Well I finally hit the big 50k last week and decided to post my experiences with the car.

First, this is the best car I have ever owned. It has decent power, a great top, silent ride, and sexy looks. There were a few catches though. I made no mods to the car ( I learned my lesson on that)

Handling - For a heavy convertible this thing handled pretty well stock. I decided not to drop or change the suspension. The stock tires were a bit harsh and I changed them for a cushier ride. Also, since the stock tires were so hard it was easy to spin out and go nowhere.

Power - Decent but another 100hp would have been good for the weight. I pretty much always used the gate shifter and have had no problems with the transmission.

Looks - The looks took a bit to grow on me at first but I really like the smooth lines. The finish stayed nice even with my hectic flying schedule. Top down or up this car looked slick.

Interior - Love it. =) Still is like new with no real signs of wear.

Exterior - A couple scrapes from the park-by-touch people in San Francisco but no biggie. The front molding on the hood lid did come loose.

Stereo - Sounds amazing. CD Changer was problematic and would gobble the occasional CDs. The changer is essentially broken. I will talk more about this in service.

Service - The only bad thing about the car. Lexus service was horrible. I went to Coliseum Lexus of Oakland and I told them about the problem and they would not do anything about it even when it failed in front of the technicians eyes. This is probably my last Lexus (owned 4).



Summary - The car is a blast and I have enjoyed it much. I still drive around the bay just for the enjoyment of driving. I am not sure how long the car's electronics will hold out in the long run 100,000+ miles and I am also worried about the longevity of the hard top.


If I were to give the car scores then here they are:

Power: 7/10
Handling: 7/10
Exterior Styling: 9/10
Interior Styling: 10/10
Sound System: 6/10 (only due to poor changer, otherwise a 10)
Service: 4/10
Reliability: 9/10 (only due to trunk shocks wearing out fast
Value: 9/10

Total: 8/10


I am in the market for a new vehicle and am looking around for something fun that fits 4. I still don't see much out there that competes in my opinion. I am open to suggestions. I was thinking Cayenne Turbo perhaps but I don't know. Perhaps I will keep the SC or trade it in as soon as the next SC comes out.

 

great 50,000 mile write up.....

the only real problem I have so far is steering wheel shake at 60mph when depressing the brake pedal, and sometimes driving at 60mph the steering wheel shakes (balancing issue maybe?)......

but other than that, I agree with you up above on your post.....

 

Thanks for the great 50k review. Finding the right dealership for service and support is key.

When I was looking to buy I visited several dealers and some were downright horrible; for example the one in Redwood City CA. I was also not impressed with the one in Oakland.

However, I can't say enough good things about the folks in Pleasanton, they are wonderful for all things; pricing, service, respect and flexibility.

 

Nice write-up. My 2002 gets at least those ratings and I'm at 95K. It rides better than my Camry XLE and that's a nice riding car. My SC is still tight and the finish is like new inside and out. One thing I don't care for is the wheels. Tarnish is showing around the lugs big time.

Good feedback on the Company Serviceing your vehicle too. I'm sure there's someone there looking in on this forum talk.

Thanks

lar

 

great report
I agree, it would have been nicer if it had some more oomph in the power department...maybe 350-380 hp stock?