Lexus SC430 : NATURAL BORN POSEUR

The Lexus SC430 Contains Enough Gadgets To Keep The Gents Happy. But Is It Striking Enough To Impress The Ladies? Hannah Rainford Reports!

My little sister doesn't really know much about cars, bless her. With her two older sisters both working in the motoring industry and a brother who can't wait one more year to turn seventeen, you would have thought that she would have a basic grasp of the motoring world. "Is that a Mercedes? Oh hurry up Mum, Hannah's driving a Mercedes." Not the correct terminology one uses when describing the Lexus SC430. Will it suit me? Give any woman a convertible for the day and see the poseur come out. I even started getting up early to give my sister lifts to school just down the road, as it was an opportunity to enjoy the refined drive. She, of course, loved it, rang all her friends, and told them to meet her by the gates, just so she could make an entrance.

Lexus drivers will know how their cars are much more than refined Toyotas. They are definitely a brand unto themselves. They are renowned for their feeling of space and you definitely get enough metal for your money. The SC430 was designed by European and Japanese designers in the CÃ´te d'Azur. The stylish surroundings along the French Riviera inspired the designers and can be seen in car's avant-garde exterior and sophisticated interior styling. As with many convertibles, legroom space is somewhat limited. It is a tight squeeze trying to get four in the car: even small children would have a problem with leg room. If you are planning to use the rear seats for emergencies and baggage only, then you'll be fine. If you are thinking of buying a Lexus as a family car, you may want to opt for one of the roomier models. When pondering the wood cappings that are featured on the fascia, Lexus turned to the expertise of the Yamaha musical instrument factory to learn how to mould, bend and coax wood into all sorts of complex shapes. It obviously takes a great deal of time, money and expertise to make wood look like plastic, but Lexus have managed to pull it off.

From the specification of the first SC430, it was clear that this was a car that was designed for the American market. Who else needs dual cup-holders and ten way adjustable leather seats that are able to cope well with the fuller figure? Many went on to criticise the car saying that it was a little too soft for European tastes. Lexus realised that they would have to make some changes to appeal to the European buyer and in early 2003, the suspension was re-tuned, incorporating different springs and dampers. As a result, the car responded more crisply, yet ride quality and refinement were retained.

A little later on, Lexus fitted the SC430 with monotube shock absorbers designed to provide better damping right across the board, helping to promote keener steering responses and a flatter, more comfortable ride. Giving us the same suspension settings as those cars destined for the US was never going to endear the SC430 to those of us who had to drive it along a typical twisty British B-road. Lexus are attempting to make the SC430 one of the best luxury convertibles on the market. It features one of the world's most advanced climate control systems, which adjusts the interior climate, whether the roof is up or down. In cold weather, you can still drive with the roof down thanks to special air ducts in the centre console that adjusts temperature according to the conditions outside. As with many models in the Lexus range, the SC430 comes with an exceptional number of extras as standard. These include a nine speaker Mark Levinson audio system and an upgraded Lexus Navigator satellite navigation system with voice recognition and an Electronic Traffic Avoidance function.

If this wasn't enough, the standard package also includes the climate control system as mentioned above, rain sensing windscreen wipers and automatic high intensity discharge.

If I told you that this car was cheaper than a Ford Streetka or a Peugeot 206CC, then I would be lying; you get what you pay for in the case of the £54,735 Lexus SC430. That doesn't mean that it's poor value for money. You can acquire many features that would be seen as extras on some cars as part of the standard package on the SC430, making it perfect for those who like a little bit of luxury at no extra cost.

Just try me. If means or lifestyle permitted, the Lexus SC430 would be a beautiful car to own. Its sleek good looks and avant-garde aura would look wonderful on my driveway. All I need now is matching shoes and lipstick and I'll be on my way.