I am currently looking at a '92 SC400 with approximately 95K miles to serve as a daily driver. I was wondering if I might be able to get some feedback as to what the typical concerns are with these cars and what issues (mechanically, etc.) I should know about when inspecting / test driving the car. I do know that the cars have a reputation for rock solid reliability and this initially led me to consider a car with such high mileage. I plan on having the car inspected at a Lexus dealership and getting the service records from them, but I am curious to know what some owners / experts like yourselves might have to say. Thanks so much!

 

Matt,

Welcome to ClubLexus and good luck in your search for your SC.

There are a couple of older threads I found using the search on ClubLexus that might be useful...

Thread one - click here


Thread two - click here

 

yeah get it dealer certified and follow that list and you will be fine...

CEO

 

hehehehehehehehe.




Anyway, you'll love the 400. it is a bullet proof car that seemingly cannot be destroyed. (it takes a LOT of work to do it.) even at over 200k these cars run like new and seem to just be getting broken in. i'll add the center bearing on the driveshaft as a spot to look out for. common signs of fatigue in the bearing is a whoosh sound or roaring sound from under the console, though it may sound like it is coming from the front area due to the resonance of the vehicle.

Completely bulletproof. get it and enjoy.

 

98% of the time you will hear nothing but good stuff about these cars....

CEO

 

I pound my car I tell you.. I beat the hell out of it.... outside of a really small amount of problems the car rocks.... can take a beating.....

 

well VSsc400 also has a hybid Viper Sc400 also...but it comes from the same genes as our does..so it will be ok for another 200,000 miles....lol

CEO

 

Have you guys been seeing any reasonable "life expectancy" on O2 sensors? I'm thinking it may fall into the "don't be surprised if it fails" category. My '94 SC400 just needed both (L&R) main O2 sensors. The sub sensors are still OK, but if you go with factory parts on this one, it's a $300+ item. When I was doing my homework on teh codes it was throwing, 90k miles seemed to be when most people started to see failure of these.

My sum total spent over the last 5 years has been about $2500, which includes 60k and 90k service, O2 sensor, battery, tires and brakes. If something happened to it, I'd look for another one to replace it in a minute.

-twylie