Lexus SC430: A Design Thats Time Has Come And Gone?
03-04-07, 09:09 AM
#18
I never hated the design of the SC430, but I never really warmed to it. Everytime I was definite that I liked the design, I would see it on the street at a wierd angle which made me go back to the drawing board. I really hope Lexus redesigns the car soon. I'm biased towards the SC300/400 so I'm hoping they bring out another proper, long touring coupe. Something to compete with the CL or 6-series. Not a IS based coupe, or a SL fighting convertible... a proper touring coupe. DAMNIT, you listening???!!!
03-04-07, 09:24 AM
#19
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I never hated the design of the SC430, but I never really warmed to it. Everytime I was definite that I liked the design, I would see it on the street at a wierd angle which made me go back to the drawing board. I really hope Lexus redesigns the car soon. I'm biased towards the SC300/400 so I'm hoping they bring out another proper, long touring coupe. Something to compete with the CL or 6-series. Not a IS based coupe, or a SL fighting convertible... a proper touring coupe. DAMNIT, you listening???!!!
Not to be mean to those who own the SC430, but it doesn't strike me as much as the first generation did.
03-04-07, 11:09 AM
#20
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Strangely, I've seen plenty of young people driving SC430s here in Canada.
As for the article, it's comical at best. Complaining about an old dated model that's about to be replaced by a redesign?
As for the article, it's comical at best. Complaining about an old dated model that's about to be replaced by a redesign?
03-04-07, 11:28 AM
#22
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The SC is like a camel which is also known as a horse designed by committee. 
It's cramped enough to be a sports car but doesn't go like one.
It's luxurious enough you might want to take more than one passenger in it but you can't. You can put a box of Kleenex in the back seats, maybe.
It's too big for what it does. It's too small for what it should do.
And the SC430 will be remembered for debuting with probably the ugliest rims ever put on a car.
So make up your mind Lexus. Either make it more like an IS coupe, or more like an LS coupe. Something in between reminds me of the Buick Reatta. Anyone remember that?
The first gen SC was and is SO GREAT, the 2nd gen was not a worthy successor.
It's cramped enough to be a sports car but doesn't go like one.
It's luxurious enough you might want to take more than one passenger in it but you can't. You can put a box of Kleenex in the back seats, maybe.
It's too big for what it does. It's too small for what it should do.
And the SC430 will be remembered for debuting with probably the ugliest rims ever put on a car.
So make up your mind Lexus. Either make it more like an IS coupe, or more like an LS coupe. Something in between reminds me of the Buick Reatta. Anyone remember that?
The first gen SC was and is SO GREAT, the 2nd gen was not a worthy successor.
03-04-07, 11:43 AM
#23
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They need to make the next generation SC something doctors, lawyers, businessmen will buy. 
Last edited by rsantiago; 03-04-07 at 11:59 AM.
03-04-07, 12:17 PM
#24
Concerning the Solara issue, I really wish that Toyota and Lexus would put more effort into distinguishing the two. I love both companies and am a huge car guy, but I will be completely honest: there have been plenty of times where I have seen the back of a new LS out of the corner of my eye, and thought it was a Camry at first glance. The shape, design, and color of the tail lights and the entire rear end are too similar. Toyota/Lexus are really using too many of the same styling elements. The GS is really the only car that looks uniquely it's own IMO. The RX has been copied to death by every other car makes, and the GX/LX are still good looking, but aging.
To be honest, the styling on the IS/LS/ES is really not that much different from all other Japanese cars. Look at the front end of a Camry, Corolla, Mazda 6 and 3, Altima, TL, TSX, RL, Solara, LS460, ES 350, IS, Lancer, Legacy....they are all the same basic shapes and arrangements with slightly different details. All are the feline, almond shaped headlights, relatively trapezoidal grille, and the same lower front fascia with two foglights and a big space between them and directly under the grille. It's all the same. Lexus has GOT to start stepping out of the box and doing something different here. No doubt we are getting good looking cars, but they aren't DIFFERENT good looking cars. IMO, Lexus are the nicest looking cars that carry traditional japanese style, but they need to start to move away from looking like "the best of the boring" because all in all it's still...boring.
Bimmers, Mercedes, Jaguars, Audis- they carry a style that is uniquely their own. Even Infiniti is starting to become their own brand with design. The G35 is more unique looking than the IS, IMO. And they've moved into a front end design that is different looking from everyone else's. I'm not saying that Lexus is giving us ugly cars, but we are getting vehicles that are styled just like everything else, with a few extra details here and there. I really had hoped that L-Finesse was going to do more for Lexus than it has done so far, and I know that this is only the first "wave" of cars to benefit from the design theme but we need something. Jags are traditional old world beauty, and have just now launched into a more futuristic luxury brand- XK and upcoming XF. Audi has their big buck tooth grille, Mercedes is going wild with fender flares, BMW has all of it's Bangle madness and Lexus....uh...
. I'm not saying it's bad, but there is truthfully nothing MEMORABLE or distinguishable about Lexus designs. That needs to change.
Just my .02
To be honest, the styling on the IS/LS/ES is really not that much different from all other Japanese cars. Look at the front end of a Camry, Corolla, Mazda 6 and 3, Altima, TL, TSX, RL, Solara, LS460, ES 350, IS, Lancer, Legacy....they are all the same basic shapes and arrangements with slightly different details. All are the feline, almond shaped headlights, relatively trapezoidal grille, and the same lower front fascia with two foglights and a big space between them and directly under the grille. It's all the same. Lexus has GOT to start stepping out of the box and doing something different here. No doubt we are getting good looking cars, but they aren't DIFFERENT good looking cars. IMO, Lexus are the nicest looking cars that carry traditional japanese style, but they need to start to move away from looking like "the best of the boring" because all in all it's still...boring.
Bimmers, Mercedes, Jaguars, Audis- they carry a style that is uniquely their own. Even Infiniti is starting to become their own brand with design. The G35 is more unique looking than the IS, IMO. And they've moved into a front end design that is different looking from everyone else's. I'm not saying that Lexus is giving us ugly cars, but we are getting vehicles that are styled just like everything else, with a few extra details here and there. I really had hoped that L-Finesse was going to do more for Lexus than it has done so far, and I know that this is only the first "wave" of cars to benefit from the design theme but we need something. Jags are traditional old world beauty, and have just now launched into a more futuristic luxury brand- XK and upcoming XF. Audi has their big buck tooth grille, Mercedes is going wild with fender flares, BMW has all of it's Bangle madness and Lexus....uh...
. I'm not saying it's bad, but there is truthfully nothing MEMORABLE or distinguishable about Lexus designs. That needs to change.Just my .02
03-04-07, 12:18 PM
#25
I believe this is the replacement.. Dubbed LF-C. I saw it at tthe 2004 NY International Autoshow.
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/112_04_lexuslfc
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/112_04_lexuslfc
03-04-07, 01:12 PM
#27
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Concerning the Solara issue, I really wish that Toyota and Lexus would put more effort into distinguishing the two. I love both companies and am a huge car guy, but I will be completely honest: there have been plenty of times where I have seen the back of a new LS out of the corner of my eye, and thought it was a Camry at first glance. The shape, design, and color of the tail lights and the entire rear end are too similar. Toyota/Lexus are really using too many of the same styling elements. The GS is really the only car that looks uniquely it's own IMO. The RX has been copied to death by every other car makes, and the GX/LX are still good looking, but aging.
To be honest, the styling on the IS/LS/ES is really not that much different from all other Japanese cars. Look at the front end of a Camry, Corolla, Mazda 6 and 3, Altima, TL, TSX, RL, Solara, LS460, ES 350, IS, Lancer, Legacy....they are all the same basic shapes and arrangements with slightly different details. All are the feline, almond shaped headlights, relatively trapezoidal grille, and the same lower front fascia with two foglights and a big space between them and directly under the grille. It's all the same. Lexus has GOT to start stepping out of the box and doing something different here. No doubt we are getting good looking cars, but they aren't DIFFERENT good looking cars. IMO, Lexus are the nicest looking cars that carry traditional japanese style, but they need to start to move away from looking like "the best of the boring" because all in all it's still...boring.
Bimmers, Mercedes, Jaguars, Audis- they carry a style that is uniquely their own. Even Infiniti is starting to become their own brand with design. The G35 is more unique looking than the IS, IMO. And they've moved into a front end design that is different looking from everyone else's. I'm not saying that Lexus is giving us ugly cars, but we are getting vehicles that are styled just like everything else, with a few extra details here and there. I really had hoped that L-Finesse was going to do more for Lexus than it has done so far, and I know that this is only the first "wave" of cars to benefit from the design theme but we need something. Jags are traditional old world beauty, and have just now launched into a more futuristic luxury brand- XK and upcoming XF. Audi has their big buck tooth grille, Mercedes is going wild with fender flares, BMW has all of it's Bangle madness and Lexus....uh... . I'm not saying it's bad, but there is truthfully nothing MEMORABLE or distinguishable about Lexus designs. That needs to change.
Just my .02
To be honest, the styling on the IS/LS/ES is really not that much different from all other Japanese cars. Look at the front end of a Camry, Corolla, Mazda 6 and 3, Altima, TL, TSX, RL, Solara, LS460, ES 350, IS, Lancer, Legacy....they are all the same basic shapes and arrangements with slightly different details. All are the feline, almond shaped headlights, relatively trapezoidal grille, and the same lower front fascia with two foglights and a big space between them and directly under the grille. It's all the same. Lexus has GOT to start stepping out of the box and doing something different here. No doubt we are getting good looking cars, but they aren't DIFFERENT good looking cars. IMO, Lexus are the nicest looking cars that carry traditional japanese style, but they need to start to move away from looking like "the best of the boring" because all in all it's still...boring.
Bimmers, Mercedes, Jaguars, Audis- they carry a style that is uniquely their own. Even Infiniti is starting to become their own brand with design. The G35 is more unique looking than the IS, IMO. And they've moved into a front end design that is different looking from everyone else's. I'm not saying that Lexus is giving us ugly cars, but we are getting vehicles that are styled just like everything else, with a few extra details here and there. I really had hoped that L-Finesse was going to do more for Lexus than it has done so far, and I know that this is only the first "wave" of cars to benefit from the design theme but we need something. Jags are traditional old world beauty, and have just now launched into a more futuristic luxury brand- XK and upcoming XF. Audi has their big buck tooth grille, Mercedes is going wild with fender flares, BMW has all of it's Bangle madness and Lexus....uh...
. I'm not saying it's bad, but there is truthfully nothing MEMORABLE or distinguishable about Lexus designs. That needs to change.Just my .02
03-04-07, 01:24 PM
#28
Out of the 3-4 M6s I've seen here, they all seemed to be 25-40ish. Bunch of SL55's driven by young people in Newport. How many young people have M3s? If you can afford a M3, you can basically afford a SC.