Despite the SC 400's gathering age, its interior is as expected in any Lexus, elegant and ergonomically superb. Location and operation of all the controls and switchgear is intuitive and pleasing. The instrumentation is composed of a large, easily readable speedometer and tachometer, both featuring Lexus' striking electroluminescent night-lighting. With the running lights on at night, your instruments seem suspended in mid-air. Climate and audio controls are gimmick-free and straightforward, a model for others to copy. Similarly, the cruise control foregoes any main on-off switch. You simply select, cancel, accelerate, decelerate or resume with one simple manipulation of the control.The steering wheel has both vertical and telescoping adjustments, coupled with automatic memory and an automatic tilt-away function for easy entry. The latter also draws the seat rearward to make way for you as you climb in, then readjusts to your preselected driving position. Memory for two different seating positions is standard, as are two cupholders, one of which pops cleverly out of the dash for the passenger. Our test car was furnished with heated leather seats. The seats are adjusted with intuitive analog adjusters, essentially copied from the original Mercedes-Benz analog adjusters of the mid 1980s. These adjusters are located on the outside of each seat cushion. The seats themselves are very sporting in character, providing good support and lateral positioning, while their glove-quality leather is utterly delicious. The SC 400 shows its age in one area here, however -- no automatic-up is provided for the windows and only the driver's window has an automatic-down. Our test car had the Lexus audio system in place of the high-end Nakamichi audio option. This rich and responsive audio package proved highly satisfying. Volume adjusts automatically to compensate for ambient noise by rising vehicle speed. A six-disc CD automatic changer comes standard. Our test car also included the optional power tilt and one-touch open moonroof, together with the companion electronic garage door opener. SC 400 is a sport coupe, and there is very little rear legroom. But otherwise, the rear seating is quite generous for a coupe of this type. If you look at the SC 400's roofline, of course, you see immediately why its headroom is excellent. The trunk's capacity, however, is just as should be expected, with 9.3 cubic feet, just about right for a road trip by two adults, with a smidgeon more for additional purchases along the way.
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