What to buy ... what to buy?

[dud]

I've had my eye on a 1992 - 2000 Lexus SC300 or SC400 for some time. I've looked locally and cross-country. I FINALLY found a '93 with only 46K miles in near mint condition locally. At the same time I've been considering buying a maxi-scooter (Honda Silver Wing) or similar.

The problem lies in the fact that I like to read A LOT and I am not blind, I see where the price of gas is heading. This article pretty much describes what we, in the US are going to be looking at when it comes to gas prices in the future (because of rising demand in the developing world). It looks most probable that we are looking at $5 per gallon by 2015:

Cheap cars in Asia, expensive gas everywhere (the debut of the $2,500 car)


Now I feel guilty for buying a luxury car (sold new for $51K a dozen years ago) with a V8 that gets 20 MPG with a strong tailwind. For about half the price I can get a 500cc maxi scooter that gets over 50 MPG (I drive 6 miles each way to work). The weather here allows you to drive a bike 365 days a year if you like.


What to do ... what to do?

 

[MovingTarget]

You are probably right about the gas prices. Since the weather there allows you to drive the scooter, and you aren't opposed to it, I'd say go with the scooter. The Silverwing is pretty top of the line as far as those go, but you might want to also check out the high end Vespa Grandturismo, or maybe one of the Scaraebo scooters (Really, they are more automatic motorcycles than scooters, but are in the line of what you might be looking for). Also, an early 90s car might give you some reliability issues depending on the car, so a newer scooter may be better from a reliability standpoint.

 

[Fenixgoon]

motorcycle > scooter!

 

[jagec]

6 miles each way to work? Get whichever vehicle best suits you, and ride a bicycle for your commute.

I ride a motorcycle, and while I enjoy it quite a bit, it has a number of practicality concerns. The mileage is indeed phenomenal, though.

In your case I'd imagine it would get really old to get ALL your gear on, ride 6 miles, and then take ALL your gear off twice a day.

 

[dawp]

No true sports car has a back seat! I would call those sportscoupe or sportsedan(2 or 4 door)
that said, I still would get a car for fowl weather first and then the bike. If it was me, id get a HD Sportster or a triumph Bonneville(match my TR7)

 

[dud]

Thanks for the replies guys. I already have a Nissan Frontier as my daily driver. I was just looking for something to add a little spice to my life. The bottom line is really this:

I find it cruelly ironic that when I was young I had no money and wanted a lot ... now that I am older I find that I have all the money I need and want nothing.

Go figure ...

 

[alkemyst]

Personally I'd go SC300 if I had to choose either of them...it only sold for about $40k a dozen or so years ago (don't know why this is important though). IMHO they are a bit common done here and a little bloated for my tastes.

The SC300 is availabe with a manual and shares the same powerplant as the Supra opening up a lot of tuning options.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: dawp
No true sports car has a back seat! I would call those sportscoupe or sportsedan(2 or 4 door)
that said, I still would get a car for fowl weather first and then the bike. If it was me, id get a HD Sportster or a triumph Bonneville(match my TR7)

Better not tell any Porsche owners that...