SC's will be cheap, no matter what people do, there's too many wannabe drifters coming in putting on fake kits and cheap engine swaps and then selling it for dirt cheap, that is what essentially killed off any respects for SC's. Most of the OGs has either gone away or no longer bother posting. When you have people fighting on the side of replica companies and posting DIY how-to-swap-in-your-2jz-cheap threads, it's just sad!
Now those of us trying to do a proper engine swap by spending money on maintenance first and add power later look like complete idiots because the ones who didnt do all that spent the money on making their car 500+ hp, what is the buyer going to say? I'll buy his because it makes more power, but what the buyer doesn't know is the person who did the swap never wanted to keep the car, so they just half *** it. Same can be said for authentic bodykit! People no longer have morals, they just want to do it for cheap, making all kinds of lame excuses to justify it. It's sad and pathetic!

 

If someone can swap a engine themselves why not? Its called being knowledgeable. Then take it to a tuner. And why buy 3000 dollar body kits if your putting your car on the track anyways when it could easily get broken or cracked.

 

Sc's with high mileage will be cheap----but a good -clean--low mileage sc still fetches quite a bit of money------and maybe where u guys are from cars with swapped engines and mods are fast sellers-----here most people(myself included ) want a good clean stock car---which is very hard to find anymore------

I ask anyone to find a low mileage sc of any year any kind for a low price--------give it your best guys---they are very hard to find.

If u find one post it.

 

high mileage Sc's mean one thing time for a twin turbo swap

 

My point was never about swapping it yourself, it's about getting the engine refreshed. It's not expensive to buy a xspower single kit and make 500hp, it's expensive to buy oem parts to performance proper maintenance that the engine probably needs already. many people jump this step, buy a 1600 engine and just drop it in, that's what I mean/

Most people arnt buying kit to beat up, look at the build threads lately.

 

Agreed the car scene around here wants stock cars. Cause when you buy a modified car yeah it may look nice but its not yours and never will be.

 

Also buying a modified car is a real roll of the dice----you dont know if the mods were done properly----you dont know if he cheaped out along the way ---and you can be sure he beat the hell out of it while he had it---------buying a modified car????No thank you, ill pass.

 

I agree with you on that. Most modded cars in general that I run into are in poor shape mechanically, but they look cool.

I would've loved find a SC that was already lowered on nice wheels though back when I bought mine. That fender gap is real killer on a bone stock SC...

 

I think just by doing this, it'll increase the value a bit.

It would help if the 92-94 SC300's didn't come with those super ugly wheels and giant fender gap. Add in yellow headlights and blown trunk struts and a nice low mileage SC would be considered a piece of junk by the average consumer.

My friend thought my SC was a piece of junk even though it was nicer than his brand new car. Once I cleaned up the headlights, threw on some IS350 wheels, and washed it, he changed his mind. Doing little things like this will help the SC's value increase if people saw them in good shape with light mods.

 

I had to stop reading through the thread, cause it statements like yours that have driven the market and acceptable reasoning prices of the SC into the dirt. You look for 2 specific things, and if they arent equipped, you want the car for a 1/4 of the actual value...

Im sorry if that offends you in anyway, but to raise the private market value of the SC, you have to look at more than what swap is has if any, and what transmission. Paint quality, mileage, maintenance, # of previous owners, interior quality, and for sake of those with mods on their SC's, take into account the mods that have been done and the quality of the install. I would pay more for a 1 owner 92 auto SC with less than 90k miles, than a 99 with 7 owners, a GTE swap done by Joe Schmo in his garage, and 130k+ chassis miles.

 

Lol hey hey now, my car has had 7 owners, and has 175k+ on it and I would take the Pepsi challange against almost any SC when it comes to cleaness and how well it's been maintained.. granted my car is probably not the norm.

I've learned one thing about SC's you just have to see them to judge them, my first SC had 240k on it and was in amazing condition garage kept and dealer maintained.. my 2nd SC only had 140k on it and needed sooooo much TLC when i got it..



It does suck my car is RSP on black, 97+, super clean, boosted, brake & suspension upgrades. I personally feel there is nothing cooler in it's price range, under 10k what else would i get?

 

Oh I know your cars Paco, and knowing how you take car of them, along with the cleanliness of them, simplicity, and money/time invested, I can admit, I would openly pay $10k+ for any of the SC's you have had.

And as for your RSP, I wont even say what I think its worth or what I would be willing to pay for it, cause I will offend a few members, but I will say its well over $10k. But there are soo many people that focus on minor things with these cars, or look for a couple specific things, it ruins the values.

 

Word! I almost bought an sc300 with a 2jzgte single turbo swap but thought... it's their taste not mine.

 

Dead Wrong. My October 1991 issue of Car and Driver states otherwise. They gush on about the styling - how beautiful, pure, and unique it is. In 1991, there was absolutely nothing on the road that looked like this. I have had my parents friends tell me about the first time they saw an SC when I pull up in mine. I doubt they would recall such a car if it didn't stand out. in its' time.

Regarding the question on book value...

Most SC's out there today have been involved in a collision or modded at this point, considerably detracting from their value. A stock example in perfect condition is still worth above book value in my opinion because of what these cars were when they were new. Turbodremz summed it up nicely.

Same here. That's why I 'overpaid' for mine.

 

Im in. I think that they should fetch the same amount as a na supra. Obviously the supra is more known. But the sc has many more options that the supra does not come with. And both cars come with the monster potential of the 2jz. Obviously the supra is more performance oriented but the options and luxury of the SC(ie. heated seats, 12 disk cd changer, steering wheel memory, ect.) i feel is as justifiable in raising the value of the sc as the performance oriented parts on the supra(ie. suspension, wheels, sway bars, ect.).

Also the economy don't help as people needing money are selling off their extra cars for cheaper and also people are not willing to buy cars unless they are getting a steal.