2004 Lexus SC 430 430

The SC 430 is Lexus's two-door luxury convertible, a grand tourer aimed at buyers who want a quiet, comfortable top-down cruiser rather than a hard-edged sports car. It drives with the smooth, effortless character you expect from a Lexus, soaking up highway miles with ease and feeling more at home on a long cruise than a tight back road. Inside, the cabin is a quiet, leather-lined place with heated seats and a power-folding hardtop that keeps the coupe-like refinement when the roof is up. The folding hardtop and a usable trunk make it more practical than many convertibles, though the rear seats are best left for small children or extra luggage. The SC 430 is the only trim, so you get the full grand-tourer experience without having to choose between a V8 and a smaller engine. Its 4.3L V8 makes 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic, and that combination is smooth and quiet rather than urgent. Expect fuel economy around 18 mpg combined, which is typical for a heavy V8 convertible of this era.