durps

iTrader: (8)

Hey guys, been on these forums for a while, learning as much as I can about these cars and I finally saved up enough money to buy one and pay off insurance for the year. And add a couple of goodies too.
Well I came across this 1995 SC400 for $2100 which seems decent, but here's the description.

"1995 Lexus sc400 for sale. Car runs good and drives great. Motor was replaced at 233k It may need alternator soon because battery isnt holding charge. 2nd owner. Very clean exterior and interior. Original Lexus radio and cd changer. 355k on odometer 58k on title."

It seems very clean for the mileage on the body, interior also looks good. Just wondering how much more can this car cost me after buying a new alternator, if that's even the problem.
Will be contacting the guy tomorrow and checking it out soon, deff will ask for receipts and such of the motor swap haha.

What do you guys think about it? Should I go for it?

rcchris7

iTrader: (1)

If he has receipts of the swap its not a bad deal.. without receipts I wouldn't touch it because of the 355k on the odometer. Interior looks clean though!

durps

iTrader: (8)

It was sold, on to the next one haha.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

Then you don't have experience with 1UZ's.

The white one I just sold with 380,000 on the dial ran better than the 2000 model I looked at last month. The ONLY thing that matters is the timing belt and water pump 100k service and if you can do it yourself (I did mine in 4 hours for $165) then there is nothing other than the rubber parts under the car to concern yourself with and they are done by 165k usually so likely have been replaced on a higher mileage car........ which is a WIN.

g4ebguy90

Yea these cars are crazy cool, Mine has 172k which is more then any car I have owned, yet this thing shifts and runs better then my Gf's moms 2007 chrysler.

Lets just say my sc400's engine starts up and sounds smooth as silk, My gf's 1996 Taurus fires up, rattles, misfires, then jumps when in gear...

- V -

iTrader: (1)

These cars will last a very long time, just to give you an idea, a user posted a picture of his odo reading a little while ago, had over 600k on it. no not a typo, 600k. If they are well maintained, they will run and run and run. From what i read it seems like the 1UZ engines last longer than the 2jz but it might be because less people mod them so they live through mostly stock.

If you can find one of these with all the proper maintenance done to it, don't even pay attention to the mileage.

got my 95 SC about 3 months ago with 132k on it. runs better than my 2003 tiburon GT with under 100k on it.

to sum it up: These are incredible cars.

Kalogerus

iTrader: (3)

I dont like those rims. When I was checking out my car before I buy it I had concerns about the 174 miles on it, silly me. Now I cant help smiling every time I step on it and hear it go vroom.

LunaVyohr

I'd be REALLY hesitant to purchase any car where the motor was 'replaced'. You need to find out if he has receipts for that, if he had a shop do it or if he did it himself. Go over that motor with a fine tooth comb. Check for burning oil, leaks, vacuum leaks. Take it on at least a half an hour test drive (offer to pay for petrol if you must). Find out how it behaves at free way speeds, and stop-and-go traffic. Do a few hard-pulls, and see how it behaves at high rpm and relatively high speeds. Let it sit and idle, and make sure that the temperature stays consistent. Check how it rides - worn suspension bushings are a very common problem on these cars. If the alternator is indeed on its way out, the power-steering pump may be leaking. The alternator is place under the power-steering pump for whatever reason, and leaky PS fluid causing the alternator to fail is another common problem.

If all checks out, go for it. The 1UZ is bullet-proof. I read a quote from an article recently that, paraphrased, read something like, "The 1UZ-FE, in combination with its 4 speed automatic transmission, can literally out diesel a diesel." Often times, this is true. A well-maintained, well taken care of 1UZ can go well above 350k miles. This has been verified more than once.

durps

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it, but the car was sold