Neil E

A lot can be done to the front end but it usually involves major surgery. I always thought a couple of well shaped body-coloured eyelids and deleting the bonnet chrome should work. I did try a few quick ideas when I first started modding the car, they are early in the build thread. At the recent show, one owner came over to the car and remarked at how different the front looked. There are other better looking expensive kits but it always takes a lot of money and professional skill to make them look good. My early favourite, this is a fairly simple but effective way to tidy up the front and make it look lower and sporty. Something very different.

Yes the later suspension was improved, it's not a hard ride, even mine, lowered on coilovers with wide tyres has reasonable compliance. It's similar to the ride in the GS430, just not quite as tight or as good at soaking up the uneven surfaces. On a long motorway run it's very comfortable. I was a passenger in the GS450 but I've driven a new RX450hl, LS600hl's and a few other hybrids. I wouldn't consider them the smoothest drivetrain overall but I take your point in the sense that they don't change gear as such. None were as smooth and quiet as the 3UZFE with 6 speed in the LS430 I owned a few years ago. On standard tyres and good standard suspension you should get a pretty smooth experience in the SC. It is more capable of being 'sporty' than most reviewers will have you believe when you're in tune with it but the ride handling bias is definitely towards 'grand tourer.'

I don't think you would be disappointed. I have a GS460 and an SC430. I have also previously owned a 6-speed GS430. The engine and 6 speed box in the GS430/SC430 is about as smooth as you will find, it's well known for it. I would say It's a little more refined than the GS450, though I haven't spent much time in a GS450, just one brief trip. The SC430 is very good and finished to a higher standard but the GS is more comfortable particularly over less forgiving road surfaces. For that reason the SC is often improved by new owners with new/aftermarket suspension. The only other slight gripe with the SC is the lack of radar cruise and older tech, though oddly, the ML audio is significantly better in the SC.

Mostly agree but it's not correct to suggest all Ford and Vauxhall owners can't modify cars tastefully, some really can. The VIP 'Stance' community seem to have the resources to build impressive cars that aren't very practical road cars but I do admire the skill and attention to detail. Big non-functioning mis-matched wings, totally agree, ban them! 🤣 I've had plenty of adverse comment about mine but if it was removed, it would be be even more 'rare to see something different.'

This thread has been going a while, Rob's probably on a supercar owners' alert list by now.🤣

They definitely look good together. I'm not yet completely sold on the GSF exterior styling but I think it would be my ideal 'compromise' car......if I had to have just one set of wheels.😊 @JDM-Fiend Looking forward to hearing about the dyno run and what you have planned for the 430.

279 bhp is your baseline. It should be very close to that if it's running like a normal 3UZ. Deleting the third cat and resonators + maybe adding an X pipe might release 5 bhp and sound much better but until the engine is tweaked + ECU/add on, the only non-FI bolt-on power upgrade that I know of is to fit headers at silly cost. If you could find a suitable blower at reasonable cost, that might be fun.🙂 The SC430 is well built, a bit quirky, has its flaws but wins you over. 👍 Very impressive, perfectly justified. I'm just left wondering if there's a 450H Premier lurking in the garage that you're not owning up to? 🤣

I'm a big fan of the 1UZ and 3UZ, they are such good engines. When I first put the SC430 on the dyno to get a baseline, both testers remarked at how smooth and consistent it was. 279 bhp stock and it made very slightly more than that with the third cat delete and a new exhaust. Always take dyno readings with a pinch of salt but in more than 100k miles it appeared to have lost nothing. @Mossypossy @Chris111 Yes there were 17 model GS460s and I think there are 15 still registered in the UK. I found the original registrations for 7, I suspect most are used rarely and will appreciate in value. Indeed I was lucky to find it John as I was looking for an LS, I did some fast checking and then didn't hesitate. It's done a further 13k miles since I acquired it earlier this year. Great for long work trips, it's fairly easy to make very good motorway progress and return 33 mpg. I still want an LS600 to waft about in but I don't have a hybrid itch to scratch.😊 Compared to the SC430, if you can find one, the GS430 is very good value. The SC has superior trim, build quality and audio but the GS has better tech and ride quality. It's a shame Lexus didn't compromise a little less in each case.

Yes I still have it, awesome bit of kit John, very very similar to the GS430 but the 3UZ-FE with the 6-speed is just as smooth and a fraction quieter than the 1UR. 3 cars minimum for me. I need therapy. 🙃 In truth, the RX is all you need for almost every occasion.

2 cars is excessive. 2 x GS models is obsessive.🤣 GS460? never heard of it. There is another option, the GS350 non-hybrid but it would have to be imported.🙂

Well done Thomas, great to meet you. I enjoyed the vid, can you send a link to the uncut version with you drifting sideways through the Lincolnshire fens?😉🤣

Yes, me too. I had a V8 and a TT at the same time. You clearly have taste and skills, looking forward to watching this develop.

Very impressive. Any Soarer fan can do no wrong.👍

Yes, it was well attended, very well organised and great to meet lots of new people and catch up with a few familiar ones too.

A few more random pics I was distracted and didn't take any until after some people had left.

Try this thread, it has some good diagrams in it. https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/110411-rx300-power-steering-pump-gone/

I can't be sure from the picture but check the power steering fluid. I think it may be the return pipe as I had something similar to that on mine. It's corroded and simply needs to be replaced.

Hi Ian, not being very FB active I've only recently discovered that one. Bit of a trek for me but I may be tempted.

Anthony if the dates work for me, I will make the effort to head North from West Sussex and as promised, I've put the call out to some other SC430 owners to see if they are interested in an early September meet. Sometimes these things don't come together and sometimes they snowball. On one occasion I arranged to meet a fellow owner to swap notes one Saturday morning and in no time at all 5 others + an ISF were tagging along.

I don't know yet. I'm not the person organising it but I have agreed to contact some SC430 owners to see if they are interested. If it's like every other Lexus / SC430 meet I've attended, everyone is welcome whether Lexus owners or not. We're a friendly bunch.🙂 It's been so long, perhaps there's enough interest for a 'LexFest' on Saturday and Sunday.

Experience suggests Saturday would be the best day of the week for most. Which day would you propose?

Agree with comments above. I've known this happen when the key battery needed to be replaced and also a couple of times when I left the car unlocked for a while and it hasn't auto-locked itself.

There are some subtle differences depending on year, model and the origin of the car. If it's UK or US spec with Sat Nav, it should be quite simple to confirm the the interface type with Metra Axxess or with Beat-Sonic. Axxess also list the steering wheel control interface.

Hi Anthony If you can suggest a good place and probably 2 Saturday dates, I can ask those that I know. Might be worth checking with admin if there are any general Lexus meets planned.

It's always a challenge to find a date and a venue that appeals to all interested members. There are a few in the Midlands who might fancy a trip North, maybe try for a nice spot in the Peak District?