Im looking at a 1998 SC400 pearl white gold edition VVTI 5 speed auto model, the car shows no deffered maintenance in the book. 170k original miles, timming belt is due in exactly 8k miles. The vehicle has absolutely no fading, it has been garaged its whole life. 3 previoys owners. The 3rd owner is selling it now due to purchasing a brand new car small suv with more room. The car has soft and clean MINT leather interior. Engine bay is spotless, no leaks. The car is $4,500 and ive searched the country online. And it is cleaner than most with as little as 70k miles. Because it has been garaged its as if it was preserved, the leather is still factory soft. And even the metal on the windshield wipers is still glossy black. There is no rust, no leaking,recent work done is; new factory exhaust, new suspension work by the dealer, new 6 cd changer after old one broke.

ive gotta fly 2,500 miles to get it. And drive her home. So after plane ticket, gas back. I will have about $5,300 in the car, then im soon having timming belt finished, water pump etc,etc, that is due in 8k miles. It seems great to me. Any ideas? Should i get a ppi? Are they overly honest?

the seller has nothing much to gain as his payoff to the bank, is what im paying its $4,500. He is just simply getting out of the loan and breaking even..

but ive yet to find one cleaner, hes takin the car off of the road. And put it in the garage, awaiting my flight in February. Please EXCUSE my typing, this tablet im using is garbage and very slow.

I’ve gotta buy this one! It’s beautiful! I think you will feel the same way after pics. Even for $5,500 if it were local I’d buy it.
There just amazing cars! And this one is a clean find.

The timing belt is due at 180K it was done right at about 90K miles as well the cam seals, valve cover seals, and water pump. I’m sure I’m forgetting a couple things. If I push the timming belt service to exactly 90K miles. It’s due in 8,000 miles. So if I go easy maybe 6 months or a year. I really cannot afford to change it immediately. I just love the cars in general. And I’m paying a premium sure. I’d like to have it as close to new as possible. The 6 disc changer is broken, and there’s a brand new factory disc changer in the trunk waiting to be installed. He spent a lot of money on front end work, bushing, LCA’s maintenance items. And even went as far as replacing the cars entire exhaust per the service department from an exhaust leak and bad cats. He seemed to be very funny over whatever it needed and spared no expense. He stopped driving it, and just bought a new car.My last SC400 was a 95’ and it had cardboard hard like leather interior, needed new paint, bad door panels, it was far from good. It leaked oil on every side of the motor, top to bottom! Minor leaks, but tons of grime, and gunk build up.. the trans would slip during freezing winter months upon first starting it in 15f-25f degree weather. And then it would stop once ever so slightly warm. The car was decent with a straight body but far from clean. But it ran like a top! And shifted like tearing through silk. The car just felt solid! And it was an amazing cruiser. It always wanted to fly on down the road cruising at 90+mph effortlessly.Now I’m thinking, hmmm a super clean SC400, it is 3 years newer, All original, 65k less miles. Needs nothing restored, or repaired. It has 50HP more, and 40 ft lbs more at a lower RPM, and a 5 speed auto. The drivetrain just seems more modern looking overall. And it’s better on gas on the highway.

Yay, good for you ! Mine has 183k and I intend to drive it until I'm dead. I hope you enjoy every mile !