I just purchased a 2003 SC430 and I love the car. I'm 6'6" 275lbs and I fit just fine, I'm very comfortable, better than my Escalade.(You should see me in a Jaguar!). Anyway, I love the car but I need a back seat for company!
I will keep this car and now buy another. What I want to know is what Lexus model, if there is one, is a 4 door sedan that is a copy of the SC430?
I enjoy the interior and dash in the SC430 with the navigation and radio so I would prefer the same basic dashboard. I thought maybe a LS430 but the used ones I looked at didn't have the navigation screen. You people are the experts so that is where I go for advice.

I lower the seat, recline it back and get comfortable and my head doesn't even touch! How can a car so small have so much room? At least in the front seat!

 

Wow! Surprised to hear two things here. One is that you find the SC comfortable for a man your size, and two that you actually like the interior of the SC. I too am tall, although not as too as you and I was also amazed at the room on the inside. This car is primarily driven by my wife. I guess I get to drive it on the weekends and when I am cleaning it up. So I didn't really care if I fit comfortably. As long as she was comfortable. I can say that I was amazed at the head room. All I could see was that top coming down a plunking me on the head. But it isn't bad. As you said, just lower that seat and it's all good. I basically fall out of it getting out though!

Now that interior. You won't find anything else in the Lexus lineup that is that bland. Many people say that the interior of the SC is one of the weakest features of the car. I tend to agree. Not sure what Toyota/Lexus had in mind when designing the interior. The flair factor was certainly left out. All of the other models at least have some style which is eye catching. Good luck with your search!

 

I just seem to fit in the SC430. Being 6'6" has always been a problem.
You should have seen me in the 60's when I had a real Mini Cooper!

Porsche 944 and 911's fit great but the cost of ownership killed me.
Before I bought the SC430 I tried a CLk320 and my head was against the top.
The interior was very bland also. I tried a Jaguar XK8 and I felt like I was squeezed into a Miata.

I just finished driving from Dallas to Seattle in less that 3 days and I felt fine when I got out of the car. If it wasn't comfortable I would have known it by then. I had no complaints at all except for the fact that it was Red and every patrol car turned around and followed me for a while. I really think that this is the first car I have owned that hasn't bugged me in one way or another.

 

I think you would be happy with an LS 430 sedan. You will be able to find a car with navigation and most any way you would like it optioned. They sell way more LS cars then SC. Less money too. I actually prefer the LS to the SC accept for one thing. The sexy looks of the SC. It's just too pretty. I go out to the garage and just to look at it. I think the interior of the SC is very nice. JEH

 

What I liked about the SC is they are all equipped the same except for the run flats and the rear spoiler. No other options. So if you find a color you like it is going to have everything. Now when I have looked at 2 LS430's neither one had navigation so now I am wondering what other options they might have been missing. I only want one type and that is loaded with everything.

Three car garage and with the SC430 and a Triumph TR4! I still have an open bay. I assume the LS430 rides and handles somewhat like the SC430? So it should make a good addition

 

We have had a '98 LS400 since she came off the show room floor and then added an '04 SC a year ago. The LS is a great, confortable car, and many of the functions in the car are as those found in the SC - so, going from one to the other it's easy to work the accessories. LS 430 - same engine as the SC, and it's a superior ride. We have 90,000 on our '98, and has only required a couple batteries, brakes and tires. By the way, it has the NAV..

 

Thanks for the info. I look at brakes at $300 for new rotors and pads off of Ebay, Mobile 1 and filter at $30 and tires at $1000 pretty cheap ownership.
I do all my own work as I enjoy it. I grew up owning English cars so I worked on them every day and picked up the pieces that fell off in the morning.

 

I hear ya on the old British cars but you know there is something very special about them. I had a Austin Healey 3000 for a short period of time. Sold it because it needed everything and not being able to do the work myself it was going to cost too much and be too nice to drive once it was finished. But I have never gotten over the car. A first love. Still might buy one if the right car comes up at the right time. I've done dumber things. JEH

 

If you can't work on them yourself then you just can't own one. Parts fall off before your eyes. They wanted $1,000 to do the brakes on my XKE in 1970!
InBoard brakes on the rear! Back then it was like $80 in parts and $920 in labor. I learned how to do it myself but it still took me a whole weekend.

I have crawled all over this SC430 and it will be no problem to maintain. Just bring $$ for the parts, but compared to other cars, the cost isn't that bad.
Water pump, starter, alternator are not much different then Chevrolet. Sure the labor is expensive but if you do it yourself a Saturday afternoon and a ball game on the TV most anything can be fixed.

 

My parents usd to have a 04 LS430 fully loaded and it drove very well. Somewhat of a "lofty" and plush ride compared to my SC430. The LS was fully loaded with navigation and Mark Levingston Stereo (look for those options). They sold that to get the 07 LS460. The new LS still has the Lexus ride but with more engine power and gadgets. Tons of room inside! I pull the seat pretty far back and there is plenty of leg room for the rear passenger.

Going back to your original post, I think your best bet is the LS430. IS, GS and ES are too small. GS comes with V8 but the interior is different. One thing I love about the SC is the leather wrapped console that is wrapped all the to the dash. Even the LS460 doesn't have that. Plus, the SC suspension sits much lower than the LS which gives it a more sporty feel.

Check craigslist.com or autotrader. I did a quick search around the Seattle area and there were a couple of LS430 with navi and Mark Levingston for sale.

 

Thanks for all the help.

I think it will be a 04-05 LS430. It looks like another trip to Dallas and save $5K (or more) again.
I will drive the SC when I feel sporty but there are just those eveings when you need the Towncar feel but with a Lexus attitude so I think the LS will work just fine. If I fit as well as I do in the SC then it will be even better.

 

I may be able to help here. As you can see in my signature I have an SC, 2 LSs, and a GS. First, I LOVE Everything about MY SC. It's a comfortable car and the styling isn't over the top like most convertibles. If you like the dash layout of the SC and comfort of all Lexus vehicles in general, I would go with the LS430. It's an executive car and geared toward comfort and smoothness. If you are a more sporty driver, I would recommend the GS. The interior layout a bit different from the SC, but the mechanics and styling is geared to a more performance-hungry driver. Hope this helped!

 

Thanks. I think it will be a 04 or 05 LS430. Lots of great advice. I'll drive the SC430 when I want sporty but the LS when I have two sets of golf clubs.
If I can maintain one the other should be just about the same so the learning curve will be quicker.