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Lexus SC430 - Sexy Lexy

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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