andy.e

I've got 135k on my '93 5-speed SC3. Bought it in 99 from a helicopter pilot who maintained it immaculately. Replaced the clutch at 120k, recently replaced the radiator hoses, and found out today that the rear wheel bearings are going. Other than that it hasn't needed a thing other than regular service...knock on wood.

Everyone should remember to have your rubber window trim lubricated regularly (be sure to use the proper type of lubricant for weatherstripping) to allow the glass to slide up and down easily. If the rubber stays dried out the window will bind, putting stress on the motor and regulator. Eventually something will give. In my case the plastic part holding the end of the cable snapped off.

It's an ok price but you could probably get another $1k or $2k off. In 1999 I paid $17k for black/tan '93 5-speed SC300 with 87k miles in perfect condition. This is in the SF Bay Area as well. I think the two situations are similar (mine was six years old when I bought it) except that today, the SC300 is an old body style whereas mine was still the current body style when I bought it. That suggests to me that you should pay less.

A certain amount of oil consumption is normal for a high-mileage SC300. I have 135k on my '93 and I use about a quart of dino oil every 3k miles. My shop tells me this is perfectly normal for this motor. Yours does sound a bit high but as long as it's not increasing it's probably ok. It will be interesting to hear if it declines when you go back to dinosaur oil though.