Kicking the tires on my new '98 SC400
05-26-10, 10:33 PM
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Kicking the tires on my new '98 SC400
This is my 1998 Lexus SC400. I love buying a new car and getting it home so I can give it a thorough look see. So this is my initial inspection of the car where I can get all nit-picky about it. I am using this as a "before I do anything" starting off point.
Paid $7500 with 129k on the clock.
Overall it is in good shape (albeit dirty) and has been well maintained by a Lexus dealership its whole life, complete with service history.
Body is in excellent condition and so is the paint.There are a few minor imperfections, but overall the car is pretty straight on all sides with no dents (one ding) no rust at all (which is rare on a Chicago car with all the salt here) and decent paint.
Paid $7500 with 129k on the clock.
Overall it is in good shape (albeit dirty) and has been well maintained by a Lexus dealership its whole life, complete with service history.
Body is in excellent condition and so is the paint.There are a few minor imperfections, but overall the car is pretty straight on all sides with no dents (one ding) no rust at all (which is rare on a Chicago car with all the salt here) and decent paint.
05-26-10, 10:43 PM
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So it looks good so far, but if you look closer you can see a few trouble spots.
Rims are a mystery, I thought the guy I bought it from said they were from an '03 GS300, but after looking, either he's wrong or I heard him wrong. Whatever, I like the rims well enough and they came with brand new rubber.
Anyone have a clue what car/year they are from?
I did find a bit of evidence of a fender bender in an uneven body/door/hood panel gap convergence and a marking on the passenger side headlight that looks like it is from a salvage yard/parts depot.
There is one small scratch/ding on the passenger side door just above the door handle. There are also a couple of minor nicks in the hood paint.
Rims are a mystery, I thought the guy I bought it from said they were from an '03 GS300, but after looking, either he's wrong or I heard him wrong. Whatever, I like the rims well enough and they came with brand new rubber.
Anyone have a clue what car/year they are from?
I did find a bit of evidence of a fender bender in an uneven body/door/hood panel gap convergence and a marking on the passenger side headlight that looks like it is from a salvage yard/parts depot.
There is one small scratch/ding on the passenger side door just above the door handle. There are also a couple of minor nicks in the hood paint.
Last edited by berserker3; 05-26-10 at 10:44 PM. Reason: spelling error
05-26-10, 10:58 PM
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So thats the exterior. Lets open her up and look inside.
(first pic is from the ad on craigslist where she was listed)
First glance, Seats look good, front and back, no tears or major damage.
Arm rest is in excellent condition, no wear marks or cracks and the padding is in good condition.
Center console and glove in good condition. Wood trim all accounted for and has no cracks or visible damage. Lights in center stack are all on and ahve good brightness.
Vanity lights and courtesy lights all work and the headliner is perfect.
(first pic is from the ad on craigslist where she was listed)
First glance, Seats look good, front and back, no tears or major damage.
Arm rest is in excellent condition, no wear marks or cracks and the padding is in good condition.
Center console and glove in good condition. Wood trim all accounted for and has no cracks or visible damage. Lights in center stack are all on and ahve good brightness.
Vanity lights and courtesy lights all work and the headliner is perfect.
05-26-10, 11:06 PM
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Headliner in rear also perfect. (nothing more annoying than a saggy headliner)
Rear deck is also near mint and there is not much sign of UV fade.
The guy I bought it from said he had the speakers replaced recently with OEM replacements from the dealership. They sure sound like new.
Gauge cluster is fully lit and operational.
Note the RPMs in park
and in gear.
She really does just purr.
Rear deck is also near mint and there is not much sign of UV fade.
The guy I bought it from said he had the speakers replaced recently with OEM replacements from the dealership. They sure sound like new.
Gauge cluster is fully lit and operational.
Note the RPMs in park
and in gear.
She really does just purr.
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05-26-10, 11:24 PM
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Once again on closer inspection...
Driver seat has some cracks and minor/major wear on the wing.
There is a small tear on the driver side door panel.
Door jambs are FILTHY, (I had to armor all the rubber wire cover due to it looking brutally dry) but the hinges are in tip-top shape with no sag.
Cup holder good and operational, glove box clean and good, wait s#!t the light is burnt out. Dammit! thats gonna set me back at least $3
The front passenger and rear seat has weird scratches on them. Maybe someone had a tool in their pocket?
Driver seat has some cracks and minor/major wear on the wing.
There is a small tear on the driver side door panel.
Door jambs are FILTHY, (I had to armor all the rubber wire cover due to it looking brutally dry) but the hinges are in tip-top shape with no sag.
Cup holder good and operational, glove box clean and good, wait s#!t the light is burnt out. Dammit! thats gonna set me back at least $3
The front passenger and rear seat has weird scratches on them. Maybe someone had a tool in their pocket?
05-26-10, 11:37 PM
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A quick peep in the trunk reveals good things and bad.
Carpet on trunk lid is like new.
Spare tire is showroom new, looks like it has never been used, and the foam holder is perfect.
How many of you have the original First-Aid kit?
But still more dirt by the trunk hinge (which needs new trunk lid supports)
Any one hear of getting a car detailed? Ever hear of a Q-tip?
Carpet on trunk lid is like new.
Spare tire is showroom new, looks like it has never been used, and the foam holder is perfect.
How many of you have the original First-Aid kit?
But still more dirt by the trunk hinge (which needs new trunk lid supports)
Any one hear of getting a car detailed? Ever hear of a Q-tip?
05-26-10, 11:46 PM
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one last section to go, under the hood...
Pop open the hood to reveal the awesome 1UZ FE V8 and a TON of dirt!!!
I couldn't even draw a yuck face cause the dirt is so caked.
Is that the original battery!!! (probably not, but it looks like it is)
I guess this (the air filter box) isn't important to keep clean either.
At least all the maintenance has been done, including the major services.
Pop open the hood to reveal the awesome 1UZ FE V8 and a TON of dirt!!!
I couldn't even draw a yuck face cause the dirt is so caked.
Is that the original battery!!! (probably not, but it looks like it is)
I guess this (the air filter box) isn't important to keep clean either.
At least all the maintenance has been done, including the major services.
congrats man
05-27-10, 12:17 AM
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All in all I think she was well worth the money. Drives like a dream, engine is strong and literally purrs along the road. Transmission though seems to hesitate shifting, usually at low speds it doesn't seem to shift all the way down to first gear when idling along, but just needs a little gas to get it to downshift. Also has stuck in low gear at low speeds, but no problems under full throttle. Probably need a rebuild in a year or two. Sooner if I can't resist mashing the pedal down too much.
I have minor cosmetic changes in mind up first, Halo projector headlights with 5000k HID, New Tails (if I can find some that don't suck) window vent air deflector, 28-35% tint on the windows, LED interior/exterior lighting, a thorough cleaning and a clay bar to fix up the paint a bit and have that ding repaired.
I have minor cosmetic changes in mind up first, Halo projector headlights with 5000k HID, New Tails (if I can find some that don't suck) window vent air deflector, 28-35% tint on the windows, LED interior/exterior lighting, a thorough cleaning and a clay bar to fix up the paint a bit and have that ding repaired.
Last edited by berserker3; 05-27-10 at 12:19 AM. Reason: forgot pic
