2013 Cost of Ownership
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2013 Cost of Ownership
Okay I've searched around(and will continue to search around) about this topic on the forum but all the information seems to be at least 2 years dated.
My last car (89 acura legend) isn't worth fixing so I'm looking to get the car I should have got before I bought that thing, an SC. I originally wanted an sc400 in a hopes to stop me from modifying the crap out of it but it didn't work with the legend and I just got pissed that everything costed 10x as much or had to be completely custom made with that car. That being said not much planned currently for the car(I/H/E + standalone ecu IE megasquirt - Im an engine tuner by trade so ecu tuning is my passion)
There is an SC300 I'm going to be looking at soon at a used dealer lot 215K miles for about $3000, sadly it's an automatic but that doesn't bother me much as a swap is always able down the line.
I'm really wondering about the cost of ownership for the car in general, I know it's a Lexus so parts might be some what expensive BUT from my understanding it shares a lot of supra parts(and a few are upgrades) I do all my own work, and I get a pretty good price on parts in general.
I'm looking for something reliable that can be maintained on a decent time schedule/cost schedule. I don't have that much driving to do anymore(up to santa ana once a week about 50 miles round trip, school twice a week about 10 miles round time, work 5 miles round trip but hunting hard for a job in walking distance) everything else I can and prefer to walk to. That being said having my car down for a long time is really not an option. I love the styling of the SC300, the easy of mod ability for upgrades as things need to be fixed. Has the price of parts come down to a reasonable level so that working on this car myself will make it a viable option?
EDIT: forgot to mention it is a 92 sc 300 I'm gonna be looking at, anything besides the usual to really be on the look for in these models? specifically oil leaks common or major issues.
My last car (89 acura legend) isn't worth fixing so I'm looking to get the car I should have got before I bought that thing, an SC. I originally wanted an sc400 in a hopes to stop me from modifying the crap out of it but it didn't work with the legend and I just got pissed that everything costed 10x as much or had to be completely custom made with that car. That being said not much planned currently for the car(I/H/E + standalone ecu IE megasquirt - Im an engine tuner by trade so ecu tuning is my passion)
There is an SC300 I'm going to be looking at soon at a used dealer lot 215K miles for about $3000, sadly it's an automatic but that doesn't bother me much as a swap is always able down the line.
I'm really wondering about the cost of ownership for the car in general, I know it's a Lexus so parts might be some what expensive BUT from my understanding it shares a lot of supra parts(and a few are upgrades) I do all my own work, and I get a pretty good price on parts in general.
I'm looking for something reliable that can be maintained on a decent time schedule/cost schedule. I don't have that much driving to do anymore(up to santa ana once a week about 50 miles round trip, school twice a week about 10 miles round time, work 5 miles round trip but hunting hard for a job in walking distance) everything else I can and prefer to walk to. That being said having my car down for a long time is really not an option. I love the styling of the SC300, the easy of mod ability for upgrades as things need to be fixed. Has the price of parts come down to a reasonable level so that working on this car myself will make it a viable option?
EDIT: forgot to mention it is a 92 sc 300 I'm gonna be looking at, anything besides the usual to really be on the look for in these models? specifically oil leaks common or major issues.
#2
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If you're working on the car yourself and you can do pretty much anything then it's not bad at all, but more important I think would be checking the car out thoroughly before buying it. I didn't check the breaks out on mine, now I need an entire break job. Calipers, Rotors, Pads..$600 or so.... A lot of little things, hood supports trunk and hood, $75. Power steering...figured it was just a pump...it was not...$400 later....still working on that actually. Two 02 Sensors. Oil Pressure Switch. So yea I'm over $1000 invested in a car I paid $2000 for. Not really happy when I could of spent $3000 off the start and just got a better SC, but at the same time my money was tight and I needed a car for work so it is what it is...
#3
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They're asking a bit for that one. For that kind of money you could definitely find an SC with less miles, or a stick (if you get lucky).
Like biddles said, if you are paying that much you want to check everything.
Get repair reports so you can know when the timing belt was done, also find if the water pump was done recently, engine thermostat, if the radiator was done recently, even better. Test drive the car at freeway speeds and city speeds, listen for any vibrations coming from the front or rear, see if the car tracks left or right. Check for leaks from the distributor o-ring on to the alternator. Open the hood and stand in front of it while somebody turns the ac on, listen for any squeals or noises from the AC compressor that sound out of the normal.
Also check the hood and trunk struts like biddles said, and listen for a rough sound from cold starts as well.
Paying 3000, getting an auto with 215k miles, you shouldn't have more than just one of these things wrong from the list above. Otherwise, keep looking, there are definitely better deals out there.
Like biddles said, if you are paying that much you want to check everything.
Get repair reports so you can know when the timing belt was done, also find if the water pump was done recently, engine thermostat, if the radiator was done recently, even better. Test drive the car at freeway speeds and city speeds, listen for any vibrations coming from the front or rear, see if the car tracks left or right. Check for leaks from the distributor o-ring on to the alternator. Open the hood and stand in front of it while somebody turns the ac on, listen for any squeals or noises from the AC compressor that sound out of the normal.
Also check the hood and trunk struts like biddles said, and listen for a rough sound from cold starts as well.
Paying 3000, getting an auto with 215k miles, you shouldn't have more than just one of these things wrong from the list above. Otherwise, keep looking, there are definitely better deals out there.
#4
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doesn't sound like a good deal, high mileage SC's you are going to want to drive them and check for clunking if the lower control arms havent been done they will need to be done at some point with those miles, and new supra arms (the inexpensive option) are still a pretty penny. you could rebush the oem one, but then you have a really old ball joint which is only replaceable with a whole new arm. also if the wheel has alot of play you will need to do the power steering rack bushing (have had to do it on every SC so far), but those are not expensive and a couple hour job not a big deal. maybe for 2k...
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well it's being sold at a used car lot, so if it's not in tip top shape I'll be nickle and dimeing down. Im actually surprised by how good the car looks in the pictures. The only thing I can notice that is bad is the e brake leather boot seems ripped a tad, it does have cloth seats, but the outside looks great. But then again I gotta see it in person to make a true judgement.
Okay so check the control arms for clunks and such as well as power steering bushing.
Are there any places that I should check for oil leaks, or power steering leaks that are hard to notice when look at the engine from the top?
Okay so check the control arms for clunks and such as well as power steering bushing.
Are there any places that I should check for oil leaks, or power steering leaks that are hard to notice when look at the engine from the top?
#7
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With that many miles it should be in pretty good condition interior and exterior wise. I really don't think it's worth it. Besides, the SC is really impractical. If you're looking for a good daily then the SC isn't one. It's pretty hard to find a really clean one too, most likely its gonna be a 98+ SC that's kept clean. It pains me to say that a lot of the older SC's are treated like beaters. I think you should take some more time to think about this and more time to look for a better SC.
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#8
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The most expensive repair on this car in my opinion are the lower control arms. LCAs from Lexus are $550 a piece, or $260 a piece from the Supra, the ball joints are non serviceable on all sides, and the LCA bushings are expensive at almost $200 for a set if you can find them.
#9
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"Besides, the SC is really impractical. If you're looking for a good daily then the SC isn't one."
I've heard that a lot but can't really find the reasoning behind the statement. I mean from what I can tell, the engine are reliable, doesn't seem that hard a car to work on, and the prices on parts aren't out of this world.
I'm going between a NA miata, maybe a MR2 or an SC atm, really looking for something RWD, 2 door and somewhat sporty or something like a GT car . I don't have kids, I don't move a lot of stuff and I don't mind spending money on gas if need be(the sc would get slightly less mpg then my legend was getting, legend was getting on average 22-23mpg combine and since my move to San Clemente I will be doing almost no more city driving as I walk around town.)
I am kinda in a bind because I do need a car somewhat quickly but I'm not making the same mistake I did with the legend where I bought a car I really didn't want and I knew had a bunch of issue to try and fix them(ie lots of oil leaks, and other glaring problems). If I had the money I would really be looking for a 98+ sc 400 but those are still in the 10's around me so that option is out =(
I've heard that a lot but can't really find the reasoning behind the statement. I mean from what I can tell, the engine are reliable, doesn't seem that hard a car to work on, and the prices on parts aren't out of this world.
I'm going between a NA miata, maybe a MR2 or an SC atm, really looking for something RWD, 2 door and somewhat sporty or something like a GT car . I don't have kids, I don't move a lot of stuff and I don't mind spending money on gas if need be(the sc would get slightly less mpg then my legend was getting, legend was getting on average 22-23mpg combine and since my move to San Clemente I will be doing almost no more city driving as I walk around town.)
I am kinda in a bind because I do need a car somewhat quickly but I'm not making the same mistake I did with the legend where I bought a car I really didn't want and I knew had a bunch of issue to try and fix them(ie lots of oil leaks, and other glaring problems). If I had the money I would really be looking for a 98+ sc 400 but those are still in the 10's around me so that option is out =(
#10
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The most important thing when buying an SC is patience.
You don't want to overspend for a poor example of an SC. $3,000 is a bit too much for a 200k mile SC... it better be immaculate with amazing repair reports, otherwise, it's maybe only worth 1,800-2,000. Just as there are SC's being sold for more than they r worth, there are also SC's being sold for less than they are worth, and with a little patience, you are sure to find one.
You don't want to overspend for a poor example of an SC. $3,000 is a bit too much for a 200k mile SC... it better be immaculate with amazing repair reports, otherwise, it's maybe only worth 1,800-2,000. Just as there are SC's being sold for more than they r worth, there are also SC's being sold for less than they are worth, and with a little patience, you are sure to find one.
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