Buying a 98 sc400.
#16
Rookie
Thread Starter
#17
Pole Position
- passenger door did not shut completely (possible accident)
- slight mismatched paint on some areas
- slight dings on some areas
- all VIN stickers were not present on body panels (possible repaint due to accident)
- broken interior pieces
- power wise : was not too impressed (slight hesitation if line)
#18
Rookie
Thread Starter
Good luck! I checked this SC400 when it was first advertised. Here are some things i recollect about it:
- passenger door did not shut completely (possible accident)
- slight mismatched paint on some areas
- slight dings on some areas
- all VIN stickers were not present on body panels (possible repaint due to accident)
- broken interior pieces
- power wise : was not too impressed (slight hesitation if line)
- passenger door did not shut completely (possible accident)
- slight mismatched paint on some areas
- slight dings on some areas
- all VIN stickers were not present on body panels (possible repaint due to accident)
- broken interior pieces
- power wise : was not too impressed (slight hesitation if line)
Last edited by Sanfou510; 02-10-16 at 02:23 AM.
#19
Pole Position
My son has a 98' sc300 with 58k miles on it. We were going to get this and turn his into a project car. However, in person, the car seems a little bit more beat up then we wanted to be and i was very discouraged by the misaligned passenger door and seemingly "tired" engine. I cant tell if the guy bought off the car from the old lady or if he selling it as a proxy for her. Seemed a bit shady.
#20
Rookie
Thread Starter
My son has a 98' sc300 with 58k miles on it. We were going to get this and turn his into a project car. However, in person, the car seems a little bit more beat up then we wanted to be and i was very discouraged by the misaligned passenger door and seemingly "tired" engine. I cant tell if the guy bought off the car from the old lady or if he selling it as a proxy for her. Seemed a bit shady.
#21
Pole Position
Dont be put off by our assessment. My son and I are very picky on our cars. If the CarFax and a mechanic checks out and you can get down to $5k, it could still be a good deal..
#22
Rookie
Thread Starter
Just looked at the carfax it was involved in a accident in the rear right corner in 2011. Sucks /:
#23
Pole Position
Btw> unless you go for a 98+ sc400, you should look at SC300s too. Very similar power and more readiky available. You SHOULD NOT be paying $6k fir a 150k miles pre-98 SC400 ever!
#24
Pole Position
#25
Intermediate
As you can see the number for 98+ SC400s is very low, so it a bit of a rare vehicle. Especially talking about engine parts, which Lexus made for the GS400, 98-00 LS400 and the 98-00 SC400. I think some parts can come from the Toyota counter parts perhaps the 4runner, but honestly the SC is the best of both worlds. On one hand we have our Supra counterpart and we have the a modern engine which is decently fast for a car made in 1998. (0-60 in 6 seconds flat).
#26
Rookie
Thread Starter
I bought my 1998 SC400 for around ~$5500, I think I did overpay by maybe $500 or so. But I don't regret it at all, I wanted this car and it was my budget so I bought it. I was the 4th owner and the owner previous to that only owned it for 7 -9 months. I think the previous owner didn't take care of it well but I tend to bring it back. I'm a bit envious that you have a such a great deal ahead of you and as for the price, I would pay the same for this one just because I know I overpaid for mine.
As you can see the number for 98+ SC400s is very low, so it a bit of a rare vehicle. Especially talking about engine parts, which Lexus made for the GS400, 98-00 LS400 and the 98-00 SC400. I think some parts can come from the Toyota counter parts perhaps the 4runner, but honestly the SC is the best of both worlds. On one hand we have our Supra counterpart and we have the a modern engine which is decently fast for a car made in 1998. (0-60 in 6 seconds flat).
As you can see the number for 98+ SC400s is very low, so it a bit of a rare vehicle. Especially talking about engine parts, which Lexus made for the GS400, 98-00 LS400 and the 98-00 SC400. I think some parts can come from the Toyota counter parts perhaps the 4runner, but honestly the SC is the best of both worlds. On one hand we have our Supra counterpart and we have the a modern engine which is decently fast for a car made in 1998. (0-60 in 6 seconds flat).
Last edited by Sanfou510; 02-10-16 at 05:19 PM.
#27
Intermediate
Thanks for you input i really appreciate it. As it turns out the 98 sc400 has been in a rear passenger accident. Though it is not salvage title and has been fixed professionally i still wont trust it. There might have been frame damage there might have not. and also the suspension but who knows until that owner involved in the accident other wise! But i think i will have to pass. Theres no rush, i dont mind on keep on looking. But honestly if i can get it for under 5.5k i'll go for it since looking at how only 1200 of them were made in 98. But who knows maybe another deal will come up i just might have to be patient /:
#28
Rookie
Thread Starter
If you can wait (as in wait very long) then be patient, because it is worth it I tell you. I was trying to find a 98+ SC400 in Texas and only 3 or 4 showed up the whole year and one of them was that I could afford. It's worth the wait considering I waited almost a year and a half. I have never owned a car before, but I'm glad I did buy the SC I wanted. One of the biggest reasons to buy a SC is because is of this wonderful community, there is so much support here and the most threads from any Lexus model. It's better to wait than to have regret.
Edit: found the 00 sc300. If anybody who is interested should sweep this up!
http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5425540522.html
Last edited by Sanfou510; 02-10-16 at 05:49 PM.
#29
Intermediate
There's a couple of 98-00 sc's i seen for sale but its been neglected by the previous owners. For instance, theres a 2000 sc300 thats a couple of hours away from me. I forgot but it has 150k i believe BUT the owner had either lost/broken its keys so you cant even test drive it! You gotta tow it and get it reprogrammed to a new key which is a big no no for me! Lol! Theres a black on black 99 sc4 wit 67k but the owner wants 11k so ive narrowed it down to these 2 and another 97 300 that looks like it has not been neglected like **** by their owners.
Edit: found the 00 sc300. If anybody who is interested should sweep this up!
http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5425540522.html
Edit: found the 00 sc300. If anybody who is interested should sweep this up!
http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5425540522.html