In 2003 Lexus released the SC430 Base to the car-buying market. The SC430 came in one configurations: Base. The Base configuration is powered by the 4.3-liter eight-cylinder engine, which makes 23 highway miles and 18 city. The SC430 competes in the Convertible market segment, in direct competition with Hyundai.

Lexus SC430 Engine Specs

The SC430 Base is equipped with a Toyota 4.3 liter eight-cylinder engine that utilizes 32 valves. The engine is mated to a Toyota 5-speed Transmission. This is a long-standing favorite for buyers in the Convertible arena.

Fuel is handled for the SC430 is a SFI design, running on gasoline fuel. The gasoline is managed by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The 19.80-gallon tank provides the fuel storage for longer trips.

The SC430 uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

Vehicle Statistics

The dimensions of the SC430 Base are 72.00 inches wide by 177.80 inches long. It sits a comfortable 53.10 inches off the ground. It seats a standard four passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 103.10 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $62,225 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $54,135. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 2-door Convertible.

The standard warranty period for the SC430 is 48 months, or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty also includes a warranty on the drivetrain for 72 months or 70,000 miles respectively. This is standard in the convertible market. Extended warranties are also available through the dealer.

Fuel Efficiency

The 2003 SC430 gets 23 miles/gallon on the highway and only 18 in the city. This is exceptional for a convertible car.

We Think...

The 2002 model began the promise of the Lexus SC430. The 2003 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Lexus hopes that the SC430 Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.

Tags: 2-Door, Base, Convertible, Lexus SC430, United States market

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 1:10 pm and is filed under 2003, Lexus, SC430. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.