hey everyone, I don't own my lexus just yet, but I will be buying one within a week. I'm checking one out at a dealer tomorrow, except I've heard there may be some problems with the SC. Any recommendations on what I should check? I'll see if I can take it to a lexus dealership to get a certified check, but other than that, I'll check

-brakes
-tires
-transmission(shifting, sound, etc)
-power steering
-belts
-engine gaskets(look for oil with my friend's neat little light thing)
-exhaust
-catalytic converter(apparently someone got a car without a catalytic converter from him)

any more things are welcome to be added.

Any law people, please correct me if I'm wrong. If I manage to get him to sign a contract for a 30day moneyback gaurantee, I can argue that since it is in paper, it's basically a contract, right? And if he lies to me outright, that's not fluffing it, that's just misrepresenting the product, which is illegal, right?

I just want to make sure I can do the best for my first time buying a car.

Thanks!!!
Mike

 

Tell us about this SC!

And welcome.

 

Welcome to CL..

 

Check for bushings both upper and lower control arms, burnt out needles, spongy brakes maybe normal for SC's, black climate control, noise in windows, leaking power steering resevoir, and for spongy struts. What year is this you are looking at? Let us know what you decide. Good luck and welcome to CL

 

Motor mount and power steering leaks were on the list for mine. Remember how old the car is and a number of things fall under the 'routine maintenance' that you may or may not want to factor in to the purchase. There are going to be some issues with most any car that's up in years, but I would venture to say that the SC is one strong car. Do some google searches on your year and I bet a number of kick-a$$ old reviews will pop up. Great freakin car!

I would check your state's lemon laws about your money back guarantee question.

 

Forgot one thing.........if you do take it to a stealer for inspection, Toyota may have a cheaper labor rate.

Good luck!

 

welcome t the BIG CL wat year is the car

 

If everything looks good on your list, you're good to go. They are reliable cars. glws and welcome

 

Thanks guys! It's a 1993 SC300, red, but that's about it. I have yet to make it over to the dealer, so I'm kinda SOL atm. Too much goin on with finals and moving with the family.

I've heard many many good things about these, and I've even seen one with upwards of 232k miles, but I just want to make sure the dealer himself didn't mess anything up.

What did you mean by black climate control? Like when I turn on the interior lights? And the needles I've heard lots about them giving out, but I guess it's too be expected, with age. I actually want to get an aftermarket set of gauges. Could I get opinions? Please and thank you!

Mike

 

232k miles is the general break-in period for these engines.

 

haha nice. I really would like to do a swap, but I'm still reading and researching info about that. Anybody got a good book or a link with some info on the engines? I've been wading through the useless posts, and reading the random oddball useful ones on the forum, but man, so many people posting random crap.