Harpo

iTrader: (1)

I need to replace my aging SC300. Honestly, it is the best car I've ever owned, and I've had it longer than any other. I've had a fair assortment; MB, Toyota, Fiat, Citroen, Triumph, Mazda, Honda, and every American make, current stable is the 97 SC300, 00 Miata, and 97 RAV4 (snow).

In the SC300, I value the ride, interior, performance, and the overall feeling (and reality) of awesome quality and reliability.

Will I be satisfied with a 2002-2005 SC430?

tfischer

You will love it. I had an SC400 for about 10 years, before buying an SC430 in May of 2001, which I still have. The 430 is quite a different car, but has the same comfort, quiet ride, smooth handling and luxurious ambiance of the 400. Since your coupe was a 300, you will be moving from a 6 to an 8, so you will have more power, which you will love. The back seat is much smaller, and I think the 430 is a bit shorter, but that's easy to ascertain. The retracting top is a mechanical wonder and extraordinarily reliable.
It's time to replace the 300s and 400s that are still on the road, beautiful as they are, and the 430 is a fine choice.

bacardi11

iTrader: (1)

now tfischer has had his since 2001 that will you about the car. its the best car you will ever ouw.

Lexeffect

Allow me to say this about that... I am the proud owner of a loaded '98 Lexus SC400 with VVT-i, Nakamichi, etc. with 45,000 original miles on the clock. It is such a beautifully crafted machine, that to this day I cannot bear to part with it. It remains parked next to my '08 Lexus SC430 with 5,600 original miles. When I look at the two parked side by side I still cannot decide which one is more breathtaking. My original plan was to possibly sell the SC400 when I purchased the SC430... But no way. Will you be satisfied with a SC430? Absolutely.

Acura2Lex

iTrader: (1)

Had a 1995 SC400 and now a 2004 SC430. Loved BOTH cars because of reliability, class and power. You won't regret the upgrade.

Lexicon1

the SC430 is more refined, solid, quiet, more comfortable ride, smoother ride, the six spd transmission is superior, has a little more power. When the wife , who loved her SC400 took her first ride in the 430 she immediately smiled and indicated....Yes...I want to trade in my 400

gripau1

I had 2 x SC400 well actually a UZZ32 Soarer (active suspension) and a UZZ31 Soarer (airbag suspension) for a total of 13 years. Clocked up over 500,000km. Loved the UZZ32 as the handling was incredible, sure footed and corner like on rails. Keeps up with 911 turbos on a track. The UZZ31 was more cushy, floaty, perfect for long distant driving.

The SC430 is a sporty cruiser, relaxing to drive but its more of a tourer than an outright sports car. Of course the heavens can open up at a touch of a button.

sorka

I recently sold my '95 SC400 with 334K miles on it. We replaced it with a 2007 SC430 with 11K miles on it.

I prefer the styling both exterior and interior of the SC430. It certainly has a more refined quality to it.

That said, it's not made as well as the SC400 was. I knew this already when I'd test driven higher mileage examples. They had developed creaks and rattles that my SC400 never did. I would later find out this is because most everything in the SC430 interior is pressed together with snaps while on the 400 everything is screwed and bolted. No doubt this makes assembly of the 430 less expensive.

The leather isn't as good. Still good but not as good as the 400 was when it was brand new. The 430's leather is thinner and doesn't quite have that high end feel the 400 had. The floor mats on the 430 are just standard quality. The thread count is lower than the 400's everywhere. Addittionally the 400 had a pad on the drivers side that had like a 1000 thread count density and was extremely durable. It was there because that's where you're heels sit when driving. The steering column on the 430 is nowhere near as rigid as the 400. The car is full of examples like this throughout.

My personal feeling is that the 300/400 was probably extremely over engineered. It may be the highest quality and most reliable vehicle as a whole ever made. The reality is that isn't good for business. The 300/400 didn't have to be as good as it was and I think Toyota in general has turned the **** down on quality just a little and rightly so.

That said, I think our 430 will still last longer and be more trouble free than most of the cars I've owned.