I've got an '03 in dark blue that I've daily driven for the past two years. Bought it with 133K on it, has almost 170K now. Bought it right after it had the timing belt and water pump replaced. I've had zero issues and have only needed oil changes for maintenance. This has been phenomenal for my daily 70 mile commute getting 27 mpg on the highways. For some reason, when honda and nissan drivers pull up to me on the highway, they more often than not want to race - which is a bad idea because this V8 shines from 70 - 100 mph. I've kept the engine and suspension stock but upgraded the head unit to a Double Din Pioneer bluetooth while keeping the stock amp and highs and mids (re-foamed all the speaker surrounds), and added a Rockford Fosgate 5 channel amp which runs 4 more Marl Levinson mids and the sub channel pushing a Skar SDR-8 sub in the stock location (which is a great sub to run in the stock free-air location), added another Rockford monoblock sub amp which runs a single Sundown Audio SA-12 in the trunk (slim-wedge ported box). Needless to say, with 13 speakers in the cabin and one in the trunk, it sounds indescribably amazing! A lot of time and work but definitely worth it! The design was definitely decades ahead of its time imo. Plus being able to raise / lower the roof at stop lights is a fun flex lol... I don't know why, but I love the angles that show up in the view of the side mirrors.
I’m so excited I’m literally waiting to put my 2002 with 230,000 miles on my trailer and I’ll be towing it up to the New York area with my LX 570. I swear I’m like a car girl I need to start making Carte because it’s so cool.
i’ve got a 300 rn but i’d love to get a SC400 and a SC430 too! The SC430 was definitely one of my favorite cars as a kid, it was the coolest thing ever.
@@Mikkelism no mods, just regular page LOL. Full name of the FB page is called: lexus sc430 enthusiast club. If you see 3.6K members that's the one. Look it up, please join us.
you know i hated the look of this car, but staring at it for 20 minutes it looks kinda ok now. btw 3uz is interference. i'm pretty sure there's only one UZ motor that is non-interference and that's the 89-94 1UZ.
Ahh gotcha, my bad and thank you goe the correction. Just dropped alone they look nice n classy. They definitely need some help getting away from that stock look.
@@Mikkelism there's just something about the symmetrical front and rear proportions that irks me. maybe if it had a fat wing and a chopped rear bumper to lift the ass up i would like it more. maybe i should get one and fuck with it lol.
Nice work. I agree with your thoughts on the 430. I think it is a quality and very underrated vehicle. It does need some updates and a F-sport version would have been nice but as you mentioned, that was not their market are the time. I would still love to have one. I'm also down to watch the upholstery video.
This car will always be remembered as being like a Solara, but it was the final gen Solara that was redesigned to mimic this car. Your mention of the F-sport would've been a great idea for the final generation but I always had the feeling this car (UZZ40) was viewed as the pinnacle of its design. Which is why there were no updates to the exterior design besides headlights *(I'm not super familiar with the Soarer vs SC430 so I can't say if the Soarer version had a different bumper or aero from the US SC430). I think they DID consider this tho, and that is why when this car ended it was immediately replaced with the IS250C which was soon after followed by the IS350C and F-Sport trims. They must have weighed Lexus USA and Japan opinions together and figured a lower cost, multiple trims available car based off the IS/MkX/Crown platform fit the bill better, cost and profit wise
What kind of bumpers are those that you put on the sc430? I want to buy the same ones but I can’t figure out what Lexus it came off of, if you could make a video doing a step by step I’d really appreciate you helping me
The SC430 has stock bumpers on. As for the red ones, those are custom made for my Lexus SC300. If you want a step-by-step detail, message me back and I can let you know how much I charge to teach
Since you said it man this car kinda does hold a similarity in shape to the New Supra that Toyota produced, I wouldn't be surprised if they came out 10 years later saying they got body inspiration from the Lexus SC 430 just delete the back seats...
I gotta watch again, but I don't think I went on about how similar the SC430 is to the Supra at all...More on how it's NOT in comparison like the previous model was.
I've got an '03 in dark blue that I've daily driven for the past two years. Bought it with 133K on it, has almost 170K now. Bought it right after it had the timing belt and water pump replaced. I've had zero issues and have only needed oil changes for maintenance. This has been phenomenal for my daily 70 mile commute getting 27 mpg on the highways. For some reason, when honda and nissan drivers pull up to me on the highway, they more often than not want to race - which is a bad idea because this V8 shines from 70 - 100 mph.
I've kept the engine and suspension stock but upgraded the head unit to a Double Din Pioneer bluetooth while keeping the stock amp and highs and mids (re-foamed all the speaker surrounds), and added a Rockford Fosgate 5 channel amp which runs 4 more Marl Levinson mids and the sub channel pushing a Skar SDR-8 sub in the stock location (which is a great sub to run in the stock free-air location), added another Rockford monoblock sub amp which runs a single Sundown Audio SA-12 in the trunk (slim-wedge ported box). Needless to say, with 13 speakers in the cabin and one in the trunk, it sounds indescribably amazing! A lot of time and work but definitely worth it!
The design was definitely decades ahead of its time imo. Plus being able to raise / lower the roof at stop lights is a fun flex lol...
I don't know why, but I love the angles that show up in the view of the side mirrors.
Let’s get that updated front end on the SC430. Been so interested in doing that myself
I'd have to get a spare front for both. I haven't even measured the SC430 front to see which car would make a good donor to my liking.
I've just gotten a SC430 and I'm very happy with her. Always liked the design and thought about getting one for years.Good vid bro...sub'd!
I appreciate the comment. They're smooth comfy cars.
I’m so excited I’m literally waiting to put my 2002 with 230,000 miles on my trailer and I’ll be towing it up to the New York area with my LX 570. I swear I’m like a car girl I need to start making Carte because it’s so cool.
That sounds like an awesome fleet of cars, LX and SC! Enjoy the trip and keep enjoying the SC.
i’ve got a 300 rn but i’d love to get a SC400 and a SC430 too! The SC430 was definitely one of my favorite cars as a kid, it was the coolest thing ever.
Hopefully you can get one to add to the fleet.
What kinda video is this, did that bumper fit Sir????
What kind of video is it? The answer is in watching the video and reading the title. rofl
Dude are you on the Lexus sc430 club fb group? Looking really sharp!!
I may be. Is it the SC430 mods page?
@@Mikkelism no mods, just regular page LOL. Full name of the FB page is called: lexus sc430 enthusiast club. If you see 3.6K members that's the one. Look it up, please join us.
@@alstonian78 I found it! I am apparently already apart of this group hahah. I'm in quite a few sc pages between sc430 and sc400/300
@@Mikkelism what’s your name in the group?
@@alstonian78 Mik'kel Reed
Mikel, I have secretly been plotting to buy an s430 for a while now. Only to manual swap it lol... Thanks for making this!
I think that wouod be a blast. I hope you do get a chance to achieve that!
nice review thanks for the shout out bro
Anytime Bro!
Love your thoughts on the 430, I didn’t even know you had one lol. Been loving mine for the last 5 years coming from a modified 400
I am glad that you are still loving and taking care of yours.
I have a GS400, GS430, AND a SC400. I need one of these too
It would be a nice addition to your fleet
Awesome video brotha ! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hopefully I can compare the two next
@@Mikkelism hope so ! That would be awesome
Good stuff! Drove mine from Toronto all the way to San Francisco, down to LA, back through Colorado and home. About 10,000 KMs, not a single issue!!!
These cars are great! Your drive is a great testament to that.
you know i hated the look of this car, but staring at it for 20 minutes it looks kinda ok now. btw 3uz is interference. i'm pretty sure there's only one UZ motor that is non-interference and that's the 89-94 1UZ.
Ahh gotcha, my bad and thank you goe the correction. Just dropped alone they look nice n classy. They definitely need some help getting away from that stock look.
@@Mikkelism there's just something about the symmetrical front and rear proportions that irks me. maybe if it had a fat wing and a chopped rear bumper to lift the ass up i would like it more. maybe i should get one and fuck with it lol.
Nice work. I agree with your thoughts on the 430. I think it is a quality and very underrated vehicle. It does need some updates and a F-sport version would have been nice but as you mentioned, that was not their market are the time. I would still love to have one. I'm also down to watch the upholstery video.
This car will always be remembered as being like a Solara, but it was the final gen Solara that was redesigned to mimic this car.
Your mention of the F-sport would've been a great idea for the final generation but I always had the feeling this car (UZZ40) was viewed as the pinnacle of its design. Which is why there were no updates to the exterior design besides headlights *(I'm not super familiar with the Soarer vs SC430 so I can't say if the Soarer version had a different bumper or aero from the US SC430).
I think they DID consider this tho, and that is why when this car ended it was immediately replaced with the IS250C which was soon after followed by the IS350C and F-Sport trims. They must have weighed Lexus USA and Japan opinions together and figured a lower cost, multiple trims available car based off the IS/MkX/Crown platform fit the bill better, cost and profit wise
What kind of bumpers are those that you put on the sc430? I want to buy the same ones but I can’t figure out what Lexus it came off of, if you could make a video doing a step by step I’d really appreciate you helping me
The SC430 has stock bumpers on. As for the red ones, those are custom made for my Lexus SC300. If you want a step-by-step detail, message me back and I can let you know how much I charge to teach
sooo underrated
Yes, very much so.
What bumper is that in the thumbnail? I want to try and do that. I thought you were gonna put that on the 430
That is a bumper I made for my Lexus SC300.
Definitely love the 430 and i've been looking at the 06 & later as well due the the lighting upgrades & the transmission. Definitely getting one soon!
Heck yes! I hope you find the right one for you.
Well put in everything you said Kel, I may be in the process of trading my 2006 IS for a 2005 SC430
Nice, thankfully most of these are still in good condition or stock.
good content from mikkelism
Thank you Johnathan.
Do the seat upholstery bro,I’m digging the sc430
Thank you!
I’ve been looking at them lately, I’d love to get my hands on one someday
You should definitely do so, they're begging to be modified
Yes do some reupholstering ! I would love to see it !
Thank you for the response!
Since you said it man this car kinda does hold a similarity in shape to the New Supra that Toyota produced, I wouldn't be surprised if they came out 10 years later saying they got body inspiration from the Lexus SC 430 just delete the back seats...
I gotta watch again, but I don't think I went on about how similar the SC430 is to the Supra at all...More on how it's NOT in comparison like the previous model was.
👍
Thank you for the thumbs up
I just hate how Z looking it is wish it still kept the old SC booty in some way lol
I kinda see what you're saying. However without change, life would be bland and non-challenging.