Hello everyone,
Just registered to post this, and seeking a bit of quick-ish advice:
CAR 1
1999
80k miles
PPI done: needs: small exhaust leak fixed, surface rust from control arms cleaned, all fluids replaced (recommended), T belt done at 78k miles BUT in 2010
Road test done by the shop which did PPI
Last decade or so maintained by private mechanic for old gentleman so no CarFax records in this period (otherwise Clean CarFax)- car sat for longer periods of time.
Pristine interior / exterior
Has OEM floor mats still
Do NOT like exterior color much
6 spoke chrome OEM wheels (like better)
CAR2
1999
118k miles
Maintained by former Lexus / Toyota tech, talked to him:
recent brakes, VCG, PS pump, T belt/tensioner
Interior more worn: crack above wood panel/strip on driver's door (where they all crack)
heavy-ish wear on driver's seat side bolster (emerging cracks, dried, but not yet ripped)
No OEM floor mats
Driver's side mirror has slight delamination
MULTI spoke oem chrome wheels ( do not like)
relative went and drove car, and it drove well.,
LOVE exterior color.
Price is similar for both cars.(AFTER adjustment re: needed maintenance/repairs for CAR1)
Both cars garaged in winter, driven only on weekends etc etc
Both cars bone stock
Options are identical on both cars
I haven't seen either car in person. Need to travel out of state for both.
VERY torn about Low MILEAGE & better interior VS Better COLOR & higher mileage (but also more recent maint by a Lexus tech...)
WWYD?
Ay advice / feedback on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated
Thanks IA
Lower mileage isn't always the best as they may be prone to other failures, including rodent damage. Both have plus and minuses Car 2 may be more feasible if you're looking to daily immediately. Car 1 may seem a better value, but you will need to do that timing belt before you start a daily driving routine. Car 1 stuff will start breaking almost immediately. Example I picked mine up out of a storage unit where it sat for it's last 10 years, it would routinely be taken out for maintenance recorded at Lexus where mileage was more tightly noted, meaning in 8 years there was a 50 mile difference between maintenance cycles including timing belt, oil change, brakes and tire rotation. Once I picked it up, I did oil change, brake fluid flush, coolant flush and transmission drain and fill. Within 6 months I had driven it a dozen times for like 100 miles, where gremlins showed up to include stalling, surge idle, failure to start, coolant leak, transmission oil pan leak, engine oil pan leak, and power steering leak among other things including tires that were a decade old, and 1 by 1 bit the dust due to heat exposure. Either pick you will need to conduct maintenance, how much just depends on which you pick. Be advised, be prepare to be blindsided especially since you're not there and no one will make the pertinent questions or challenge anyone since there is no skin in the game for them. Hope this helps some.
20k miles for these cars is a drop in the bucket. Mine has 178k and i just did an 800 mile trip to NC without a single issue. Car2 sounds like a better option based on maintenance. The slightly higher interior wear is the only downside that I can see compared to car1.
definitely drive the car yourself and inspect for power steering leaks. The 99-00 SC400s dong use the same PS pump as the rest so they are impossible to find new or used. your only option is a rebuild which is a pain in the ***, (had to do it myself). You can also use the 80k mile option to try to lower the asking price
Car 1. What color is it? Most of the 99 colors are fine except for angora. Easier to start with a cleaner base and maintain than start with one that's already worn and piece things together. Finding good parts for these cars is getting hard.
Realistically go with the one that's most original- no accidents or paint work. The less people that've touched it over the years the better.
Sorry for the late reply. an thanks for all the responses.
I was in the process of getting the car
Went with car 2.
Went to OH and test drove it. T-belt/ WP, brakes, PS punp, VCG, all recently replaced. Test drive went fine, and felt like "This is it" - driver seat bolster has some expected wear but no real rips or cracks. Can be brought back to like new condition I think. The front bumper at some point will need to be repainted. It looks just fine, but a bit "tired" looking compared to the rest of the car. A few tiny stone chips and a bit "weathered" but clear coat / paint is all fine. Just lacks "luster" a bit. Only noticeable if you look hard.
Now it will be transported soon. to NC (didn't want to drive that far and take a risk). Hopefully will get it by next week.
Here's a pic. Interior is tan leather. Heated seats, Nakamichi+ 6 CD in trunk etc. Not a fan of wheels so will be changed to 17" IS300/350 or GS 17" 5-spoke wheels in silver/matter silver. I am not a big chrome wheel fan.
Try finding some LS430 floor mats. The driver side fits perfect where the passenger side is a bit large but workable. The rear mats are way over sized but I stuffed them in anyway (and I never sit back there….). Color options may be limited.
Very nice, congrats!
Just out of curiosity, what resource did you use to find the car? (autotrader, craigslist, etc)
Sorry for the late reply.
I used Craigslist, and Facebook Market Place ads. Included the whole country!
I looked at Bring a Trailer, too but never really intended to go that route
Where I actually found it was on FB market place, in OH. Contacted the (private party) seller, and had my nephew and his boss (90's JDM expert/fan) go and test drive, as they live close to the seller.
After talking with them and the seller, drove to OH from NC and test drove the car myself and had a PPI done.
After that just bought it but had it transported. (didn't wanna drive it from OH to NC and risk a huge rock chip or worse, some type of accident)
