a criteria, with a budget of only £15000 though that puts you in the area of Merc's that were a bit iffy on build quality.

I have the SC430 for its smooth ride quality build and because there are not so many around. Life is too short to drive a boring car! But I only do about 6000 miles a year in it.

Problems with the SC430 include tyre pressure sensors after 3 or 4 years they are a pain. Normal warning lights to do with O2 sensors. Battery drain if not used regularly. (it has electric motors for just about everything). HID Headlight drivers sometimes go before the lamps. Speed sensors that integrate with the computer and Sat Nav can be faulty. Also the Sat Nav itself is Toyota and its not good. Engine and transmission are very reliable. Economy for a 4.3 V8 is unbelievably good if that's important. The 6 speed auto box is simply the best I have driven and twice as good as the equivalent BMW one. The ride is excellent road holding is average. Look around some Lexus dealers charge well over the top. But it does come with a full Lexus warranty. £15000 will by you one of the best ones available and you may not even have to pay that much. Good Luck.

[arfur45]

Thanks for such an excellent and informative response.

Very helpful and much appreciated.

Think we have definitely decided to go with the sc 430 after admiring one in my local spa car park last evening

Mark

[Paul_G]

Buy one, you won't be disappointed, 15k will get you a very good one. Put a personalised plate on it and it will look and feel brand new.

[alphacat]

Personal plate !!!! Oh dear.... I am proud of my 55 plate... The car is an example of its time in fact it was well ahead at the time... So I think trying to cover up its age is a bit like putting make up on an 90 year old woman.

[Paul_G]

I think personalised plates are exactly that, personal. I have had the same one for a lot of years, so i never have to remember what it is! Most 90 years old I know wouldn't dream of going out without make-up!

[alphacat]

:driving:Two good points well made... but my memory isn't failing and old ladies look better without make up even if they don't feel better without it..

[Fred Bassett]

Enjoying my SC for now 2.5 years.

Under warranty I had the headlight-levelling system and both wing mirror motors sorted.

The only fault I had to pay for was for the O2 censor's - cost around £700 for the pair - Lexus dealer.

If purchasing from Lexus, try for an extended warranty.

My local dealer will add an extra years warranty for only £300, which is little for peace of mind.

Remember the more toys, the more may go wrong.

Having said that, I love the toys!

[alphacat]

£700 a pair ?? For O2 Sensors? I have all my bills here ready to sell my SC430

I have my car serviced by a professional well qualified engineer who runs his own business and garage. He does all the work himself ex leader of the Toyota World Rally technical team.

He has done two O2 sensors for me Cost : £224.68 for the two sensors and £28 for the diagnostic scan £138 labour.

£390 Total and he says he isn't cheap.. wont use anything but the best parts etc work guaranteed.

These dealers deserve the bad name they have... The overcharge at every opportunity.

[Fred Bassett]

Yes, if you get a reliable mechanic, the running costs can be low.

For me, it's convenience I need, which Is why I use my local dealer and pay the premium.

You got a great price - not as expensive to run as many would think, so a great buy!

.