RockfordFile

Wow, that's terrible. How did she land ON your car? Did she drive through a floor separation in a parking garage or something? Sounds like she was getting her Dukes of Hazzard on...

According to Consumer Guide, the manual was an option through 1998, and ended in 1997 with the introduction of the 5 speed auto.

What shape is the body and interior in? It doesn't sound too bad, if it's just the items you mentioned. I'm a Lexus lay-person myself, but the tires, brakes and shocks are all common wear items that go bad on any car, so to me it sounds worth it. $3500-4000 sounds like a great price if the car in general is in good/above average shape. That's my position. :)

The current owner printed a list of all the services done to the car since it was new. There were a lot of entries on the 5-page-long list compiled since the car was new, but nothing that I recalled looking bad. The description column had a lot of "Unknown" entries listed though. I'm not sure if this is common on other dealer-serviced Lexus cars, and it may even be that the tech was too lazy to spend time typing out what he did on the car. Many of these could be oil changes and tranny fluid changes, but the I am not sure. These "Unknown" entries were the only "cause of concern" I had. the current owner did not have any hard receipts because he said everything was documented electronically. He said one of the important areas that needs fixing around 120k miles were the valves, which he said had definitely been done. As far as the timing belt goes, isn't it a chain? Usually chains do not need checking until around 180k, or at least that is what I've known from past experience with other DOHC engines. I will ask the owner about this. Based on my experience testing the car, I would say it is in solid, reliable shape; it really felt tight while driving it, and was significantly better than any previous SC I drove. The paint quality, the fact that there are almost no external blemishes, and the generally perfect state of the leather interior suggests to me that this car has been pampered as much as has been suggested by the owner. I have called a Lexus dealership about inspecting the car. They are asking $122 to look at it. I haven't decided to buy the car yet, so spending $122 on a car I may not buy is not overly appealing. But I understand what you are saying, and I realize that you can never really know the whole story with used cars.

$1600 to put the alternator in?? Or did they do the PS pump and the alt?

Anybody?

Hello all. I am currently car shopping, and one of my targets is the SC400. I have driven one SC300, and was not impressed, though this is because it was not in particularly good shape. I have since driven 2 SC400s, both 1993 models. Both were nicer than the SC300 (again, because of upkeep) and were generally better-feeling. I drove one last night that I almost bought on the spot because it has been a 1 owner car until very recently, and all services have been performed at Lexus dealerships. It is completely stock, and has 134k miles on it. The owner is asking $8950 for it. The only issues it appears to have are: - A few of the dash lights on the center console are out (common issue) - The heater does not blow hot Other than that, it is in unbelievable shape. The leather has only one tear (driver's window sill), but is generally in VERY good shape considering its age. It also shifts very smoothly, and did not evince any hard kickdowns when I hit the gas. Does $8950 sound fair to you all? Would the heater and dash lighting issues be a real concern in the future, and something I should haggle over? Any advice is greatly appreciated.