I've checked out a couple 95 sc300s and liked them alot. I'm about to pickup a 92 this week, are there any differences? I know 97+ had a facelift but thats about it
Search isn't working on my phone so sorry if this has been asked a lot

 

There are tons of differences:
Tailight change on 95 and 97
Black interior finally available on 1996 +
Cathode Gauge Cluster and Trip Computer available on 1997+
VVTi available on 1998 +
Three spoke steering wheel and perforated leather inserts available on 1999 +

Im sure there are many more

 

http://www.intellexual.net/sc400.html

 

Thats the sc400 though...... unless they're basically the same thing except 2jz vs 1uz



So are 92s really not that popular? I've been searching EVERYWHERE for a 5 speed and the only one i can find in immaculate condition is a 92.

One of the 95s i looked at had the remote button on key. What years were these available?

 

It's just engine difference, everything else is standard. For the earlier years, rear wing spoiler for SC300's was optional. SC400's came with front lip. '92-'97 EFI, '98-'00 VVTi.

 

Pick up the 92.
Factory 5-speeds are incredibly rare to come by, and I enjoy the hell out of my 92 5-speed.

 

98 is: New body kit, taillights, VVTi engine, gated shifter. A lot of small things were fixed too. 98-00 are the Ideal SC's

 

If you want a 5 speed and get a body kit, then that would be better. But if you didn't really care if it was a 5 speed, then a 98+ would be the best as it has the newer functions and everything. I would compare 98+ SC's to second gen GS's.

 

The newer functions is what really interests me. I went from an 88 rx7(still have) to a 96 jeep Cherokee so really any sc would have newer functions hahaha

Does 92 have heated leather seats or no?

I'm really only interested in a 5 speed, there's tons of newer body sc's aroud me but they're all auto.
The 97+ front end looks great though, what kind of modification would it take to convert just the front end? Or is it just a straight bolt in thing ?

 

Only the SC300 (all SC400s came automatic) was made manual from 92-97, and only like 100 97 manuals were made. You could get a manual swap later, but I think that's a much bigger headache. I think if you can get a manual and are willing to fix your car up to a very clean SC (That's gonna take some work and money, a lot), then you should go for it. I wish my car was manual, but I'm pretty happy with black on black. I also have heated seats.

You could get a 97 body kit (OEM or aftermarket) for any SC. That's why I think it doesn't matter what SC you get, 98+ SC's just come like that already which is nice (Don't need to buy the 97 tails and fog lights). I think you should totally go with the manual if you're willing to spend money on working around the things you didn't want with it to change it to what you do want.

 

In working on my new 99 lately I've found more differences than i thought between it and my 92.

The 99 had bigger front brakes, smaller rear roll bar and the axle flanges at the diff are different and have smaller bolts.

Just a few things that I didn't think would be different that I've found so far while modding the new car.

 

What newer functions are you speaking off? Inside of 98 ? Cluster and shifter ? All of the sudden you want to compare it to 2 Gs? Ergonomically the 2 Gs is way ahead of sc I'm sorry I own both and sc is my toy but those cannot be compard .

 

I thought your SC was a 93, it's actually a 98+?

 

Ur 98 drives no different then my 93 suspension and driver train wise there's virtually no difference. Inside theres visual differences . As far as the actual cars go sc is outdated compared to 2 Gs and if you think otherwise you're just in denial

 

There is no IDEAL SC. It's all relative.
For me? The 92 was THE lightest SC (IIRC curb weights varied from ~3500 to ~3650), available as 5-speed, and it's OBD1 so thats a no brainer.


My contribution to the differences
no passenger airbag in 92