omarg

hey guys I'm usually an LS guy, but my brother was looking for a car and i told him about the SC and he liked it. He's on a limited budget of $3k though...

Anyways, so i found a 95 with 215k on it. Pearl white.
the good
-decent interior
-good ac
-very shiny pearly paint
-drives decent
-new brake and rotors
-intact cupholder!


These are the problems,
-needles dead or dying (lights only)
-inner edge tire wear( new tires needed very soon)
-Engine vibration when idling from 1500-1900(steering wheel shaking up and down, slightly but there. 283k ls400 smoother on original mounts)
-Kinda loose steering(better than 283k ls)
-alignment off
-worn steering wheel and shifter
-couple blown speakers, or possible other audio probs (doesnt sound good)
- not Yazaki OEM spark plug wires (hopefully plat sparks)
-couple worn spots on leather (holes but workable) leather soft otherwise.

talked him down from 3k to 2k... probably.

is this car worth 2k?

RANDY P

If you can save the $$$ and prepare for tie rods and upper / lower LCA's and engine mounts it might be OK for $2k if otherwise the cosmetics check out. With 215K it's due for a lot more than the car is worth.

Otherwise, spend $3K and buy an intact one. Save another $1k and get a good one. In this economy it's easily do-able.

Black Fire

Thats a lot of miles man, i wouldnt buy anything with over 150k, even if it is a lexus.

okbobbo

Keep looking. I bought a very good one owner (kinda) car with 175000 with just a third of those problems and it cost another $2000 to make it a nice stock car. So unless he a mechanical whiz that has access to bargain parts, he's going to spend a lot of money.

Jay-Balrog

i bought that same car. same year same color with 100k less miles on it for 1700 bucks

theres deals to be had, just be patient

RANDY P

It had better look good, the cosmetics will be the only reason to consider this car. Depending on what exactly it needs and whether you are capable of dealing with it to save money is a factor as well.

The way I see it, if it's just wear and tear you need to fix but the body and interior is solid it may be worth the extra few you'll wind up paying since the majority of the Sc's of that vintage are typically trashed. Most anyone can deal with the suspension issues and minor drivability if you just apply yourself. The time and money you invest could pay off VS. waiting 6 mos for a rare car.

I'll take a bad motor over bad body any day of the week, then again I have the skillz to deal with mechanical stuff given enough free time and mood.

Bodywork will cost much more than the car is worth unless you are a painter..

YMMV.

rjp

aka paco

iTrader: (15)

I wouldn't worry about miles as much as the condition.

I bought a 95 SC300 two years ago from a older couple it had 240k on it, but the engine bay looked brand new, had zero leaks, no smoking, recent timing belt change new waterpump and the interior and exterior was immaculate except the tach needle and a small rip on drivers side..

i paid $3200 for the car and it was cleaner then most 97+ SC's i've seen and drove like a new car..


the car you describing sounds a little rough for 3k

another thing to consider is what your brother might need or want in a car, or if he is a car person. my brother had 3k to spend on a car, but he's not into cars at all i told him to buy a civic..

SC's are fairly costly to maintain if you want everything working, replacing the needles isn't cheap, climate LCD is another 100, lower control arms to replace the ball joints are expensive as hell..


if he just needs something practical, i'd sell him on something else..

if he really wants a SC just know getting a SC for 3k is gonna require more money downt he road..

1KhpWrx

iTrader: (7)

I'd say keep looking.
Find one in better condition with a service history.
The more stuff the previous owner has replaced the better!
It sounds like you would be spending $1500 as soon as you buy it just to make it drivable!