Mazor1

I'm a New SC 430 owner, having just picked up an 04 with 52k miles.

I believe I got a great deal on my new car, so I expected there to be some additional costs involved in getting the car right, after taking the car home. What I experienced will somewhat shock you.

I noticed a little bit of a steering wheel wobble when reaching 50 mph or greater. So, I planned on taking the car into a shop and have them look at the suspension and at the least, do a 4-wheel alignment.

Well, yesterday going about 30-35 mph I almost lost control of the car, best I can do is say it felt like the car had come across a patch of ice on the road. Luckily I was less than a mile from where my favorite mechanic is located, so after stopping, inspecting the tires (I thought at first I had a flat tire), and then doing some "test" drives in a parking lot, I decided to go on to my mechanic, at about a snails pace. I did however notice the smooth Lexus ride was gone and I just knew something was wrong. I prepared myself for an additional, sizeable expense to own my car. Boy was I surprised.

Stopped by my mechanic this afternoon after a morning of playing Pickleball. At first he asked me to sit down so he could tell me the news about my car. Turns out that the wheel nuts on 3 of the tires were not even tightened beyond doing so by hand. He was actually surprised that the drivers side rear wheel had not fallen off. That is how bad it was. Talk about a questionable used car sales lot. Who knows what might have happened if I had decided to drive the car a bit
faster despite the steering wheel wobble.

So anyway, I gladly paid the $50 service charge, and now with my mechanics blessing that he checked out my car from top to bottom and it appears to be problem free, I can finally head down the road with my wonderful deal of such a wonderful car. Here are two pictures of my new car.

JDaveSC430

wow; scary story! wouldn't hurt to let that car seller know they barely missed a huge potential law suit!

Beautiful car however, you will truly love the unique qualities of a great and well made car.

Congratulations!

Bgw70

You are one lucky person! I am so surprised nothing happened when you continued to drive the car...

mandyfig

Nice G Spyders! Welcome to CL!

08pebbch

Wait, in another post you said that the DEALERSHIP installed those wheels and tires?!

At the very least, they would be paying my service charge.... and for your time and aggravation, even more!

Mazor1

You are correct. The car originally had some tacky looking chrome wheels (I am not saying all chrome wheels are tacky, just those!), and there was another 07 SC 430 on the lot and we asked as part of the sale that they switch the wheel on the car. So, yes, the wheels were supposedly put on the car late on a Friday and we picked up the car on Saturday.

I ended up driving the car about 100 miles, keeping it under 55 mph because of the way the steering wheel started to wobble. I feel double lucky that for one, it was me and not my wife who was driving the car when it acted up, and two, that I was on the way to my mechanic and only had to drive a mile to get it there to him.

Update: I did call the dealership to tell them that they could have killed me. Got the standard,
"please accept our apology" and they still owe me a spare tire and another working key, so I'm not going to make a huge stink about it since I still feel like at $16K I got a great deal for my car.

Bad thing now is that my car is working fine, other than the CD player, and I'm headed out of town for 10 days so the car is just going to sit under my carport for a few days. Oh well.

Bgw70

Are they only giving you a spare tire or the complete spare tire kit (approximately $700).

Bgw70

I hope they give you this kit, click here

mandyfig

Oh yeah that Kit! Just kills the cargo space though.

FLYCT

I bought our 2007 SC430 from a McGrath Lexus in Chicago and had it shipped to Florida. It arrived with brand new Continental DWS non-runflat tires on it. I called the dealer and questioned why it didn't have a spare tire. They said because it has runflats. NO, I said. OOPS! I called Lexus corporate and inquired and they said it should have either Run-flats or a spare tire kit. The dealer sent me a full spare tire kit gratis.

Last year I traded the 2007 in and before trading it I uninstalled the kit. Last month I installed it in our 2008 SC430. I think it is worth it. We take the SC for nice long drives in the late evening and having a spare gives us feeling of security.

With the top down the only cargo space is what fits below the curtain.This week I left a restaurant with leftovers and the only way that the Styrofoam box would fit in the trunk was to put it under the curtain.

If you want to go shopping or go golfing just remove the spare and leave it home That gives you the same cargo space as before.

JohnnyCake

Was the SC ever sold without run-flats? In other words, were non-run flats ever an OEM option? If so, what tire did they use as OEM?

FLYCT

Run flats with spare tire delete was actually the "option" but I've never seen one delivered in the U.S. without the option.

Tirerack.com lists the OEM standard (non-run flat) as Dunlop Sport 2030 for a 2007 SC430.

ShawnOk

iTrader: (1)

I remember when I ordered my SC, I was given the option to choose either the runflats sans spare with the TRD Chrome wheels or the TRD Chrome wheels with normal tires and a spare kit. Not sure what the factory "standard equipment" was at the time (ie. with the pie plates). Or maybe I was just offered this option as I was paying for the upgraded TRD rim package.

Harold57

I'm glad it all turned out well for you Mazor.