DetMich1

I am 54 and bought my SC400 new in 1992. It was $37,000 plus tax/lic/reg; I think I wrote a check for something like $41,000 all up with the cell phone in the center console. We already had a 1990 LS 400 at the time and were very impressed with Lexus quality, reliability and customer service. When I read an announcement about the coming release of the SC, I made a mental note to test drive it when it became available. At the time of its introduction, there was nothing else on the market like it. The styling really stood out. Even now, almost 13 years later it still a beautiful car with contemporary lines. How many other 13 year old cars even run today, let alone still look so fresh? My DWP now has 336,000 mi on it and it still runs smooth, strong and quiet. I have turned it over to my 17 year old daughter for her daily use and she pampers it more than I ever did! Though her dream car is an IS 300, she is thrilled to have such a nice car as her first car (after a few motorcycles, my first car was a 1960 Triumph TR3 which cost $700 in 1967 but a lot more after that to keep running). The SC400 is lightly modded with Brembo slotted/ X-drilled rotors/ Axxis metal master pads/Goodridge braided brake lines/Sylvania SilverStar Lo/Hi/LexTech instrument guage lighting(red needles on blue LED backlighting)MSW 16" chrome rims/tinted windows/VFT control arm bushings/VFT steering rack bushings/Daizen sway bar bushings. Future plans include: upgraded sound system/American Stitches wood/leather steering wheel/new leather seat covering for front seats.
Certainly has been one of the best cars I've ever owned, feels like it'll run for another 250,000 miles!

aliga

iTrader: (147)

We should have a poll of which owners bought their car brand new from the dealer.

I know of one other person: gadgetsc.

DetMich1

Not sure if you were referring to me, but as I mentioned in my earler post, I bought my 1992 SC400 new in '92 from the dealer. I think it had like 47 miles on it. Now has 336,000. Worst thing is the driver's seat leather has cracked and will need to be replaced. No major mechanical failures, just routine maintenance, tires (something like 12 or 15 sets, I cant recall) brakes, when I replaced the control arm bushings I also had to replace the motor & transmission mounts. Rubber had finally rotted away. Everything on the drivetrain is all original (engine internals, transmission, U-joints, differential.

aliga

iTrader: (147)

Your the second person that I know of that bought the car brand spanking new. for having the vision to jump on a great car!

-J-P-L-

336,000 miles. Sweet! You have one of the 2 highest mileage SC's on Clublexus.
You drive 3 Lexus vehicles and still manage this kinda mileage on one of them?

How much did it cost you to replace your bushings? Dealer?

DetMich1

In 1990 I bought my wife a new 1990 LS400 so when the SC came out 2 years later we had already had the very positive experience of owning and driving a Lexus sedan. The pre-introduction pictures and write-up of the coupe caught my imagination, when I test-drove it I absoulutely fell in love with it. I was driving an RX 7 GSL-SE at the time and the comparsion was unbelievable. The gorgeous styling, so quiet and smooth nice handling and beautiful interior layout. Those glowing instrument guages were the bomb! You have to remember the context at the time. Today the car has been around for 13 years and lots of competitors have been forced to modify their product as well. But in 1992 there was nothing that compared to this car for under $75,000 dollars and don't forget $75,000 was a LOT of money in 1992. Premium gas was $1.22 and we were complaining then! Gotta be careful, or its gonna sound like I'm tellin' stories from the "Olden Days".

DetMich1

Yes, at EOS.3 the coupe caused quite a stir, lots of people taking pictures and looking at the odometer in disbelief. My GS400 is actually my 4th Lexus, the 1990 LS (the first) was totaled in 2001 when it was hit by a gardener's pick-up truck running a red light. I was sorry to see that car go as well. Even with 170,000 miles and 11 years old at the time it still drove great. I was about to buy the LX at the time anyway but had planned on keeping the LS as a third car since my daughter was about to get her driver's license. But on the bright side, that opened the door for me to get the GS which has been great fun.
The rate of accumulation of miles on the SC has dropped way off, I used to have a long commute. Once I got the GS and stopped driving the SC myself almost entirely, it now probably averages about 500 miles a month.
I bought the control arm bushings from VFT, those are the ones developed by the engineer from Australia, Andrew Vlamos. I think I paid around $350 for the front lower control arm bushings and the steering rack mounting bushings. I had a number of other things done at the time of installation so I don't recall exactly how much I paid for installation but it was probably something like 5 hours of shop time. I also did the new engine & transmission mounts, new tie rod ends, Daizen sway bar bushings, braided stainless steel brake lines, painted the calipers and aligned all 4 wheels at the same time. Unbelievable how well the car drove and handled after that. It was almost new again!

jojolex

Greetings all...newbie here to the Club and participating in e-forums; pls. excuse any faux pas...33 years old, bought my '92 SC400 8 yrs ago,still going strong and still modding

TurboSC

I am 21 years of age.

laxdude362

iTrader: (1)

Hey well i am catching up, my dad's 90 ls400 has 322k on it .

whizky

31 just got te 92 SC400 (but had 94 GS300 (Sold) now a 98 GS300)

Carpe Diem

This old guy is 56 (57 next week) and I'm on my third SC (two 400s and now a 430). It's a life-long obsession. These cars can't be beat.

George

got_trd

im only 20...........

vschulze

Well, I'd like to vote but there's no choice for the 60-70 range. I'm 67 and
bought my '92 SC300 new in '91 (first one in town). Also new to forum. Lots
of good info out there.

VQT

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