The 2001 Lexus SC430 is truly one that came way before its time. Contrary to the censure this car has gotten since the beginning of its production; it is quite a fantastic and interesting ride.

Those who trolled this car did so because they expected more than what Toyota offered. Expecting a snarling alpha performance, they compared it with the likes of the Porsche 911 and the Cadillac XLR. Toyota did not make its Lexus SC430 for this reason; it was simply to provide its customers with a luxury grand touring car, and that is what they did.

Before the SC430, Lexus had initially introduced the SC series in 1991, a typical luxury Toyota car that premiered in the United States. When Toyota introduced the second generation of the SC in 2001, it was obvious that Toyota had switched things up coolly, especially with its appearance. Toyota has a story to this.

Related:Top Gear Is Wrong About The Lexus SC430

The 2001 Lexus SC430: All About Beauty And Elegance

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The chief designer of the Lexus SC430, Sotiris Kovos, had quite the inspiration in designing this two-door grand touring car. A look into the designs of the Italian Riva power boats found in Côte d'Azur was all it took. From this, Sotiris Kovos drew one of the simplest yet elegant cars that would remain relevant through several generations.

Race or sports were never the inspiration behind the design of the Lexus SC430; luxury and elegance were. Although arguable, the performance of the SC430 didn't suck at all. But sales didn't move quite well at the time of production because of its controversial styling. Still, some people believed that this car would age beautifully, and it did!

Let's take a look at one of Toyota's earliest luxury cars.

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car making arm, did quite a unique styling with its SC430. It has great styling, but it was also built with quality materials that could last long!

Great styling, a beautiful flow of lines, and a folding aluminum roof were all the car needed to look good on the exterior. The folding time for the roof takes about 20 seconds, which is quite impressive. The leather used looks sleek, comfortable, and durable on the interior. Many owners of the Lexus SC430 have a lot of interesting things to say about the durability of the materials on this car.

The Lexus SC430 also has one of the most classy wooden cabins that a true luxury car should have - one you might not expect for a car that old. Its steering has what Toyota called the Lexus easy entry system, which simply translates to an adjustable steering wheel. On the interior of this car, you'd find heated seats, air conditioning, and a basic infotainment system that consists of an audio system and nine speakers.

Without a doubt, its interior looks classy, so let's take a look at its performance.

The 2001 Lexus SC430 Has A Befitting Performance

Lexus SC430
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The Lexus SC430 is not a typical sports car, so it didn't get the performance of one!

Under its hood is a 4.3L VVT-i V8 engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. This can drive it from 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds - definitely not too bad for a luxury car. It also has a top speed of 115mph. At high speed, this car is whisper-quiet, although things might switch up when the roof gets folded due to rushing in of air. Its brakes and suspension system are excellent. It stops from 60-0 in just 115ft, which is almost the same value you'd find in the Ferrari 812 superfast!

Let’s face it; the Lexus SC430 has some bad sides — things you could do little or nothing to correct.

Its first major problem is its cramped back seats. It is one of those four-seater cars that's mostly used as a two-seater, except you've got some little kids, and it's definitely not what you want to take on a long journey.

Another not-so-good fact about the Lexus SC430 is its storage space. The storage space at the rear is not so good for storage, with most of its space taken by the folding of its roof. Toyota, however, substituted this with some cool storage spaces at the front seats of the car; this includes its large center console and side storage spaces. These things didn't get corrected in later models of this car, so do not expect more legroom or larger rear storage in more recent models. Apart from these, other minor issues you could have with the SC430 are things you could fix with the right help.

Related:A Look Back At The Lexus SC430

The 2001 Lexus SC430 Is A Nice Collectible To Have

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For a 2001 model, you could expect to pay anything between $16,600 and $23,100, according to CarsGuide. Depending on factors like the car’s mileage and its year of production, it could either be lesser or more. Newer models tend to have higher prices than later ones. Generally, cutting across all years of production, the price range for a Lexus SC430 could cost between $6,520 and $40,000, according to truecar.com.

Lexus made several other generations of the Lexus SC430 before production finally stopped in 2010. Nothing beats the fact that the SC430 remains a unique grand touring car, which gives luxury and reliability for a relatively cheap amount. This car is undoubtedly far from the worst car in the world.