whomiked

98 Pearl white Sc300, 120k Miles, Interior/exterior great shape, $7500. Does that sound like a decent deal to you guys? Right now I have a 92 maroon Sc400, what are going to be the main differences between the two cars? Also are there different sc300 motors depending on the year or are they all the same?

SClean4

sounds decent, i think the 98 added VVT-i to the engine

OneJay

iTrader: (14)

I think the steering wheel and shifter were updated for the 98 as well. Sounds like a good deal.

rawdil49

98 has obdii, gated shifter, vvt-i, updated body, a/c is r134a instead of r12, fog lights instead of turning lights

rawdil49

i thought the 3 spoke steering wheel was only on 99+

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

that's correct.

By the way, that sounds liek a good deal.

whomiked

Are these vvt-i motors much faster, are they as easy to boost as the OBDI?

Baoser

VVT-i = VTECH pretty much, and OBD2 has more sensors than OBD1

Brendon

iTrader: (1)

I test drove 3 different SCs before buying my 97':

1) 1998 SC300 w/ 78k miles - test drove about 2 years ago
2) 1994 SC400 w/ 130k miles - test drove about a year ago
3) 1997 SC400 w/ 103k miles - test drove 5 months ago (and then purchased )

Comparing the 94' SC400 to the 98' SC300, I'd say the SC400 was much faster overall, obviously; however, the throttle response on the SC300 was MUCH better, probably due to the vvt-i. It really had a lot more kick off the line, even compared to my 97' SC400. The interior was also much better looking with the wood center console and gated shifter, plus that SC300 was also red! I definately would have bought it if I had the money at the time (it was $14,000).

Conclusion: It really depends on what you're looking for. Are you tired of your SC400's color? Age? Mileage? Then get the SC300. If not, I'd keep your SC400. Even if the SC300 is a great deal, great deals come and go all the time. you also have to consider the costs involved with selling and buying a new car. Taxes alone are a killer. I had to pay $600 for my 97 SC400, and the state taxed me for the kbb value $8500, even though I bought it for $6500.

whomiked

Yeah, well the pearl white is my favorite color. It's a 98 model so it comes with the better looking bumpers and sides. Newer interior, newer car, also it's a 300 which is more cost effective to boost.

whomiked

Here is a carfax on it, kinda scaring me that it's been at auction so many times in the last few years...

Report Run Date: 05/12/2008
The vehicle identification number you submitted has been analyzed and summary information on your car is shown below.
VIN: JT8CD32ZXW1003052
Year: 1998
Make: Lexus
Model: SC300
Style/Body: Coupe 2D
Class: Sport Car - Upper Premium

Engine: 3.0L I6 EFI
Country of Assembly: Japan
Vehicle Age: 10 year(s)
Calculated Owners: 3
Last Reported
Odometer Reading: 124,787
This vehicle's AutoCheck Score
80 80-89

This vehicle is AutoCheck Assured™
This vehicle qualifies as AutoCheck Assured.

About this vehicle's AutoCheck Score

Section summaries
Title and ProblemCheck: Your vehicle checks out!
OdometerCheck: Your vehicle checks out!
Vehicle Use and EventCheck: Specific vehicle use(s) or events reported
Full History: Detailed information available
Title and ProblemCheck AutoCheck your title with TitleCheck.
This car checks out with AutoCheck vehicle history.

Your Vehicle Checks Out! AutoCheck's database for this 1998 Lexus SC300 (JT8CD32ZXW1003052) shows no negative titles or other problems. When reported to AutoCheck, these events can indicate serious past damage or other significant problems.

0 Problem(s) Reported: 15 Title/Problem areas checked:
No abandoned title record
No damaged title or major damage incident record
No fire damaged title record
No grey market title record
No hail damage title record
No insurance loss title record
No junk or scrapped title record
No manufacturer buyback/lemon title record
No odometer problem title record
No rebuilt/rebuildable title record
No salvage title or salvage auction record
No water damaged title record
No NHTSA crash test record
No frame damage record
No recycling facility record
OdometerCheck
This car checks out with AutoCheck vehicle history.

Your Vehicle Checks Out! AutoCheck examined the reported odometer readings reported to AutoCheck for this 1998 Lexus SC300 (JT8CD32ZXW1003052) and no indication of an odometer rollback or tampering was found. AutoCheck uses business rules to determine if reported odometer readings are significantly less than previously reported values. Not all reported odometer readings are used. Title and auction events also report odometer tampering or breakage.

0 Problem(s) Reported: Mileage Date Reported
33 08/04/1998
86,283 01/29/2004
86,397 06/24/2004
108,274 08/15/2006
108,316 08/31/2006
109,106 01/30/2007
109,135 04/25/2007
108,316 06/01/2007 not included in rollback calculation
124,787 04/11/2008
124,787 04/16/2008
Vehicle Use and EventCheck vehicle history information has been found on this vehicle.
A problem has been found with this vehicle's title.

Information Reported! AutoCheck shows additional information reported to AutoCheck about how this 1998 Lexus SC300 (JT8CD32ZXW1003052) has been used and other events. This includes reported accidents and corrected or duplicate titles and storm area registrations.

1 Event(s) Reported: 6 Vehicle uses checked:
Fleet, rental and/or lease use record(s)
No taxi use record
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record
1 Event(s) Reported: 9 Vehicle events checked:
No accident record reported through state agencies or independent sources
No corrected title record
No duplicate title record
No emission/safety inspection record
Loan/Lien record(s)
No fire damage incident record
No repossessed record
No theft record
No storm area registration/title record
Below are the historical events for this vehicle listed in chronological order. Any discrepancies will be in bold text.
Report Run Date: 05/12/2008
Vehicle: 1998 Lexus SC300 (JT8CD32ZXW1003052)
Event date Location Odometer reading Data Source Details
04/20/1998 TX
Independent Source
VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED TO DEALER
06/24/1998 SAN MARCOS, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
08/04/1998 SAN MARCOS, TX
33
Motor Vehicle Dept.
TITLE (Title #:10131535995111036)(Lien Reported)
06/01/1999 SAN MARCOS, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/07/2000 SAN MARCOS, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/01/2001 SAN MARCOS, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/18/2003 SAN MARCOS, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
01/29/2004 SAN ANTONIO, TX
86,283
Dealer Record
VEHICLE IN DEALER INVENTORY
06/15/2004 SAN ANTONIO, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/24/2004 SAN ANTONIO, TX
86,397
Motor Vehicle Dept.
TITLE (Title #:01538338151132214)(Lien Reported)
06/01/2005 SAN ANTONIO, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
08/15/2006 TX
108,274
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION
08/31/2006 TX
108,316
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION AS DEALER VEHICLE
01/30/2007 TX
109,106
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION
04/25/2007 TX
109,135
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION
05/23/2007 SAN ANTONIO, TX
Motor Vehicle Dept.
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/01/2007 SAN ANTONIO, TX
108,316
Motor Vehicle Dept.
TITLE (Title #:01511739223141914)(Lien Reported)
04/11/2008 TX
124,787
Auto Auction
REPORTED AT AUTO AUCTION
04/16/2008 TX
124,787
Auto Auction
AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS FLEET/LEASE

henry1

iTrader: (8)

someone could have traded it in at some ford dealership and they just auctioned it off instead of putting it on their used lot.

Blkexcoupe

iTrader: (8)

I wouldn't be worried about the car going to auction. It was probably because the demand for the SC isn't that high, so the dealer didn't want it on their used car lot for that long, and they auctioned it to other dealers.

Car sounds just like mine, but mine had 5k miles more, and I paid $2k more then the price they're asking. I saw the car (the one I own now 98 sc300) the day they had gotten it in since I was there to look at a 99 SC300, but at the time it was too expensive for me, but after 6 months of not selling it and not many people even looking at it they were willing to drop 3-4k off the price.

OneJay

iTrader: (14)

oops. Sorry.


VTECH=Phones
VTEC=Honda
VVT-i=pwnage!

dwebb99

iTrader: (17)

All those auctions would scare me too..smells a little fishy....I think i would walk away....you can find good deals on 10+ year old Lexus with good documented history all the time, just keep looking.