OKSC3

I know the adverse effects of buying a car with 150k+ as far as the engine goes, and don't really have a problem, but suspension parts (not just shocks) can get pricey on higher mileage cars. Are there any known suspension problems on the SC4 that I should be aware of when looking at a higher mileage car? I don't mind dropping a grand into the engine to get it running like new, but I don't want to have to replace the rack or something else. And beyond suspension also, are the doors known to sag (I know they are heavy), anything else that might require maint. on a higher mileage car would be appreciated, I have gotten from this forum that these are well built cars that are in for the long haul. Kyle

Wouldn't that negate the whole idea of disconnecting the battery? Unless your replacing the battey of course...

You won't ruin the computer or anything, anything that actually requires work needs the battery replaced... You will loose your radio settings of course, but that is about it. And you might see a slight performace increase while the ECU relearns fuel curves and such. But it won't last long. Long story short, you won't ruin anything... But if you have a stereo that needs a code after reset make sure you know it first, I am sure lexus charges an arm and a leg to look it up. (much like mitsubishi does)

I would like to hear a sound file or your engine, I am interested in the clickity clack noise. I personally don't think its anything to be worried about, if you want to hear loud valves listen to a horizontally opposed engine like used in the Subaru's. Noisy as hell, but totally normal.

Nicely Said... I agree completely, if its been awhile, do the full tune up first, recover what has been lost...

I agree with him ^ If your wanting control over your fuel curve, spend the extra hundred and get the E-manage with the support software, night and day. I would never consider putting a SAFC in my car since I have had the E-manage. And down the long road you can add timing control, add. injector control, maps based on boost pressure, ect. Really good if you want to NA-T. Stuff the SAFC just can't do. Plus with the E-manage support tool you get 16 point maps to tune with.

Should be some thick Vinyl, 2 mil perhaps? I worked in a sign shop for a little over a year, as far as I can tell, the vinyl will shrink a very little bit (Almost unseen amount) and then pretty much bake on. If you wanted to get them off after that you would be pretty hard pressed. As far as using the outside of it as a stencil, that would work, contact who makes them and let them know you want them to weed out the actual letters so you can use it as a paint stencil, paint, dry and peel. Or if you can find the font (the actual file) of what your looking for you can take it to a vinyl shop and the can cut the stencil's for you. We always had people coming in for vinyl just for stencils, kinda an expensive stencil, but it looks very clean when done.

Yeah, if you can't find the black super glue let me know, I have access to an R/C & Slot car warehouse, I can call them and see if they have any. Kyle

Thats what I was looking for Mikee.. Thanks, and I am pretty set on the SC4 now. As far as ending up with 7 Fiero's, we had picked one up for a Lambo Diablo kit car we have, and needed some extra parts, so we called buddy with a salvage yard and told him to keep his eye out for a *couple* of Fiero's, it had been a few months, but he called the other day and said he was holding 6 of them for us! He had 9 come through, but once he hit the number six if he got a better one he would send the worst one to scrap. So we have one on hand and 6 waiting down the road at the yard,

Thats sad to hear, anyone else have experiance with other vendors and thier carbon fiber hoods? Seibon makes one for the SC don't they?

NoOoOoOoOo!!! I have the Fiero's already, no choosing them over the SC's... I am getting a lexus, but I am not looking to spend money on performance mods... So should I get the SC3 or SC4, so which it more pleasing in the stock form...

ARGHHH!!!!! That was below the belt... Perhaps I shall go back and edit the word Fiero out of all my posts and make it look like everyone else was on crack!! :whistles:

lol, you guys are missing my point, I am getting a lexus, but I just wanted an opinionated point of view, I am leaning towards the SC4 since I am not going to be doing any serious mods to the car. The only way a Fiero comes into play is that they will satisfy my craving to modify cars, we have 7 of them already for me to tear on. That being, I am not going to tear into my car so I want to buy an SC that is considered better just plain out stock. Its not a comparison between the SC's and a Fiero, its a comparo between the SC3 and the SC4. The only reason I through in the Fiero's is to say that I have a pocket rocket that I can destroy and run and have fun with. Sorry for the misunderstanding.. Kyle

lol, its not a question of the Lexus over the Fiero... My original intent was to get an SC300 and N/A-T it like my last car. But now I am going to keep the lexus mostly stock (Minus visual modifications, and exhaust perhaps). Where the Fiero's come into play is that we have 7 of them just for playing with, so that is why I am going to keep the Lexus a low key daily driver, why mess up a nice car when I have a slew of beaters that I can run to death and if they pop it dosen't hurt me any. Since I am more shopping for a daily driver I don't need a manual, and I thought I might as well pick up an SC400 instead, get the extra Torque and Ponies that it comes with stock. Unless there is a reason to have an SC300 over the SC400 as a daily driver. Thanks, Kyle

My original intentions were to purchase a SC300 and build a custom turbo (just got done doing one for an Impreza and loved it so much that I wanted to do it, only with more power), but on the same note my next car had to be a daily driver, so I needed something reliable. Thus the SC300. But thats where it started, not where its ending... Long story short, I have about 6 Pontiac Fiero's, 3 with V-6's that run, and two Caddy Northstar engines (One fiero chassis and one N* engine are going into a Diablo kit car), so it leaves me with 5 Fiero's, with 3 running V-6's and a Northstar V-8 to tinker with... Which leads me to my question. Since I have these project cars already I am not going to be doing any serious performance mods on Lexus (When I get one), perhaps some exterior mods, just the basics, but I am seperating from Active Duty to Guard and have to drive over 100miles one way a few times a month to my base and want to get the car that is going to be more pleasing on trips like that. So in your opinions what would be better as a daily driver for now, which rides better, has better response, and is refined the best. Thanks Guys, Kyle

Thats what I always preach on higher mileage cars... Do the things that need to be done. Some other good ones, plug wires, fuel filter, new O2 sensors, some injectors cleaner (or at least some techron gas), change tranny oils, the works. I always see people so worried about making ponies and such that they overlook the small stuff that reclaims power, and the mods they do weaken the integrity of the car because they haven't done these things. Its amazing what a new set of plugs and cap and rotor can do for a car, there should be a sticker above your oil change one that tells you to change your plugs like every 30K :-)

Ahhh, thanks...

Under $100 usually stick on, over usually replacements... If your not for sure (I.E. they don't say in the description) E-mail the vendor and ask, they should be more than happy to tell you if they wan't your business...

Electronic Traction Control?

Yeah, it was damaged back in '98 so its been around the block a few times on the damage it has. I could care less about most of the runnings, if the frame is straight I can take it from there... I will just N/A-T it like my last car and boost it till she pops, I have a few cars sitting in the garage so I quit looking for daily drivers! hehe

He is right about the impedance of an amp, you can run an 8ohm single voice coil speaker off a 1ohm amp, its not going to hurt the amp, but you will sacrifice current.

I plan on making a few trips to Tempe this summer once I get back to Oklahoma in May. Gotta check out Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers live baby!

if the intake is very well engineered, then why do people report such great gains from doing the bfi? you have to be on crack to think the exhaust system is very well engineered. the damn thing is press bent, has pipes pressed together to merge them into a single pipe, and the manifold is absolute crap with one pipe coming in at a 90 degree angle. every thing else is quite well, though. Doing a BFI does away with the resonator and any un-needed air flow restrictions that act like venturie's to your system. On the same note, based on how an exhaust is bent, and what angles it goes at effecting how well it flows is a ricer misconception. I can take a garden hose and wrap it in circles and it will flow the same amount of water as if I were to lay it straight, now if I pick it up and bend it straight in half I will limit flow, but you don't have anything like that in your exhaust track. Your exhaust is a pressurized system, I could do 20 90 degree turns from the manifold back and its going to move the same amount of air, being that it is under pressure, the real benifit is going up in exhaust size which allows you to move more air, but its not a good idea on a N/A engine as you don't have a turbo providing back pressure against the engine.

I sent him an e-mail asking for more pictures, I doubt they know what the damage was as it was fixed a few years ago, and they just got it from auction. If the panels all line up and the frame is in good condition I have no problem buying a car with a salvaged title. I just didn't know what the hit on a Lexus would be, most repaired salvaged cars are only worth 50% of thier normal value...

The unit itself is awesome for the price, it can do quite a bit, a feature I am really keen on is maps based on boost levels instead of throttle posistion (which it has that also).