B-Line

Greetings all. Obviously this is my first post and thanks for allowing me into the community.

I have a small dilemma.

My wife is currently driving a 1993 Lexus SC400. I gave it to her a few years ago and it used to belong to my grandma.

When my wife got the car in 2003, it literally had only 15,000 miles. And my grandma was the original buyer.

I am going to need to get the wife a bigger car soon. Maybe an Audi Q5 or something. And I'm stuck on what to do with her Lexus. I don't think the book value is an accurate gauge because the car is so low mileage. I think it has some 45,000 miles or so now.

The car, besides some minor blemishes, is in fantastic condition. The only problem it's had in all these years was it needed a new high/low hydraulic piece.

I love the car and hate the idea of getting rid of it, especially for what it's probably worth. But how do you judge what it's worth? Is KBB accurate on a car that old with such low miles? Obviously in this economy I don't expect that to help much.

Obviously I can't trade it in because it would be a crime to wholesale value the car.

Any thoughts on value? Or how I can maximize it's potential in a sale or what to ask for?

Thanks,
B

- p.s. - it's black with gold package. Originally a New York car but now lives in Cali.

-- Also, wanted to add, I am not here trying to list the car for sale. I know this isn't the classifieds. Rather, I'm trying to gauge the options I have for the vehicle, what it may be worth, etc. Just wanted to point that out to make sure no one thought I was trying to skirt around the TOS.

parnzen

drive it or you could twin turbo it or supercharge it or drop in a 1jz or 2jz.

turbodremz

iTrader: (18)

keep the car original, register it as a classic and keep it.

Hil

iTrader: (61)

Keep it for now. It's a really bad time to sell and what you have is worth much more than what people will pay

mr2tosc4

iTrader: (1)

Keep it below 50k miles wait til it becomes antique (around 4 years) and then see what it can bring you. In the meantime leave all parts OEM.

Mr.412

I like this idea

B-Line

All good advice, though I probably should have offered up more information.

Between me and the wife we currently have 4 cars and a Harley. So if we keep the Lexus, that makes 5 cars and a motorcycle. I'm out of garage space.

I had some thoughts about making it into some sort of drift car but alas, it's an auto transmission. And while I know I could probably convert to a manual trans, it's not really a smart time to be throwing money into car mods, especially because I have (2x) Porsche 911's and if I'm gonna spend mod money, it should be earmarked for those.

I've thought about just parking the Lexus on the street and keeping it as an additional extra. I've thought about turning it into a company car. I've thought about drifting it. I've thought about selling it and using the money to buy down the price of the new car.

I'd just hate to see such a cherry car, with low miles, that still runs incredibly well and I still enjoy driving, be given away for what would amount to much less than what the car delivers..

ugh.

p.s. -the car is all OEM. But what does the 50k mile, 20 year mark relevance make? Does that make the car more valuable?

eHIGH

I'd keep it. You won't get anywhere near what you should. There's a guy that has a white 92 SC300 with 46,700 miles and he hasn't got one person interested with his price of $8100. I'd have jumped on this a year ago, but now you can't be frivolous with your money.

Sounds beautiful. I'll give you 3k

Seriously though, good luck on what ever you decide

RolxuSC400

If your buying a new car or a car from a dealer they can bury the price they pay you for the car in another vehicle. I JUST came back from looking at a 92 sc400 with 59k miles and they are asking $9995 at an Acura dealer.

Good luck!

mr2tosc4

iTrader: (1)

Sell one of the 911's, you'll get more money for it, make room for the cherry sc

felixsc300

iTrader: (5)

Keep the car for an extra year or two. When the economy is doing well again selling it would become an option, though many of us here would advise against that and urge you to keep it and enjoy it for many years to come.

LexCoupeB

good idea

COOLIS

Post some pictures of the car. I would keep it, you will probably be able to get around $8,000 if that.