Is the SC430 boring?
06-13-09, 11:23 PM
#16
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Thanks for everyones responses. I wasnt looking to cause a stir or call your cars boring. What I meant by "bored" was do you tend to look at the new cars coming out these days with uber- horsepower make you want to get something different? I am looking at getting this car because I am getting older and comfort is starting to be more important than just performance numbers. I also like the fact that it is not very ostentatious. I am just worried that after a year or so, I will be looking for another car with a bit more power.
How long have you all have your SC430s?
How long have you all have your SC430s?
06-14-09, 04:00 AM
#17
Thanks for everyones responses. I wasnt looking to cause a stir or call your cars boring. What I meant by "bored" was do you tend to look at the new cars coming out these days with uber- horsepower make you want to get something different? I am looking at getting this car because I am getting older and comfort is starting to be more important than just performance numbers. I also like the fact that it is not very ostentatious. I am just worried that after a year or so, I will be looking for another car with a bit more power.
How long have you all have your SC430s?
How long have you all have your SC430s?
06-14-09, 07:20 AM
#19
06-14-09, 07:36 AM
#20
I just my black '02 SC430, so it's probably no surprise that it's not boring to me yet. Depending on your personality, you may get bored with any car after owning it for a year, two years, three years, whatever your usual limit is. I owned an '07 RX-8 which I absolutely loved to drive. If they made a convertible RX-8, I'd have probably gotten one. My brother got a convertible BMW 3-series (previous body style) and it gave me the bug for a convertible. The features I was looking for were (in no particular order):
- Convertible
- Back seats (I have a 10-year-old daughter and needed somewhere to squeeze her into so that all three of us could go for a drive)
- Decent power/handling (handling was more important to me than speed)
- High-level of build quality (ideally Japanese, but American cars were probably out of consideration)
- Less than $25K.
I also considered the Audi A4, Saab 9-3, BMW 3-series (including M3), Mini Cooper, and probably one or two others I'm forgetting. The only other one I got around to test-driving, and which was high in the running for me, was the BMW 3-series. It probably would have given me better handling than the SC430. I was concerned, though, about reliability (especially after one that I test-drove sprung a leak in the coolant right after pulling it back in from the test-drive).
The one other feature that wasn't on my list of must-have's, but which I have to say I really love about the SC430 and will likely keep it from being boring for quite a while, is that there aren't many out there. BMW 3-series, especially the previous body style (an '07 3-series would have been beyond my budget), are a dime a dozen, as are Audi's and Saab's (there's a Saab dealer in my town, so we have quite a few of those on the road near me). Mini's are all over the place (less convertibles, but they all look the same). And with the SC430 being discontinued, and the newest model looking nearly identical to the '02, we'll have a rare car that looks just like the latest one they ever made.
- Convertible
- Back seats (I have a 10-year-old daughter and needed somewhere to squeeze her into so that all three of us could go for a drive)
- Decent power/handling (handling was more important to me than speed)
- High-level of build quality (ideally Japanese, but American cars were probably out of consideration)
- Less than $25K.
I also considered the Audi A4, Saab 9-3, BMW 3-series (including M3), Mini Cooper, and probably one or two others I'm forgetting. The only other one I got around to test-driving, and which was high in the running for me, was the BMW 3-series. It probably would have given me better handling than the SC430. I was concerned, though, about reliability (especially after one that I test-drove sprung a leak in the coolant right after pulling it back in from the test-drive).
The one other feature that wasn't on my list of must-have's, but which I have to say I really love about the SC430 and will likely keep it from being boring for quite a while, is that there aren't many out there. BMW 3-series, especially the previous body style (an '07 3-series would have been beyond my budget), are a dime a dozen, as are Audi's and Saab's (there's a Saab dealer in my town, so we have quite a few of those on the road near me). Mini's are all over the place (less convertibles, but they all look the same). And with the SC430 being discontinued, and the newest model looking nearly identical to the '02, we'll have a rare car that looks just like the latest one they ever made.
06-14-09, 10:37 AM
#21
Thanks for everyones responses. I wasnt looking to cause a stir or call your cars boring. What I meant by "bored" was do you tend to look at the new cars coming out these days with uber- horsepower make you want to get something different? I am looking at getting this car because I am getting older and comfort is starting to be more important than just performance numbers. I also like the fact that it is not very ostentatious. I am just worried that after a year or so, I will be looking for another car with a bit more power.
How long have you all have your SC430s?
How long have you all have your SC430s?
06-15-09, 09:55 AM
#22
Lexus Test Driver
everyone has a different excuse to feel "bored" at some point in time and each one is unique to their acquired flavor and taste.
As this model is dropped from the current lineup in the not too far distant future, the unique-ness of this model will retain it's elegance and glory from when it was first conceived back in '02.
I'm not going into a 10,000 word essay so I think everyone here that knows me what my answer is.
peace...
As this model is dropped from the current lineup in the not too far distant future, the unique-ness of this model will retain it's elegance and glory from when it was first conceived back in '02.
I'm not going into a 10,000 word essay so I think everyone here that knows me what my answer is.
peace...
06-15-09, 11:06 AM
#23
If you mean by "boring", will you get the itch to move on to something else...well the answer is yes. I get that itch within a year with every car I've ever owned!
I've had mine a little more than a year, and have fiddled with adding this and that, but no major mods to it.
Prior to buying mine, I didn't do much research on available mods to get a little more HP. Having owned a Vette, I figured there would be plenty of stuff like intakes, chips, etc. to get 50-60 more HP readily available. Well, that's not the case with this vehicle.
Everytime I think about what I would get should I sell the 430, I come up empty finding a better car for what we like to do with it - cruising.
It's a unique vehicle that exudes luxury and style. You pull up in front of a hotel, and this is one of the cars they let you park right out front, instead of the garage.
I also doubt you'll find a better value for your money - buy one!
I've had mine a little more than a year, and have fiddled with adding this and that, but no major mods to it.
Prior to buying mine, I didn't do much research on available mods to get a little more HP. Having owned a Vette, I figured there would be plenty of stuff like intakes, chips, etc. to get 50-60 more HP readily available. Well, that's not the case with this vehicle.
Everytime I think about what I would get should I sell the 430, I come up empty finding a better car for what we like to do with it - cruising.
It's a unique vehicle that exudes luxury and style. You pull up in front of a hotel, and this is one of the cars they let you park right out front, instead of the garage.
I also doubt you'll find a better value for your money - buy one!
06-15-09, 11:21 AM
#24
Lexus Test Driver
Yeah, I owned one, a 2004, for several years and I would consider it boring. Why? I was coming off a 2002 Z-06 Corvette and was, incorrectly, expecting some spirited acceleration. The SC was good car by every other measure except performance.
06-22-09, 08:31 AM
#25
Bought my SC in July of 2001. Every time I look at it, I like it more. Every time I drive it, I like it more. I'll own this car until it dies or I do (guess what's gonna be around longer).
Putting it away every winter might have something to do with my never-ending appreciation of this car ... or maybe not.
Definitely not bored.
Putting it away every winter might have something to do with my never-ending appreciation of this car ... or maybe not.
Definitely not bored.
06-22-09, 12:26 PM
#26
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Thank you for all of your input. I went ahead and made the plunge and bought the SC430. 
So far, with the exception of the issue with the run flat tires, I like the car a lot. While not quick off the line, once she gets moving, she is a lot of fun.
So far, with the exception of the issue with the run flat tires, I like the car a lot. While not quick off the line, once she gets moving, she is a lot of fun.
06-22-09, 02:53 PM
#28
If you're an aggressive driver, you may want to disconnect the battery for an hour, and let the ECU relearn your lead foot
06-22-09, 02:57 PM
#29
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actually, I am finding with this car, I am starting to drive like an old man. LOL. Im starting her up at lights slow and smooth, going around corners slowly, and accelerating gently. Its fun growing old. LOL.
06-22-09, 04:53 PM
#30
