petrojeff

I am looking to buy a 95 SC400 tomorrow. It is black/tan with 168000 miles. Can you experts tell me what to look for that could be costly. What is a fair price cash in hand? The guy says the front seat has a slit in the leather. Things I have been told to look for:

PS pump
alternator
brakes (he said he just did new brakes)

Thanks for your responses in advance!

Toog4me

thats a lot of miles... make sure the thing turns on... j/k

Make sure to check the service history.

VQT

How much is he asking? Got to know the condition of the car on top of the mileage...
What other option on the car?

petrojeff

168000 isnt anything for the Lexus v-8. My 92 Ls has 160000, and its still tight as it gets. The guy wants $9500 which is really cheap, and as I said before, it does have a split in the driver's leather seat. Which is not a problem, since I just put new leather in my LS for $700. Any more suggestions?

VQT

$9.5K sound good. Watch out for the usual problem with SC/LS, speed odometer/RPM gauges lights, A/C control LCD, CD changers operations, moisture (condensation in the lights housing). Remote doors lock operation (does the key remote still works). Check for a sticker under the hood when was the last time the timing belt change, any leaks (P/S, oil pan seal, rear main seal, trans...), door hinges operational, also check for door edge rub to the fender edge...

I ask for $9K though

petrojeff

Thanks alot for the information VQT. I appreciate your sharing your SC knowledge with this board. I know you do most of the mechanical to your SC yourself, and that is admirable, in my opinion. I will take your advice, inspect the car, and let you know what happens.

petrojeff

I looked at the car and VQT hit everything that was wrong with it. It needed a new front headlight $350, CD changer was not working($400?), needed new leather $900, and it had some kind of a hesitation on acceleration and made an exhaust type noise coming from the right side firewall( is this the EGR problem?). Anyway I felt that $2500 would get it to where I wanted it and offered 8.5 K. He would not take it, and the guys looking at it at the same time I did paid 9.5K. What can I say SC400's are popular in California!

Toog4me

My friend is selling his 92 sc400 (green on beige, not grey) with a 98 engine, everything done right. spoiler, nakamachi, everything, heated seats, 103k...

The interior isnt in such good condition... about 2500 in total fixing, etc... how much do you think he should sell the car for?

ps

it has 97 sc rims.

Manaray

Hmmm, dunno, I found a '92 SC400 with only 64K miles on it for $12,500....granted, I have put approximately $1500 into "fixing" some things but honestly, that's only because I'm super ****. I think most people would have just left the car as it was (which was just fine)...it was super clean inside and out when I bought it...I just replaced some mechanical things because I wanted the car to feel as new as possible...

I had a possible buy on a 120K miles car for $7500 that was also kinda clean (not nearly as clean as the one I got though...the interior of the 120K showed 120K miles if you know what I mean...)...all services were done, new alternator, water pump, timing belt, etc., etc...

My suggestion, be patient and do some more searching. The deal you have right now is not a "once in a lifetime" deal...

Check out AutoTrader and look in the Los Angeles area (I know you're all the way up north and all...) because there are lot of SC's for sale out here...

petrojeff

Bought a 94 SC400. Black/grey, naka, trac,heated seats 148K gold pkg etc. Got it through a wholesale dealer in KY. $8.7K. I will pick it up in LA next week.

Manaray

How's the condition of the car? How about the service history?

Also, I noticed on your .sig that you have a LS400...what's a "AMG package"?

petrojeff

Car is in good shape. About an 8 out of 10. I need to redo one of the headlights and I will put new leather in it. An AMG kit is an LS that has the bottom grey taken to pearl white and the classic MBZ AMG spoke wheels (I invented this myself, it is not factory).

LexFather

How about re-naming it the "l-tuned package" that would be cool.

Toog4me

Do you have a pic of your LS?? Im interested in how the LS looks w/ AMG rims...

petrojeff

Here she is .