Ever torn between 2001 luxury convertibles? Let’s pit Lexus SC430 vs Mercedes-Benz CLK430—near-identical on paper (price ~$61k, power/weight, performance), so we skipped pricier Jaguar XK8 ($76k+) and Porsche 911 (~$79.5k) for budget-focused testing. Atlanta’s sleet nixed top-down drives, so we hit Florida, racking up 1640 miles. Track tests coming later—for now: Lexus or Mercedes first? Would you endure dull roads for wind in your hair?