Just wondering if anyone knows? The SC430 seems to have a decent ground clearance. How does it compare with the LS430 or the SL500. Seems stock to be more of a sedan ground clearance versus a sports car ground clearance? Don't get me wrong I like the stock ground clearance keeps me from banging the front end on curbs and dragging the bottom of the SC.

 

stock wise i think clearance is pretty decent. not the "best" but not bad at all

 

Like rominl said, stock clearance is ok. It's similar to the SL500 but the LS430 would have better ground clearance.

When you're lowered and have a kit, the front is unforgiving if you don't change your parking habits. Especially pulling up for a cement block.

I'm lowered and have to stop really short when pulling up to a parking space w/ a cement block. When I back up into a parking space, my exhaust tips clear the cement block and/or curb. One less thing to worry about when backing up into a space.

But for stock clearance, it's a little lower than the average sedan so you have to be careful every now and then. That's why the front end has a rubber deflector just underneath the bumper for protection.

 

The SL500 looks lower?

 

I'm not sure if the SL500 looks lower than the SC430. My friend has one w/ 20's not lowered and occassionally scrapes. So if the SL500 is stock then maybe it's a little lower than the SC430.

 

Personally speaking, the LS has a better clearance than the SC. The SC has that little plastic flap that doesn't clear much at all.

 

What about side skirts? How much lower (in inches) are aftermarket side skirts? Such as Wald, Tom's, Erebuni, etc?

 

an sl500 has a much lower overhall height and slightly lower clearance compared with a stock sc.

fwiw, i got the tein cs v2 and 19" wheels and lowered the car where the top of the tires is about 1/4" from the bottom of the fender. with no aftermarket kit, the car sits similar to an m3 in terms of height and clearance.

 

Anyone have ground clearance info. I know the SC is 5.6 inches per the brochure. The SL500 brochure does not state ground clearance. Wonder what Lexus says on the LS and other models?

 

Official Lexus site info.

Pretty obvious that the SC430 doesn't have a sports car ground clearance.

SC430 - 5.6 inches
GS430 - 5.1 inches
IS350 - 5.7 inches
ES - 5.5 inches
LS460 - 6.1 inches
SL500 - 5.3 inches

Also it is interesting that the SC430 out weighes all of the other Lexus cars excluding the LS which has 400 lbs on the SC. I think the SC should be a LC Luxury/Coupe/Convertable not a SC Sport/Coupe/Convertable

 

The GS450h also outweighs the SC430 by about 200+ lb. . . . . . . .

 

who said sc is about sport?

 

I agree, but that's why he said :

 

Isn't that what SC means? Sport Coupe/Convertible? I'm not complaining. I bought the SC because of what it is not what its name implies. I like the fact that it has a "good" ground clearance. I drove the new Cayman S, before I bought the SC430 and I loved i,t but I really did not want a "Sports" car, I wanted what I got with the SC430. I like the ground clearance because I don't scrape everywhere I drive. Guess I'm getting old

 

Ahh, those were the days when I didn't scrape. Do you remember those days Henry? I am old and I still deal with the scraping. Oh well.