Introduction and quick question
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
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Introduction and quick question
Greetings CL members! I have been lurking around the past few days reading up on things available for SC300/400s. I don't own one YET but hopefully will be purchasing one in the very near future, say a week or two. I would like to mention I have just moved to Anaheim, CA for an internship with DIsney, and as a result I am car-less. Been looking around Craigslist for a good looking, affordable coupe and I have always loved the Lexus SCs. I'll be looking at 1 and possibly 2 in the coming week, and would like a little input on what to look for mechanically. Cosmetics atm I am not real concerned with since I just need a car to get me around. I want to know what the common problem areas are to look at. I'm gonna be looking at a 95 SC400 and hopefully a 92 SC400 as well, so any info will be helpful. Looking forward to hopefully being a Lexus owner and "official" member, haha.
if your going to buy a lexus, buy one in good condition, if you buy one with hopes to fix it up, it wont be cheap. but they are beautiful cars and if you can get one that is mechanically perfect, jump on it, it will last you for many years if maintained right. good luck with your intership, good luck in getting a car.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thanks levie! Yeah the 95 im looking at seems to be in decent shape but it does seem to need a little cosmetic TLC, but it has 123k on the odometer. I'll know more later this week when I look it over in person. but most of the cosmetic stuff seems like straight forward either replace or repaint, which for me I'm not really worried about since I just need it for a daily and the price is right at $2300 if its running good.
hmm, well i know your not worried about cosmetics, but im just saying, if for some reason you plan to buy a sc with 91-95 body and replace it with the 97-00 body id just spend the money and go for a 97+. they look sooo much better and less dated. but if your not worried about exterior or interior ( witch i forgot to mention is also extremely expensive to fix up) and this one is very good mechanically, then id go for it. but maybe post the add up in here so we could get a better idea with what we are dealing with?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Will do. Are there specific rules for the way ad links are suppose to be posted?
EDIT:
Actually here is a link to the picasa the owner had linked.
https://plus.google.com/photos/11677...SLg&banner=pwa
EDIT:
Actually here is a link to the picasa the owner had linked.
https://plus.google.com/photos/11677...SLg&banner=pwa
Hmm interior looks good. First thing I noticed is that cluster is working lol. I'd be wary of the mechanical side. It doesnt look shabby and if it runs good, best of luck with it.
Just beware of one thing, these things are like a drug, they're addictive. I got my car with NO intention of spending a dime on it. I now seem to be chasing the dragon lol
GL with your decision!
Just beware of one thing, these things are like a drug, they're addictive. I got my car with NO intention of spending a dime on it. I now seem to be chasing the dragon lol
GL with your decision!
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needles work thats a plus. make sure the powersteering doesnt leak or have any noticable problems, drivers seat and other obvious cosmetic peoblems are out in the open. make sure it drives straight(low speed and high 70mph+) do a dry steering test to check play. trans shifting, when was the last timing belt/major service? i got my 93 sc400 with 175k for 2200. my timing belt had been done at 60k, thus needed a new one. 123k seems somewhat low miles, but does need some work, still seems like a fair price, they are pretty reliable cars if you take care of them. you will need to be fairly handy with a wrench. i live in so cal and have a season pass to dland. you ever get an sc and wanna show it off let me know.
ohhhh and cats cats cats! make sure it will pass smog! my cats were blown thru. luckily people buy cats for a lot of $ and i only has to shell out 45$ and some of my time to weld them in. i would purchase based on a trip to the smog place,
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 807
Likes: 9
From: SoCal
It's pretty decent, the paint isn't as bad as mine and you can still fix it with a few products. Everything seems to look fine. I don't see cracked AC vents, but check if the cluster needles go out or flicker. Mine flicker from time to time when they're on at the highest. You can also replace the lights in the cluster for the speedometer and the tachometer with LED lights for a nicer brighter look. I notice you neither of the screens on the head unit are burnt out, but I also notice that the cup holder's door in the middle is broken. Those are just a few heads ups for you to be aware of, there are probably more.
The OEM 97+ body does look nice, but I think its best to get an aftermarket 97+ body kit instead of just going for a 97+ OEM body kit. I think it's kind of a waste to get a 97+ SC and replace that perfectly good OEM body kit with another, it would be best to get the older cheaper ones if you want an aftermarket body kit.
Also the SC400 model is the 1UZ V8 engine, it's going to be nice to have power but at the cost of more fuel. So keep in mind of fuel efficiency and also that more things work for the SC300 than the SC400, you may have some trouble finding compatible parts for the SC400. A lot of things are laid out differently for the SC400 and they use different parts too.
The OEM 97+ body does look nice, but I think its best to get an aftermarket 97+ body kit instead of just going for a 97+ OEM body kit. I think it's kind of a waste to get a 97+ SC and replace that perfectly good OEM body kit with another, it would be best to get the older cheaper ones if you want an aftermarket body kit.
Also the SC400 model is the 1UZ V8 engine, it's going to be nice to have power but at the cost of more fuel. So keep in mind of fuel efficiency and also that more things work for the SC300 than the SC400, you may have some trouble finding compatible parts for the SC400. A lot of things are laid out differently for the SC400 and they use different parts too.
Last edited by ASTERiSK; Feb 6, 2012 at 12:33 PM. Reason: More to add.
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