At 180k miles, it's time to replace my 97 SC300. This car has been trouble free and absolutely delightful, but it's time for a change while they're still some value left in it.

I'm not a racer, I just love leather, wood, two doors, and Lexus quality.

Has anyone here owned both? How does the SC430 compare in terms of quality and reliability?

 

i've own both, i loved both of them. the sc430 is just newer and with the v8 you get a little more power. If you are not a racer, the sc430 is hands down a better car.. because it already has enough juice for you. the sc300 you have a lot of performance parts you can upgrade but not the sc430. reliability wise, they are both very reliable. I've own 2 ls400's with the 1uz engines and they run forever. all were over 200k miles and ran like a champ!

 

I have not owned both, but my SC 430 is the best car I've ever owned, I'm 66 and have owned 27 cars in my lifetime, I highly recommend you get one!

 

No doubt, go for it!

 

My wife's 2003 now has 100,000 miles on it. It's still an amazing car. It runs and looks like new. Other than a few incidental things, we've had no trouble with it in the nearly 7 years we've owned it. It is solid, and of high quality. And if you like leather and wood, this car has plenty of that. You can't go wrong with this car. We will probably never sell it.

 

I have a 92 sc400 and the 2002 sc430- two totally different cars, both incredible fun cars to drive. The sc400 feels more like a sports car and the sc430 more like a cruiser. If you are asking " if you can only have one car, what would you pick?" I would go with the sc430, hands down you have the best of both worlds, a coupe with the top up and a beautiful convertible that turns heads even to this day! Good luck with your decision.

 

I've had a Soarer, the Japanese SC400, abeit the 2.5 twin turbo version and had that for 5 years, and I now am on year 2 of the SC430. Both great cars and the SC430 is a natural successor to the SC400, although I still miss the digital dashboard and japanese lady who would speak to me from time to time in the Soarer. The long nose of the SC400 is a beauty and the front of the SC430 is probably not as pretty, but these are small things.

 

SC430 will drive you happy.