2006 Lexus SC 430 Review
Add your own review or comments

By New Car Test Drive

Overview

The Lexus SC 430 switches from luxury hardtop coupe to open roadster with the press of a button. It's quiet and secure with the top up, perfect for two people dressed for an evening on the town. Dropping the power hardtop converts it into an open roadster, enjoyable on those perfect spring days.

Looking bolder and brighter for 2006, the Lexus SC 430 attracts attention wherever it goes. Its richly rounded styling is upscale and refined. Its interior, freshened for 2006, is luxurious and comfortable, trimmed in leather and a choice of rich woods.

The SC 430 performs well and boasts true sports car credentials: rear-wheel drive, a fully independent suspension, and a powerful V8 engine. It's stable at high speeds and offers excellent control on winding roads and freeway on-ramps. And it's easy to live with around town, with a smooth, relatively soft suspension, and smooth, responsive performance in stop-and-go traffic. Rough city streets are subdued yet it's delightful on country roads.

A new six-speed automatic transmission on 2006 models replaces last year's five-speed automatic, and the front and rear styling has been revised.

Model Lineup

The Lexus SC 430 comes as one model ($65,355) that features a power retractable hardtop, a 4.3-liter V8, the new six-speed automatic transmission, and a long list of luxury features. It comes trimmed in buttery-soft leather with beautiful wood and chrome accents. Also standard is a navigation system and Mark Levinson® audio with nine speakers. A rear spoiler and run-flat tires are among the few available options.

For the third consecutive year, Lexus is offering the SC 430 Pebble Beach Edition. Only 500 of the 2006 Pebble Beach Edition will be available in the U.S. Distinctive features for the Pebble Beach package ($2,000) include a striking combination of Tigereye exterior paint and Camel-leather interior as well as elegant Pebble Beach emblems. The 2006 edition will also be offered with a specially commissioned Lexus Tigereye luggage set.

Safety equipment for all SC 430 models includes dual frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, and traction control.