Tomorrow is official SC-shopping day!
#18
Heading out now...
making a beeline for the city where the '97/Jade/Auto and the '97/Black/Auto are located.
Wish me luck, I'll let you know what I find, and another extra thanks to all of you for your advice!
I'll probably be checking this thread from my Windows Mobile device as we drive over there (~1 hour) so feel free to keep posting points.
making a beeline for the city where the '97/Jade/Auto and the '97/Black/Auto are located.
Wish me luck, I'll let you know what I find, and another extra thanks to all of you for your advice!
I'll probably be checking this thread from my Windows Mobile device as we drive over there (~1 hour) so feel free to keep posting points.
#19
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (-1)
It's sounding like folks buy the SC4 and other than a few bolt-ons, that's about it for modification because it's so inherently powerful from the factory.
It sounds like folks buy the SC3, which is greatly modifiable and tune it like crazy. Is this perception correct or am I off? No ego here, so let me know...
It sounds like folks buy the SC3, which is greatly modifiable and tune it like crazy. Is this perception correct or am I off? No ego here, so let me know...
If you could get a compression test done on the motors of the cars that you are looking at before buying, that would be an excellent indication of whether or not the motor is healthy enough for boost.
All told, I think the Sewell Lexus SC will be your best bet to fit your needs since it has the newer body and few enough miles to likely still be healthy enough for some boost. At the same time, it is the cheapest of the bunch...meaning more money for mods.
#20
- the Sewell '97/SC300/Jade/Auto/113k/$6900 was sold and gone
- the '97/SC300/Black/Auto/150k/$6900 was...ok. Maybe less than ok.
- The motor sounded/looked fine. No oil pools anywhere but it'd been really cleaned it looked like.
- The tranny felt slippish, but I'd need a longer drive to make sure.
- The hood-fender gap on the passenger side was 90% uniform except for the hood being slightly lower than the fender for a foot or more of its length
- I could barely get the hood open. It seemed to be down too far after using the hood release. You had to really cram your hand in there to get to the latch. There could be something going on with that hood/front end, although the Carfax report showed nothing. (Which is meaningless as long as the repairs were less than XXXX dollars, I know)
- The trunk supports were gone.
- The likely deal-killers were the areas of missing clearcoat & paint just behind the c-pillar going back onto the trunk on the passenger side.
- There was a bare spot on the steering wheel and the driver's outside seat bolster leather was not in good shape at all.
- She looked quite tired.
- I don't want to cough up ~$6000, only to have to turn around and cough up a few more thousand for a paint job.
- The motor sounded/looked fine. No oil pools anywhere but it'd been really cleaned it looked like.
- Finally got to Texas Motor Speedway at 4:50 in time to watch several beautiful classic cars pass us at the exits. Yep, the Good Guys show ended at 5:00.
- Well, I'll at least LOOK at the SC400 down at Sewell Dallas. Nope. Strangely enough, Sewell Dallas closes at 6PM on Saturday evenings.
Last edited by Slooooooow; 10-06-07 at 04:42 PM.
#23
Cars.com even has a "Burgundy" one here local with fairly low miles (130+)that the individual is asking FIFTEEN GRAND for!!! Insanely high for an average condition. It's wild out there.
But the good news is, I have all the currently offered cars pegged pretty well - so when a new one comes up for an offer I'm usually aware of it quickly. Thanks for the kind words...I'm in this search process for the long haul. The right SC300 (maybe SC400) will show itself soon enough. I hope.
Last edited by Slooooooow; 10-06-07 at 08:52 PM.
#24
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Texas
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To be honest I would get a lexus on the forums or Craigslist. Certified or not when you get done with it it will be in top shape!I got my 96 lexus sc300 for a great priceoff of Craigslist and it is running really well!!
#25
Oh well. I'm putting some more SC "feelers" out to see what they come up with.
I also feel myself slightly distracted after spending the weekend at the Lonestar Good-Guys show. An old school hot rod would be a lot of fun too.
#28
Ha ha...agreed for sure! However those were my choices back in October of last year. I'm pretty sure those cars are gone by now anyway; although at that price I doubt the '92 sold. *lol*
Nope, tomorrow I'm checking out a '97 SC300, which after all this time I'm favoring - both the SC3 part and the year, due to the OEM body kit (kinda) that it comes with plus a few other small details. I'll be test driving it tomorrow during my lunch hour and then - we'll see.
I've spent today looking for some "Mod Preference" type thread and not had much luck. I'm trying to get an idea of where to start with it (when I finally get one). It will be almost daily driven, with occasional track use for kicks.
Nope, tomorrow I'm checking out a '97 SC300, which after all this time I'm favoring - both the SC3 part and the year, due to the OEM body kit (kinda) that it comes with plus a few other small details. I'll be test driving it tomorrow during my lunch hour and then - we'll see.
I've spent today looking for some "Mod Preference" type thread and not had much luck. I'm trying to get an idea of where to start with it (when I finally get one). It will be almost daily driven, with occasional track use for kicks.
#30
Just back from the once-over and test drive.
The only negative thing (other than the gasket) is that the car is in SUCH cherry condition, I don't think there'll be a lot of haggle room. They've priced it at the top of the book value, and it really almost earns that, were it not for needing to get that gasket replaced.
Anyway, that's the report for now. I've turned in a loan application and I'll let you know if I pick 'er up.
- Confirmed by Carfax that the car is a one-owner car and it SHOWS. She's almost in just-driven-off-the-lot-new condition.
- There are only two almost imperceptible dings on the whole body that I could find.
- The test drive revealed that she still drives like a dream. VERY softly compared to the upgraded suspension on my ES. *lol*
- Lower control arms appeared to be in good shape
- Only the slightest oil visible on the passenger side around the valve cover gasket. (300-600 repair coming up there)
- Every time I drive a 2JZ I'm shocked at the pick-up
- The interior has almost a new car smell still there (just like my "old" ES still has!)
The only negative thing (other than the gasket) is that the car is in SUCH cherry condition, I don't think there'll be a lot of haggle room. They've priced it at the top of the book value, and it really almost earns that, were it not for needing to get that gasket replaced.
Anyway, that's the report for now. I've turned in a loan application and I'll let you know if I pick 'er up.