SLegacy99

I concur. Servicing a Lexus is not cheap by any means and you could easily find yourself spending more than you intended to.


I am a big advocate for Subaru as a starter car. Their safety rating is unmatched, they are efficient, and they are incredibly reliable. Subaru has both practical and sporty models and if you want a stick shift they are plentiful.

I have 130k miles on my Legacy GT, which is now 13 years old. I have no rust and my repairs include: a new starter (which I installed myself) and a new speedometer. Of course I did routine maintenance such as the clutch, valve covers, and timing belts. But it has required so few repairs that I feel that I should take a few cross country trips to get the most out of it before I buy a new car.

Hope that helps.

Matador

I thought about an MR2 when I was 19 as well. The lack of any kind of practicality and the inability to find a clean well maintained turbo version took it out of the running pretty fast. Check out MR2OC, but plan to travel for a clean car. I ended up getting an SC3 at 19. Was fast enough for what it was, but since then Ive gone thru motor swaps, stock twins, now single turbo on the SC300. You'll always want more, but maybe after my next upgrade Ill leave it alone.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

The guy is in Colorado... he will need a car either way if their winters are as bad as our winters (and I bet they are even worse in Colorado).

OP, why not just get a turboe'd SC300 from the classifieds? Shipping a car is not that expensive and there are always killer deals here.

LunaVyohr

Thanks! I actually looked into Legacys, but decided that I wanted to stay Toyota with whatever first car I bought.

I realize I'll most likely have to travel to find the one I want. That's not really an issue. I have family in southern California, so it's not that big of a deal if I have to go out there.

Even if I COULD ride a motorcycle (I can't, I have cerebral palsy and I don't have the balance or the coordination to ride one), the winters in Colorado would require me to get another vehicle anyway, so there's no point.

I might think about that. Lurking around here and seeing some of these guy's build projects has made me realize how many awesome car guys there are on here that actually care about what they build. I could trust buying an SC from here.

However, I really, REALLY like the 1UZ-FE as I said before, so if I bought an SC, it'd probably be a 400. There's nothing wrong with the 2JZ-GE/GTE though. If I found a good deal on a turbo'd, reasonably unmolested one on here, I'd think about taking it. I just have a fear that buying a turbo swapped car over the internet could turn into a bigger headache than I want it to be.

There's something about the MR2 that really catches my eye though. Like I said, practicality isn't an issue with me. I don't haul people around besides my girlfriend (although, she's a pretty big car person too, so she'd just drive her Z31 haha), and I don't need much trunk space really.

Matador

Turbo SC is gonna be a bit out of his budget. I just noticed his location too... I wonder what a turbo mr2 would be like in the snow

LunaVyohr

Nothing I couldn't handle.

I learned to drive on snow and have been in some pretty crap vehicles in bad situations. For blizzards, I do have my Jeep.

mmarshall

Some Toyota dealers will do service and repairs on Lexus products, for significantly cheaper prices than Lxus shops, as long as no warranty-work is required. I had some things done for my old Lexus IS300 at a Toyota shop where I knew the Service Manager well.



True.....and if you drive a substantial number of miles in bad weather, you'll be glad to have a Subaru.


Before you buy an MR2, though, check out a used Mazda Miata. They are quite reliable, generally not driven as hard or ragged-out as MR2's, are in far greater supply on the used-car market, and generally have lower insurance premiums (though you usually pay high premiums for 2-seaters anyway, especially at a young age). The small, light, RWD Miata, though, is worthless in the snow.....the mid-engined MR2, with the engine/drivetrain weight closer to the rear wheels, only slightly better.

LunaVyohr

Ehhghhh, I'm sure the Miata itself is a good car, but I cannot stand convertibles.

LunaVyohr

I also want you guys to know that even if I do get an MR2, I won't leave this forum. It has one of the best online communities I've ever communicated with.

mmarshall

Bolt-on hardtops, painted body-color, are available for older-generation Miatas.....I'm not sure about the newer ones. Newer ones also have a power-folding-hardtop option, so you don't have to put up with the problems and insecurity of a rag-top. But, Hey, if a Miata is just not for you, I understand.

Thanks. We're glad to have you. And you are correct about the forum. I didn't leave it after I sold my Lexus, either. In fact, we have some CL moderators and staff that don't drive Lexus products either.

SaintNexus

If you have a salary of $1,700-$2,500, then why not just lease a new car?

mmarshall

I'll let him answer your question for himself, but, leasing, of course, with its wear-and-tear clauses, yearly mileage-restrictions, and stiff early-termination penalties, is not for everyone.

KillaIS250

iTrader: (1)

I don't know many young people his age that lease cars. Probably not only cuz all the terms that come with leasing a car, but you can't mod it as freely, insurance is higher on new cars, etc.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Winters are no problem if he has tires like these:

IS-SV

How good is the heater and heated seat on that m/c?