You'd be forgiven if you said, "Which one was that again?" when someone asks you about your thoughts on the Lexus SC300. At first glance, it looks just like any other JDM car from its era; simple, sleek design, two doors, and plenty of room for aftermarket modification.
What is certain, however, is that the SC300 is one of the hidden gems of the JDM tuner market. This is especially true in the case of the 5-speed manual configuration of the SC300, of which only 4000 were made. This makes it rare, especially in this day and age, and difficult to find in decent condition. However, some thorough searching and vetting can still be done if you intend to buy a second-hand SC300. There aren't many around, but a handful are still available with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer.
From sharing parts and components with legendary JDM cars to provide a better performance experience than the other cars in Lexus's fleet, it's time to unravel and analyze just what makes the Lexus SC300 such an underrated car.
Let's take a closer look at the SC300.
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The Thought-Process behind the SC300
Originally, the SC range was released by Lexus, (a luxury-division of father brand Toyota), from 1991 into retail as part of a range of grand tourers: 4-seater, front-mounted engine cars with rear wheel drive. Lexus had a very reasonable objective in place when designing the SC range: combine together various aspects of standard Lexus luxury with some of the performance characteristics of the much sportier Toyota models.
Along with this, Lexus wanted to maintain accessibility and widespread appeal for all potential customers. Therefore, it was also a priority to incorporate grand-tourer capabilities of moderate or long-distance driving into the SC range, thus making the car a viable option for families or non-enthusiasts.
This was Lexus's answer to other grand-tourer coupes such as the Acura Legend and Mercedes-Benz CL range. Aside from this, it filled a gap in Toyota's fleet as a luxury grand-tourer coupe, of which there were none at the time.
The SC300 was not the first iteration of the range, however. The first in the range to be released to the public was the SC400, heavier but with a V8 engine, in 1991. The Sc300 was released a year later in 1992 as an in-line six-cylinder alternative. Later on, the manufacturer also released other relatively well known models such as the SC430 and SC500.
Under The Hood
What isn't known by many, however, is that the Lexus SC300 is almost the mechanical cousin of the Toyota Supra. This is because both the SC300 and the Supra share a 2JZ engine. Thats correct, the Lexus SC300 has the same engine as a Toyota Supra.
Not only that, but the SC300 also shares suspension components with the Supra as well. That being said, the suspension configuration and ride in the SC300 is nowhere near as hard as the Supra, as the SC300 isn't aiming for a racing-level ride in the first place. The suspension is softer, much more forgiving, and more in line with what you would expect from a Lexus than from a Supra.
If you've ever heard the smooth-but-aggressive, classic exhaust note of a 2JZ, you'll understand why this is one of the leading contributing factors that make the Lexus SC300 an underrated car. For reference, one of the engines used in the sound mix of Paul Walker's character Brian's Nissan Skyline GT-R in 2 Fast 2 Furious was a 2JZ (Along with an RB26DET and RB30DET, both single-turbo).
The SC300 Ticks Too Many Boxes to be Overlooked
Now, we concede that the Supra carries two turbochargers and a different intake manifold along with its 2JZ engine, but that isn't a problem because the SC300 has not been designed to compete with the Supra at all. In fact, the SC300 is simply an underrated alternative. Not only is it an underrated alternative to the supra, but it provides Supra-esque grunt in the more luxurious style of fit-out that Lexus is known for.
How so? Better interior features, similar weight, choice of manual or automatic transmission. Combine this with the fact that the SC300's light weight makes it every bit as capable as its bigger V8 brother, the SC400 (the 0-60 MPH time on both cars is exactly the same), and the reasons start to mount up as to why the SC300 is the best option for someone looking for a car with a 2JZ, or simply someone who wants a taste of high-performance driving within a luxurious design.
If you're after a Lexus Sc300 but want one that is right-hand drive, we'd recommend a Toyota Soarer. It's nearly the exact-same car as the SC300 but with slight modifications on interior features, and similar options and drivetrain configurations, with a V8 model (like the Lexus SC400) and a 2JZ model akin to the SC300.
In summary, the Lexus SC300 went through it's production cycle somewhat under-appreciated. For the car-enthusiasts who still want a JDM car with a 2JZ engine and great potential for tuning, or someone who just wants a second-hand daily driver, there is much value to be had out of an SC300.