SC400. Would you?

I saw an ad for a 93 Lexus SC400.

"Just need a new transmission" and "needs work on the interior." The pics show a pretty good looking body (partially covered), a trashed set of front seats and a missing passenger door panel. All this for $1300 firm.

Car-part.com has 3 transmissions less than 20 miles from me for $196.xx and seats for $65 each.

What does the collective GRM brain trust think about this one? I've got plenty of yard left for parking another one I'll eventually get to and I am growing weary of the E36M3 that is growing needy in its old age.

Only if I could get a manual in the tunnel....

Ranger50 wrote: Only if I could get a manual in the tunnel....

It seems that'd be less trouble than finding a manual transmission to fit the engine. Everything I've seen gets very pricey in a hurry.

I've never had much love for the V8. An SC300 I would jump on

The starter is in the valley (so I've read,) and you an flip the ring gear on a Fidanza 3SGTE flywheel if you want to adapt a MT. I know of a guy that is putting together a 1UZ-FE for a crapcan series.

Cone_Junky wrote: I've never had much love for the V8. An SC300 I would jump on

I see tons of love for the 1UZ-FE... just never when they're still in the cars Toyota put them in.

I'd be all over an SC400 for a DD/cruiser.

Gorgeous cars. Very overbuilt, too, I believe. From what recall, there can be a headroom issue for some people in ones with a sunroof. There are fixes out there for most of the irritating stuff like dash displays. There's also a vast knowledge bank (& aftermarket) for these cars in Australia.

I bought my 92 LS400 in decentish shape off dculberson on here for $500 plus a couple hundred for a spare set of rims and tires. Ive put almost 3000 miles on it since February. Almost problem free, super quiet ride even with 250000 miles, very solid and well built car. The V8 is nice but gas mileage sucks, I average about 19 mpg mixed driving. It is a tad dull but for a dd that's no problem for me.

Well... if you could get a "blank" W58/R154 trans plate and mate/weld that to a modded auto bellhousing....

My ex. had one of those and I loved it. The only problem we had with it was with the abs. about $750 to repair. The only thing I didn't like about it was the headlights were terrible. Low beams were about worthless and high beams could have been a lot better. It handled, stopped, and accelerated just fine.

W58 isn't bolt on, but within the scope of most of the folks on this board.

http://www.lextreme.com/1uzfe_info.html

Graefin10 wrote: My ex. had one of those and I loved it. The only problem we had with it was with the abs. about $750 to repair. The only thing I didn't like about it was the headlights were terrible. Low beams were about worthless and high beams could have been a lot better. It handled, stopped, and accelerated just fine.

The headlight lenses are about the clarity of cotton balls at that age. Despite that you can put high beam bulbs in the lows with a small amount of bulb tab manipulation and get survivable lighting.

I'm passing on this one because I've got too many unfinished projects.
Here's the ad, if anyone is interested:
93 Lexus SC400

Could be a real classy Challenge ride.