Worst Lexus ever made?
09-21-16, 08:00 AM
#1
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Worst Lexus ever made?
Browsing through some old videos last night, chanced upon Top Gear's assessment that the SC430 was the "Worst car in the world" =)
https://www.clublexus.com/articles/t...lds-worst-car/
Got me thinking; what do you think is the worst Lexus ever made?
https://www.clublexus.com/articles/t...lds-worst-car/
Got me thinking; what do you think is the worst Lexus ever made?
09-21-16, 08:12 AM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Not the worst Lexus ever made. But if you compare the SC430 to what the competition had at the time, its easy to see why a lot of people do not like it. I always thought it had a superb interior but the rear seats are stupid. They should of made it a 2-seater
09-21-16, 08:14 AM
#3
If that's Lexus' worst, then Lexus has nothing to worry about.
P.S. Old video. I think the HS250h was the least Lexus-oriented product. It was a half-hearted effort from ToMoCo, at best, to offer an affordable hybrid sedan alongside the RX, GS, and LS hybrids.
P.S. Old video. I think the HS250h was the least Lexus-oriented product. It was a half-hearted effort from ToMoCo, at best, to offer an affordable hybrid sedan alongside the RX, GS, and LS hybrids.
09-21-16, 08:26 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Depends on what you mean by "Worst". 
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
Last edited by mmarshall; 09-21-16 at 08:36 AM.
09-21-16, 08:44 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Depends on what you mean by "Worst".
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
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09-21-16, 08:53 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Just trying to be realistic. The category of "Worst" is a vague term can cover many different things, depending on interpretation.
There are MANY different good things that Lexus has done, too.....but that is the subject for another thread, not this one.
There are MANY different good things that Lexus has done, too.....but that is the subject for another thread, not this one.
09-21-16, 09:12 AM
#9
The SC was crap relative to the competition but it was still a real "Lexus," in that it had a luxurious interior and comfortable ride. In my opinion the worst Lexus was the 1st generation IS. The exterior was fine, but the interior was a complete abhorrent joke. I can't believe the execs were OK with an interior like that in a car bearing their badge.
09-21-16, 09:15 AM
#10
Depends on what you mean by "Worst".
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
Worst Road Manners...the CT200h. Stiff-riding, uncomfortable, and unrefined by Lexus standards.
Worst Value for the Money....probably the 3Gen IS350. Overall build quality and cheapness of parts/materials not up to previous IS standards.
Most Disappointing (IMO)...the NX. Not enough sound insulation, suspension too stiff, and the RX simply blows it away on road manners...albeit at a somewhat higher price.
Biggest Design Goof.....The 1Gen (2008) IS-F had a suspension that was far too stiff for anything but a glass-smooth road. Lexus recognized the error and softened it up a little for the very next model year.
Worst Interior Feature.....the mouse-controllers on the console. They make your finger (and the cursor) jump all over the place when you are trying to adjust them on a bumpy road.
Worst Eyesore? Styling, of course, is subjective, but, IMO......the big spindle-grilles.
Most Useless Back Seat?............without question, the 2Gen SC430.
Most Unreliable?.......The models with the 3.0L V6's sludge/gel problems......especially if you delayed a little changing the oil.
09-21-16, 09:32 AM
#12
Reading over this thread I see why I keep going back to Lexus. It's good to see that when choosing the 'worst' Lexus ever made not much said about reliability, except for the 1 V6 engine. Pick another brand and we'd be talking transmission failures and replacements, seizing engines, multiple electronics issues, etc.
09-21-16, 10:17 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
The SC was crap relative to the competition but it was still a real "Lexus," in that it had a luxurious interior and comfortable ride. In my opinion the worst Lexus was the 1st generation IS. The exterior was fine, but the interior was a complete abhorrent joke. I can't believe the execs were OK with an interior like that in a car bearing their badge.
The 3rd gen IS is probably the best of all IS' in terms of build quality. Don't even get me started on the 1st gen, and as an owner of the 2nd gen I can tell you that while material quality was average the fit and finish is pretty poor for its class. The panel gaps between the dash and air vents, for example, in every single model is just inexcusable. Anyhow, I agree that the interior of the 3rd gen IS does not hold a candle to the competition. Too much plastic, too little wood, and too much of a "boy racer" appearance that screams "Subaru" and not "I'm going to outgun BMW and Audi."
09-21-16, 10:20 AM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
I've owned 6, and have driven basically all of them. My least favorite Lexus is the CT200h, unrefined, poor interior quality, loud. HS is a close second.
Hard to make a case that the ES350 is the second worst Lexus when it's the second highest selling. I've had 3 LS sedans, a GS and two ES sedans. The ES isn't as refined or solid as the higher end cars, but it's a very nice, quiet, refined well made car that's a good value. That's why they sell so many.
Originally Posted by sears1234
I have owned five Lexus before, I know CT 200H is definitely the worst Lexus, then followed by ES350.