Black94RX-7TT

Ehrm...NO. 90k miles is the magic number for '98 & up. Furthermore, the 1UZ-FE is, and has always been, a NON INTERFERENCE engine, this was confirmed from several internet sources, two dealer service writers, and I even went so far as to ask a service tech at the dealer the worst he had ever seen from a broken timing belt, and he said the plastic belt covers were broken....

In short, don't worry about getting that done ASAP until you're past 90k miles.

Stevenem

Sorry, got my cars mixed up But I still would question the longevity of a belt past 60k...It should be inspected with a careful eye and replaced if there is doubt.

pcmw

I have the original 1992 belt at 85k miles. No need to change it at all until it really breaks or if you had the other belt driven items changed. You will NOT have a problem at all if it breaks. Just pull over and call a tow. If you check the belt every 10k miles or so you will be fine for the most part. If I drove a honda, they YEAH change the belt because that thing just implodes when the belt snaps.

MW

Stevenem

Ok, I confess to being obsessed with meticulously maintaining my automobiles! I can't be the only one here who has an engine compartment that is cleaner than their kitchen

MartelJF

1997 Lexus SC400
61,000 miles
Asking price is $17,500
TC, Nakamichi, Sunroof.
That price is lower than the lowest values quoted by Edmunds, NADA, and KBB.

It has a clean title, no known issues (supposedly), and a good looking body and interior. Granted, I haven't had it inspected...

What the hell could be wrong here? Is it just a generous seller? Anyone heard of these cars going for this cheap without some HUGE caveat/problem attached to it?

It was purchased as a lease return from the dealership, before the dealer was able to turn it around and sell it on their lot. That said, does anyone know how cheap the guy could've gotten it for from the dealer (before it hit the floor) such that he could sell it this cheap?

Lex Luthor

Martel, i'm in the business, i'll try to help you, but let me get some details. The seller bought it from the dealership who had leased it to the original owner and then bought it from the bank at the end of the lease term, but 'before it had hit the floor,' correct? How long ago did he buy it? Is he on the carfax as the second owner, with the first being the lesee? Got any pics? Good deals do happen, I got my '99 for a great number, had to go to another state to buy it, but well worth it. Lets go through the process of what to check on an SC, and if there's no collision, theft, odometer, or title problems, and you're okay with the first owner having leased it (which isn't a death sentence, but you do know what that means, right?), then it may be the one for you, let's spend the time to make sure that it's worth your time and money.

Oh, and stevenem, if you saw the timing belt on the 1UZ, which i'll put myself out there and guess you haven't, then you'd agree that it's built to last well past 60k, I tell ppl to change it out at 90k, and they still never ever break that early. Here's a pic of the motor in my '95 while we were performing surgery on it, you can see how wide that sucker is...

KingTonberry

i just changed my timing belt at 110k miles, no problems whatsoever before it was changed, and i also saw that the lexus manual says 120k change interval for the t-belt, but then i could be wrong

Lex Luthor

King, that's for the second belt ....

Stevenem

Yes I've seen it, but I've seen many like it die somewhere between 60k to 120k. But those were all non-toyota cars, so of course it's irrelevant because they weren't blessed by the toyota pixies.

epicSC

I first owned a 92 sc400 and now own a 98
The 98 is much quicker with 40 hp gain (over 92), and actually gets better gas mileage with the automatic 5 speed transmission.

The interior is more or less the same. My 98 adds heated seats, and a small lcd which reads the current and avg mpg, average speed, temperature, and trip clock. There is a sensor that tells you if one of your bulbs has burnt out.

All mirrors automatically darken instead of using a button.

My 98 has traction control, but it was optional. Kills all the fun if driving hard, but really helps on wet surfaces.

scENFORCER

+1 for DECADE old thread revival!

ilovett76

Seriously!! I started reading and couldn't understand why it said this thread was from '03. Nice revival. I wonder if the OP is still on here. I hope he bought a car by now.

xamk002

HEllo martel

thought id let you know you may be wrong about the specs u gathered for a 1996 sc400. . on motortrend.com a 1996 has 260hp and 270torque. just thought id clarify I own one so it hurts to hear it has less power than how they made it to be.