New Member
01-01-15, 03:25 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
New Member
Happy New Year every one.
I joined the forum today since I'm looking for an SC430 as a daily. I've been slowly going through the forums absorbing what I can as I research. I do have a few questions I'll throw out here. First a little background. I'm coming from a 2002 996 C2 Coupe, which I now have 127,000 miles on. You read that correct, a 996 with 127k.. I've owned it for six years. My current commute is 86 miles round trip. I like that the SC is a convertible, since I've had a Miata (gasp) and a 911 targa in the past. Apparently, unlike the rest of the world, I like the look of the SC 430. It reminds me in a weird way of a Bentley. (That's a compliment btw) I'm no stranger to Toyota products having a 4runner, and previously a Landcruiser (230K!) as well as an 80s MR2, so a higher mileage SC doesn't really worry me. I had been looking for a 996 or 997 cab, but the SC with really caught my eye. Seems like SOOO much car for the money. However, I have noticed during my search, that prices seem to be all over the place from just under 10K to 34K even though they haven't changed much MY to MY, if you believe Wikipedia... So without further ado, a couple of quick questions that have probably already been answered:
Is there an aftermarket or stock all black steering wheel available? While I love the rest of the interior, I'm not a fan of the black and wood stock steering wheel. I like an all black leather steering wheel.
Is there an aftermarket replacement grill available without the Lexus logo?
Thank you. Hopefully I'll be posting in the near future as an owner (fingers crossed)
I joined the forum today since I'm looking for an SC430 as a daily. I've been slowly going through the forums absorbing what I can as I research. I do have a few questions I'll throw out here. First a little background. I'm coming from a 2002 996 C2 Coupe, which I now have 127,000 miles on. You read that correct, a 996 with 127k.. I've owned it for six years. My current commute is 86 miles round trip. I like that the SC is a convertible, since I've had a Miata (gasp) and a 911 targa in the past. Apparently, unlike the rest of the world, I like the look of the SC 430. It reminds me in a weird way of a Bentley. (That's a compliment btw) I'm no stranger to Toyota products having a 4runner, and previously a Landcruiser (230K!) as well as an 80s MR2, so a higher mileage SC doesn't really worry me. I had been looking for a 996 or 997 cab, but the SC with really caught my eye. Seems like SOOO much car for the money. However, I have noticed during my search, that prices seem to be all over the place from just under 10K to 34K even though they haven't changed much MY to MY, if you believe Wikipedia... So without further ado, a couple of quick questions that have probably already been answered:
Is there an aftermarket or stock all black steering wheel available? While I love the rest of the interior, I'm not a fan of the black and wood stock steering wheel. I like an all black leather steering wheel.
Is there an aftermarket replacement grill available without the Lexus logo?
Thank you. Hopefully I'll be posting in the near future as an owner (fingers crossed)
01-01-15, 06:50 PM
#2
Certain SCs ( special editions ) had pretty dark colored wood on the inside. Your steering wheel will then have dark colored wood. Rare birds to find so it will take a while. Never seen an all leather steering wheel as OEM on a US spec SC430.
The Lexus logo in front can be removed pretty easily and a number of owners have successfully debadged their cars. That should be much easier to do than the all leather steering wheel business.
Good luck and happy new year.
The Lexus logo in front can be removed pretty easily and a number of owners have successfully debadged their cars. That should be much easier to do than the all leather steering wheel business.
Good luck and happy new year.
01-02-15, 11:44 AM
#4
Lead Lap
Welcome to the forum elfer.
There are some that have coated the wood on their steering wheels, seems like a couple of them were recent. (You'll have to do a search to find those though.)
You have good reason to not worry about higher mileage with the SC430. They seem to be a real solid vehicle that has received the highest ratings with regards to reliability. As with most luxury cars, the price falls pretty rapidly after they are driven off the lot the first time, so the difference between a 2002 and a 2010 is pretty considerable, though dropping as the 2010 ages.
If you are going to use it as a daily driver with an 86 mile round trip, take your time and find one with decently low mileage to provide yourself with another year or two of useful life to you. (If you only drive it to work, you'll rack up close to 22k miles a year. A car with 40kmi will likely last 2 more years than one with 84kmi. You can figure the cost difference as a trade off for the price of a new/replacement car.)
There are some that have coated the wood on their steering wheels, seems like a couple of them were recent. (You'll have to do a search to find those though.)
You have good reason to not worry about higher mileage with the SC430. They seem to be a real solid vehicle that has received the highest ratings with regards to reliability. As with most luxury cars, the price falls pretty rapidly after they are driven off the lot the first time, so the difference between a 2002 and a 2010 is pretty considerable, though dropping as the 2010 ages.
If you are going to use it as a daily driver with an 86 mile round trip, take your time and find one with decently low mileage to provide yourself with another year or two of useful life to you. (If you only drive it to work, you'll rack up close to 22k miles a year. A car with 40kmi will likely last 2 more years than one with 84kmi. You can figure the cost difference as a trade off for the price of a new/replacement car.)
01-03-15, 06:07 PM
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Welcome to the forum elfer.
There are some that have coated the wood on their steering wheels, seems like a couple of them were recent. (You'll have to do a search to find those though.)
You have good reason to not worry about higher mileage with the SC430. They seem to be a real solid vehicle that has received the highest ratings with regards to reliability. As with most luxury cars, the price falls pretty rapidly after they are driven off the lot the first time, so the difference between a 2002 and a 2010 is pretty considerable, though dropping as the 2010 ages.
If you are going to use it as a daily driver with an 86 mile round trip, take your time and find one with decently low mileage to provide yourself with another year or two of useful life to you. (If you only drive it to work, you'll rack up close to 22k miles a year. A car with 40kmi will likely last 2 more years than one with 84kmi. You can figure the cost difference as a trade off for the price of a new/replacement car.)
There are some that have coated the wood on their steering wheels, seems like a couple of them were recent. (You'll have to do a search to find those though.)
You have good reason to not worry about higher mileage with the SC430. They seem to be a real solid vehicle that has received the highest ratings with regards to reliability. As with most luxury cars, the price falls pretty rapidly after they are driven off the lot the first time, so the difference between a 2002 and a 2010 is pretty considerable, though dropping as the 2010 ages.
If you are going to use it as a daily driver with an 86 mile round trip, take your time and find one with decently low mileage to provide yourself with another year or two of useful life to you. (If you only drive it to work, you'll rack up close to 22k miles a year. A car with 40kmi will likely last 2 more years than one with 84kmi. You can figure the cost difference as a trade off for the price of a new/replacement car.)
I looked at two on Friday. I was at an auction with a friend. One was a purplish gray 2007 with tan interior and 150K plus miles - really beat up..with terrible aftermarket rims.. the top was up and the side window were half-way down. I'm guessing that's probably not a good thing. When I left the lane, it was already up to 11,900... The other was a blue 2007 with 51K miles and a much lighter tan almost whitish grayish interior.. it was mint.. I walked away from that line after the bidding was up to over 21K... there's several on craigslist near me that I'll start looking at. I've seen a couple now and again on the road, and they look sooo much better in person. It was nice to get a chance to see a rough one and a good one close up at the same time and sit in them even though I haven't driven one yet.
01-04-15, 04:27 AM
#6
Driver School Candidate
Good luck on your search.
jc
01-04-15, 09:26 PM
#7
These cars for some reason cost more at auctions than if you were to buy from a private party. Actually that's been the case for Lexus' in general unless they are beat up and fixer uppers or high high mileage.. check craigslist.. couple in the DC, VA and surrounding areas..
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01-06-15, 07:42 AM
#10
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
01-06-15, 07:44 AM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
These cars for some reason cost more at auctions than if you were to buy from a private party. Actually that's been the case for Lexus' in general unless they are beat up and fixer uppers or high high mileage.. check craigslist.. couple in the DC, VA and surrounding areas..
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