Solo-1;

There is a very strange market in the UK, they charge whatever they can get, remember these prices are GB Pounds, X by 1.411 for USD.

XK8, 50/55,000 GBP Coupe/Convertible
XKR, 58/63,000 GBP Coupe/Convertible
XKR Silverstone, 67-72,000 GBP Coupe/Convertible

I bet you they are cheaper in the US and many other countries, in fact I can go to Belgium and save 15/25% on a car that was built in the UK and shipped for export, of course if we order a new RHD model from abroad the arseholes will then give us 3/6 months delivery time.

We are told that we are not being overcharged by the manufacturers and our good old Government (bunch of theiving, lying, self serving B'stards that they are), not to mention most consumer goods are also inflated, CD's 14/15GBP, Camera's are hiked about 30% as are VCR, DVD players in fact the only electrical items we enjoy at some parity with the rest of world is PC's.

There are moves by the EC to remove restrictive pricing policies (Price Fixing), but this has been going on for years, right now our supermarkets are in trouble for grey importing Levi's and such to sell at almost US prices which are about 40% less than ours, this is another EC ruling which allows a manufacturer to have different pricing for different world zones. Sorry for the long post they really get on my ****.

 

BTW - I could buy one of your smaller, less desirable states for the price of a 3 bed town house in London.

 

Don't worry about bent rims so much as run flats have very thick sidewalls which protect rims. Many people have changed out their stock wheels, so should be no problem finding replacements.
I live is San Diego, where winters are very mild, and potholes not much of an issue.

I chose a golden pearl white with buttery soft ecru interior.
For me the Zaino line of products are difficult to beat, but white is very forgiving. If I had a dark color I would be even more insistant on Zaino, as it gives the deepest reflections.

I thought my original 92 was a ground breaking car, both visually, and performance wise. The 2002 pulls just a little stronger, and has a better stereo, and more gadgets.
Self leveling HID lights
Run Flat option
18 inch standard wheels
Stronger motor
updated suspension
Tire pressure sensors
Navigation system
Rain shedding side glass
Automatic tilting side mirrors
Better aerodynamics
Even quieter
Super trick dissappearing hardtop.

Missing are automatic passenger seat
Trick door hinges
Electroluminiscent instrument panel.

 

WARNING! The following is an opinion personally held by me, Garnet92, on this 11th day of July, in the year 2001:

I’ve driven the same antique ’92 SC4 for 10 years this November – I (luckily) could afford the new one if I wanted it – but I’m not looking for another car – that says a lot for the “old” SC – it still looks, handles, and runs like new - aren’t there other cars I’d like to drive? – sure, but not for what I’d have to pay for ‘em. Point being, this is a conscious, logical, rational decision based on 2 things: 1) I’m cheep, and 2) I love my SC. Thus, Love-old-SC > new-SC-plus-60k.

The old car was outside the box in “91-92 – it was hailed, pretty much unanimously by the automotive press as ground-breaking – it had looks, performance, comfort, luxury, the whole enchilada … a complete package … and still is. I’ve still got several of the old tests – they LOVED the car!

The new SC430 has a lot to offer – the front end is beautiful, side profile is very nice, the interior looks great, but personally I think the rear end belongs on a water buffalo. I wish I had the engine, sound system and drop-top but I’d need to pull a small utility trailer to carry a couple of golf bags or take a trip with a “friend”. It turns heads – and no doubt an all-around fine car – but not for me.

If I do succumb to the dreaded {NEW CAR} disease, the result won’t be an SC – I’ll go for a LS or GS. I like the new LS and the GS has been growing on me. I don’t think the SC’s rear will.

 

Wish I could help with your rim savings, but I'm need to do "damage control" on the amount I spent on the new rims.

I haven't used the Lexus leather treatment personally, but a friend of mine with a GS-300, who spends a lot of time caring for his car, used both. He told me that the Lexus conditioner is much more oily than the Zaino Leather in a Bottle, which is good and bad. Good because it may translate into better protection, and bad because it ends up on you when you sit down. He also very much preferred the Zaino leather smell to the "coconut" smell of the other cleaner.

I haven't used Zymol so I have no basis for comparison. All I know is that the Zaino makes my car glisten.

I use the Zaino car wash between wax jobs. It's supposed to be formulated to enhance the Zaino shine. It seems to be pretty mild.

 

Well I will... The 250/260/290 hp SC4 is faster than the IS3. Just scroll thru some old Motor Trend, Car & Driver, and Automobile mags to get the SC4 and the IS3 times...

Better yet the next time an IS3 pull beside you and gives you that "look"... Floor it and get the anwer you've been looking for. A SC3 with 5spd is just as fast as an IS3.

The truth is the truth, don't be afraid to post it...

97' - 00' SC4 are as fast as GS4 too, however no one seems to speak on that either. Check the stats and search the mags!!!

The Ikon

 

I agree that the SC400 1992 styling is wayyy better
than the new SC430. The new SC430 is just a little itty bitty roadster and it dissapoints me that Lexus replaced the SC400 model, which was a masterpiece of body design.


The silent motor convertible sc430 is a cool feature, but, I bet if you take a consensus of SC owners that the main thing they liked about the SC400 was the body styling and the V8 engine.


I have written to my lexus dealership commenting on the new SC430 and why I think the SC400 is a more favorable car. I believe the SC400 is more powerful looking and the SC430 is like some lady's car. (even though the engine on the sc430 is a little better)


But why kill one of the most popular and beautiful designs ever made for a car of all time (the SC400) ?
WHY?!


I think if you really like the SC400 styling, it would be a good idea to write to corporate lexus and maybe if enough people write to lexus that we can make a difference. Soon even the powerful 290hp 1998 SC400s will be high mileage cars, and not readily available to other generations of car buyers in the future.


They only produced the SC400 for 10 years, basically one generation's worth. (As in people's age generation)
What do the young kids who grew up loving the SC400 do when they are older and can afford to buy one? Settle for a 200k, 10 year old car????


Please everybody who loves the SC400 help by influencing lexus. WE are there customers.

 

The only advantage synthetic oil has is a higher breakdown point. It might be valuble for a turbo motor but it is a waste in the SC. Save your cash, get the oil and filter changed every 3.75K, and you will be happy, happy, happy. Do get a Toyota filter though.

Dick

 

Lexus developed a new car (SC430) to replace the beautiful SC400/300 because their sales volume dropped thru the floor. People simply would not spend $60K for a 10 year old design, no matter how beautiful.

Most of the posters on this forum bought their cars on the used market because they are an awesome bargain right now. This frees up $ for modifications, and enhancements.

The new car is selling as fast as Lexus can make them, while new old style cars still sit on the dealership lots, and only move when discounted $10K.

Drive by a group in a old style Coupe, and nobody even notices, no matter how great they look. With the new coupe people will stop and pay homage just to watch the top go up and down.

All that said, I still miss my old SC400...another place in another time.

 

Ya, toplexs is right, why would you pay 60k for a new car when you can get a used one in great condition for 13-15k? But If you ask me I think lexus should have kept the old body style and turned that into the hard top fold back convertible, I GUARENTEE people would love that **** more than the new style. Click this link to check out the pics of 2 convertible scs (SOOOOO TIGHT!)
Although they also have ground effects and rims and drop springs so that only adds to the look, but just think if lex were to do this stock to the 400s with a hard top fold in... if I had the money I know I'd buy it.


https://www.clublexus.com/cgi-bin/cl...PG&img=168&tt=

 

I think the orginal design was the best.. the new one was designed by a bunch of people who got drunk at the French Riviera for inspiration. For one, it's too tall. the sides don't look right because the panels are so high. It also lacks the nice fender flares the old one has. The engine is only mildly improved, I felt that the SC should have been given a tiptronic style gearbox at the least, and a BMW killer 5+ litre motor as an option. Ideally I'd have put in a twin turbo supra motor on the cheaper ones and made the top of the heap one with a big 450 hp V8. Here, they put a better stereo in a slightly faster car with uglier body work.

 

Rhino..No you are the one who got it right. I have been out to dinner with Lexus engineers who tried like crazy to drop the top on the 4/3's. Never able to make it structurally solid enough without adding tons of weight.

I am liking my 430 more and more as the styling from certain angles is fantastic (from other angles not so great).

Lexus will sell all they can make, and I predict a high performance model to follow shortly.

I agree, those 400 convertables are fantastic, however don't believe they have structural rigidity, or look as nice with the tops (if they have tops) up.

For those of you enjoying their SC4/3's you have perhaps the best sport/touring/GT cars ever made. Lexus just could not find a market for them at $60K

 

Toplex - I couldn't agree with you more, over the sad demise of the SC 400 / 300 Luxury Sport Coupes!

Even when the Market for a $60 K Luxury / Sport Coupe collapsed around them, these Unique Performance Masterpieces still retained their Graceful Elegance, Charm, and Composure, but not enough Sales market Share for Lexus to continue to put so many of their $50,000.00 some "Marbles" in this Market Niche Basket. Even after Nine Years in the Market Place, these Classics never enjoyed the success that their Designers originally imagined.

On the Battlefield, and in the Automotive Industry, there is only "THE QUICK, AND THE DEAD". Unlike Lincoln, who baled when their Luxury Coupe's Market Share went South, Lexus rolled up their sleeves, went back to the Drawing Board, and designed the New "Cutting Edge" of the Millennium, in terms of Automotive Luxury / Sport Cars.

Will it be successful?

Of the First Year Production Run of 12,000 Units, more than 9,000 of them were sold within the first Five Months! Most of these were already spoken for Prior to the New Car Announcement in Mid-March.

If you get on the Waiting List this week, you may see one within the next 12-15 months, if you're willing to pay Full Sticker, or More! The First Three Year Production Run of 32,000 Units looks like a Land Slide Success, and more than $2 BILLION Dollars worth of Sales to Lexus, with a Profit of close to $8,000.00 a pop to the Dealers.

Looks like the Designers' Dreams have finally been realized on this SC Model.

"THE (OLD) KING IS DEAD - LONG LIVE THE (NEW) KING!"

SOLO - 1


:eek:

 

I wonder how many more of the 'old' style cars would have been sold in the US if Toyota Japan had exported the top of the range models?

The two SC models available in the US, the SC300 and SC400 were mechanically the bottom of the range!

How many of you would have bought the awesome 2.5 Twin Turbo models?

The 'air suspension' TEMS (Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension) 4.0 V8 models?

Or the sublime active suspension 4.0 V8?

Dont forget all these models came with the 'digital' 3D display and the top models had touch screen controls for radio/CD and air con.

The production run of the Soarer/SC lasted 10 years, over 165,000 models sold worldwide, 40,000 in its first year!

I dont think that mechanically the new SC430 gets very close to the options that the 'old' SC could have had in the US.
IMHO

 

SLR - What you say has merit, but begs the question as to why Mr. Toyoda denied these Yanks an opportunity to spend our hard-earned bucks on these Great Cars?

What would they have Window-Priced at, in order to be in compliance with US Automotive Standards?

What was the most amount of sales in any given year, in any given Country?

With such a High Percentage of Eligible Drivers who Buy or Lease Cars in the US, if the Powers that be in Lexus looking for Market Share thought that those other Models would be successful over here, why were they not available for the US Market to purchase?

Was Lexus a "Not-For-Profit" Corporation in those years?

This could develop a Class-Action Suit against the Auto Maker, as we Americans may well have been deprived of our Rights, in being denied the chance to purchase the Best out there that Lexus had to offer!

Could all of this suggest that their still mad, because we won the War?



SOLO -1