PHXSC

I've leased one car in my life (1/2 century now), and will never do that again. You'll still be financing the residual, if you keep the G37, and that will likely be more than what you can buy the older Lexus for now. Bad move IMHO.

mhoepfin

I think you make the case yourself for the Lexus!

Also, looking at that picture of the interior of the G, it looks so cheap!

Finally, I'd suggest looking at some of the other cars I checked out before I got the SC-

Jaguar XK8 - four seater and similar decent prices on older cars and looks awesome
Audi A4 Cabriolet - much better backseat room
Merc CLK - not a huge fan, but comparable
BMW 635 - better buy if you are going bigger bucks than the G.

Good luck!

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

yeah, I think I have talked myself out of the G37 lease for now. The interior is not as plush as a SC, but then again neither is an ES or IS for that matter. The SC is a $65k Lexus flagship coupe hardtop convertible...the G37 is a sporty, chop-the-top-of-the-G37 Coupe car. I get that. I totally get it.

What the G offered that the SC doesn't are four things for me: 1) Paddle shifters-they are so much fun! I have learned to live with the SC c-gate manual shifting and kinda like it though, so this one can be pacified a little 2) Cooled Seats 3) Ipod and bluetooth technology. Although the interior isn't lined with leather and birdseye maple, the interior has tons of tech gadgets that the SC never had/has. 4) Power/fun factor/newness

If I get another SC, the bluetooth and ipod are bigger considerations for me. So...I would have to get the 2005 at least to be able to have those.

Gotta disagree a little on the G37 finish though...they do dress up nicely...not the base one you showed. Look at the premier edition (remind anyone of the PB?)...the wood really is needed to dress it up-especially if comparing to a SC. IMHO the interior is a 8/10 compared to the 10 of SC. Technology is a 10 though compared to 7 of the SC.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the suggestions on other cars...here is what I found...remember I have to have a backseat.

911-too rough on the inside, annoying "tape or cd" holders in the dash! rough, $$$$ maintenance concerns-I drove one that the water pump had just been replaced for $1200-they had to drop the engine! It gets A+ on the fun and looks factor though!

Jag XK-love the last bodystyle, but love the newer one even more. $$$$ Maint costs and dependability. Terrible service experiences from people. Not fun either, heavier/slower than the SC. Not as sporty as the SC IMHO. $25-30k for a 2002-2005 puts it in the nice price range, but cannot even come close to affording the 2007. No cooled seats, ipod/bluetooth and the manual shifting is even worse than our 2002-2005 c-gate manual thing. The red Xk seemed to only come in the XKR which are depandability nightmares with the ford supercharger. Very rare too.

Audi A4-like it too. In fact, talked my dad into buying one. My dad has a red on tan with a tan top. Plush, kind of in between a MBZ and a Lexus. I like the interior and fit/finish more than a CLK, but no where near the SC. It is slow though. The manual shifter is cool, no cooled seats no ipod no btooth until 2006 which is $$$$. The S4 in red would be SWEEEEEET with 300+ HP, but extremely rare and still very $$$ even a 05.

The CLK is just out for me altogether. hate the interior, slow as hell, boring. BAD JD Powers reports. Too much of a chick car. I actually liked the old CLK500 with the AMG package...thought it looked more agressive, but the newer bodystyle 2003+ even in the CLK55 is too similar to a total grandma mobile CLK320.

Maybe I'll got get a Sebring! Yeah, that's it! Actually the ONLY american made car I would consider with a backseat that is a drop top is the S281 Mustang Saleen. They are bad! Still ugly on the inside, but sweet on the outside, rare, fast and fun. No tech gagdgets at all inside until 2007 I believe. You can get a 2005 for $30k or so. 400HP