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When
we first drove this car about a year ago, onlookers were stunned. It stopped people
in their tracks. It caught more gazes of fellow motorists, passersby and yes,
the police, than we could have if we were dancing naked on a flatbed truck. Even
better was that all we had to do was smile and wave, basking in an endless sea
of attention. And we didn't even have to take our clothes off! Over
the last year, however, people have started to see the SC430 less as a spectacle
and more for what it is: luxurious transportation for two that combines finishing-school
road manners, unspeakable comfort and faultless reliability in a most becoming
way. The
SC430's opulent interior comes with virtually every gizmo and gadget you can order
on Lexus' flagship LS430. Except for all the LS430's rear seat goodies, that is-despite
the presence of a rear "seat," the SC430 is strictly a two-seater and
we've got chiropractor receipts to prove it. That eensy rear seat, however, is
what allows the SC430 to go from hardtop to convertible with the push of a button,
making it one of the only vehicles in the world to offer the trick feature. Other
amenities include a 9-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, automatic climate control
(with lap vents!) and leather, wood and metal everywhere you can touch. The SC430's
interior is particularly inviting in a color Lexus calls Saddle, a rich, deep
and yes, sexy tan that recalls Italian sports cars from decades gone by. One
thing is for sure, not many cars (even of the antique Italian variety) can match
this car's unflappable confidence on the road. A 300-hp V-8 hurls it forward,
while truly stupendous brakes bring it to a halt with the same alacrity. Ride
quality is silky smooth, except on the choppiest of roads, on which some vibration
makes its way into the cabin (a phenomenon that's hard to avoid, even among high-end
roadsters). Even
considering all of its competence and style, it could still use a bit more passion.
In contrast to some of the other cars in this guide, the SC430's deliberacy makes
it more of a machine than a lust object, possessing more class than character.
On the other hand, it sure looks good….
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