Neil E

It may have had a hard life but that looks about right now. Should be plenty of fun for someone.

Good luck Bob. Definitely the right man for the job.

@Big Rat Yes, I did post after the watershed.

Hi Nathan I agree with Messi. There are also a good number of threads on Club Lexus that deal with convertible roof issues. I've looked but can't determine the likely cause from your description so far. I've read of problems with the roof ecu, the parcel tray not lifting due to a cable not being properly located and faulty motors but I recall there are also. contacts and micro switches that can cause a failure. With the roof in the closed position, I would start by disconnecting the battery to reset everything, then check the cable/operation of the parcel tray if possible. If you could post a video that would help, easy to say but may not be possible.

Here's another route to add to the list. I've lost count of how many times I've driven the Grantown to Cockbridge stretch.

@Big Rat PM sent about the SC and what to look for. Looks a nice example, it's overpriced and the wheels let it down but just as you said, on the face of it, otherwise in nice condition. Glad you liked the video, I've done that run a number of times back to holiday bases near Ullapool and Inverness. I've never filmed it or done it slowly to take in the scenery properly as that guy did. Speaking of 'safety bits' all joking aside, the '272' can look very inviting in places, it certainly can be a nice, enjoyable, driving road but unlike remote Scotland, there's a lot more potential for bad things to happen quickly. We do see lots of floral, roadside reminders around here, particularly at crossroads, side roads and the sharper damp twisty bits, it does focus the mind. Look forward to hearing the road report, have fun but stay safe.

A272 road report Sat 6 May - good so far, no delays, warm, sunny, top down. I've done Wales. If you want great roads and less traffic, go to the Highlands. Not the best video but play some Runrig or your favourite album at the same and you'll get the idea.....

Yes that's a familiar sight but oddly this evening it was flowing free. Hope you enjoy it. I've tipped off the motoring section of the Village Gazette to see if they can capture a rare sight of an ISF speeding along our leafy road. If you spot a dark and dusty SC dawdling the other way, that will be me trying to be late for work. Here's your homework, it's 272 pages long.

A272....I am quite familiar with it. It's quite scenic, there are some very good twists, turns, long straights and twitchy bits but unless enjoyed very early in the morning or late evening the density of traffic will definitely restrict progress. On the weekend, add in the caravans, bikers, tractors, unmarked cars, village fetes, cycle time trials and....well you get the picture. If I go to work early in the morning it can be tempting but then there are the pheasants, rabbits, badgers, fox and stray deer to think of.

I agree, I would settle for 470-ish bhp with headers but I have enjoyed following the RR Racing progress on Club Lexus. On the other hand, think how much quicker your lap times would be with 625bhp from the blower.

When you have time at the weekend, I suspect the plastic liner will just need to be pushed back into position and secured with bolts and plastic push fit clips. The picture isn't very clear but look at the hole where the top arrow is and note the lower arrow that points to what I think is the blurred image of the retaining clip for the missing 10mm screw-bolt at the wing arch edge. This is one of the positions the liner should be fixed to. Good luck, I hope that's all it is and there are no suspension issues.

Er....my eyes aren't the best but looking closely at the second picture, is that not a loose arch liner? It should be a very easy fix once the wheel is removed, it might be fixable just with the wheels on full lock. The plastic liners are usually held on with a few 10mm screw bolts and push fit retainers. It took me about 10 mins to remove them on the SC. It's difficult to understand why a competent garage would check it and not fix it.

I can see the attraction but why would @Flytvr have one with 2 cylinders missing when there are some very nice quick V8 models to choose from.

@Dar I agree sir, the RX is hard beat but not the most sleek or pleasing on the eye. I can't say i ever really look forward to driving mine unless there's snow around but it takes whatever you throw at it and it never looks out of place. (Okay maybe not on the grid, unless it's a back up vehicle or towed the race car there....see never out of place) Convertible? If you're going to have one, it might as well be a reliable V8. Best get one with unusable back seats for when you want to exclude all but your favourite co-pilot. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-SC430-SPORTS-4-3-V8-CONVERTIBLE-/132155973964?hash=item1ec51c214c:g:rhUAAOSwc-tY7Jg9 @Mark6pot Like it, must admit, the Nitro isn't an obvious choice but I hired one on holiday in the Yukon, drove it on the Alaska Highway for hundreds of miles and it was so much fun.

@Big Rat Yes been into Toyota Lexus for some time. There was an LS with an occasional ribbon but no banner and again in the correct colour. @Rusty Crobar I think this is a copy of the picture of the TT carputer progress report that woke up the SC400 club across the pond. I'm not sure that it inspired Mercedes a decade or so later but it was fun to do it. And whilst I'm in the archives, I'll confess to a few more crimes against the Soarer and hope for leniency. The older blue V8 had a little hifi/AV system.

@Big Rat Okay, I'm not sure you're ready for this but ....dragged from the archives, in order of least modified.....it was a while ago...particularly the Soarers, I'm nervously including a pic of the Soarer TT 'infotainment' system just for your amusement. GS430 Gen2 high in the French Alps en route to Monaco. The later GS430 was the quick silver model. High spec V8 Soarer Limited with air suspension near Ullapool in NW Scotland on the trail of the NC500 long before it was called that. This was my favourite. TT Soarer with bodykit on the South Downs near Devils Dyke and Fulking - careful how you say that. The days of the digital dash, cruise to work, play some sounds, log on to the PC and if you get stuck in traffic, watch TV. All from a Soarer built in 1991. Both Soarers had big hifi systems installed. There was a thread on the SC400 US site many years ago about inspirational interiors (or something like that) and I sent in a night shot of this little lot under construction with a Centrafuse display, etc. I can't find the picture but it wasn't well received by the traditionalists. I learnt that evening why the Soarer was packed full of tech in Japan and a completely analogue SC400 in the US. The Soarer had the digital dash, active/air suspension, ultrasonic mirrors, rear camera, on board diagnostics, etc. It was way ahead of its time. This is the lesser but quicker 2.5 GTT with TEMS. After all the work I did to it, it met with a sudden sad end in Germany in the hands of the new owner on the drive back. Just a few miles from home, in sleety conditions, it slid off the road into the armco at around 40 mph. Earlier it had reportedly been doing 163 mph on the autobahn. The young driver walked away with very minor injuries but the car was a mess.

@Rusty Crobar I think the rapid Aristo thunder-saloon might be of more interest. I owned 2 Soarers and 2 GS430 models, they were all very quick and comfortable.

I agree, I think it's stunning. If I could afford one, I would buy an RCF. Perhaps an 'SCF' design might have sold more units but I saw the RCF as the replacement for the legendary Soarer and then along comes the next model.

@Big Rat Not at all. The men in white coats claimed me long ago. The ISF forum is excellent therapy, how many other forums could skillfully weave a thread combining multimedia enhancement with a high speed giant cow chasing an F? @Jgtcracer Yes that looks nice. I've looked at 2 silver 460s and 1 dark grey one. 90% of the time I would prefer to be in an LS but the other 10% is that F-un part of your life behind the wheel that defines you as an enthusiast. Back at the ranch, I wonder how the install is going?

Yes plenty, it's worth having an F on the drive just to play along on here. The private plate is off the SC ready to go but as recently mentioned, the plan is/was to replace it with an LS. If the right grey (I really mean silver) F appeared now....I think I would buy it. I have been viewing LS460s and though lower on thrills, it's so much more car for less money. My sensible head says I should buy a 460 and just lurk on here when I get depressed.

I've never worried about losing settings as my car is always in bits anyway so I'm happy to disconnect the battery but it might be worth trying the procedure below as it is supposed to work for the SC, perhaps it works for other models too? If you want to reset the ECU without losing your seat and stereo settings, perform the following procedure: 1. Get in your car and insert key. (It doesn't matter if you close the door or not.) 2. Turn the key to the on (not start) position. 3. Press the gas pedal to the floor. 4. Hold the pedal to the floor for five seconds, then turn the key back to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas pedal. 5. Wait 2 minutes. 6. Remove key. 7. Done

@Big Rat or should I say Ernie? That could just be the fastest milk cart in the west. It's only a small diversion to Mark off the M1, I'm sure he would appreciate some moral support with warm milk and cookies.

@Big Rat you're going to need a lot of Guinness to accompany that. Quite impressive but it's not an image of an SC with a tow bar/pulling a caravan. I searched but couldn't find anything then discovered someone in the US has actually made their own. This is one modification I'll pass on.

Yes it's usually quite quick to route from the back of the dash under the glove box and up the A pillar. Refer to that part of my build thread (if you can find) to see how the sill trim can be removed to release the door seal and carpet. My USB camera lead takes that route to the back of the rear view mirror. 10 minutes and you're done. Much easier than mounting a proper antenna on the roof at the back of the car.

As an after-market TPMS for peace of mind, these are quite good and plug straight into the 12volt socket. The sensors fit onto the wheels as locking valves.