Looking For Advice On '92 SC400

[Farzad_1]

Hi,

I posted this topic accidentally to another forum.

We looked at an SC400 with 200k miles and found a few issues and we are wondering how concerned we should be. The sellers are the second owners and don't know if the timing belt has ever been replaced or not. They have disclosed that the power steering is bad and needs to be replaced. For its age, the car is in great shape inside and out. we found a few other concerns:

1) Passenger side headlight had condensation in in and in the same vicinity under the hood there was a puddle of water.

2) The carpet in the trunk was moist and the was water attached to the rubber underside of the said water.

3) The ignition switch was not turning the engine for a while and it finally did.

4) The mirror control was not controlling the mirrors.

5) The window control's automatic did not work.

6) There was a delay id downshifting when it came to the lowest gear. But upshifting was okay.

They are asking for $3000 knowing the power steering needs to be fixed. We like the car and we are concerned about the issues with the transmission, moisture in trunk, and the condensation in the headlight. We are in the Seattle area where we get a lot of rain, and the car seems to have been parked under a pine tress and there was a lot of pine needles all over the windshield, around the hood, and everywhere else.

How concerned should we be and should we even offer anything for the car?

We appreciate your input very much.

 

Farzad and Son!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fhb5032]

I would walk away, unless you can do the work yourselves.

Although the problems are not particularly serious, diagnosing and fixing them will be very, very expensive and the price that they are asking is only justified - in the current  market - for a nearly perfect, low mileage car. You'd spend another $3000 getting it to that condition.

The timing belt alone would probably be close to a $1000 from an experienced shop and even though it's a non-interference engine (meaning that the engine won't be destroyed if it breaks) it will stop suddenly, with no warning.

Keep looking. They are great cars and will increase in value over time if they are well cared for and maintained.

Hugh

'93 SC400

[Farzad_1]

Thanks. We will walk away and keep looking.

 

Farzad