Well, I've finally graduated college and moved on to the working (i.e. unexciting) world. After a few months of smart-spending I've managed to almost entirely pull myself out of the debt my college days left me with. All that I have left is about 7k left on the Civic... which is still about what it's worth so I'm happy.

Now, this past year or so without a Lex has helped remind me of how much she meant to me. She was the fruition of my childhood dreams, but my drive to succeed forced me to leave her behind. Now it's time to return to those dreams... and here's what I'm looking at:

94-95 GS300
95-97 SC300
98-99 GS400
94-00 LS400
98-00 ES300 (the practical choice, but no where near the passion of the others)

I've had the loud, obnoxious, flashy cars in the past... and it got me in plenty of trouble. I'm now older (the jury's still out on the "wiser" part ) and looking for something that'll help keep my sanity in California traffic. My criteria is "affordable" (considering I'm looking at getting a house as well), adequate passing power, timeless style, and unquestioned reliability... I don't feel like letting another one get away from me.

I don't need anyone to tell which car to buy... but I'd like to hear from the people who've actually dealt with these cars for an extended period of time on their opinions. All feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

98-99 GS400

would be my obvious choice--fuel prices regardless.....

 

You should make this a poll. My choice would be the 98 GS400 followed by the 97 SC300.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm really looking more for pro/cons of these cars. I really like the style and power of the 98 GS4, but regardless of price I'm always wary of first year vehicles... even if it is a Lexus.

 

Well, I'm biased, but the SC would be my choice. Same engine as the GS3 you had. Also a huge wealth of knowledge here on just about anything you might want/need to know about the car. 97 if you like the face lift. Also, only option if you want a manual, though rare. I think it is sportier than the 1st gen GS. Why not a SC400 if a later MY GS4 is also an option?

 

First off, congratulations on graduating. Out of the choices you listed, I'd vote for the GS4.

Yes, the first year of the 2nd gen GS had some bugs (electrical issues and ECU replacement)but nothing too major if I recall. If you can find a a GS4 w/ relatively low miles, I think you'd be fine. Power wise, the GS4 will leave you smiling. Another benefit is that styling wise, the 2nd gen GS basically went unchanged from '98 to '05. And there are countless mods for the GS.

I had a '99 GS3 (w/ a Dec. '98) build date, and over 6 years, I never had a major problem. The biggest problem were rattles, but even those weren't too bad.

 

get the GS.

 

I was under the impression that there was a big difference in insurance between the SC3 and SC4 due to engine configurations, but I suppose it's worth considering. Doesn't the SC4 just get horrible gas mileage with the 1UZ, though? At least, comparatively speaking.

 

Not really. It's been documented in some cases where people in their SC4's have gotten better mileage than some SC3 owners. It's a comparable situation, the numbers aren't that far off. A lot more of it has to do with your driving style and regular maintenence, etc..

 

Maybe check this out if you are looking at a GS4 from 98-99. The more info you have, the better a decision you can make.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117510

 

I found it interesting when I did research on the different models how much the mileage varied even between the same engines. According to the data I saw the LS400 seems to get the best mileage off all the vehicles which was a big plus for me... I'm happiest when I'm behind the wheel heading down a long road.

I heard a rumor, though, that the SC4 qualified as a sports car because it's a V8 coupe. Is there any truth to that?

 

I owned a IS300 for 5 years with the same straight-six engine as the GS300 and SC300. Great engine for overall work...one of the best. Smooth as butter. Extremely well-built. Cast-iron block tough as nails. Same block used in the early-mid-90's Supra. Only flies in the ointment are difficult oil filter changes, the need for expensive 93-octane gas even in non-turbo form, and fairly poor gas mileage for a six.

 

All of those are bad choices if you're looking to save money while expecting reliability. Parts and service will be ridiculously expensive unless you're mechanically inclined. Most 6-11 year old cars will easily be hitting 120-180K miles where major parts need replacing or servicing(shocks, timing belts, axle boots, brakes, seals, etc). You'll still be looking to pay 12-15K for a decent used Lex with over 100K, if you're lucky, you've got maybe 80K left of good use before needing to dump more money or trash the car altogether. I use to run my uncles repair shop that specializes in only Toyota, Honda and Nissan. While there, I've yet to see a Toyota 6cyl make it to 200K without major repairs. The V8 models starts sounding like domestic V8s at those mileage. Not worth it IMO.

Get the house first, your Civic is more reliable and will serve you fine and save you tons of cash on gas, it's till more fun to drive than all those Lex you've listed. With the price of premium gas in california these days, you could easily save enough in one year to put down on a brand new IS250 or maybe even a 350. You've worked hard, put in alot of time and effort to get thru school, time to treat yourself better, don't buy used, especially california use(too much A/C usage and mountainous roads). It'll kill the good experience you had before faster than anything. Good luck with your decision!

 

Why not consider a 98 - 99 GS 300? Followed by the LS & then the ES. Take them for a drive & go with your guy feeling of what you like driving. I'd stick with 4 doors imo.....just more practical.

 

Thanks for all the really good feedback. I understand your point of view, and I've already taken all of that into consideration. I fully expect the car to need its fair share of rejuvenation, but I just look at that as a chance to customize. I'm one of those people who just can't rock stock, and I have no problem doing most of the work myself. In fact, I'm just not fully satisfied unless I've lost sleep, sweat, and blood over my car. It makes me feel more connected with it and makes driving it that much more gratifying.

I agree that driving a brand new car means no repair bills, courtesy of the new car warranty, but I honestly haven't found one that captures my interest quite like the older models. The only ones that I would consider are way too far out of my price range... and don't seem to be getting any closer in the next few years. I do like what I've seen of the new IS, but my girlfriend and I have already talked of getting her one after we get married in a couple years. (if she changes her mind, though )

Lexus has definitely earned my trust, though. When I had to get rid of my 94 GS300 she was still running strong with 200k miles. Meanwhile, I've never owned a Honda product that got to see 170k. I'll admit, the civic can be more "fun" to drive at times, but on the overly crowded streets of Southern California those times are few and far between. Sure it saves money on gas, but what fun is life if you only live "practically"?