I'm going to copy a thread started in the GS forums by mamamia and conduct a poll on your personal satisfaction with owning an SC300/SC400. How is your experience with the car thusfar? Compared to similar cars you've driven?


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I will give mine a 10 because I have yet to encounter a single problem with it outside of scheduled maintenance, and for the price I paid there really isn't a better sporty daily driver I could be driving. There are some imperfections in the car, all caused by the dumb-*** previous owner, but that's no fault of the car itself. My unhappiness with the performance is due to my own broke *** not being able to tune the car.

My other options at the time were an E36 M3 and an LT-1 Z28. I'm glad I didn't get the M3 after later learning about the reliability issues of Bimmers. Since the car was out of warranty, I would probably be dumping thousands into fix-its on that thing by now. I'd rather not be associated with the M3 boy-racer crowd either. E36s are a dime a dozen in these parts, SCs are not. If I bought the Z28, I'd probably be dead by now (too much power for under $5k in mods). The Z28 interior also leaves much to be desired. So I chose the middleground between high power, high displacement, high tuneability, & poor handling (Z28), and low power, low displacement, low tuneability, & great handling (M3), and got an SC.

 

i know my cas is a 92 and its old but since 2000(23k miles) to now (72k miles) I had to change

power steering pump
center console light
fuel pump
telescoping steering wheel mechanism
brake line
power window motor
power window control
power antena
dash needles
horn(go figure)
stock amp
heater control valve
headlight fogged up
idler pulley bearing
another pulley bearing
rear break calipers(wasn't moving like it should)
short in the brake electrical system (brake lights shorted out... all of them)

I had to fix all those things above.
Thats all that I can think of now.

 

'93 SC4, bought a year ago at 83K, now 107K.

PS pump, alt, battery replaced (known issues, expected)

One light out in the climate control screen. All other dash lights and needles OK.

That's IT. The only other work I have had to do is routine maintenance (Tbelt, wpump, thermo) and elective stuff (sub amp upgrade).

This car is Definitely a 10.

 

Awesome car. Only had to replace the PS pump and battery terminals. Other small stuff like tires and fuses which is from normal wear and tear but other than that nothing. Very reliable car.

 

I'd have to give the *Soarer Experience* a 9 outta 10...

I bought mine early January last year (after waiting for it to arrive for about 2 months!) and it had approx 76000kms (just over 47K mls) on the clock and it's now got around 105000kms (just over 65K mls)... very low milage compared to many of the figures I see here... I need to drive it more often

Things That Went Wrong List:
- LCD rear view mirror stopped working (good secondhand replacement around $90, new one around $400... ouch!)
- Top tank on radiator about to go bust (changing soon though)
- Misc. interior lights gone bust (basically never been changed anyway so I'm upgrading all)

I had the 100K (60K mls) service done, replaced timing belt etc. etc... Soarer specialist stated that it's still running like new, only radiator top tank needs replacement so I'm really happy with that, and it's a 1993 model Nothing has really needed replacement except for the headlight globes (they looked as good as dead), brakepads and that's all... get's serviced every 3 months/5000kms (around every 3000mls).

Other cars I were looking at were an R33 Nissan Skyline GTS25t and the Soarer 4.0GT-L. The Skyline was fun to drive but are waaaaay too common in my neck of the woods (actually all around Sydney hahahah), and the V8 Soarer was a little bit too much on the thirsty side (a bit of a challenge trying to fill her up every week on a college salary!) so I ended up buying a 1993 Soarer 2.5GT, metallic silver, and absolutely immaculate, one or two tiny cig. burns in the seats (barely noticeable), full options inc. sunroof (pretty rare on Soarers, usually only the V8's have them)... did I mention it was immaculate? I can't be happier with this car... now only if it was lowered, exhaust-ed, boosted, FMIC-ed...

 

I have driven better but like most people I cant afford a Testerossa or Vanquish.

The Soarer/SC deserves an 11 for satisfaction, which has to be some praise for a car design which is 12 years old!

 

hate myself for voting lower than i feel the car deserves but i gave it an 8... only b/c i've had a lot of bad luck w/ my car. These are jus a few of the things i've replaced or things that have gone bad on the car:

altenator twice
Powersteering pump twice
AC compressor
gonna replace my hub bearing this weekend
dash needles
climate control lights
tail light
power window cable


hmm.... i know they're more... i jus can't remember. oh well

 

no problems aside of a power steering unit and an alternator, which go at the same time because lexus was nice enough not to include a shield over the alt.

 

I gave the Soarer an 11, despite during the past 4years of my ownership having to replace due to wear or failure;

Automatic transmission
Rear Differential
A/C Compressor
Lower arm bushes
Turbo's
Rear brake calipers
Power steering hose - the expensive one
CD/Tuner unit
Fuel pump ECU

Given that my car is now 11 years old and has done 100,000mls I wonder how other cars would be at this age - DEAD.

 

my first car was a 1979 toyota liftback. When I bought it it had 310k miles. I drove it to 440k miles before a tock it the radiator. I had to fix nothing except for 1 new battery. Not bad for $100 car.

my SC is the most problematic of the toyotas that I've owned. bad luck I guess.

 

11 years of ownership

1 A/C control pnl bulb (fixed myself)

1 Passenger Door Lock Actuator (still havent fixed)

Both Headlights replaced for condensation (warrenty)

Yes...Thats it after 11 years & 83K miles, Still luvin it


gadgetSC

 

Can't complain about that Gadget....

 

One of the most reliable cars I've owned. '95, had since 01 w/ 45k. Now has 79K.The things I have had to fix are mostly normal maintenance items, such as:
bulbs
brake pads
idler pulley bearings
air filter
pcv valve
serpentine belt
battery
tires
audio system(cd changer broke & speakers blown)
Most of the money I put into the car has been for upgrades such has audio equip & wheels. No breakdowns at all. Of course, maintenance has a lot to do with it. Take care of your Lex, and it will take care of you.

BTW, in reference to the ps pump/ alternator problems mentioned above, has anyone here attempted to fabricate a shield to go over the alternator?? Seems that this would help save a few alternators from an early death.

 

You could do it the ghetto way and wrap aluminum foil around it!!!! hahaha

 

I'm wondering of all the alternators replaced, how many of those people had aftermarket sound systems? I've never had an alternator fail on any Toyota or Lexus vehicle in the 10yrs I've owned them. The only alternator problems I've had were on a Cavalier years ago, and that car had lots of car stereo stuff in it.