SC300/400 As First Car?
#16
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (27)
I say either a 240 and a SC, no rx7
I say 240 because, lots of aftermarket looks great and decent on the gas plus they are extremely cheap.. its just the rust issue KA's are built for reliability.
Sc they look nice built like tanks, its a lexus more comfort. Horrible on gas but you gotta pay to play no? They are also built for reliability some guy went 600k miles.
Plus you can 1jz/2jz and be more safe than KA-T or sr20dets/rb thanks to fast and furious 240s are getting popped like nothing.
Rx7- seals break all the time, overheatting is a issue also they may look nice but reliability afraid not. Nearly throwing 2k around every 60k miles isnt that fun.
sr20dets are around 2k+
1jz1.5-2.5k
2jz 2.5k+
Either way you cannot go wrong with 240 or SC, save rx7 for when you have a steady income.
#17
Pole Position
iTrader: (8)
well the current sc that i have now is my first car and man o man I LOVE IT!!! i rushed into buying it...which i kinda regret becuz it was either the sc that i have now or another 5 speed sc...mine is auto which i HATE!!! but i seemed to adapt to it and love it!!!
If the sc is clean it doesnt take alot to make it look Baller!!!
check this out
when i first got her
and now
If the sc is clean it doesnt take alot to make it look Baller!!!
check this out
when i first got her
and now
#18
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (5)
My 1995 SC300 is my first car. I've had it for 10 months and I LOVE it. Built very solid and gets plenty of compliments from my friends...and the ladies (if that's important to you at all). You also have CL as an excellent resource/community and there's a large following for parts, both OEM and aftermarket.
Just MAKE SURE you don't dive into it and buy a piece of crap. Patience is the key when shopping for a used car that didn't have it's wheels driven off. There weren't many options, so focus on color combination. Black interior ftw.
Just MAKE SURE you don't dive into it and buy a piece of crap. Patience is the key when shopping for a used car that didn't have it's wheels driven off. There weren't many options, so focus on color combination. Black interior ftw.
Last edited by felixsc300; 06-03-09 at 01:01 AM.
#19
Driver
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Like everyone else says, an SC is a great first car. Just make sure its been maintained and they will last for over 200K easily. Lexus dealerships can search service history if you give them the VIN number.
Stay away from RX-7s, especially if you plan to buy it as a daily driver. I bought a FD back in August last year. 1994 twin turbo w/ low mileage and in excellent condition. I love the car, but its spent more time in the shop than in my garage.
Stay away from RX-7s, especially if you plan to buy it as a daily driver. I bought a FD back in August last year. 1994 twin turbo w/ low mileage and in excellent condition. I love the car, but its spent more time in the shop than in my garage.
#20
I am actually going to go against the grain here...
I don't think the sc is that great of a first car. i personally dont think that for a new driver RWD is the best decision. Also, the OP is in Massachusetts...not exactly the best weather all year round. Most of the replies to this have been from people in places like California, Florida, etc...places that have pretty good weather (not tons of snow/ice) all year round. Coming from a guy who lives in the Northeast, I wouldn't want to drive my SC year-round (and I dont). The bad weather conditions, combined with the RWD, is a recipie for disaster for a new driver.
It is true, these cars run very well for a long time...but there is more to a first car than running reliably.
I know that my children will have something slow and fwd as their first car. You also have to realize that you are in high school (assumption). In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter what you drive, especially at that time in your life imo. Buy something cheap, reliable, and fwd then save your money up so that you can buy something worthwhile down the road.
If you really are set on modding your first car (another thing I am not super supportive of), there are a bunch of FWD with aftermarket potential...
Check out:
Civics, Integras, Accords, Corollas, Subarus, Maxima, VW etc...
I don't think the sc is that great of a first car. i personally dont think that for a new driver RWD is the best decision. Also, the OP is in Massachusetts...not exactly the best weather all year round. Most of the replies to this have been from people in places like California, Florida, etc...places that have pretty good weather (not tons of snow/ice) all year round. Coming from a guy who lives in the Northeast, I wouldn't want to drive my SC year-round (and I dont). The bad weather conditions, combined with the RWD, is a recipie for disaster for a new driver.
It is true, these cars run very well for a long time...but there is more to a first car than running reliably.
I know that my children will have something slow and fwd as their first car. You also have to realize that you are in high school (assumption). In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter what you drive, especially at that time in your life imo. Buy something cheap, reliable, and fwd then save your money up so that you can buy something worthwhile down the road.
If you really are set on modding your first car (another thing I am not super supportive of), there are a bunch of FWD with aftermarket potential...
Check out:
Civics, Integras, Accords, Corollas, Subarus, Maxima, VW etc...
Last edited by djb5118; 06-03-09 at 06:35 AM.
#21
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: May 2008
Location: florida
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
as a first car, definitely don't go with REX. it can be an awesome car especially when modded. but the dawn thing is so tempermental that it a pain to maintain. it usually turns out to be a money pit, if not cared for properly.
if your heart is set on getting a RWD drive car get a 240, dirt cheap to maintain and easily modded.
if your heart is set on getting a RWD drive car get a 240, dirt cheap to maintain and easily modded.
#22
i'd say get an SC. Ton of luxury complimented with power and a large aftermarket following. I would suggest not getting a WRX due to the high insurance costs. In Michigan that's number two followed closely by the IS300
Any who that's my 2 cents!
Any who that's my 2 cents!
#23
Banned
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NA
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I completely missed the fact that hes in MA, ya def dont get an SC. It will be really hard to find a good condition one since the sc market is basically california and florida. Plus the car handles horribly on rain/snow. I grew up in michigan so i have experience driving on the snow in my old fwd car. Well the first time i drove the sc300 in the rain i started sliding. Its def not a good car to learn on or drive year round.
#25
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Mateo. California
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I completely missed the fact that hes in MA, ya def dont get an SC. It will be really hard to find a good condition one since the sc market is basically california and florida. Plus the car handles horribly on rain/snow. I grew up in michigan so i have experience driving on the snow in my old fwd car. Well the first time i drove the sc300 in the rain i started sliding. Its def not a good car to learn on or drive year round.
Drive like a normal person under harsh conditions and nothing serious will happen. If you decide to floor your car in the rain, the outcome might not be good.
#27
Banned
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NA
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Driving like a normal person in rain won't make you slide. You will be fine with an SC anywhere. Many of our members live where there is snow \ lots of rain.
Drive like a normal person under harsh conditions and nothing serious will happen. If you decide to floor your car in the rain, the outcome might not be good.
Drive like a normal person under harsh conditions and nothing serious will happen. If you decide to floor your car in the rain, the outcome might not be good.
I like the sc but i'm blinded by that to deny its faults.
#29
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
Dude, it's his first car. Take it easy with the mods lol. And you should probably check some of your info. A 1JZ swap is not that expensive, and there's no reason it shouldn't be street legal unless one tunes it poorly and has no cats (or lives in Commiefornia). You downtalk an NA-T setup for being hard to tune, but talk up a turbo'd B16 as a good candidate? And everyone wants to drive a gutted tin can Honda as their first car, right?
NA-T, 1JZ, 2JZ-GTE, these are all expensive and will not be as fast as a turbo'd Honda unless you can afford to drop way more money. Being his first car, I doubt that will happen.
Like I said, if he wants a quick(not really fast) luxury car, buy a vvti sc400. If he wants a really fast car (IMO) turbo Honda is the way.
Last edited by QwkSC; 06-03-09 at 12:21 PM.