As the completion of my two year lease drew near I decided to buy my 2008 Lexus SC430.  This car has exceeded my expectations and has given my wife and me great pleasurable.  It is fun to drive with the top down and a feast for our eyes with the top up.

As a final consideration, I looked at the payoff I had to make for the SC in relation to what I could get for the same money in a 2010 luxury car. I could not find anything remotely close in overall elegance and quality to the SC unless my payoff amount and an addition $25K were combined to buy a car of similar attributes.  This along with my feeling of enjoyment with the SC convinced me to purchase it outright.

The only thing the SC lacked in my mind was a backup camera system.  I had grown accustomed to one in my previous Infiniti and Lexus cars.  However, I held off installing a backup camera system in the SC as long as I was only leasing it.  The day after I sent my check to Lexus to buy the SC, I ordered backup camera devices.

I chose the NAV-TV RGBLEXA video interfacing module to hook up with the SC's OEM navigation system located in the trunk and a Rostra 250-8082 color camera which will be affixed to the underlip of the recessed rear license plate compartment.

The camera will be connected to the module and its image displayed on the OEM navigation screen when the car is in reverse.

I am having AutoStyle in Peoria, AZ do the installation which is scheduled for next Wednesday.

The only other addition I might make in the future is to purchase wheels.   This is only a thought, not an itch or urge.

I'm not normally for buying cars after lease-end, but as few miles as you have on your SC, that's a great decision. It was just a two-year lease, and the car is like new. Still has 3 years of warranty and is holding its value like crazy.

More than anything, though, it's your baby, and that's what matters.

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Although the camera and module will not be installed until mid-week, here is more information on the two devices that I have chosen for the system:

Rostra RearSight 1/4” CMOS Hybrid Color Camera
Camera Features:
1/4” CMOS Color Camera
.5 Lux High Resolution Display
160 Degree Peripheral View
Excellent Depth of Field
Waterproof Case w/Anti-fog Lens
Waterproof Connectors
Protective Shroud
6’ Power Harness & Male/Female DC Power Adapters
Bracket Style 250-8082A
Includes 30’ Extension Harness

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NAV-TV RGBLEX
Video interfacing module

Video interfacing module. Provides two video inputs to factory navigation screen.  One video input* 1 rear camera input. Requires a Factory Navigation System that is a Two Piece system, with a monitor and an external Brain module. Plugs in at navigation drive.

Hello

The module and camera were installed yesterday morning in a matter of two hours.

The camera which is attached just above the rear license plate in the recess where the plate lights are located is visually unobtrusive.  It displays excellent color, brightness, contrast and density completely filling the nav screen.

I am very pleased with the 160 degrees of peripheral vision this camera provides.  It is a greater field than I had with OEM products in former cars.

No wiring from either the camera or video module can be seen in the trunk.

I have uploaded two photos to page two of my album.  Please note that the poor quality of the photos are a result of them being taken with a old phone camera.   Secondly, the photo of the nav screen while I am backing up shows curves at the top and bottom of the nav screen.  This is because I was backing into a parking space with a curved cover overhead.  The actual image on the nav screen is a full rectangle.





[Edit by Ohmster] I added his photos from the gallery to this thread.