The 2000s Luxury GT
In the early 2000s, three companies with almost nothing in common each built a two-door luxury cruiser. Lexus and Cadillac both gave theirs a power-folding metal roof, so one car could be a coupe or a convertible. Bentley, newly owned by Volkswagen, gave its car a twin-turbo W12 and four seats. All three are now bargains to buy and expensive to fix, which is where we come in.
- 1Lexus SC4302002–2010 · 4.3L V8 · folding aluminum hardtop
- 2Cadillac XLR2004–2009 · 320–443 hp · built with the Corvette
- 3Bentley Continental GT (1st gen)2004–2011 · 6.0L twin-turbo W12 · 552 hp
The theme: the grand tourer goes mainstream
A grand tourer is built to cover long distances fast and in comfort. For decades that meant rare, hand-built cars. These three tried to bring the idea to more buyers in different ways: Lexus through refinement, Cadillac through engineering it shared with the Corvette, and Bentley through Volkswagen's industrial muscle.
Lexus SC430
2002–2010
The SC430 arrived for 2002 as a pure luxury cruiser: a 300-hp 4.3L V8, an automatic transmission, and a power-retractable aluminum hardtop that stowed itself in about 25 seconds. It was designed mainly in Europe under Sotiris Kovos and built to Lexus's usual quality standards. A six-speed automatic replaced the five-speed for 2006.
It was never a sports car, and Top Gear famously trashed it. But a race version won Japan's top Super GT championship twice, and owners loved the quality. Lexus built it until July 2010, and the final cars were the last new cars sold in the U.S. with a cassette deck.
Owner's notes: 2002–04 cars came on run-flat tires that wore quickly, rode harshly and bent wheels; most owners have switched. If the roof takes much longer than 25–30 seconds, the hydraulic pump may be weakening, and a weak battery causes roof faults and random warnings. We test roof-system parts like trunk hinge motors before listing them in our Lexus collection. Early cars can have radiator and water pump leaks, and the V8's timing belt is due around 90,000–100,000 miles.
Watch it
The real story behind the SC430. Video: The Fast Lane with Joe Tunney on YouTube
Why the SC430 isn't the worst car in the world. Video: Car Throttle on YouTube
Cadillac XLR
2004–2009
The XLR was Cadillac's first two-seater since the Allanté, and it had serious hardware. It shared its platform with the C6 Corvette, actually arriving a year before it, and was built alongside the Corvette in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Power came from a 320-hp 4.6L Northstar V8, Magnetic Ride Control was standard, and a folding aluminum and magnesium hardtop opened in under 30 seconds.
For 2006 Cadillac added the XLR-V with a supercharged Northstar making 443 hp. But the XLR was expensive and never came close to Cadillac's sales goals. Production ended March 31, 2009, after roughly 15,500 cars, including only about 2,188 XLR-Vs. There was no direct successor.
Owner's notes: Ask for Northstar service records; earlier Northstars were known for oil leaks and head gasket trouble, and records are your best guide on any individual car. Cycle the roof several times and listen for strain. Don't assume a C6 Corvette part fits: the chassis is related, but the XLR's body, interior, roof and most electronics are its own. With so few built, donor doors and panels, wheels and modules are the main source for many parts.
Watch it
The 2004 XLR reviewed. Video: Shooting Cars on YouTube
Why the XLR failed in the showroom. Video: Antique TAGS on YouTube
Bentley Continental GT (first generation)
2004–2011
The Continental GT was the first all-new Bentley after Volkswagen bought the company in 1998, and it changed Bentley completely. It debuted at the 2002 Paris show using running gear related to the VW Phaeton: a 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12, all-wheel drive, and a six-speed automatic. With 552 hp and a top speed of about 198 mph, it was a genuine four-seat supercar, priced well below the hand-built Bentleys before it.
It was also the first Bentley built with mass-production methods, and it sold in numbers Bentley had never seen. The GTC convertible followed, the four-door Continental Flying Spur shared much of its hardware, and faster versions climbed to 600 hp in the GT Speed and 621 hp in the 2009 Supersports. The second generation arrived for 2011.
Owner's notes: Worn air-suspension bushings cause knocking; used OEM suspension parts are far cheaper than new. Coil packs fail occasionally and spark plugs are expensive to reach. Check that recalls on the fuel filter and brake pipes were done on earlier cars, and test the electronic parking brake. Damp footwells and corroded switches are red flags. Low-mileage cars that sat for years can have more problems than driven ones. Bentley parts carry VW Group-style part numbers, which makes matching used OEM parts straightforward.
Watch it
Continental GT reliability and common problems. Video: Discerning Cars on YouTube
What goes wrong with a Continental GT. Video: Scottish Car Clan on YouTube
By the numbers: base horsepower
Base-model horsepower at launch.
Where the luxury GT went next
Bentley kept building the Continental GT and has made more than 80,000 across its generations. Lexus eventually filled the SC430's spot with the LC 500 in 2017. Cadillac never replaced the XLR. Today all three sell for a fraction of their original prices, which brings in a new wave of owners who need parts at something other than dealer prices.
Luxury GT parts at J&J
Browse Lexus parts for the SC430, Cadillac XLR parts and Bentley Continental GT parts. Every part is photographed and listed with its donor's year.