Difficult choice got love both tho

 

i've had 3 of each..

two 95 SC300's one auto one manual, and a 97 auto.. two of them I Boosted.

also had a 98 GS300, 01 GS430, and a 02 GS300..


I love both, get the v8 if u don't plan to boost the 2jz... and if you get a GS 01+ is the only way to go, and 97+ is my preference on SC's..


a GS400 or 430 is faster then any 92-00 stock SC300 or 400

 

The SC handles better than the GS, even with mods. The GS is a boat compared to my SC's even though they weight about the same. As for speed, they are both slow as fawk! So who cares which one is faster when they are both slow.

 

+1 on the above post.

As I was searching for mt SC300 on craigslist, I was also looking for 2nd gen GS.

I was torn between the two models.

I wanted:
Stick shift - SC300 - NA on the 400
4 Door / Roomier - GS
Navigation - GS

Stick shift won out and presented itself first on Craigslist. Although I did find a really the perfect GS combo with NAV soon after I got my SC.

 

i dont know who youre burning..and what youre smoking but gs300 vs sc300 is a dead even race
1998 Lexus GS 300 0-60 7.6 1/4 mile 15.7
1993 Lexus SC 300 0-60 7.4 1/4 mile 15.7

 

thats a retarded statement...98-00 gs is the same as 01-04 minus some minor cosmetic changes inside and outside. As far as 430 vs 400 debate goes they perform the same...430 has 10ft/lbs trq and same hp...1/4 miles and 0-60 times are identical

 

Like I said "My Personal Experience" . I'm not knocking the 2GS whatsoever; it's a sleek ride. Maybe my motor is in better condition than the GS300s I've raced I really don't know.
BTW here are Car-and-Driver's times in Dec 94 Issue

SC300: 0-60 6.8 1/4 mile 15.4 @ 92

 

That article has four of the baddest coupes of the 90's. I'm surprised they didn't use the Supra TT, 300zx TT, and the SC400 though.

 

They were keeping it 6 cylinders, the 1UZ wouldn't fit in that article

 

I own an SC300, obviously, but the 300ZX has been my long time favorite since child hood, however as far as the GS vs SC, its a bit of a debate mainly because your comparing a coupe to a 4 door. Each has benefits and drawback. As far as power it should be fairly similar as they have the same engines and similar weight. I personally hope to step up to a GS300 in a little while, but not before I drop a 1JZ and 5spd on my SC300 along with a few minor touch ups. Its been growing on me a lot more then I expectd, but Chicago streets are rough and a 4 door Luxury Sedan is a bit more forgiving going over the Bagdad style pot holes we have around here.

With that being said I also have almost completed a 1JZ powered 240SX. As you can tell I have a hard on for straight 6 toyota engines and Lexus cars. But my ultimate setup would be a 1 or 2 JZ powered 300ZX T-tops coupe. After the Nissan Im going to try to get one done, but I digress... sorry.

 

Ok i've owned a 98 GS300 and two 01 + GS's and the 01+'s feel newer, my GS now has more mileage then my 98 and it still feels different..

Personally the slight changes are worth just finding a 01+ for IMO, most people that disagree probably have not owned both years.

even with SC's i've owned two 95's and a 97, i personally prefer 97+'s or even a 99/00..

I'm not saying i wouldn't own a 98 GS300 again or a pre 97 SC300, i'm just saying i prefer them and the little upgrades between the years are worth trying to hold out if you can, most people get the older years and end up buying the later model upgrades and not saving any $$ to begin with.. If i caught a deal on a older style car then yeah go for it..

I don't find it to be a *retarded statement..

as far as retarded goes i'm not sure why you brought up the peformance difference between a GS400 and a GS430, as i stated a GS4 (meaning 400 or 430) is faster then any year SC400 stock vs stock..

I know a GS400/430 accel about the same, which is why i was comparing them to a SC400.


Honestly i don't know about that one, I think my stock GS430 could out handle a stock SC300, I always felt stock the SC was a boat, and on the 16" all season tires it didn't help..

Of course the GS430 did have michilen pilot sports and lower profile 17" wheels stock.. my stock 98 GS300 definetly felt like a turd around corners in comparison.

 

difference between 97+sc and pre 97 is huge
Front bumper,rear bumper,side skirts, different cluster, different tailights, vvti engine...in most cases the 99 and 00 recive a much better looking 3 spoke wheel and gated shifter.
Comparing the gs
the front headlights are different color shade(not a biggie), rear tailights look much better, chrome around the shifter trim and cluster bazel is different. Grill is a little different and the 01+ has no Eshift. So if those little changes keep you from buying a 98-00 so be it, if yours pre 01 felt worse i'm sorry to hear that...i've driven a 430 and my 400 and also friend owns a 04 gs300. I dont see/feel any difference, beside the visuals that only people like us can tell, to anybody else they are exactly the same cars.
As far as handling look up motor trend article on 98 gs300 vs gs400 and you'll see that that on the skid pad the 300 did .80g and 400 pulled .85 and motor trend said the 400 felt like it could do better then .85 they were in love.

 

Fixed it

 

just own both

 

don't forget the steering wheel is nicer in the 01+ as well

I dunno I had 98gs300 it was in pretty good condition, had 155k then i got a 430 with 135k and now a 02 GS SD with 207k and both 01+ cars just feel nicer, tighter, and the little changes are subtle but nicer and do add up if you buy them for your 98 down the road..

I'm definetly not knocking the older models, most of the time the price difference isn't that huge though, and I just think your better off spending a little more to get the later models.. it's not a must, just a preference..