labrealiv

Hello!
Pls. humor and help out this ole gal: looking into purchase of SC300. There's a 1998 wh/tan leather w/ spoiler and 125k mi. from used car dealer, no maint. record but in good shape, solid ride.
Frm private party: 1996 red/tan leather, no spoiler, has 104k mi. + all the options, O/D, chrome wheels, 12-CD, traction, PW moon rf, etc. Timing belt, bushings, motor + trans. mounts all done; records of thoro maintain. at dealership. VG shape in + out.
Price difference is less than $500.
Which shld I get?
Wld waiting until 2008 lower price?
w/ much appreciation,

JesLet

iTrader: (19)

I would get 98. It is all updated too. ( Taillights, body style, gated shifter if AT. just to name a few )

Don't worry about the mileage, It will last 200k+ miles.

scENFORCER

That took me wayy too long to read w/ all the abbreviations, lol.

Whenever someone asks a question like this, we always ask "What do you want to do with the car? Daily driver? Or are you planning to mod it?"

But it sounds like the 98 is a steal..

SClean4

The '98 might need maintenance, depending on when it was last serviced, and also maybe the '96. I'd try to find out as much info on the (last) maintenance of both cars because you could save yourself some money if you got one that, for instance, already had the 90k or 100k mile maintenance done. I bought my SC4 at 129k miles and it needed a lot of maintenance, like timing belt, etc.

ryansong

i say 98, because new style and vvti engine. imo white looks awesome, especially with the 97+ style. plus if you wanna turbo, the 98 is just as good.

labrealiv

WOW! Thanks for quick replies!
It will b my daily car - no mods unless I get some mechanically-inclined stem cell implants this X-mas.
Do Lexus dealers keep track of maintenance (records), as in, can I check at my local dealership even if car was repaired at other city?
It's so fun reading all these posts!!

atxishome

My vote is for the '98... The car just looks so much better. Even the instrument panel is updated (Mine's a '97) and, in my opinion, it looks 10 million times better than the 92-96 instrument panels. Some might say that's a trivial thing, but it IS what you have to look at pretty much more than anything else on the whole car... As a balance though, definitely try to find out if the '98 had its timing belt and all that 90K service stuff taken care of - if it hasn't it adds up quickly.

Have fun!
~Joe

Black_SC

iTrader: (6)

98 for sure.

Gunnar

I vote 98.

Luke_in_SD

Ninety eight fooo shooo

pnyboy27

i got a 92..but id say and agree with the 98..thats a pretty good deal for such a car..plus a nice body

drewgo

Mine is a 98'..... so my answer is obvious...LOL

parnzen

98 no doubt. u have vvt-i, updated bumper, body panels and updated gauge cluster

kevs98GS4

iTrader: (1)

go with the 98! waiting till '08 will NOT save you any money!

labrealiv

Amazing responses. THANK YOU!!!!!