10 Facts about the Rare SC 300 Manual 5 Speed
The Lexus SC300 has the reputation for being a modern classic, get to know the rare manual transmission SC300 below.
1. First Year Sales
When the SC 300 was first introduced in 1992, the automatic version sold 7,074 cars that the first year. Furthermore, the rare five-speed transmission was also offered that year, and only 1,601 units of that variant were sold.
2. Total SC300 Produced
The SC3 00/400 was in production from 1992 through 2000, and only produced 1,601 units of the manual transmission sold in the very first year out of almost 28,000 total cars. Now, you would think the sales would increase from there, however, the five-speed manual model wasn't the most popular, and only 3,883 units were built in total.
3. The Survival of the Modern Classics
With only 3,883 manual SC 300/400s ever built, there is still a large number of them that survived. The survival of these modern classics is due to the class of the buyers, which were the middle-aged and the upper-middle-class Japanese car enthusiasts. These consumers were used to dependable Japanese cars with comfortable leather interiors, and they were keeping their cars and taking care of them until they reached 200,000 miles and sometimes even more. As for the ones that recognized the rarity of these manual-transmission cars, they made sure to keep it as it appreciated in value.
4. Reason for Lack of Popularity
Although the Lexus SC was extremely dependable, attractive, and unique, many experts argue that the lack of heritage, like the 50-year-old Corvette and Porsche 911, made them somewhat normal, and not ones to collect, instead, they were more like regular, reliable Japanese cars.
5. SC 300 Desirability
The SC300 has been called "a better version of the Toyota Supra," which makes it more desirable than the already-desirable Supra. In a way, the SC 300 is a luxurious, more comfortable version of the popular rough and tumble Toyota Supra, not to mention how similar they are in the looks department, which means it's just a better car. The SC was made as a way for those who desired sports with a GT feeling to it so they could enjoy a coupe while still being able to stow cargo in a trunk and kids in a backseat.
6. Collecting an SC300
Collecting the rare Lexus SC 300 with the manual transmission isn't as difficult as you may think, in fact, you can pick one up for as little as $5,000. However, the trick is to find one with low mileage, which probably belongs to someone that recognized how rare it is, and chose to treat it as such, in which case, you can pick something like this up for $14,000, and maybe even less.
7. Maintenance
Maintenance can make all of the difference between owning a modern classic car, and owning a virtual hole that you will throw your money in. For instance, if you find your ideal SC 300 with 200,000 miles on it, you must keep in mind that its parts aren't as popular as a Toyota Corolla, which means it will cost you much more to maintain it as things go wrong with it. However, if you find one with low mileage, then your normal maintenance won't hurt you too much, as long as you see the history of the car and ensure it has been properly maintained.
8. Engine Specs
The Lexus SC 300 was offered in 1992 with a six-cylinder engine. This 24-valve engine was one of the highest outputs six-cylinder engine you can buy, and it has been known to produce as much power as many eight-cylinder motors. The SC 300 developed 225-horsepower in its time, and for a car this light, it is probably a blast.
9. The Good Looks
The Lexus SC 300 was not shy in the looks department, and with its smooth exterior, it was quite the sports car. The long hood with the four headlights in the end quickly became a "Lexus thing," and the wide taillight had a close resemblance to the desirable cousin to the SC, the Toyota Supra. With a small height drop, this Lexus will melt your heart.
10. Conspiracy Theory
The conspiracy theory argues that Lexus offered a manual transmission to a market that has no desire in driving a manual vehicle. Most of the people that bought these cars were older in age, and they had no intentions of going extremely fast, yet alone deal with a manual transmission in heavy traffic; however, some argue that Lexus knew this car would quickly depreciate, which will allow youngsters to get their hands on it, and eventually build brand-loyalty. This theory is rather hard to believe, but we can't say it wouldn't be a brilliant one.
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