So I've been seriously tinkering with the idea of trading in my 2009 Lexus SC430 (Pebble Beach Edition) for a newer IS350 Convertible.

My SC430 is basically still brand new -- 14K miles and hasn't seen snow or rain. Still smells new inside. I've had it for about 18 months, and have truly enjoyed using it for "date night" on warm summer evenings with my wife. I bought it from a local (Omaha) Porsche dealer for around $41K, which was a fair deal given that the car was like new with under 10K miles at the time.

I also drive a 2008 Lexus LS600hL -- this one is my "daily driver," believe it or not. I'm so in love with all the electronic do-dads on the LS, and have begun really missing some of them on my SC. Like a modern navigation system, a backup camera, parking sensors, streaming blue-tooth, ventilated seats, etc. My SC feels like an amazing classic car, but it really is pretty dated technology-wise.

So I drove a 2011 iS350 Convertible yesterday at my local Lexus dealer. i thought the car in general handled much better, seemed way more modern and sporty than the SC, and had a bit more interior room (especially the back seat). The interior wasn't nearly as "posh," but was very comfortable. The specific car I drove was not a good deal, in my mind (2011 with 20K miles, CPO, for $35K), mainly because the Carfax showed 3 past accidents. The dealer offered to sell me a new IS350 F Sport for $49K (sticker was around $55K), but that might be a bit of a stretch.

I've done a nationwide search to see what's out there, and have found several great candidates. A 2012 with 12K miles for $35,800, a 2014 with 8K miles for $42K... Any of these cars would have to be purchased and shipped to Omaha, which I don't really mind doing since they are all under full factory warranty still (and I can usually figure out if they have had issues or accidents).

So I guess I'm just fishing for thoughts from the forum on trading in the SC for a newer IS 350. Smart idea? Dumb idea? Anyone on the IS forum traded an SC for an IS?

And if anyone is interested in a "reverse trade" (swapping a late-model IS350 convertible for a mint condition SC430, please let me know via PM.

Thanks!

 

I think you should just purchase the IS350 and keep the SC430 for date-nights with your wife.

 

You're more likely to get the responses you're looking for by posting a thread on the IS-Convertible sub-forum:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-c-244/