With the DC4 getting the majority of driving duties these days (27mpg on 87 ftw - less and less problem areas as the days go by), i really want to replace the 240sx with an IS300.
Reasons I want it -
1 - I'm a sedan guy, I like the practicality of having four doors. Having the DC and S14 exemplifies me missing a four door car.
2 - I want something a bit more comfortable/upscale/luxury. I'm going to be driving my mom around town more often as her driving abilities are catching up to her age. Even when she was younger, she wasnt spectacular, aka typical asian woman. Seeing her struggle to get in and out of the teg/240sx is pretty bad.
3- While I currently dont mind driving the integra around town (its pretty low-radar, like those old ladies that drive integras), theres something about driving the 240sx gives off the drifter/kid/boyracer stigma too much.
4- here's just a nice example. lowered on nice VOLKs i cant stop looking at the car.
5-I want anonymity. IS300's are all over the place in SoCal. I dont honk blaringly and give the finger because I know I'm easy to indentify in my cars.
6-Factory HID's
7-Quieter interior. All the inherent creaks and moans of the 240sx just seem too ghetto for me.
I dont know any family or friends that have IS300's right now, but I have driven them a couple of times, albeit in around-the-block situations - nothing prolonged.
Questions about the car itself:
1-overall reliability - good or bad?
2-cost of maintenance - high or okay?
3-215hp - is it really that slow?
4-how quiet is the interior?
5-is it worth the $15-20k?
6-i want a higher mileage example (50k-75k) to offset the cost. is this a bad idea?
7-I wouldnt mind the automatic, since it will be a "community" car in my family again, i would think they're pretty solid being mated to a JZ variant? Am I wrong?
Reasons I might NOT want it:
1-you got rid of the evo because:
- you didnt want a ~$417 monthly payment for basically a racecar that you seldom got to race.
- you knew that the evo X was coming out and used Evo 8 values were going to drop nasty
- you didnt want a car payment in general
- you didnt want a boy racer car anymore
- high hp/high performance parts come with a tradeoff in longevity
- high profile / high attention
Will any of those be applied again if I get an IS300?
2-debt-free crew aka aux and craighimself are going to get mad that i'm not buying this IS in cash. :hugglez: yes, i'll be taking a used car loan out.
3-IS300 is a 10 year old design basically - I may or may not feel the age of the car.
4-Maintenance/Parts is going to be price-ier.
5-Mod bug is going to hit hard. Expensive WORK/VOLK/SSR and Suspension are sure to be going in. Probably expensive stereo too (in-dash Navigation).
I think thats it.