Hi there guys (and girls)

Been lurking around here for a while...not posted anything til now though...
Actually...i THINK...(not shure though) ive "been here before" when i did a bit of research about the mk1 GS300...but at that time i got my hands on a little more money and opted for a Supra TT This time around...i AM having a Lexus...let there be no doubt!

At present im (still) the proud owner of a near immaculate 1994 modell Supra TwinTurbo, that i have to sell to be able to aford a larger car because me and the missus are expecting the first addition to our family come autumn

The trouble is im getting mixed feedback from friends and releatives etc. that "you need a stationwagon or a suv" etc. While others state that thats a lot of rubbish, and you can pretty much use what you want as long as the trunk is large enough and the rear seats-space can accomodate child seats.

The trouble is...what car to buy? It has to be mentioned that im quite locked to Toyota/Lexus...after having owned a few...with VERY few faults..and next to nothing in depreciciation! (sp?)

What i want in this car is the following:
1. Must be either a Lexus or a Toyota.
2. "Family-friendy" (largish trunk and enough space for a childseat)
3. Preferably RWD...or AWD.
4. Either a I6/V6 or a V8.

And ive been drooling over ads over the following cars:
(all these cars can (atleast where i live) be had for about the the same amount of money that im getting in return for the Supra TT...give or take )

The mk2 IS250:
Im not too shure about the trunk on this one...if its large enough? Otherwise....it seems like a very nice car!

The mk2 GS:
Either a 1998-2000 GS400 or a 2001 GS430
How "family-friendly" are the trunks on these cars?
I can even consider a GS300 aswell...that will get me a 2003-2004.

The mk1 RX300:
This is...offcourse...what the missus fanzies the most...but its my decicion she says! This would be an easy car to live with i guess...but not as much fun as the other examples i guess...

The mk2 RX300
Still a little bit out of our pricerange im affraid....

Now...what do you guys think? And maybe i can even have an answer from someone on here whos done this swap himself or atleast been thinking about it?

And to try to finish of an allready to loooong post...keeping two cars is out of the question at the moment im affraid...the road/cartaxes etc. here in norway are horrible enough for one car...let alone two! (and besides the missus doesnt have a driverslicence yet...so there seem to be few excuses for me to keep two cars!

@lpher

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Please excuse my misspelling etc. as english is not my native language

 

id get the 2nd gen GS, any model doesnt matter, i got a gs3 but rather have a gs4, the trunk is really big in this car, and it is "family-friendly", has enough room in the backseats for the kids.
aim for the gs4s for the torque

 

Get the GS, its very family friendly, and if u opt for the v8, it can really haul some ***

 

If there's anything I've learned, just go with what the wife says even though she says it's up to you. This means, my vote goes for the RX300.

The rear seats can adjust fore and aft (forward and backwards) as well as recline. This way, you can adjust the seats such that it makes it easier to put the little one in the seat. The rear doors are a good size and open fairly wide (if I remember correctly). It has a pretty good V6 and AWD and 0-60 in about 8 seconds (correct me if i'm wrong guys. I'm basing this write up on memory).

 

If there is a Toyota Avalon in Norway, it'd be perfect for you guys. If not I would get a RX300 and make the wife happy. Happy wife I presume is a happy family.

 

just for the record the IS250 is a mk2 car

 

you can never go wrong with the is or the gs, but I prefer gs430 just because it commands road presence. But the Is is just eye candy to look at, especially in black.

 

u can find a 01-02 LS430 for under 30k.

 

Thanx...it seems im heading in this direction yes

 

The "Haul ***" bit is kinda tempting So the switch from the Supra TT wont be all bad

 

Hmm...i definately see your point But...it REALLY is up too me..trust me on this

To be honest...i did quite the research bit for the mk1 RX...but what i found is that im not to fond of the interior/dashboard layout...and i got a little put off when i saw a post on here from a GS & RX owner...where he said that he felt that the GS backseats where a lot easier getting childseats in and out of...all the time BUT...nothing is settled yet

 

I will look into it, thanx for the tip...

LOL...you americans shure are of the romantic sort

 

Thanx..i dont know how that one got through

 

I agree... See the thing is...Lexus vehicles are REALLY rare here...making testdriving different models VERY hard...so i guess ill just have to trust Lexus to make good cars! Ive driven an mk1 IS200 and a mk2 gs300 though...so i have some inkling of what im up against

Thanx for all the answers...and keep em comming if you feel theres a view that hasnt been presented

 

Hmmyeah...but...car taxes here are sky high...so to give you couple of examples....a 98-99 GS400 will cot me about 55-63K USD! Wich is in the same ballpark as i will get in return for my Supra TT. Therefore im sad to say...a GS430 is out of the question at the moment

Our car-import-taxes/pentalties are based on the following:
The purchase price inc. freight and incurance.
The cars curb weight.
Horsepower.
The size of the engine.

And...you get a discount for how old it is...the older..the more discount...go figure... An hell of a way to make shure the average age of the norwegian carpark is completely down the drain