I have a 1998 GS400 my brother will give me, bad transmission, clunks and slips getting out of park. CEL, VSC lights, on, brakes needs to be replaced, paint job shot, squeaks here and there, 260k miles, but it runs so nice and strong compared to my 04 Tacoma or SC430 so I was thinking about making it my daily and save the truck for the fun stuff. I was quoted $1300 for a used transmission from Japan, but I'm wondering if I'm just putting good money after bad. The dealer was only going to give about $750 as a trade in. I'm in California and the seller is responsible for the smog certificate so I don't know how to even sell it for parts. Do I just donate it once it is time for a new smog test and drive it to the ground? I don't know how to part it out like many other enthusiast, do I eBay to a out of stater? Sell it to pick a part junk yard?

I'd live to have a v8 in my Tacoma but I know it is not realistic, especially in heavily regulated California. Any parts worth taking into my other two cars like the break calipers and shifter ****?

 

$750 as a trade with all the problems is generous for that money pit. Let him trade it. That car is going to the auction and will be someone elses problem

 

I agree with JLAWS. $750 is a steal compared to the thousands you'd have to invest into making it a good runner plus whatever the emissions will run you.

 

You do one big $$ repair then you will feel that you are locked in to fix another one since you invested alot fix the 1st one. Too expensive to be a daily driver beater

 

Yep, time to trade the car off. It has run its course.

 

There is lots of things you can do with it. U can sell it on craigslist and maybe get a tad more then the dealer wants, or take the offer, they didn't give u a bad price for it having that many problems. Do you like the GS platform? It would be a pretty good project car to start with,u could 2jz or lsx swap it and since the brakes are already shot it would be a good opportunity to upgrade them to the TT supra brakes or some big brembos. Once you finish doing everything you want with it you can paint it and it would be like a new car

 

As the poster above suggested, I would list it on Craigslist first to see if you can get something higher than $750. If not, only then should you trade it into the dealer. JLAWS is absolutely correct in that you will feel obligated to keep the car based on the amount of money initially invested. Since you indicated this would be your daily I would suggested looking at something else to save you from a potential financial nightmare... Especially given the current issues and mileage.

 

Runs better then your sc430??? i wonder what shape that's in.

 

Thanks all, I meant I like the ride and suspension over the sc430. I know they changed the SC suspension in 2005.