puddintane

My wife and I turned past 70 1/2 this tax year. Means we had to take required minimum withdrawals from our retirement programs. Geez, it put us from living on SS to over $200,000 for 2007 tax year. I (we) am flabbergasted. We had no idea!
I want a white convertible. An SC. I am gonna spend some money. We owe NO bills. How safe is a 2000 and later SC? (price and reliability) I want to put in a tape (I have them) of Kay Starr and Teresa Brewer. I want to drive down the street with the top down (when it warms up) What is the insurance deal?
Puddintane

Black_SC

iTrader: (6)

2000 was the last year the 300/400 were made.

RedPhoenix

iTrader: (10)

Try the SC430 forums

Cloud9

iTrader: (2)

Get a 2006+ SC430 - it has a few upgrades that is worth the price.
Good choice color!

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the Club and your golden years. Appears that you will be celebrating in style.

Reliability wise the SC430 is known to one of if not the most reliable car on the road. Very solid.

Make sure it can hold enough luggage for those trips as space is limited with the top down though with the top up there is plenty.

Safety wise the car has the usual host of safety items though no real rollover protection unless you are under 5' tall so try not to flip it. Otherwise the car is very solid and would hold up well in an accident. A few members posted pictures of their unfortunate accidents and the SC performed very well.

coach1

puddintane.......welcome to the geezer club (By No Means the members here are Geezers...as a matter a fact....just the opposite) only some of us that think we are still kids. I'm not quite 70, but only 4 years away. I ride a customer big block chopper motorcycle. I drove my 92 500SL for 13 years. I've owned everything from Porsche to Corvettes.

I bought my 2003 SC430 several months ago....this is my take.....:
The car feels like a full size luxury sedan w/o the back seat.
It drives like a sport car
Fast yet smooth, and gets 20-24 mpg
You can go down the interstate w/the top down and not mess the hair
It has all the tricks...great sound system...navigation...w/performance technology.
Trunk handles allot of luggage with the top up and will still carry a couple sets of golf clubs down.
My wife loved driving the 500SL, but hated being a passenger. She loves both in the lexus. Even thou we have only taken short trips, it is a car suited for long distance travel.
Reliability record is unsurpassed. ( Mercedes was beginning to break the bank on maintenance issues)

I wanted to feel young and sporty yet cross over to the luxury sedan feel other times......this was the ticket for me. Good luck with your search and yes I agree, stay away from the 2000 vintage, go for at least 2002 plus, and if the budget can stand it, 2006 plus.

martini3

i don't say much here, but "One Life To Live".

margaux01

Tee, great line, I couldn't have said it better

Habious

When I tell folks why the wife and I bought this car, the line I use is "I'm old enough to afford it but, young enough to enjoy it."

TLW

I love the story!!! $200000!!! I wonder if that feels just as good as finding a $20 in a pair of jeans or an old winter coat.


Go with 2006 and up model, you can't lose.

margaux01

Well said ! I'm definitely in that camp.....Most of the SC430 owners I come across are the 40s and up crowds.

turbothema

I bought a new 2002 SC in 2001, I have 136,000 miles on it and I still love it.
I have had to replace the windshield 3 times but each time I had a rock chip.
I just put new tires on it and I left the Bridgestones OE and went to the Michelin Primacy Zero pressure. What a difference.

TLW

Welcome to CL