doopstr

I'm considering picking up a used (2002) SC 430 as my mid life crisis car.

I want a convertible and the idea a hard top is very appealing to me. From my research these cars seem to be very reliable, which is key to me. I would keep the car for the long haul (10 years).

It looks like a 2002 can be had for around $30k. Probably a few k less if I can negotiate well.

I have also considered other convertibles such as the A4, BMW 3 Series, Z4. But I have concerns on their reliability as they age. If I bought one of them it would need be used. Is reliability a valid concern for the German cars?

How about the new Saturn and Pontiac convertibles? I could probably get a new one of them for about the same price as the used Lexus.

For my order of importance it would be, reliability, appearance, luxury/comfort, handling. I like a car that can handle well but the reality is that I wouldn't be driving it like a race car so good cruiser>race car for me.

Dan

It looks fugly IMO. But, after driving it at a Lexus sponsored driving school, get it. It is one nice car inside and you don't see the outside while you are driving it.

derrick

SC430 a realiable old man's car. Mid-life crisis car ... I'm not sure this will suit your "fix". Boxster or Miata would be more of a mid-life crisis car but I see you want a hardtop convertible ... then Cayman or Miata with the optional hardtop would be the answer...

If you think a non-AWD Porsche cannot survive an East Coast winter -- there's an article in Canadian Driver where a critic drove a Boxster through an Ottawa winter. (They get way more snow in a season there than NJ would ever see ...) Winter tires are a must, though ...

Infamous425

if reliable is your #1 then go for the lex

Ken1997TL

Sure its reliable but its a SNOOZE to drive. It IS comfortable though.

The S2000 is reliable as well and will wake you up from a midlife crisis

sbuswell

does it have to have a hardtop for the vert? try to find a nice used and un-modded Supra TT. they are very reliable and a boat load faster, better handling and better looking. plus no one will say a Supra is an old mans car. Or maybe you can score a great deal on a used NSX.

Marc S

the SC430 is pimppppppp

SSMTL01

regardless of what others say, i love these cars. They are very refined and have quite the interior. The wood and stitched leather conlsole are top notch I like the idea of a hardtop convertible as well, and there arent many cars in this category with that feature. The cadillac xlr is nicer looking but not nearly as refined as the lexus.

Also, if you have some additional funds to put in it.. it will NOT be a slouch:



build link:
http://www.lextreme.com/sc430tt.html

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

That car has grown on me if the last 5 years. The exterior is a little to "round" for my taste, but as stated above, once you've sat inside of one you'll totally forget about what it looks like outside.

The exterior can be fixed with some deep dish 19s to give the car a little more dimension.

As for the midlife crisis thing.... You'll need a more traditional type sports care for that.

Let's see...
(all pre-owned)

350 Z convertible
Audi TT convertilbe
Chrysler Crossfire
S2000
(a new) Solstice or Sky
or if you can swing it a NSX (targa)

my

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

Here is a pix of what one looks like with deep dish wheels...

phile

I like it. Probably the best Lexus interior prior to the new LS. Wood and soft leather everywhere.

Mokos23

I always see ladies in their 40s or 50s driving them. I test drove one before in the Taste of Lexus, well to me it's kinda of boring to drive.

srika

I thought you get a sports car to combat mid-life crisis.... SC430 is FAR from that... its what you get when youre like, 60 and need some exhilaration. :P

GreenMonster

+1

As much as I'd love to buy an old porsche, I keep getting drawn back to the S2K...

RWD, lightweight, reliable, and there is a hardtop available (~$3K)....

You can find some nice AP1 Sk2's w/ under 40K miles for under $20K...

Crazy Bimmer

Corvette... duh.

Z4 would be my pick for a small roadster. Just get an extended warranty if you are worried about problems.

Best bet is to look on BMW forums and ask Z4 owners how their cars been holding up.

doopstr

Thanks for the input. I like the S2000 but I would need to learn how to drive a stick first.

I'm going to see what the story is with the 350Z and the Z4. Didn't the 350Z have a lot of problems with uneven tire wear? I like the Boxster, are they reliable though?

Aren't most Miata drivers ummm good dancers?

Will Y.

35 and a Lexus as a mid-life crisis car?? I think you have to be 50+, balding and driving an overly loud sports car before it can be considered a "mid-life crisis."
The Lexus is probably the only roadster that fits your priorities. The problem with the S2000 (same with the Miata) is that it won't be a comfy "cruiser"-- too loud inside the cockpit on the freeway. Nissan 350Zs did have a rear tire wear problem and associated TSB or recall.
The German cars are always expensive to repair; they showed up at the bottom of the long-term Consumer Reports surveys released last week. The Japanese cars at 10 years had the same number of the problems as 5 year old German cars...
The Saturn and Pontiac reviewers commented on the difficult-to-raise soft tops; I don't know if a hard top is available. The Saturn Sky Red Line may be the better car of the pair.

srika

and oh yea i think ~45 is "mid-life"

EuRTSX

Man you're not old...


That SC430 with deep dish is

Shoofin

The 02-03 models had issues with the suspension/wheels/tires. The suspension was waaay too stiff, causing too rough a ride. I think it was in '04 that they revised the suspension and put a softer tire on it for a better ride. It is a great car though, I just think there are others out there that I would prefer. My wife loves the car, I was thinking about surprising her this summer by buying her one to use for the summertime...the perks of being a dealer..

EPS CL

I drove my boss's SC430 and like others said, it is a slick ride. Nice interior, but the backseat is WORTHLESS. The hardtop convertible is money and everything about it is great. My only complaint was that it didn't drive like a Lexus. It was okay, but REALLY stiff on speedbumps and shit in our parking lot.

njzprettyboy

Look at that house!! Its beautiful

leedogg

You should definitely check out the new hardtop miatas. I heard good things about them

cob3683

My mom had a 02 SC430 and lets just say that, while the interior materials were top notch, it was an absolute snooze to drive. Also, during the 15-16 months that they had it, it was taken into the dealership 5-6 times for electrical system problems (the car had to be driven every day or the battery would be dead by the second day).

Other than our car, the SC430 seems to be very reliable. If you decide on getting one, I would upgrade the audio system in an instant.....that Levinson system in the 2002 was awful.

jupitersolo

S2000> any Miata

alex2364

Like everyone else says the SC430 no where close to being a mid life crisis car. You're not in a real mid life crisis til you're willing to drive a stick shift.

03sixer

I test drove one a couple years ago, and it was smooth. However, I always see what look like rich spoiled old ladies driving those cars, or drug dealers.

Sclass88

If I were going through a midlife crisis, I'd go find a C5 Vette.

treyster

F23A4

The wife and I drove that at a Lexus event. She fell in love with it and I (surprisingly) liked it enough to consider the purchase of one. As far as comparisons go, it is nothing like the S2K, 350Z and Miata....which are clearly more towards the sports end of the roadster spectrum. Rather, the SC is more akin to the MB SL.

daemonicus

the outside to me is iffy but the interior is simply amazing.

Scrib

You're too young for a mid-life crisis. 35 is minivan age.

S14 n Tsx

I always thought the sc was over-priced car.

Moog-Type-S

SC430 =

doopstr

Have one

daemonicus

i remember top gear tested it against the hyundai tiburon and they found the SC to be extremely boring and nowhere near what it tries to be. ultimately, the 6 speed tiburon was more fun and sporty than the SC.

DelawareCLS

If you're looking at around $30k and want performance, how about an MB C55 cabriolet or an SLK32? SLK would get you the hardtop and in AMG form it doesn't look too girly. That is, if you can fit in one.

CLK55 would lose the hard top, but make up for it in performance and looks.

Just my $0.02.

mr.motoring

It's a girly car.

vishnus11

SC430s a nice solid cars. Beautiful interiors, and they're continually ranked as one of the most reliable cars around. I just don't see it as a midlife crisis car. But for a real, raw sports car:


But I'm biased

Also consider the Z4. Good, fun car with great polarizing styling (hey, after all, a sports car should be styled loudly), but more liveable everyday than an S2000.

baboya96

I must be the first one to say this but I would LOVE to own SC430 and i'm only 23. Since it came out in 02, I always considered it as my 'realistic dreamcar'. I'm not much into speed, performance on tracks but rather pay attention to comfort, luxury. Everyone has different needs when it comes to their vehicles and I for one would find SC430 to provide me with everythign I desire on cars. Plus hardtop is so sexy....

I'm giving myself another two years to save up for 03-04 SC430 with less than 50k miles or better yet if they come out with different design in next year or two, that would bring prices even lower. Plus having Lexus badge sorta gives you the feeling of realibility despite what some might say.