Here’s why the Lexus SC 430 gets no respect

[@Idk_about_anything]

Car journalists want aggressive looking cars, thats why every crossover today looks like it is suffering from constipation.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

😂

[@Romiedahomie415]

Lmfao

[@hidesbehindpseudonym1920]

😂

[@woodrow_mayes]

In reality, it's actually the dominant market of Asia, specifically China. They love aggressive faced vehicles

[@dewarkhodern9990]

​@@woodrow_mayes Both. The Journalist and Asia

[@DavidHall-ge6nn]

I once drove a friend's SC430 from Atlanta to Dallas in one day. Incredibly quiet, comfortable car with a luxurious interior, plenty of power, and very good road manners. I liked it very much. It's a shame it was so homely. It wasn't a sportscar, it was a grand tourer. And a good one.

[@divinehatred6021]

Some people just falsely assume that everyone dreams of a hypercar... and that everything thats lower than a 500hp is "slow".

[@Epotheros]

It was basically Lexus' attempt at making a Ford Thunderbird. Unfortunately for them, the personal luxury coupe segment had been dying a long a slow death by the time they introduced the SC400 and even more so with the SC430. Most people didn't really want a comfortable, torquey, 2+2 car anymore.

[@CarQuizzical]

@@divinehatred6021i hate those people so much that i would happily get rid of them first if there was a purge

[@CarsofGlasgow]

I owned one for years & I agree, its very quiet and comfortable

[@dontran8578]

I got 2005 still here love it

[@jlcii]

The irony that Jeremy Clarkson refers to the SC430 as the worst vehicle in the world, while having praised, of all vehicles, the Range Rover- the ACTUAL worst vehicle in the world.

[@johnnymason3265]

Actually, the Yugo is the worst car ever made. The SC430 is certainly in the top 10 of the worst cars ever.

[@BobbyDeniroX]

​@@johnnymason3265range rovers are total crap and the uk journalists always big them up

[@danielchristopherdc]

@@johnnymason3265 wrong.

[@bam_henry]

I was legit surprised when THAT was ranked above the goddamn Audi Quattro and McLaren F1 as the greatest car ever made ... 💀💀💀

[@rrrogster]

And you're right the Range Rover has to be near the top of the list for least reliable vehicles ever built. Why they are still being built is way beyond me.

[@Ben-jw9nt]

Problem is, they compared it to sports cars, and it isn't a sports car, its a GT, and that's something it's very good at.

[@DrCharlesMontague]

I ran an import repair center for years where I suffered dealing with the owners of many types of aging luxury convertibles such as Mercedes SLs, Jaguar XKs, BMW 6-series, etc. I will happily take an SC430 instead of all of those 😂. Also, as much as I adore Top Gear, that segment where they beat up on the SC430 and even compared it to a Tiburon was one of the worst segments they ever did.

[@zarakdurrani7584]

Almost seems as if they had been paid by a certain German company to do it.

[@danielchristopherdc]

@@zarakdurrani7584 seems that way

[@Trendyflute]

Most segments with Clarkson in them have aged incredibly poorly. Dude is an outdated bore.

[@a.c.4732]

@@zarakdurrani7584 you mean those with the highly reputable emission ratings ? 😉

[@zarakdurrani7584]

@@a.c.4732 yes, that company that was personally vouched for by chancellor Hitler himself

[@redskinjim]

mine has 153 thousand on it and runs killer and gets looks everywhere 20 years later!..Everything works still

[@xraider927]

You forgot to mention another thing: The SC430 was also a race car in Japan, courtesy of the Japan Super GT.

[@bam_henry]

I'll never forget the TOM'S SC430 sponsored by Petronas from 2008-2013. Quite a simple yet eye-catching livery.

[@janetkopper3507]

Haters be hatin, the sc430 is a delight to drive ! I own one and love its style and comfort. It is pretty quick too😊

[@redskinjim]

nothing but envy from everyone who sees it let the haters hate....i love it though mine has a 153 thousand

[@1mzfe]

I think it was incredibly unfair for Top Gear to name the SC 430 The Worst Car, especially when you consider how reliable the SC 430 was.

[@charlie_nolan]

I greatly enjoy watching Top Gear but they have had some asinine opinions from time to time, a couple others that I can think of is hating the VW bug and any electric cars. Also Jeremy’s strange hatred of bicycles

[@petayV8]

Yeah, and all the cars they like/praise and now in the junk yard . Literally

[@TheMuzikall]

It’s a on par with anything from Europe from that era

[@paullacey2999]

Yes while they babble endlessly about pointless unreliable supercars.

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

they probably got a lot of money from the competition to do that

[@kenxiong6830]

SC430 is an under appreciated car. This thing is stupid reliable and amazing to drive. It was never meant to be a sportscar but a boulevard cruiser

[@thecrowflies]

Sure. Just has SC for sports car/coupe in the name. But ya. Wasn’t intended

[@duquem0421]

@@thecrowfliesyeah the corolla se is also a sports car because it has sports edition in the name.

[@laowhy86]

Fascinating breakdown. Great channel.

[@Rascofresco11]

You know the SC was innovative in so many ways. If I remember correctly it's the only hard top convertible that's actually reliable and has some grunt under the hood.

[@antwanmcclain8909]

I think people were disappointed that it was more tailored for older people. Even the ones I see today are driven mainly by older people. I've known a lot of people that called it's predecessor, specifically the SC300 as a Supra in a tux.

[@cyberdrakon]

grunt? severely underpowered at 288 hp. Both the SLK32 (350 hp) and SL500 (302hp) had folding hardtops with more power.

[@baoquoc3710]

"some grunt under the hood" *BMW 430i convertible with 280 horses yet 100kg lighter*

[@PermacultureLongboarder]

I am of the complete opposite mindset. In fact I think they should have done two lines. One to support performance enthusiasts with a standard 330 hp v6 turbo and another line with an automatic 4 180 HP gas saving design. The v6 would have gotten like 22 mpg and the 4 likely 30+, would have worked with those hybrid looking rims as well....

[@boowiebear]

Top Gear are wrong on this. Calling the SC430 the worst is absurd. It might have missed the mark but still has many redeeming qualities.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I just saw a SC 430 on the highway. It was GOLD it was literally shining so bright and stood out so much because it was literally reflecting all the light. It was kimda pretty. 7:15

[@johnh8268]

I considered the SC430 against the SLK230 Kompressor in 1999. I ended up buying the SLK and keeping it for many years. I often wonder if I would have liked the SC430 better. The Mercedes held up well over the years without too much maintenance.

[@richsackett3423]

Probably about the same tbh

[@antwanmcclain8909]

I still see a lot of these on the road. I love these cars.

[@rickymack2611]

I'v never been one to put much stock in anything Jeremy Clarkson says

[@wranglercody8422]

He’s always been a pretentious a hole.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Yeah I think that goes for most motoring Journalists spoiled by driving Ferrari's and Bentleys and get a free expensive car to 'long term test' every year! But at it's height in popularity if Jeremy Clarkson said a car was rubbish people were embarrassed to drive it! 😂

[@99Lezard99]

smart decision. clarkson has a record of fairly dumb views in retrospective

[@makpack]

I've got one. Happy to show you how the top works!

[@ianberry5562]

I hope these stay slept on! I want to get one in a few years!

[@oneviwatara9384]

You can getting one now for less than 15k

[@Jonnymg4]

Same, I'm getting one for $3200 this week!

[@tonybrown6775]

I worked at a Pontiac dealership at time when those came out you could get 2 to 3 G6 convertibles to one Lexus

[@MissingLinkGTRS]

Yeah the Lexus was expensive and they still are but it’s worlds apart from a mid 2000s GM product

[@IsaacLoven]

But the Lexus would run 3x longer than the G6

[@tbamagic]

That like comparing Timex watches to a Rolex! Duh??

[@Cheesesteakwithfriedonions]

These cars are still going for 17k to 20k

[@worldwindcomics]

I have an SC 430, and I absolutely love it.

[@mss627]

That's hilarious for prats who routinely championed the absolute crap coming out of England. How many Jaguars of that era are still on the road? How about Land Rovers? Shuddup!

[@danielchristopherdc]

It’s like they were paid to trash the Lexus

[@negativeindustrial]

I’ve got a SC300 swapped into a Soarer GT-T clone using the 1JZ-GTE Twin-Turbo engine. I love that car so much.

[@robertocastellanos9140]

Keep doing what you’re doing dude. I can tell how much effort you put into these videos. You’re only gonna get better.

[@wakkawakkawakka-s3i]

Those rear seats are hilarious :D

[@martymiller4300]

The rear seat headrests must have been included as spares in case something went wrong with one or both of the front seat ones.

[@signalfire6691]

It's for grandchildren or more likely, golf clubs. The 4 seat designation made it cheaper to insure.

[@12345.......]

I forgot how unwatchable top gear was

[@willbelasco]

I always liked the SC, and notice them on the road. I live in the north east, and I see them on an uncommon basis! That original SC 400 in particular, and in a manual would be a unique car to own. I’ve never driven an SC though.

[@ramberghini072]

Did the 400 come in manual? I thought it was only the 300.

[@braveladder1682]

The sc300/sc400 are shocking practical and reliable grand tourers, and still surprisingly affordable today. I have a family member still daily driving a sc300 with 260,000 miles, and it runs and looks great to this day.

[@rrrogster]

I owned a SC300 with the inline 6 cylinder. That engine was truly amazing. It had to be expensive to make because the engine had to be built on a separate dedicated line. I actually had to look at the tachometer several times upon startup just to make sure the engine was running. It was that quiet and smooth. Toyota/Lexus engineering at its finest.

[@hippopominy9]

Unfortunately car reviewers only positively review cars based on two things...how fast it can go in the straight line and how closely it handles to a BMW everything else that our car does well is ignored

[@tresgriffin8242]

Agreed. Like, I just recently bought a Honda CR-V Hybrid and there are reviewers who are "brake torquing" it to see how fast the 0-60 is, and I'm like "Sir...this is a Honda CR-V. Nobody interested in this car is doing that."

[@hippopominy9]

@Tres Griffin that's 😂 I mean the customer that's getting a hybrid is probably more interested in its fuel economy than its speed

[@king20a6]

BMW high oil consumption, 1.5T 3 cylinder 10l/100km.

[@signalfire6691]

Or they want it to be a speed demon on the track. Great way to get a ticket or get dead.

[@bananas8779]

6:34 you can buy regularly updated map data disc to this very day.

[@saabstory69420]

Really? Where?

[@demogaming8895]

Naming this the worst car in the world was easily Top Gear's worst take ever. After driving so many hyper exotic fast cars the SC 430 must've felt too boring for them I guess?

[@mikemc330]

I always look forward to these videos. Awesome!

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

The Pebble Beach Edition SC430 was made because it was a prize for those LAGPA Golf torunaments.

[@davidlittle4971]

I just seen one the other day where I live ,God ,still a beauty,always did love the design 👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️

[@aerocabin]

The inspiration for the folding top came from an earlier variant of the same car, the 1989 MZ20 Toyota Soarer Aerocabin, of which only 500 were produced.

[@CarlosGuzman-bq8fr]

I loved ❤this episode. Great stuff. Can you do an episode on the 1999 Toyota Solara. I had this car. By far one of the nicest cars I've owned. Mine was a pearl white with tan leather. Gorgeous 😍 car. Similar to the Lexus.

[@TheJetJONES]

There was also a game, the Lexus SC430 was featured: The Getaway (2002): It was one of the gang cars by either the Collins Gang, or the Triads... 🤔

[@James-sir]

I drive a sc430 everyday I luv it

[@davinp]

There was also the Toyota Camry Solara which sold from 1998-2008 and was canceled after the 2nd generation. A convertible was offered

[@toddaulner5393]

Been in one, it was really nice!

[@tbamagic]

I've owned 3 Solaras- 1 hardtop and two convertibles. All were wonderful cars.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

The 2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible Hard Top was also considered odd looking and out of proportion, they didn't sell well and are dirt cheap these days compared to the Coupe! The Peugeot 306 CC sold like hot cakes in the UK though and was a very desirable car in it's day as was the Mercedes SLK and the BMW M4 Mk2! It's funny that some Manufacturers could make a Hard Top look good but on others it looked distinctly like an afterthought!

[@mattheweburns]

I always wanted an SC 400 with a manual transmission. It’s like everything the Celica had but better.

[@OllamhDrab]

Beastly heavy, though.

[@Maplecook]

I own both an SC400 and a 1997 Celica. I can tell you that they are two completely different cars. I won't say one is better than the other. They scratch different itches. I love them both.

[@thomaspaine5601]

I own one. It is beautiful. I love it.

[@Where_is_Waldo]

SC300/SC400 shared a platform with the Mark IV Supra, you showed a Mark III Supra.

[@dewarkhodern9990]

Correct. MK4 A80 Supra, and literally the Lexus SC 300 shared the 2JZ to the Supra

[@Where_is_Waldo]

@@dewarkhodern9990 I wonder if anyone ever made a Mark IV Soapra. I like the way the Mark III Supras look with the Soarer front clip.

[@TheBishop12]

5:38 they only put the backseats to alter the classification from Sportscar (higher insurance costs) to a 2+2 coupe

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Twenty years ago, a friend of mine let me have his 430 for a couple weeks while he was on a business trip. It thought I was going to love it, but it was just OKAY. Handling was only fair. It was slightly under powered. There was more road noise than I anticipated. The biggest problem was the low profile tires, which made for a rough ride. THAT was a deal breaker for me.

[@tylerloveday9615]

After 15 years of flashy BMW’s. I’m on the hunt for one of these because it’s clearly superior

[@danielchristopherdc]

The only intelligent choice 🫡

[@tbamagic]

I own a 2006. Its a "Rolex on wheels". Absolute dream. Refined, comfortable, quiet and SMOOTH. No, its NOT a "sports car". Its a country club, wine country tour, ride out Cal Route 1 grand touring car. So please stop comparing it with Mustang GTs, Ferraris, etc.

[@Hargan]

In Europe, after the SLK, Peugeot made the 206cc bringing hard top convertibles to lower budget buyers. After that in the early 2000s, every mainstream hatchback basically received the folding hard top treatment. The few you mentioned, as well as the 207, Renault Mégane, Vauxhall/opel Astra and Corsa (badged as a Tigra), Mitsubishi Colt and Nissan Micra

[@Hargan]

@Alex ah yes, the wind was late to the party

[@ottovonbismarck7094]

How about the dodge D series and B series of trucks and vans?

[@bam_henry]

Toyota fielded the Lexus SC430 as the Supra's replacement in the Japanese Super GT racing series, so that alone makes me respect the car a lot. I believe 3 championship titles by different Toyota teams (2006 and 2009 with TOM'S, 2013 with Cerumo) were under the SC430's belt. I know Super GT is a silhouette-based GT sports car racing series, but still...how cool is that? To see the "worst car in the world" kick ass with Nissan Zs/GT-Rs and Honda NSX-GTs.

[@danielchristopherdc]

Loved those JGTC SC430’s! They’re in Gran Turismo 5 I believe

[@ophirmayer1]

Starred in the beginning of terminator 3..respect all around

[@speedcrane]

Im a Lexus SC owner and also a mobile crane driver...I still have nightmares after watching that film

[@tommycreamer2001]

Was wondering if you could do the first generation Chevy trailblazer?

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Please do a video on the Ford Explorer sport trac pickup

[@user-hn5ft5jg2m]

You should do a video on the ls430 from the early 2000s

[@alpaljl]

Yes! I second this. A video on the LS 400 & 430 would be awesome!!

[@BlastinRope]

Can you imagine if the sc400 came in manual? The world would be a different place

[@KaiPonte]

I have a '93 SC400 that I plan to manual swap. Just need the time.

[@DEIFAN]

Well thanks to you, you brought the value up

[@thumperjdm]

The hardtop SC400 looks so much better than its convertible replacement car.

[@tbamagic]

Nah, i don't think so. The SC400 is a nice car. But its a totally different concept.

[@Gabe_Pictures]

Request: Hyundai Tiburon

[@siphotos3282]

To the funny thing is is there a far worse cars in this for the money this car really wasn’t that bad for the money at all

[@ruzzelladrian907]

The SC second generation looked really pretty. Tragic that people listened to Jeremy Clarkson.

[@tbamagic]

I'm happy they did! That way, I was able to get mine for a GREAT price!

[@javigar133]

I love Top Gear, and I couldnt agree and disagree so much about one car. On one hand, love It, on the other, jeez mate... I still want one

[@christopherlastname7638]

I detailed these new in Naples fl. They sold a bunch of them and they were vary nice it was like a Bentley

[@signalfire6691]

It's been called the Poor Man's Bentley.

[@jaymorris3468]

Lovely looking car imo, could have done more with the front to match the awesome shape of the rear, a little more aggressive.

[@Gazzitas]

I find it pretty ironic that Lexus would produce both Top Gear's worst ever and best ever car (the LFA, of course).

[@bliglum]

I legit lost all respect for Clarkson and Top Gear when they named the SC 430 as "The Worst Car Ever". Sure, it fell short of it's goal in many ways. But it was still a quality, well built, reliable car!

[@alpaljl]

Well, the SC will outlive all the competition. But I still prefer an LS. I feel very claustrophobic in small cars.

[@JK061996]

The SC 430 was also featured in Mean Girls

[@driveintherain]

Top Gear had its time when there weren't any decent car shows, but just remember it's a show made by British people with cars in it. It's like the Fast and Furious movie series.

[@Just-a-guy926]

Could you please make a video of the Acura Vigor

[@randycrawford7442]

I have an 06 and after 18 years owning it I still love driving it

[@michaelking4578]

If everyone loved the SC430 I probably wouldn't have been able to buy mine. Today you don't see late model year versions on the road very often. I love mine and bought it primarily as a road trip car.

[@thecianinator]

As much as I disagree with the top gear crew, I'm kind of happy that they trashed this car because it means you can now get a rear wheel drive V8 two-door coupe that will never break down for $10,000.

[@robertmiller1442]

You are right about the quality but___ Have you checked the prices of a good low millage SC430 they start around $25,000!!

[@Liza-hn1cr]

I was grateful enough to get a 2002 sc430, 70k miles on it for 8k. I know this car will last me another 10+ years, that’s why I love this car. Reliable truck engine and looks amazing🫶🫶

[@halfemptyfox]

I think the SC430 is absolutely beautiful, and I love that it's more about luxury than the sports, so uhhhhh.....

[@kennethswain6313]

Was the top the biggest drawback to the SC? How was it mechanically? Lexus has always had a great reputation for reliability

[@thecianinator]

I've never heard of a Lexus hardtop malfunctioning. I test drove the SC430 and ultimately bought an IS350C a couple years ago, that holding roof hasn't given me any trouble either.

[@chrismaina1830]

Very bloody reliable

[@danielchristopherdc]

Super reliable

[@walterg902]

You need to make a video on the Mitsubishi/dodge/Plymouth pick up trucks & SUV's.

[@gbrkura4467]

This SC430 is a car that was carefully finished by TOYOTA and is already over 20 years old, but it still has the performance to show active driving. If you find a good used SC430, you can overhaul the engine and reupholster the interior and drive it for another 20 years. In Japan, enthusiasts are buying them back and the price is gradually increasing.

[@mattheweburns]

Bulbous look? How about the new beetle or Audi TT?

[@paulhansen7667]

I still want one.

[@litesaber54yi3]

to tthis day when ever i see one, which is often bec they are bullet proof, i want one more and more

[@Pillowbiter84]

Another great Saturday night video.

[@josephweaving6458]

0-60 around 6seconds , works for me, how fast do you want on uk roads. As for top gear they were looking for a sports car which it never was, it was and is a fantastic luxury cool cruiser

[@that_camo_bronco_guy]

Completely unrelated but what song is this in the background? I swear ive heard this before joining a fivem server/main menu

[@jasonlax2102]

The rear seats were made for insurance purp

[@yeoldegamer5112]

2:10 Wrong Supra depicted. It used the Supra platform A80 from 1993. Red Supra shown is a 1991-92. Oval Toyota sign in front of bonnet instead of red square Supra emblem and possbily after-market or other model Alloy wheels.

[@shleapy4522]

you should make a video on the 1988-1991 honda prelude

[@MyOldCar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpOWaJJmZdR_fq8

[@georgiaguardian4696]

I have always thought the design was great and still is today. Really flowing lines and coherent elements

[@joshdozier4496]

Had a 2004 sc430. Put 105k miles on it. Miss it everyday

[@Wargasm54]

I guess the same people that thought pop-up headlights were uncool killed the convertible hard top. 😐

[@lordmaul3]

The Lexus SC400 known as the Toyota Soarer in Japan. I think the Japanese variant is much cooler. A popular modification for tuners was converting their SC400 into the Japanese version.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Here's a fun fact about the Focus Convertible! They had such a hard time of getting the fold away roof to work without leaking they had released the new Face Lifted Focus by the time owners took delivery a year later than promised, in fact many had cancelled their order by the time they were delivered! I was buying a Focus RS Mk2 at the time and the dealer told me the story!

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Enjoyable fan-fiction, thanks OP

[@S-T-E-V-E]

@@Vicus_of_Utrecht Fan fiction? What are you talking about?

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

@@S-T-E-V-E I just enjoy people that make up things for a good story 🤗!

[@currypac]

Sc430 best depreciated value of Lux-o-Sport cars Get an 07, Pirelli tires, New nav radio, LED headlight bulbs. Pocket of fun

[@stuwilliams3035]

So glad they called the worst car ever, bought a cherry used 2007 for nothing.

[@nathancook1404]

I've seen some of Top Gears Episodes before and I do Like some shows from the United Kingdoms, as for the Lexus there is a Matchbox Version of the ls400, & the gs430, even Hotwheels made some Casting based around the Lexus RC F GT3, & the Lexus SC400.

[@stephen2101]

Please make a video on the original z30 SC300/400🙏🏼

[@ShichidoYukino]

Bruh, I like use this car on Midnight Club 3 also Gran Turismo

[@justinm6035]

Maybe an episode on dead body styles like the Civic and Accord Coupes?

[@MarkGelderland]

Always liked the SC 430

[@y2kazan868]

I always liked it, and the MonoBlock wheels.

[@tylerkeenan4390]

I’m about to buy a 1990 Mazda 929 S from a coworker. There aren’t many videos about that car on KZbin. You should do a video about it 😊