Lexus SC 430 (vehicles, 2010, sell, replace)

[recuerdeme]

So I went to test out some used SC 430s this weekend and to my dismay 3 and in three different dealerships ... 2002, 2003 and 2007 all had dead batteries.

I've been googling and apparently it's a known "defect" for the SC 430s and other lexus vehicles... they make you pay for neglecting to drive them weekly I guess.

I really like the car it pretty much looks the same from conception to death of line hence my willingness to span 02 to even 08 (it did start but my guess is that dealership starts ever car daily shady)

So anyone with a normal function Lexus that isn't your everyday car but whenever you do hop in it it starts like a charm? Anyone have experienece with the SC 430s?

I've been leaning more towards the 430 it beating out Mercede SLKs but now I don't know...

Thoughts?

Just to note after a little 1 minute charge they all started and performed nicely.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by recuerdeme

So I went to test out some used SC 430s this weekend and to my dismay 3 and in three different dealerships ... 2002, 2003 and 2007 all had dead batteries.

I've been googling and apparently it's a known "defect" for the SC 430s and other lexus vehicles... they make you pay for neglecting to drive them weekly I guess.

I really like the car it pretty much looks the same from conception to death of line hence my willingness to span 02 to even 08 (it did start but my guess is that dealership starts ever car daily shady)

So anyone with a normal function Lexus that isn't your everyday car but whenever you do hop in it it starts like a charm? Anyone have experienece with the SC 430s?

I've been leaning more towards the 430 it beating out Mercede SLKs but now I don't know...

Thoughts?

Just to note after a little 1 minute charge they all started and performed nicely.

It may be that given that these cars were abysmal failures in terms of sales very few people come in to test drive them which means that the battery isn't getting enough of a charge. Many modern cars will drain the battery while sitting due to complex electronics. I experienced the same thing with my 2007 530i after letting it sit for a week.

[LRPct]

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

It may be that given that these cars were abysmal failures in terms of sales very few people come in to test drive them which means that the battery isn't getting enough of a charge. Many modern cars will drain the battery while sitting due to complex electronics. I experienced the same thing with my 2007 530i after letting it sit for a week.

Lol.. the truth is the exact opposite. Those SCs outsold Lexus projections EVERY year. One of the reasons they stayed the same their almost complete run. Everytime Lexus was about to make some changes the loyal and loud owners spoke up and changed Lexus mind for them. But the statement is more correct today as a used car. You dont see many and not many people are looking for a used one, so they will sit and drain the battery rather quickly. It prob doesnt help that
dealers arent exactly looking to replace a borderline battery.
That and the GS were the last new cars sold in the US that came equipped with factory cassette players btw.

I always thought they looked more attractive AND more aerodynamic goin down the road backwards than forwards. Lol

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by LRPct

Lol.. the truth is the exact opposite. Those SCs outsold Lexus projections EVERY year. One of the reasons they stayed the same their almost complete run. Everytime Lexus was about to make some changes the loyal and loud owners spoke up and changed Lexus mind for them. But the statement is more correct today as a used car. You dont see many and not many people are looking for a used one, so they will sit and drain the battery rather quickly. It prob doesnt help that
dealers arent exactly looking to replace a borderline battery.
That and the GS were the last new cars sold in the US that came equipped with factory cassette players btw.

I always thought they looked more attractive AND more aerodynamic goin down the road backwards than forwards. Lol

I can't speak for projections but I recall that in overall volume they didn't sell at a particularly fast rate. I believe slowing sales were often mentioned when production ceased although it did have a very long production cycle (9 years or so). There were less than 800 sold in 2009 and they produced a final run of 300 for it's last year in 2010.

Final sales figures:

2001; 14333
2002; 14462
2003; 10298
2004; 9708
2005; 8360
2006; 5847
2007; 3927
2008; 1986
2009; 720
2010; 147

[cmptrwlt]

It is the worst car in the world, according to Top Gear.

[♪♫♪♪♫♫♪♥]

Originally Posted by cmptrwlt

It is the worst car in the world, according to Top Gear.

Because Lexus knew better and yet they built it anyway! And to the OP, I'm not talking about the earlier SC300 & 400, but the SC430 specifically.


The Worst Car In the History Of The World - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube.