In 2012, BBC Top Gear released a DVD special called ‘The Worst Car in the History of the World.’ It featured Jeremy Clarkson and James May as they attempted to find the worst car ever made. The criteria were simple, as the car had to be “terrible but not cheap” and made by “a manufacturer that should have known better.”
At the end of it, the duo would deliver the car to Richard Hammond, and then drive off in his classic Ford Mustang as a joke. Various cars were considered, such as the Lancia Ypsilon, Citroën C3, and the Peugeot 308. But the two chose the Lexus SC 430 as the worst car ever made.
The question is, compared to the Citroën and the Peugeot, is the Lexus really that bad a car? Well, that is what YouTuber and artist TheSketchMonkey wanted to find out in a recent video.
He decided to review the car that Clarkson and May labelled as the “worst car ever made,” and to see if it really was that bad. A lot of people form opinions on cars based on what Top Gear said, so this is quite an important video.
What Did Top Gear Think About the Lexus SC 430?
The Lexus SC 430 was conceived by Toyota’s luxury division as a grand tourer with a retractable hardtop. It was a step away from the traditional sports coupe, and its design took a lot of inspiration from the French Riviera lifestyle. Things such as luxury yachts and the Mediterranean architecture played a big part in shaping how the Lexus looked.
Clarkson and May, however, were not fond of the styling. Clarkson said it made the car look like a ‘dumpling’, and that if it was meant to look like a yacht, it was a very unconvincing one. The handling was also something the Top Gear presenters weren’t very keen on. Both of them said it felt like a ‘wet sponge’ and that the car lacked a lot of driver feedback.
Even though its big V8 engine produced 300hp, Clarkson and May still didn’t think that it was enough for a car that was quite heavy. With all that information to hand, the YouTuber wanted to see just how different he felt about the car compared to the Top Gear presenters. And it is fair to say he thought the Lexus SC 430 was quite a bit different.
What Did the YouTuber Think of the Lexus?
First of all, TheSketchMonkey felt the design of the Lexus had aged quite well. The side profile in particular was something the YouTuber liked, and its soft and fluid surfaces were something he was a big fan of. The cabin also received high praise thanks to its real wood, leather, the design of the gauges, and its classic early-2000s Lexus feel. The driving experience was also something that the YouTuber enjoyed.
While driving the car, TheSkethMonkey remarked on how it felt quite comfortable and that the engine was smooth and quiet. At the end of the video, he thinks the BBC TV show was looking at the Lexus in the wrong light. Rather than view it as a sports car, view it as a relaxing cruiser that can get you from A to B, and over a long distance, incredibly comfortably.