2002GGPIS3

Hi SC fans, I lurk here often and do all kinds of searches, so I am not a newbie and right now I am looking for the right SC for me.

The SC is the car that made me fall in love with Lexus in the first place, I just love the design, and now all the engine options, with engine swaps and turbo options, and the look of the car lowered on deep dish wheels!

I have been researching the SC and the car market in general for a while and want to get a coupe with a turbo engine. Checked out many, including the FD Rx-7 and 300zx for example, but for the price, looks, and community I feel the SC is the car for me. So I am looking at SC300's and would like a 1JZ swap in the future. I am looking to get one very soon and by May at the very latest.

Also as you can see, I own a IS300 and love it to death and I will keep it, so I am looking to add a SC.

Ok here is the deal, my ideal SC is a 1998-2000, but they are more expensive, I could put money down and finance the rest. The other option is to buy a 1995-1996 SC, and own it outright right away. If I buy the older SC, I will have more money to mod it right away and also some minor mods on my IS300 also.

But if I put money down and finance the 1998-2000, I will not have money for mods, for either car.

So what would you do, buy the older car now, or the newer one, and take a slight hit? Note, I keep my cars for a long time and I have had the IS300 since 2004.

Also kind of related, how long has it taken someone to find their right SC? I am looking and there are few good one's out there.

One last thing, if you don't have a garage, would you even consider a black SC? They look killer, but I was advised by a friend not to get a black car if you can't garage it, not to mention all the time it takes to keep clean.

Thanks.

SC YAA

Let me first start of by saying hi!

Great choice on picking an sc! If i can offer my insight on you situation. Ok now you are so right about it being hard to find an sc that is a 98 and above for cheep. That's because most of those cars have fewer miles on them so people think they are worth more. BUT i say screw the 98 and above because they have the 2 bad things about them. They have the vvti motor in them witch don't get me wrong its a great motor but if you plan on boosting it a lot of shops don't like to work on them.Its hard to tune and takes a lot of rewiring.

The second problem i see is that it is obd2 so you are going to have to deal with the emissions. I know you said that you are thinking of putting in a 1j but i see that being a problem.

Now there are also the older car like the 93 to 96. With whose cars tho you have to worry about high millage on the clocks. Also a lot of them are in rough shape and need a lot of work. In my eyes the only good thing about a 95 and lower car is that its obd1 so NO EMISSIONS lol. The down side is and this may be just me but im not a fan of the 96 and lower body style.

The one year i would stay away from and i know im going to catch some heat for saying this but whatever im sorry. Is the 96 I say that because it has the older body style that im not a fan of. And its obd2 i don't know it just does not seem worth it to me.

The only car that made sense to me is the 97 sc. Now i know it is an obd2 car witch sucks! But the good things are it has the new body style awesome. And if like me you hold out for a earlier 97 you can get it with out a vvti motor. These are the things i thought about before i bought my sc.

I looked for my sc300 for 2 years i wanted a 97 in black with black interior. A none vvti motor and had lowish miles. I found my car on Craigslist I payed a little less than 5 grand for it. On the same note a black car is hard to keep clean but trust me its worth it but i do sometimes wish i had picked up a white sc.

Anyways i hope this helps. I also hope i don't anger anyone with this post its just how i feel

uras300

iTrader: (2)

Buy a 95 5 speed and convert the exterior to 97+ like me! This way, you'll have options to go FI with less headache in the future. Btw, read all stickies to have better idea on going FI.

drpatel77

iTrader: (2)

newer version fo sure... way better looks...

lemaylexus

I'll say straight away that I bought my SC with the intention of keeping it completely stock. However, if I had to do it over again I'd buy a 98-00 SC400. They've got noticeably more power than the early model V8s because of the VVTi. I drove one after I purchased my 97 SC300 and have regretted not shopping around more for a 400. If you want to do a swap, it seems like it would be a lot less painless with an OBD-I car, which is going to rule out the new body styles. Though you could always do iike uras300 suggested and get the 97 parts.

abounly

iTrader: (27)

If you want a 1jz in the future get the 95-96 is the perfect base for a swap.

Candela

iTrader: (1)

Get a 95 you get the smoothe bumper with foglights not cornering lights. plus you get the nicest taillights too.

Hey guys stupid question Ive noticed alot of people's gas tanks in this thread are grey/silver.

Mine is a 93 its gloss black, whatsup with all these paint peeled gas tanks? something im missing?

aka paco

iTrader: (15)

I've owned two 95's one of them was manual with a 97+ exterior..

I've also owned a 97 SC300, and I honestly would say i wouldn't buy a SC unless it was a 97+ the newer SC's definetly have a newer feel to them, slightly nicer interiors, also if you like the newer 97+ exterior, you mine as well start with a 97+, because it can get expensive adding a 97+ exterior to a car and painting it..


If you want a SC400 i would definetly go 98+ 99+ is even better, you get the upgraded steering wheel, preforated seats and all..

Anyone that thinks a 92-96 SC is the same as a 97+ probably hasn't owned a 97+..

just my opinion, I would get a 95-96 if it was cheap enough i guess..

I always say, start off with the cleanest best condition car you can afford, don't buy a piece of junk and try to fix it up..

2002GGPIS3

Thanks all for the replies so far, a few things..

The oldest SC I would like to go for is a 1995, because of the smooth bumpers, tailights, and the fog lights. This is unless I find a older SC for beyond dirt cheap, I will look for 95 and up.

Sc300 guy, thanks for the in depth info about ob1 vs ob2, i knew about it, but did not think about it in that way, so maybe 1995 is the only way to go, if i go 1jz

About the 1997-2000, i love the exterior, but i also love the interior so much better then the older SC's, but then again a 1995, is easier for a 1JZ swap, hmm..

I also think if i get a older model, I would swap on the newer exterior and as much of the interior as well. I also like the gated shifter in the auto 98 up SC'S.

As aka paco,( btw your old rsp SC is one of my all time favorites!) said, the newer SC's just feel like different cars, and i have driven a few SC's and the 1999 I drove felt much better then some of the older SC's I have tried.

As for transmission choice auto if fine for now, actually much easier to drive with the traffic around here, but if I decide to go manual later, with the SC there are many options. As for power goals, just moderate right now, just 300hp, the stock auto will hold just fine, and again I use the SC resources and by searching will determine what I need if i want to have more power.

If I was getting a SC400, I would go 1998-2000 for sure,it is the best, but it is rare and those who have them, I envy you! Right now I want a SC300, because I want to boost it in the future.

Even tough, I said 1Jz, I have not ruled out NA-T either, maybe that will be easier with a 1997-2000 SC?

I own a IS300, so I know all about VVT-I, so to turbo My IS300, it would be very expensive and complicated and I guess this would be the same with a 1998-2000 SC.

So I hope this gives everyone a idea of what I am looking for, Thanks again!

vietunit

iTrader: (5)

If you plan on boosting go with the older models but if your just looking for a DD, the 98-00 400 is ideal IMO with newer bumpers, tails, headlights & VVTi.

You can just swap motor/trans/headlights/bumpers/tails for the 95 etc. IIRC, there have been threads to get the gated shifter in the pre 97 cars so the only real difference in interior would be the cluster different in the 97-00 models.

Can't go wrong with both IMO, SC's are pretty solid cars overall.

Good luck!

lfrers

iTrader: (9)

1997 sc300

aka paco

iTrader: (15)

Plenty of 97's around with 1JZ swaps, I'd still go for a 97 at least, even if you plan on swapping..

imDementeD

iTrader: (7)

if u like the 97+ get it..you will be more satisfied with it..
you can swap engines in any of them..or boost the stock motor for 300whp no problem

imo dont make sacrifices on something you really want..especially if you keep your cars for a while..might as well get what you actually want and be happy from the get go..instead of buying something you like and trying to make it into what you want.

just my .02

Gazootech

These cars are timless calssics. IF your going to mod it pre 98 is best and try to get stick.

1997Soarer

iTrader: (1)

Do you have emissions? In IL, a 1995 car is EXEMPT from emissions, so you can do any crazy engine mods/swaps you want and it's 100% street legal. Any OBD2 car or above has OBD emissions every 2 years.