At $13,950, Is This 2005 Lexus SC430 An Early Bird Special?

Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Lexus has a cassette player in its dash and is notable for being one of the last models sold in the States with that old-school technology. Let’s see if that helps make its price music to our ears.

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Yesterday’s 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 may have been slathered with a bit of deceptive AMG badging, but when weighed against it being a V8-powered three-row wagon with a good bit of panache, that was easy to overlook. The engine being younger than the car and an overall excellent presentation also went far in support of the seller’s $7,5000 asking price. So far, in fact, it took home a solid 80 percent Nice Price win.

There’s a certain age that everyone (hopefully) reaches that triggers the AARP into action. Pretty soon, mailboxes are filling with its pleas for membership, excitedly touting exclusive benefits on everything from cellular service to stool softeners. Interestingly, that’s also around the same age when people start to look longingly at cars like today’s 2005 Lexus SC430.

Now, that’s not to say that the SC430 is a terrible car that younger people should shun in the same manner as eating dinner before 5:00 pm and complaining that Masterpiece Theater has gotten too racy for their liking. It’s just a model of car — and generally a make — that, for whatever reason, seems to appeal more to folks with a few years under their long-serving belts.

For the Olds, this Lexus offers much to like. Not only does it have a capable and expectedly reliable 4.3 liter V8 with a reasonable but not too rowdy 288 horsepower, but that is paired with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic for set-it-and-forget-it motoring. In fact, almost everything in this Lexus is automatic or designed for assisted living. That includes the climate control, the power windows and locks, and the top that rises and lowers at the touch of a button.

It’s pretty swank, too, with leather upholstery and real wood trim, ensuring the neighbors will be suitably impressed.

This SC430 comes with 127,000 miles on the clock, but according to the seller, it “Runs and drives like new.” Everything is working on the car, right down to that cassette-deck stereo, which, according to the ad, plays through a nine-speaker sound system. Everything looks to be in fairly decent shape on the car, although, from the photos, it appears that the leather upholstery could stand a good cleaning. Also, the floor mats are like nothing I’ve ever seen. On the plus side, it’s a one-family car and comes with both a clean title and current tags.

OK, I know that Top Gear once anointed the SC430 as the worst car in the history of this or any other world. That dubious honor, it should be noted, was given by someone (cough*Clarkson*cough) who considers British-built cars to be the best in the world. This SC430 still looks classy, with some element of charm to be found in its unique blobfish appearance. It also will likely still be purring along 20 years from now, as well. And I’m sure I don’t have to sell you on the now-unique flexibility of its sound system either.

What may need some selling, however, is the car’s $13,950 price. That will buy you a whole lot of prettier cars that will break your heart, if not your bank account, over the course of their ownership. What do you think, is this Lexus worth that $13,950 asking for anyone seeking a classy and un-fussy car? Or is there just no getting over its inherent SC430-ness?

You decide!

Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

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