Hard to top…..Sort of
The SC 430 is the first and only convertible Lexus has ever made. It was introduced as a replacement for the SC 400 five years ago. The SC name dates back to 1992 with the SC 300 and SC 400 fixed-roof coupe models.

The SC 430 is an upscale, luxurious yet conservative hardtop coupe that with a flip of a switch converts to a roadster. The aluminum top folds in just 25 seconds. Top up or top down, it’s incredibly smooth, quiet and comfortable, and turns heads like a bikini-clad guest at an Arizona luxury resort. I received my share of thumbs-up and positive comments during the weeklong test drive. If your objective is to get through life without being noticed you’d want to take the SC off your list of cars to test drive.

Available in just one body style and trim level, the SC 430 comes loaded with standard luxurious amenities like a navigation system, butter-soft leather seating with multiple memory and adjustment functions. The standard Mark Levinson? sound system is simply the best in the world and sets a new standard for automotive audio. With 240 watts of power pumping through nine strategically placed speakers, it’s like sitting in the orchestra pit at Dodge Theatre.

My tester was upholstered in black leather with real walnut accent trim, an attractive combination with the Millennium Silver exterior color. Few cars can boast the interior amenities of the SC with just about every luxury feature on the list of standard equipment.

One of the classiest touches is the illuminated scuff plate (on less expensive cars it’s called the door sill) in brushed metal that has the name “Lexus” affixed into it. At night, open the door and the “Lexus” lights up in a harvest moon color. Take that, Mercedes.

The glossy walnut maple trim adorns the steering wheel, gearshift knob, console and streaks across the dash and doors (bird’s-eye maple is also available). A power-operated wooden door conceals the navigation system that was updated for 2005, and the audio screen that tilts to eliminate reflections.

For 2006, interior revisions include a modest restyle of the instrument panel and shift plate. Satin aluminum trim surrounds the three sharp black-on-white dash gauges. Unlike other luxury vehicles I’ve tested, all gauges, buttons, knobs and controls for the audio, climate control and vehicle operations are intuitive and easy to use. Even the navigation system was among the most user-friendly I’ve tested.

There’s a pair of form fitting rear bucket seats, but don’t mistake the SC for a four-seat sports car. Those seats won’t hold much more than a small overnight bag or attaché, but at that they’re helpful, given the tiny 8.8 cubic feet of trunk space.

A pullout plastic cover in the trunk must be fastened over the trunk floor before the top will lower. I just barely managed to get my golf clubs in the trunk with the top up. Forget about it with the top down, unless you can play with just a four-iron and putter.

Stylistically, no other vehicle on the road resembles the SC 430; it is a radical departure for the traditionally conservative folks at Lexus. From the rear, think Nissan 350 Z roadster with its puffed up, big, rounded rump. Hood and fenders seem to bulge and the entire car is devoid of the chiseled look found on the BMW Z4 or Cadillac XLR roadster. Most find the style appealing.

Exterior revisions for 2006 are limited to a new front fascia design, new wheels, brighter LED taillights and adaptive headlamps that turn with the steering wheel and help light the way when cornering.

Despite a few quibbles, the rear-wheel-drive SC 430 is a first-rate competitor for the Mercedes-Benz SLK, Jaguar XK8, Cadillac XLR and Porsche Boxter. The 288 horsepower 317 ft-lbs of torque is down from 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs torque from previous models, due to new SAE testing standards. However the actual power remains the same. It’s not a “push-you-back-in-your-seat” kind of power, rather just smooth, quiet and powerful. Seventy-five miles per hour comes mighty quick, you just don’t feel it. Zero to 60 mph takes just 5.9 seconds, according to Lexus.

The five-speed automatic transmission in previous models has been upgraded to a six-speed automatic for 2006. Shifts are seamless and can be set in one of three modes: Normal, Sport or Winter. The standard 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted with P245/40ZR 18 Dunlop tires and tuned suspension delivers a ride equal to that of any other vehicle with the name Lexus on the trunk. Every bump, expansion crack or road surface imperfection is handled with aplomb. In truth, the SC is more luxury than sports car but, at the same time, I felt it handled twisty roads and sharp cornering exceptionally well.

Of course, the SC comes with all the expected safety features and more, including headlamps that are among the best of any vehicle. Other safety features include electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), traction control, Vehicle Skid Control (VSC), and Brake Assist. VSC reduces skidding in a corner by correcting the direction of the over or understeer. Dual front and side airbags are standard. The SC has not been crash tested.

The SC 430 is a well-crafted, beautiful coupe that quickly converts to a roadster with a press of a button. With a base sticker price of $63,890 including shipping, it’s expensive, but less so than Jaguar XK or Mercedes SL. The ride is pure luxury and long trips will be comfortable and enjoyable as long as you pack light — very light.

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