I'm selling my Celica soon, and I'm looking at a few Lexus'. There are a few 1st gen GS300's, and there's a 92 SC400 available as well. They're all around the same price range. Now, I've never driven a GS, but I have driven my Uncles SC300, and I really liked the way it drove, not sure how much different a 400 is. I haven't looked at them yet, but I'll definitely get the cleanest car out of all of them. I'd appreciate your opinions as to which one I should be most interested in.

-Matt

 

You should be interested in the one you like the most. First thing you need to do is go drive the GS300. Also, drive the SC400 so you can appreciate the power difference between the V8 and the I6 that is in your uncles car.

What are your priorities in a car? Are you going to keep it stock or modify it? If so, whats your budget?

If you're not going to go crazy with the mods (i.e. Turbo) , get the SC4 over SC3 if you don't mind the slight drop in gas mileage. The SC400's haul out on the highway because of the gearing.

Between SC and GS, that decision is all you.

 

Yeah, I'll go drive the GS, then the SC and go from there. This will be a car that I drive daily to and from school. Modding wouldn't be much, maybe suspension, and upgrading stereo components. I wouldn't be much into NA-T'ing the 2J (if I got the GS). From what I read, they both get around 23MPG on the highway, so not much difference there. Highway driving is what I mostly do.

-Matt

 

I had both 1st Gen GS and SC4, I would go for SC4 anyday.
The only thing GS does better is it has 4 doors.

 

Most, if not all, early Lexus V8, specifically the 1UZ veriations, suffer from ECU malfunction that leans out fuel mix, so they all ping and are down on power. If you decide to get the SC, make sure you drive it first, when its fully warmed, and make sure it doesn't feel like a 4 cylinder. My LS400 suffers from it, and its significanly slower than my old GS300.