IS convertible vs SC430 - Page 2

97-SC300 · 10-03-08, 12:01 PM

SC430 is the better looking car with no questions....

cherplex · 10-03-08, 12:02 PM

SC430>IS250C..............hands down.

emoshun · 10-13-08, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherplex

SC430>IS250C..............hands down.

bbatts · 10-04-08, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilipMSPT

In one corner, the SC430. Albeit the older contender (yup, tape deck...), it has the refinement of a spunky (and gas guzzling) V8 on a smooth chassis.

In the other corner, the IS250c. Newer technologies and amenities, better gas mileage, and a more approachable price tag.

Which of the two would you choose if you walked into a Lexus showroom today?

If buying today, I would go for the SC. Here is my rationalization. The SC is very dependable and great car. They are somewhat unique and it is being discontinued this year and they are really not all that common out on the road. I do like the new IS but there will be plenty of time in the future for a new IS as Lexus continues to develop that model line. By the time my warranty runs out on my my current 05 SC430, perhaps they will have added some more power and manual shift to the IS. Then I would be a serious buyer.

BB

btwanky · 10-05-08, 06:02 AM

hate to break it.. but once this comes out.. the SC will be virtually extinct.. this is suppose to be the last model year

Pearlpower · 10-05-08, 10:14 AM

I will wait till I see one in person, but I am not hopeful from the pics as the IS has nowhere near the uniqueness of the SC. It will surely be a nice car overall, just not the sheet metal. Once the SC is discontinued Lexus will have nothing of style left in their stable except the IS-F. The IS pictured above is a huge disappointment and another typical Lexus release that will only excite the ad agency. The side and rear are alright, but the front is the plain jane boring IS sedan front end. But it will have push button start and a few other amenities that a few crave so much myself included now that I experience them everyday. Long live the SC430-just with some updates.

scdroptop · 10-06-08, 08:53 PM

I am considering trading my SC for a new IS-C. I don't think the IS is nearly as sharp, classy and exotic looking as the SC. I don't think the IS will be nearly as posh and respected as the SC. The SC was a status car.

For me, it's filling unmet needs with the SC.

The IS offers to me: Paddle shifters, ipod integration, cooled seats, much better acceleration, up-to-date ergonomics (seat belt, compartments), gas mileage and a new warranty.

I would dearly miss the SC and there is no doubt there will never be another SC like this one, so I am essentially letting go of a future classic. I don't know...I will have to see one and drive one in person to report more.

For now, the SC represents the past...the IS is the future.

97-SC300 · 10-06-08, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scdroptop

I am considering trading my SC for a new IS-C. I don't think the IS is nearly as sharp, classy and exotic looking as the SC. I don't think the IS will be nearly as posh and respected as the SC. The SC was a status car.

For me, it's filling unmet needs with the SC.

The IS offers to me: Paddle shifters, ipod integration, cooled seats, much better acceleration, up-to-date ergonomics (seat belt, compartments), gas mileage and a new warranty.

I would dearly miss the SC and there is no doubt there will never be another SC like this one, so I am essentially letting go of a future classic. I don't know...I will have to see one and drive one in person to report more.

For now, the SC represents the past...the IS is the future.

I think I read this wrong, but did you say the IS250 has MUCH better acceleration?

temperamen · 10-07-08, 01:10 AM

He is most likely referring to the upcoming IS350-C variant

tfeni52355 · 10-07-08, 02:09 AM

The IS pictured here looks like a boring Volvo! If it weren't for the IS sticker on the front I thought I was looking at a C-70.

Lexus nailed it when that designed the SC. The fact that the design is still admired after 8 years is amazing. People never ask me what model year the car is. If it weren't for the tape deck, it would be hard to tell. Something to be said for timeless, classic design! Kind of like great stylish clothes, they may not be the trendiest, but always get the looks!

Looks like I will be driving my SC for a long, long time. Which is just fine with me.

JiBBeL · 10-07-08, 08:01 AM

Agreed on the toyota manual cars... I had a 07' Corolla XRS with an ok 6-speed, but it occasionally jammed on downshifts from 3rd-2nd and the like. Upshifts were real smooth! But what good is a stick if you can't downshift? I miss my BMWs just for the slick clutch alone...

NorCal430 · 10-13-08, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfeni52355

The IS pictured here looks like a boring Volvo! If it weren't for the IS sticker on the front I thought I was looking at a C-70.

You took the words out of my mouth. Even the grill looks like a Volvo.

I have lots of options for a boring car. Even if I want one with a hardtop convertible.

No thanks, I'll pass on this one and I'm sure I won't be the only one.

Scott R · 06-11-09, 08:45 PM

So I just got my '02 SC430 and today I get an email from Lexus informing me that the IS convertible is now available. At a starting price of $38,000 list, it would have been above the range of what I was looking to spend right now, anyway, but what does this mean long-term? Here we have another Lexus hard-top convertible with more rear seat-room, more luggage space, and possibly more sports-car-like handling, all at a lower cost than the SC430. Surely, the writing must be on the wall that the SC430 will get dropped by Lexus, unless they finally plan to give it a major make-over. But with the current economy, I'm betting that they decide to drop it altogether. Is there really enough of a market for a $66K+ car that stacks up unfavorably in some ways when compared to their very own $38K IS convertible?

Discontinuing the SC430 may not be bad for us current SC430 owners. That would mean that we'd all get to have a collectible and, even if you've got the oldest one (an '02 like me), you'll have a car that looks just like the newest model.

Having said all that, what do you current SC430 owners think about how the SC430 stacks up against this new IS convertible? Are you at all envious and/or attracted to it, or do you think the SC430 is the better car and, if so, what specifically still makes you proud to be an SC430 owner?

rominl · 06-11-09, 10:54 PM

i am ex-sc430 owner. the isc and sc430 are two cars in two different league. granted the sc430 is "old" and "outdated" to some (and indeed it's been on 8 yrs run), but it's simply a car a class above the isc. if i shop for sc430 today, isc wouldn't be in the picture at all.

TooCoolSC · 06-11-09, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott R

So I just got my '02 SC430 and today I get an email from Lexus informing me that the IS convertible is now available. At a starting price of $38,000 list, it would have been above the range of what I was looking to spend right now, anyway, but what does this mean long-term? Here we have another Lexus hard-top convertible with more rear seat-room, more luggage space, and possibly more sports-car-like handling, all at a lower cost than the SC430. Surely, the writing must be on the wall that the SC430 will get dropped by Lexus, unless they finally plan to give it a major make-over. But with the current economy, I'm betting that they decide to drop it altogether. Is there really enough of a market for a $66K+ car that stacks up unfavorably in some ways when compared to their very own $38K IS convertible?

Discontinuing the SC430 may not be bad for us current SC430 owners. That would mean that we'd all get to have a collectible and, even if you've got the oldest one (an '02 like me), you'll have a car that looks just like the newest model.

Having said all that, what do you current SC430 owners think about how the SC430 stacks up against this new IS convertible? Are you at all envious and/or attracted to it, or do you think the SC430 is the better car and, if so, what specifically still makes you proud to be an SC430 owner?

2009 is the last year of the SC430. This news came out quite awhile back.

Am I attracted to the IS convertible, in relation to an SC430? I can only speak for myself, but I doesn't do much for me. I don't think it compares at all with the SC430, but then, it's not supposed to. It's half the price and not in the same league as the SC.

Lexus is waiting to put out their SC comparable car in a few more years. At least that's what I've heard. No telling what it will cost, though. I also wonder what Obama's "green" regulations will do to what was originally planned for a future top 'o the line Lexus convertible.

I'm wondering what's going to become of "muscle cars" like Corvette's. Will they become extinct, or just be a joke of what they used to be? That goes for all other high performance cars, as I believe I read that it's going to be mandatory for every car to get mpg in the mid-30's in the next few years. Are we all going to be driving cars that nobody wants to combat the hoax of global warming? I might be driving my SC until I'm 90.