Vehicle: 2008 Lexus SC430 Pebble Beach Edition
Price as tested: CDN$78200

Performance: Why we are reviewing a car that is going to be discontinued? That’s because we want to find out what make this car a market failure. This is the Lexus SC430 with Pebble Beach Edition, a final run of this Japanese luxury convertible.

Given the SC430 first came out in 2002, which based on previous generation of Lexus’s flagship sedan: LS430. It doesn’t come as a surprise its powertrain remains a previous iteration of the flagship sedan. It is a 4.3 liter DOHC 32-valve V8 with VVT-i. The refinement and smoothness remain world-class given the age of this engine. Its so quiet when the roof is closed that one almost forgot we are in a convertible. Lexus has always done a bang up job with interior insulation, the SC430 is no exception. Its also quite powerful with 288hp and 317 lb/ft of torque. While its hp rating has been fallen behind its main rival, namely Mercedes CLK550 with 382hp and 391 lb/ft respectively. Lexus’s 6-speed automatic has done a good enough job for this engine. The throttle response is quick. Even with 6-speed instead of 8-speed as in the LS460, the highway gearing remains tall enough for relax cruising. 100km/h revs at 2000rpm remains quite an achievement for this aged engine combination.

Handling: When we first drove SC430 about 7 years ago, we were terribly unimpressed with its poor handling and ride compromise. Move forward 7 years later, our opinions remain the same. The tall tire sidewall has compromised its acceleration, nor any cornering ability. The worse of all, this tall tires + poor suspension damping have produced an awful ride quality. This SC rides like a boat on a rough sea on low speed, on the other hand, its typical Lexus floaty on high speed and nothing in between. The run-flat tires don’t help much neither. The cornering limit is low. Thankfully or unfortunately, depends on how you asked. Lexus’s VSC steps in at an alarming rates when pushed. That’s despite you won’t expect to corner aggressively with a luxury-oriented convertible. Steering is basically as numb and dead as any Lexi we have driven. The only saving grace is the solid retractable hardtop that is completely free of cowl shakes when driven over rough pavements.

Brakes: With its tall sidewall, this also compromised SC’s braking feel. The general braking feel and modulation are average, same goes for the stopping distance.

Interior: The interior is SC430 already felt nothing special when it came out. There are just too many Toyota lookalike switchgears in a convertible costing north of 70 grand. It has aged at an alarming rates even with all those wood trim on the dashboard, steering and shifter. Those wood trim just makes the interior feels garish because its so overdone. The wooden panel on the center console also feels faux even though its real California Walnut trim. The leather seats, however, are comfortable enough for those who are looking for pure cruising. But to put those seats for hunting corners in this poorly damped convertible. Not me. Thank you very much.

With 266 liters of cargo space, its barely enough for 2 persons on a go because in this Lexus convertible’s trunk. What you see is what you get!

Conclusion: After driven the SC430’s final edition, it isn’t hard to understand why its a market failure even if it wears that Lexus badge. It looks ugly today as it is on day one. The interior isn’t particularly luxurious or well-appointed. Engine isn’t powerful enough to go with the best. And please don’t let me start on its piss poor handling and ride compromise. Its best to leave for those who purely want a convertible wears a Lexus emblem. The rest of us have much better choices out there. Its a car that is gone but never missed.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2008 Lexus SC430
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Performance: 3/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 2/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 3/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 2/5
Value-for-money: 1/5

Overall rating: 2/5