LionsTent

Comparing a 1st Gen to a 2nd Gen is like comparing a 1959-1964 Chevy Impala to a 1965-1970 Chevy Impala.
Classic lines and design vs yuck.
Who's with me?

BubbaGump

I dont know, I dont think 2nd gen is terrible. Not for me..... but I have been trying to talk wife into getting one so we can have brother sister cars.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I've said the SC430 is one of the ugliest cars ever, but my opinion has softened after seeing some of them fixed up. It's an unusual car in that it looks goofy in stock form, but takes to customizing quite well.

mikef

iTrader: (3)

its built very well in quality it seems, look like it will last.

freakness

Dude,


My 1995 SC300 is a Toyota with a Lexus badge, a very nice Toyota, but nobody is being fooled. The SC430 feels like a Lexus. An even better example is the Lexus ES250, which feels as though you're in a Camry, which is what it is. I find the SC300/SC400 to not be luxurious/soft enough to be a true Lexus, near-luxury is a good adjective; having said that, I like the car very much and prefer it to the SC430, which is a luxurious old lady's car in stock form.








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LionsTent

If that happens, you're going to be faced with a tough decision. Eventually, you're going to have to get in that car. Do you want to be seen driving it, or do you want to be seen as the passenger??

BubbaGump

HAH! You are very insightful, I hadn't thought about that. I always drive when we are together....hmmmm. I guess Ill keep pushing for her to get a Forester XT. Still, I am drawn to weird cars you don't see everyday, which the 430 is.

LionsTent

I agree with you about the SC300 being a Toyota in disguise...that's why I like it. I recently inherited a 99 from my aunt, and I've always liked the look of it, along with the potential performance gains. If I wanted a luxury Lexus, I'd get an LS.
Personally, I think the 1st Gen cars are all about to be turned into drift cars. It'll be hard to find an unmolested example in 10 years, much like the Nissan 240sx.

LionsTent

Thanks. +1 on the Forester XT. With a little work, you can turn that into a rocket ship!

BubbaGump

Thanks. Yea, my daily driver is a 2005 Legacy GT 5spd....I am a big fan. I have finally gotten good at fixing it, so it would be nice if she got one so I didnt have to learn another brand, haha.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ I very nearly bought a 2005 Legacy GT 5-speed before I got my SC300. I love those cars.

Regarding the SC 1st gen vs 2nd gen... as many have pointed out our cars are really Soarers that Lexus rebadged. Luxurious Toyota sports GTs. There is significance in the direction of the design. For the time Toyota and the Lexus division were very serious about making waves with the car's shape, it's interior design and to an extent its credibility as a sporty personal luxury coupe.

The 2001-2010 Z40 generation was focused much more on luxury and higher interior quality rather than the sports driving characteristics of the Z30's. I think they're beautiful cars and having driven one I do feel they've got a nice ride with good horsepower and torque but it's not at all the same as how the earlier SC300's and SC400's feel.

I prefer the earlier SC300/400 models. Further, I also prefer how the IS300 feels over how the SC430's feel. The SC430's in stock form are closer in feel to the 1995-2000 LS400's (which are fantastic and should be experienced).

It's all up to personal preference in terms of how the cars feel and how that appeals to one person vs another. However between the Z30's and Z40's the earlier model is the over-engineered semi-luxury driver's car. The later series is a very well made luxury cruiser car.

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

The design of the back seat is the only thing that makes me think, but everything else is stellar. This is coming from a home with both 1st and 2nd generation SC's.

SonicMotor

iTrader: (19)

No love for the 65-70 Imp's

LionsTent

I actually had a '65 back in the days. Hydraulics and all...I was even in a club! I loved it, but it never compared to the '59-'64 models.

Duck05

Never liked the SC430s..... While very luxurious, the small joke of a back seat, the cramped cockpit, and worse the convertible hard top were all big negatives. The 1st Gen SC may have run it's course, but the SC430 was a dismal replacement for which the sales volumes depicted....

They are built well and have seen maybe 2 with mods that were interesting; the SC300/400 whether kept stock or "improved" is a much more desirable platform (IMO).

The LC500 appears to be the next big thing but I believe the price point will keep a lot of people away. Even the RC is a rare sighting which is not that surprising given it's prices and lack of engine or transmission options......