Advice on buying an SC430 with fixed timing belt
07-08-24, 10:41 AM
#1
Advice on buying an SC430 with fixed timing belt
Good evening/morning everybody
This is my first post on this forum (been lurking for a while). I have been trying to find a Lexus SC430 for a long time and, a couple of days ago, I finally found one 2hrs drive distance from where I live. Dealership told me the usual stuff (only 1 prevous owner, well taken care of etc,) and let me quickly test drive the car too.
The car in question is a 2002 SC430 with 216k miles, interiors felt quite nice and everything (but the nav) was working properly. This kind of car is quite rare where I live so i couldn't really tell if something was "off" while driving it so I can just tell you how it felt to somebody accustomed to new cars like me. Power felt very good but very, I don't know how to put it,
kind of lazy, probably normal. Overall I really enjoyed the ride and fell in love with it. My doubts came when I spoke to the dealership today. They told me the car has been completely serviced and that they changed the timing belt after it broke, together with the valves (I think that's the right english term). Reading on the internet it looks like a broken timing belt
causes A LOT of damage to the engine so my question is: is the engine still fine since it runs well or is it just a momentarily thing and it is doomed? Price of the car is 12700€ including tax and other stuff.
I hope I explained the situation in an understandable way, eager to hear more experienced opinions on the matter, thank you!
This is my first post on this forum (been lurking for a while). I have been trying to find a Lexus SC430 for a long time and, a couple of days ago, I finally found one 2hrs drive distance from where I live. Dealership told me the usual stuff (only 1 prevous owner, well taken care of etc,) and let me quickly test drive the car too.
The car in question is a 2002 SC430 with 216k miles, interiors felt quite nice and everything (but the nav) was working properly. This kind of car is quite rare where I live so i couldn't really tell if something was "off" while driving it so I can just tell you how it felt to somebody accustomed to new cars like me. Power felt very good but very, I don't know how to put it,
kind of lazy, probably normal. Overall I really enjoyed the ride and fell in love with it. My doubts came when I spoke to the dealership today. They told me the car has been completely serviced and that they changed the timing belt after it broke, together with the valves (I think that's the right english term). Reading on the internet it looks like a broken timing belt
causes A LOT of damage to the engine so my question is: is the engine still fine since it runs well or is it just a momentarily thing and it is doomed? Price of the car is 12700€ including tax and other stuff.
I hope I explained the situation in an understandable way, eager to hear more experienced opinions on the matter, thank you!
07-08-24, 11:01 AM
#2
Pole Position
MemoryDealer
I would run not walk away from that deal. The number of bad things that can happen when that belt broke is long. Not sure what 12700 equates to in Dollars. With 216K on the clock the list of things that you might need to replace could be extensive and expensive.
Dennis
I would run not walk away from that deal. The number of bad things that can happen when that belt broke is long. Not sure what 12700 equates to in Dollars. With 216K on the clock the list of things that you might need to replace could be extensive and expensive.
Dennis
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07-08-24, 05:48 PM
#3
Pole Position
Why 2002? Broken timing belt? There are many 2006+ on the market with low mileage. Just keep searching.
07-09-24, 11:50 AM
#4
Thank you guys for taking the time to answer and give your advice, I appreciate it a lot! Decided to not close the deal.
Answering to GmanSC, true, there are many 2006+ exemplars on the US market but in EU, the situation is very different. I would have to consider importing one from overseas but that implies challenges of different nature
Answering to GmanSC, true, there are many 2006+ exemplars on the US market but in EU, the situation is very different. I would have to consider importing one from overseas but that implies challenges of different nature
The following users liked this post:
JDaveSC430 (07-10-24)
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