skyaddict

Greetings all,

Just ran across this site while doing a little research on the sc400.

If all goes well I'll be picking mine up in a few days. 1998 sc400.

Question: It has close to 70000 miles on it, should I be concerned? It's the only negative thing I can say about the car.
Also, the asking price is $26,500. Anyone have any experience or input one way or the other on the price?

If I don't buy this one, I've already decided that I must have an SC400....so any buying tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

The Ikon

Hi guy, always offer a lower price... I'll offer $25,500 at least. The price is actually good... Does the car have trac control, rear wing, Lex cellular, sunroof, heated seats and the Nakimichi premium sound system. If so you have a $60,000 plus car for less than half of the value in 3 years... Is the car in excellent shape?

Just make sure you have all the service papers and get a CARFAX report ran on the vin number... Plus there are many extended warranty companies out there to get an extended warr. with...

You have a GREAT potential auto... The SC4 is a superb machine with the grace and panache to carry you for years to come...

Good luck and see ya' around Club Lexus and www.LexusSC400.com....


The Ikon

skyaddict

Ikon,

No trac control, no heated seats, no Lex Cell.....has everything else, including the wing and Nakamichi. I'm getting it preowned from a Lexus dealer. the asking was 28,900....26,500 is what we hammered out. The only flaw I can find on the car is a small scratch on one of the rims. The engine is clean enough to eat off of.

Thanks for the info on carfax...I hadn't considered that.

Mark

VQT

I would wait for a full loaded SC400 (heated seats, traction control, memory seat and tilt steering...) for that price and 70K miles...
another thing you may want to look into is buy a mirror attached to a stick (Autozone sell them) then look under the seats and anything that we don't normally see. If there is rust all over the place under the seats, walk away that car is a flooded car.

I thought that Florida is where you can buy cars cheaper that other states.

joegolf

Mileage is critical with any car you buy. I will sell my 1996 SC400 for the same price. It has only 24K miles, silver, chrome wheels, spoiler, premium sound system, immaculate inside and out. I bought it 4 months ago, added heat shield. Now I have more money and want to buy a 2000 SC400. If interested, I live in Sacramento, CA. Just had a smog check. Car has had every serive possible, many oilo changes etc. It belonged to a movie star (Linda Cristal) in Hollywood and she had all service done at a dealership in Hollywood which can be verified by VIN. Let me know, I have pictures. Interior is like BRAND NEW. Heck, she only weighed about 100 pounds so the interior leather looks like it was just bought yesterday.


Joe

joegolf

Oh, by the way, I paid $28K for it in June, they were asking 30K. I just want to have a 2000 SC400 which I will plan to drive into the ground. Damn Lexus, offer the 430 but keep the original SC design too as it is the BEST!!!!

Wish I had the money to buy the 2000 model in June. Just sold a house so got the bucks and "permission" from the wife! lol

Black94RX-7TT

Cars of that year and approximate mileage have been fetching $21-23k on eBay (no reserve, auction closed fair and square). Although the title histories of those cars reflected that it was a lease vehicle.....which may or may not concern you.

joegolf

Hi
Black94RX-7TT

Which car you referring to? I just checked mine on the Bluebook site and came in as $22K for low trade-inn and $29K for retail. I have been following EBay SC400's since June. I have never seen a 1996 with less than 30K miles except the SC400 I bought, which I bought after the listing ran its course twice without meeting the reserve. EBay is a great place to buy but horrible to sell. Most cars never reach their reserve price, if it is a good car. I bought mine from an individual and carfax showed no problems such as a lease or accident. I also ran the VIN by the Lexus dealership and they sent me the records of each service which showed no problems and that the lady took above excellent care of the car. To find a car that has been treated with kid gloves, low miles, etc., is very difficult to find. The cars that are lease returns or higher mileage are ones that I have always avoided. If Lexus would have simply kept making the SC400 instead of the 430 I would have simply bought the car at the dealer whereas out of state loans on private party transactions are just too damn much trouble regardless of an excellent credit rating and good down payment. Now that I have the cash for a 2000 model, I have to sell the '96 first.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Not sure that I would buy a 1998 with 70K versus a 96 with 24K miles. The 98 does have a little bigger engine which is a real plus! Thanks for reading. Joe

Black94RX-7TT

I was talking about the car that the original poster had found....a '98 with quasi high miles.

joegolf

I agree that one could find many worthwhile deals for a 1998 with 70K miles. Autotrader has many such vehicles.

I still think that a used SC is the best buy on the market. I have no idea why the resell of these cars is so lousy. Mine had a sticker price of $56K. These are great cars and if one wants to buy an older model with high mileage, it is the best used car on the market!!!!

Joe

The Ikon

On Auto trader(www.traderonline.com) the average price for a 97' is about $26,080 for a 200 mile distance from the zip code 30003 (ATL area)... The miles on the cars varied...

I would want the full option package if I was you as well... IMO the traction control is the MOST important feature... Does the car have memory seats?

I'm sure you can get the car for lil' less if you really are serious about getting it and have your $$$ already lined up and ready to go...

Since you are in FL, I'm positive that you can find a nice premium SC4 for the price you want if this deal falls apart...

Does the 97' SC4 come with the 290hp engine or did it start in 98'? I'm totally blank on this fact right now.:eek: If I had the choice, I'll certainly get the 290hp SC with the 5 speed automatic transmission.... Just my .02 cents..

Black94RX-7TT

The '96/'97 has 260hp...I suppose a result of re-tuning for OBDII in '96.

The '98-'00 has 290hp VVT-i.

The Ikon

Thanks BLKRX7 for getting the webs out of my head... I knew that but had a brain FART!!!:eek:

So that being said he may as well get a low mileage with every option 96' for $19,000 - 24,000...

Either way he is going to get a nice ride... good luck...