First post.. WHAT'S THIS CAR WORTH? - and other imponderables.
12-10-05, 08:24 PM
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First post.. WHAT'S THIS CAR WORTH? - and other imponderables.
Hello all,
I sold my 2003 Maxima 3 months ago and am still looking for a ride. After doing my random car searches today, I came upon a pretty rare specimen: a 1997 SC300 with about 58k miles on it, Red/Tan, 5-speed (!). It looks exceptionally clean.. the dealer is asking $16,900.
Now, I have a few questions:
1) How fun are these cars to drive stock? I have been looking at cars like the S2000, 99/2000 Vettes, etc.. can the SC300 compare, or is it pretty docile?
2) I will definitely want to go go turbo with this car. If I can get a kit for abour $4500 and the install for $1000, will that about cover it? I know there are a couple tried and true kits that are reliable, so that's the kind I want. I want no more than 400RWHP, so do my numbers sound reasonable?
3) What are some things to look out for when inspecting this car? I know Toyota/Lexus quality is great, but I am sure there are some common things that happen with the SC300's, and some that the dealer might have tried to cover up. What do I look out for, and what should I ask about?
4) How's that price look? I KBB'ed the car at $17,500 retail and $13,500 private party, and I'm thinking of offering $14,800. Is that a slap in the face, or not too bad?
5) Going back to the first question, how's the ride? Is it pretty sporty or soft and luxurious? I want something that can corner pretty good on a stock suspension..
Thank you all, and maybe I'll be in a SC300 next week!
I sold my 2003 Maxima 3 months ago and am still looking for a ride. After doing my random car searches today, I came upon a pretty rare specimen: a 1997 SC300 with about 58k miles on it, Red/Tan, 5-speed (!). It looks exceptionally clean.. the dealer is asking $16,900.
Now, I have a few questions:
1) How fun are these cars to drive stock? I have been looking at cars like the S2000, 99/2000 Vettes, etc.. can the SC300 compare, or is it pretty docile?
2) I will definitely want to go go turbo with this car. If I can get a kit for abour $4500 and the install for $1000, will that about cover it? I know there are a couple tried and true kits that are reliable, so that's the kind I want. I want no more than 400RWHP, so do my numbers sound reasonable?
3) What are some things to look out for when inspecting this car? I know Toyota/Lexus quality is great, but I am sure there are some common things that happen with the SC300's, and some that the dealer might have tried to cover up. What do I look out for, and what should I ask about?
4) How's that price look? I KBB'ed the car at $17,500 retail and $13,500 private party, and I'm thinking of offering $14,800. Is that a slap in the face, or not too bad?
5) Going back to the first question, how's the ride? Is it pretty sporty or soft and luxurious? I want something that can corner pretty good on a stock suspension..
Thank you all, and maybe I'll be in a SC300 next week!
12-10-05, 08:32 PM
#3
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1- How fun are these cars to drive stock?
A- They totally kill a chevette........ wait you said Corvette...... oh..... no.
2- prices vary
3- intellexual.net
4- decent
5- Compared to a vette?
SO it's between a vette and an SC? Don't ask me, I suck at these decisions
A- They totally kill a chevette........ wait you said Corvette...... oh..... no.
2- prices vary
3- intellexual.net
4- decent
5- Compared to a vette?
SO it's between a vette and an SC? Don't ask me, I suck at these decisions
12-10-05, 08:38 PM
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Heh.. well.. yeah.. not really. The Vettes that I want are in the low 20's and will be a bit hard to afford with montly payments, while the SC would be around $15,000, and much easier on the wallet. Plus a nicer interior, more livable day to day, etc. I was STUCK on Vettes for a month after selling my car, and I'm sort of happy that I haven't found one yet that I felt wasn't ridiculously overpriced, because like I said it would be a tough payment.
Any way, it's not between sn SC and the Vette; the SC is an option at this point, as I like what the S2000's offer. I test drove a modded Audi S4 today and was unimpressed, etc. Looking at many different cars, you know?
Any way, it's not between sn SC and the Vette; the SC is an option at this point, as I like what the S2000's offer. I test drove a modded Audi S4 today and was unimpressed, etc. Looking at many different cars, you know?
12-10-05, 08:44 PM
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You have to want a Lexus. If you seriously consider anything else you aren't the ideal owner. This is for several reasons, but it boils down to everything being an uphill battle on mods. If the car isn't enough for you stock and you THEN want to improve it a bit, keep walking. You'll never like it.
The C5 is a NICE machine, but yes all american cars are overpriced. Dependable? Not hardly. Will a C5 put your head into the headrest and a smile on your face? Yes,..... yes it will
......stock. 375 ft lb of tq 
(literally almost double the tq of SC's until 98+) Mods are a million per page in a search and not really all too hard to afford. I personally chose a C4 because I didn't want to hack a C5 up when $3k for 550 rwhp through a blower was a great option in a C4. 
If you can't enjoy it stock, you'll never enjoy it modded. It's a personality thing.
The C5 is a NICE machine, but yes all american cars are overpriced. Dependable? Not hardly. Will a C5 put your head into the headrest and a smile on your face? Yes,..... yes it will
......stock. 375 ft lb of tq (literally almost double the tq of SC's until 98+) Mods are a million per page in a search and not really all too hard to afford. I personally chose a C4 because I didn't want to hack a C5 up when $3k for 550 rwhp through a blower was a great option in a C4. If you can't enjoy it stock, you'll never enjoy it modded. It's a personality thing.
12-10-05, 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by O. L. T.
You have to want a Lexus. If you seriously consider anything else you aren't the ideal owner. This is for several reasons, but it boils down to everything being an uphill battle on mods. If the car isn't enough for you stock and you THEN want to improve it a bit, keep walking. You'll never like it.
The C5 is a NICE machine, but yes all american cars are overpriced. Dependable? Not hardly. Will a C5 put your head into the headrest and a smile on your face? Yes,..... yes it will ......stock. 375 ft lb of tq (literally almost double the tq of SC's until 98+) Mods are a million per page in a search and not really all too hard to afford. I personally chose a C4 because I didn't want to hack a C5 up when $3k for 550 rwhp through a blower was a great option in a C4.
If you can't enjoy it stock, you'll never enjoy it modded. It's a personality thing.
The C5 is a NICE machine, but yes all american cars are overpriced. Dependable? Not hardly. Will a C5 put your head into the headrest and a smile on your face? Yes,..... yes it will
......stock. 375 ft lb of tq (literally almost double the tq of SC's until 98+) Mods are a million per page in a search and not really all too hard to afford. I personally chose a C4 because I didn't want to hack a C5 up when $3k for 550 rwhp through a blower was a great option in a C4. If you can't enjoy it stock, you'll never enjoy it modded. It's a personality thing.
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12-10-05, 08:56 PM
#8
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If you really wanna boogie, find a 98+
Price isn't gonna be the same though.
First and foremost, go drive the car you intend to buy. Only you can make the determination you like it.
Price isn't gonna be the same though.
First and foremost, go drive the car you intend to buy. Only you can make the determination you like it.
12-10-05, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by O. L. T.
If you really wanna boogie, find a 98+
Price isn't gonna be the same though.
First and foremost, go drive the car you intend to buy. Only you can make the determination you like it.
Price isn't gonna be the same though.
First and foremost, go drive the car you intend to buy. Only you can make the determination you like it.
Why a 98 over a 97 SC300? Big power increase?
12-10-05, 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Inabj2
Not a cheap car to mod... but I wouldnt call modding a SC300 an uphill battle at all.. Especially after seeing some close to 1000 hp examples in this same site..
There is no plug and play software, there is no specific programs written, half the parts are fabbed.......................
Compared to bolting a forced induction kit into a BMW by Dinan - which was designed to bolt directly in and install the new chip and you're good to tweak.................. yeah it's a helluva pain to get them set up.
12-10-05, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by murf
For sure, gonna look at it in the next few days.
Why a 98 over a 97 SC300? Big power increase?
Why a 98 over a 97 SC300? Big power increase?
There's a lot that needs to be known.
12-10-05, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by O. L. T.
go back to intellexual.net and spend a few minutes in the faq and you'll hold the keys of all knowledge There's a lot that needs to be known.
There's a lot that needs to be known.http://www.intellexual.net/faq.html#08
12-10-05, 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by murf
I couldn't find it.. I looked, and this was as much as was said for SC300 product year revisions:
http://www.intellexual.net/faq.html#08
http://www.intellexual.net/faq.html#08
from your link:
The SC300 comes with a 3.0-liter 182 ci cast iron inline-6 motor with aluminum heads (engine designation: 2JZ-GE) and a choice between a Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive or a Toyota W58 5-speed manual transmission (available from 1992-1997).
From 1992-1997, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 210 ft/lb torque @ 4800 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 220 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3494 lbs. in 1992 to 3560 lbs. in 2000.
The SC400 comes with a 4.0-liter 242 ci cast aluminum V-8 motor with aluminum heads (engine designation: 1UZ-FE) and a standard equipped Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (from 1992-1997). No manual transmission was ever offered for the SC400.
From 1992-1995, the power was rated as 250 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 260 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1996-1997, the power was rated as 260 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 270 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 290 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 300 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3575 lbs. in 1992 to 3655 lbs. in 2000.
Manual transmissions were never offered for the SC400 and were discontinued after 1997 on the SC300. The SC300s that came with optional Toyota W58 5-speed manual transmissions do not come equipped with traction control.
In 1998 the SC400 received a Toyota A650E 5-speed automatic transmission with advanced ECT-i and a burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000), while the 1998 SC300 received a Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000).
In 1998, both the SC300 and SC400 received VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing) engine technology. These motors have completely redesigned heads, which boast variable valve timing on their intake camshafts via an oil-driven helical gear-drive. 1998 and newer Lexus models with 4.0L V-8s are capable of low to high 14-second quarter miles. - (info provided by gs400998)
The SC400 came stock with 16x7.5-inch alloy wheels and the SC300 came stock with 15x6.5-inch turbine-cut alloy wheels.
The SC400 came with power automated telescoping/tilting steering wheel, and the third brake light was mounted inside the spoiler as opposed to on the rear dash behind the windshield in the SC300. The SC400 has larger disc brakes (11.7-inch front & 12.1-inch rear) compared to the SC300 (10.8-inch front & 11.4-inch rear). The SC300 had an optional but very rare velour (gray or tan) interior and optional but very rare hard top (no moonroof).
There are no substantial body differences between the SC300 and SC400. Models that did not include a spoiler with LED-third brake light, standard on the SC400 and optional on the SC300, were fitted with a third brake light on the rear deck behind the rear windshield.
From 1992-1997, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 210 ft/lb torque @ 4800 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 225 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 220 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3494 lbs. in 1992 to 3560 lbs. in 2000.
The SC400 comes with a 4.0-liter 242 ci cast aluminum V-8 motor with aluminum heads (engine designation: 1UZ-FE) and a standard equipped Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (from 1992-1997). No manual transmission was ever offered for the SC400.
From 1992-1995, the power was rated as 250 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 260 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1996-1997, the power was rated as 260 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and 270 ft/lb torque @ 4400 rpm. From 1998-2000, the power was rated as 290 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 300 ft/lb torque @ 4000 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 3575 lbs. in 1992 to 3655 lbs. in 2000.
Manual transmissions were never offered for the SC400 and were discontinued after 1997 on the SC300. The SC300s that came with optional Toyota W58 5-speed manual transmissions do not come equipped with traction control.
In 1998 the SC400 received a Toyota A650E 5-speed automatic transmission with advanced ECT-i and a burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000), while the 1998 SC300 received a Toyota A343E 4-speed automatic transmission with burl-wood gated shifter (from 1998-2000).
In 1998, both the SC300 and SC400 received VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing) engine technology. These motors have completely redesigned heads, which boast variable valve timing on their intake camshafts via an oil-driven helical gear-drive. 1998 and newer Lexus models with 4.0L V-8s are capable of low to high 14-second quarter miles. - (info provided by gs400998)
The SC400 came stock with 16x7.5-inch alloy wheels and the SC300 came stock with 15x6.5-inch turbine-cut alloy wheels.
The SC400 came with power automated telescoping/tilting steering wheel, and the third brake light was mounted inside the spoiler as opposed to on the rear dash behind the windshield in the SC300. The SC400 has larger disc brakes (11.7-inch front & 12.1-inch rear) compared to the SC300 (10.8-inch front & 11.4-inch rear). The SC300 had an optional but very rare velour (gray or tan) interior and optional but very rare hard top (no moonroof).
There are no substantial body differences between the SC300 and SC400. Models that did not include a spoiler with LED-third brake light, standard on the SC400 and optional on the SC300, were fitted with a third brake light on the rear deck behind the rear windshield.