jimmer!

it's funny, when the SC430 first came out I had just moved from my beloved Infiniti J30 to a Mercedes ML30.
I always thought that the J30 was the coupe version of the 430, no matter from different manufacturers.
Now Infiniti assumed the 430 position.

just shows how 'me too' the car industry (most major business) can be.

KiNg430

jimmer you have to place switch the sc430 pic to a 09 sc430 and compare the three photos again. The newer front end on the sc430 makes it look a little more like the g37

velocity12

It looks very similar to me. The auto writers will probably fuss over it and continue what seems to me to be a prejudice against the SC 430.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Would everyone please stop comparing the G37 vert to the SC430, they are in completely different class that offer totally different level of equipment. The G37 is entry level luxury and the SC430 is top of the line luxury. It would be like comparing a G37 sedan to a LS430, there are no comparison.

G37 Convertible is at the same level as the IS350C, both entry level luxury.

I rather have a used 06' SC430 then a brand new 09' G37 Convertible.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Okay, this is a great topic for me, because I am working on a pre-deal for one of the first G37 convertibles to arrive here in Dallas. I have extensive experience with Infinitis and the G35 coupe, as I had a 2005 6MT and loved it.

I agree with the general SHAPE and some styling cues of the G37 to the SC430, but as a SC owner and Infiniti owner (my other is a 2009 FX) I have to say where Lexus (somebody already said this) really missed the boat is no updates and no appeal to younger more spirited drivers with the SC.

I went ga-ga over the SC ever since I saw it in 2001 in the NM catalog or on T3 the movie. Loved it. Really loved it when I saw the birdseye maple and ecru interior and how pretty it was. Went I bought it finally---loved it, but was bored with it.

The SC is missing the soul of a sportscar---that Miata/M3/Boxster/300Z/Vette type of WOW factor when you press on the gas and turn the corner type of feeling.

What the SC does have is the tremendous sex appeal, style, class, dependability and fit/finish. Much less than the SL and with a backseat and v8 really appeals to many.

The G37 now fills a void that the SC owners like me have yearned for---style, class, hardtop convertible but now with some performance enhancement!! 330hp in a 6mt or paddles will be outstanding. I have more fun driving my 2009 FX with the paddle shifters than I do my SC430 with the top down. Unfortunately, I value fit/finish and dependability too much to buy a MBZ SL/SLK/CLK or a BMW M3 convertible, Boxster (never considered a Miata) and Vette.

So...the G37 gives you the performance we miss on the SC, modern conveniences such as cooled seats, nav traffic, bluetooth, COOLED seats (my fav feature from Infiniti) and the paddle shifters. Question: Why the hell didn't Lexus update the SC with the bluetooth, paddle shifters in 2006 when they had the technology with the ES/IS/LX/GX platforms? Hell, my in-laws 2006 IS250 has more bells/whistles than my SC and it was $30k less new!!!

I'm with whoever else said that you really cannot compare the two, but as you all saw with the Altima/Maxima, Nissan is doing a great job of blurring some of the lines on their cars so that they attract more types of buyers for each---which is something Lexus forgot to do with the SC.

The G37 (having owned a 2005 sport 6mt) is fun, decent fit/finish---does it have birdseye and ecru? No, but it's not a Porsche/MBZ/BMW industrial ugly like a boxster SLK or M3. Nissan/Infiniti have really stepped up service and dependability. My 2003 FX35 had 92k on it and no problems...have had many Z's, Maximas in the family all gone forever and still performed great. Sound system for RnB music, hip hop and pop music much much better than a ML system coule ever offer and it was fun fun fun...and that was even without the paddles shifters in 2006. The exhaust rumbled like a Ferrari.

Great job to Lexus for offering the IS-F and the women's line as well as the GX for those that don't want to be caught dead in a soccer mom SUV but still want some brawn for hauling, 3rd row, etc. THEY GOT IT, however Lexus missed the big update on the 2006 and obviously determined a while ago that they were no longer going to invest in the SC.

So, here is my pro-con list for the two:

SC
Pro-Lexus dependability, fit/finish, superb style/class, more luxurious, status, unique and now rare...especially my red they stopped in 2005. Classic for sure. Beautiful
Con-boring acceleration/handling, lack of technology, wheels (if you didn't upgrade), ML inadequate for all types of music (great if you like jazz or classical!!!)

G37 Convertible
Pro-FAST...330 hp, paddles, 6mt, oodles of Technology-cutting edge as well, infiniti fit/finish and dependability (a plus of Jags, BMW Porsche, MBZ at least now anyway), aggressive styling, the rumble of the exhaust, technology!!! SPORTY!

Con-is it another hard top convertible? is it the cousin of the G6 convertible? Too me too? Infiniti for $50k? What's resale look like...it is a G series...so someone leasing a $299 per month sedan can say they have the same car---status issue? NOT AS POSH inside and comfortable. Odd looking crease in the top where the top folds in like a Saturn coupe, Mazda RX-8 third door-ish....what the hell? I don't like that.

To me, those are the issues going through my head and I am looking to buy one right now. Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Of course, the stealership is only offering me about $18k for my 2002 SC with 28k miles on it, but I have some outside buyers as well that will buy it for reatail...not too worried. more concerned with if I love the G37 convertible enough to buy it first out of the gates, or should I wait a year or two and see what resale and dependability does for it????

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

jimmer-by the way, I still think the J30 looks classy. some think it is ugly, but I love the style of it. just like my FX, my previous rx7's, the XK's for Jag, etc. This will always be a classic look like our SC's.

question is...will the g37 or is it just another G series with a hard top convertible?

not unique enough? Maybe.

Fun fun as hell over a SC? Maybe.

LexFather

I think its ridiculous the G37 convert weighs 4000 lbs. Its not like it its built like the weight suggests. Yes it has some SC cues but there is so much one can do with a convertible. Also if anyone read the press release, the G37 coupe WAS NOT PLANNED to be a convertible whereas the SC 430 was designed to be a hardtop from day one.

I think its a great addition to the G37 line but no freaking way I am paying 50k for it.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

i'm thinking wait a year or so...get a CPO with 6years 100k miles with only 20k on the odometer and steal it for $35k. Much better then! By then we all might be clawing at our damn steering wheels and heated seat buttons looked for the bluetooth and cooled seat functions!

Hell, my company car Chevy Malibu has bluetooth and paddle shifters!!!

mhoepfin

Personal opinion, the technology is not worth the upgrade. It all becomes old after a while anyway. After a month you'll probably wish you had the SC back when bits and pieces are falling off the G.

tromly

As they say, IMITATION IS THE GREATEST FORM OF FLATERRY!! TEN YEARS FROM NOW THE 430 WILL BE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE G37 WANNABIE !! EVERY MANUFACTURER TRIES TO IMITATE THE BEST, LEXUS OWNERS SHOULD BE PROUD THAT OUR PRODUCTS ARE SUCH HIGHLY REGARDED.

I8ABMR

I dont see a direct relationship other than they are both japanese 2 door cars. They are going to have a similar shape, but this can be said of the pontiac G6 coupe as well. I think its a stretch

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Same here, they are only similar because they are both Japanese 2 doors hard top convertible, with similar peak horsepower #. Other then that, they are completely different class, quality and power delivery

sc430guy

"SC
Pro-Lexus dependability, fit/finish, superb style/class, more luxurious, status, unique and now rare...especially my red they stopped in 2005. Classic for sure. Beautiful
Con-boring acceleration/handling, lack of technology, wheels (if you didn't upgrade), ML inadequate for all types of music (great if you like jazz or classical!!!)

G37 Convertible
Pro-FAST...330 hp, paddles, 6mt, oodles of Technology-cutting edge as well, infiniti fit/finish and dependability (a plus of Jags, BMW Porsche, MBZ at least now anyway), aggressive styling, the rumble of the exhaust, technology!!! SPORTY!"





They have pretty similar 0-60 times actually... w/ people reporting 5.8 for sc430 and 5.5 for g37s

If your sc430 doesnt feel sporty enough, id recommend turning PWR on, VSC off (unless its slippery out...), and then using the tiptronic. I burn a lot of rubber and make a lot of noise driving doing this.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

The SC430 feels quite a bit quicker to me actually, the Toyota V8 got A LOT more low end torque then that high revving Nissan V6.

I just got a 08' 350Z as a loaner car, it is quick and sporty, lots of fun to drive for sure. But it "feels" so much cheaper then the SC430. Refinement is the key here, even though all those 350Z/370Z/G35/G37 has similar spec, the refinement is night and day, where the SC430 feels highly polished, everything is smooth, the Nissan feels rough everywhere, it is a fast cheap car. It is ok for a young guy starting out that haven't taste the Lexus high end refinement, but once you taste Lexus, I can't go back to a rough cheap Nissan. The Nissan GTR is better, I had one for an entire day, but it is still no match for the SC430 as far as refinement goes. The GTR make up for it in speed though, the G37 coupe is not even any faster then the SC430.