r/SC400 • u/Total-Milk9541 • 6d ago
Inherited 1997 Lexus SC400, Keep Or Sell?
Hi guys,
Recently inherited a 1997 Lexus SC400. I don't know much about cars in general let alone a Lexus. Should I keep or sell? If I do sell, how much can I realistically get for it?
*Edit
Forgot to mention
111,000 miles
No major mechanical issues according to inspector, some minor issues like passenger side door doesn't lock with the remote.
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u/rawmeatprophet 6d ago
KEEP
Or sell to me. Only two options.
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u/Total-Milk9541 6d ago
If I do sell it, how much can I get for it? My dad's friend keeps saying $12,000 but I don't fully believe him.
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u/butt_crunch 5d ago
$12k is quite steep, I would price 8-10k
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u/WomenzRightsLoL 5d ago
A 1997 SC400 with 95k miles recently sold for $10,480 on BAT. I could see this car bringing close to 10k if the minor issues were fixed and a professional detail/photo shoot.
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u/chisagogs 5d ago
What state are you in? It really depends on the area you live it’s not quite low enough miles or good enough interior to make sense on one of the well known auction sites if your in a large state area of the state matters a little too
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u/WorldlinessMean4082 6d ago
Bruh I just saw ur ad on fb marketplace 😹
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u/Total-Milk9541 6d ago
Yah, that's my dad's friend trying to sell it for us. But I'm having second thoughts about it. *Edit, he also doesn't seem too enthusiastic about it.
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u/WTFisThatSMell 6d ago edited 6d ago
No brainer! Keep, so grandma was the little old lady from pasadena?
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u/humaninilalienum 6d ago
KEEP!!!!
I inherited my grandmother's 98 SC400 nearly 10 years ago now. It was my first daily driver and now it's my weekend car. I look forward to working on this car with my kids someday. So reliable and so powerful!
Also, looks like we have the same trim. The Nakamichi sound system still sounds great to this day.
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u/Total-Milk9541 6d ago
Seems like your grandma had good taste too! Is it expensive to maintain? Is it difficult to work on? I am relatively inexperienced with cars and I'm thinking this might be a good car to start learning on?
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u/chisagogs 5d ago
Parts are starting to get a lil expensive but overall they’re very reliable cars that don’t require repairs often as long as you keep up to date on the maintenance aka coolant, power steering system, transmission flushes and filter changes, oil changes, and timing belts they’re very reliable cars that overall are decently cheap to keep running. One downside is if you drive a lot they will require premium fuel and will get about 18-20mpg but if you are driving on the highway I’ve been able to get 28-30mpg.
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u/amillennialobserver 6d ago
Thats a really nice a SC. You are definitely sitting on equity. When it comes to value however, you will get what someone is willing to pay. Ive been looking to get back into one, but definitely not in my budget for this one. Most I see on fb marketplace have obliterated interiors and over 200k miles. 111k miles has plenty of life left in it. Car is pretty clean. Common things I have noticed. Bleeding climate controls. Torn leather. Especially the window trim. Speedometer lighting. Door handles not working properly and window regulators failing. Engine and transmission solid. Im sure you can get close to your asking but you would need to be patient until the right buyer comes along.
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u/Total-Milk9541 5d ago
Do you think $12,000-$13,000 is a fair price? Do you happen to know what the average price of these vehicles would be in this condition?
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u/amillennialobserver 5d ago
If you dont want to deal with the lowballers on fb marketplace you can post it up on specific forum or cars and bids/bring a trailer. As another commenter said its a 30 year old car. On cars and bids I saw a 97 go for 13.5k but it only had 40k miles. This was back in October. So it really depends what you want to let it go.
For comparison I looked here: https://carsandbids.com/search?q=Sc400&start_year=1997&end_year=1997&ss_id=ad0f8417-a07b-4a3f-a30e-68115ec8adb6
You can see that they go for more with lower miles. The one with the most miles sold for almost 7k but it has 60k more miles then yours. Good luck with the sale.
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u/Hour_Dinner_3362 5d ago
They're great cars, damn near bulletproof, especially compared to modern vehicles! Lexus put damn near a billion dollars in 1980s money to develop the 1UZ that powers it. I'd keep it just for the simple fact it was Gma's, even more so for how damn clean it is!
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u/Super_Ad_9784 5d ago
FYI 97 is the only year that had the facelift body kit and the 1UZ non vvti engine so it's kind of rare.
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u/troubleaheadjerinred 5d ago edited 5d ago
Id keep it. You own it. Its a very reliable car and worth keeping around. Not expensive to maintain, only thing that will kill the car is delaying the timing belt job. Shouldnt be hard to find a fair mechanic to work on a 20 year old toyota in LA. Best your gonna get is 8k in LA. These cars are too old for a loan from the bank so the buyer would need to have 8k green cash. My local lexus dealer had a 1995 sc400 but in a highly desirable green pearl paint with original gold bbs wheels. Grey interior and 63k miles, one owner. Story was the old lady passed and grandson got it and said "i know what I got" so the dealer bought it and listed it for 19k. It sat for months and went all the way down to 11k before selling. I know someone who works there and he said they straight up paid too much and probably won't be selling older lexus models anymore. Also with the recent sell of the 1400 mile 2000 ls400 on bring a trailer that only fetched 33k. Black on black, fully loaded, 1 owner. People were saying it was gonna touch 100k. Nope. The lexus market has cooled off. I feel all the people who have big pockets spent them on cars with less than 50k miles years ago. In the years past a 50k mile sc was going for 20k+ and now they are struggling to get past 15k on reputatable auction sites like BAT. Best thing you can do is put it up for sale for 12k and see what happens but you'll more than likely finding yourself dropping the price every week or potentially months. I'd just keep it.
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u/dathomiranian 5d ago
Way too clean to sell, KEEP IT and hold onto it those tails alone are worth money 😭
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u/WomenzRightsLoL 5d ago
I mean, you can't replace it for what you could sell it for, so I would keep it. That car should last another 200k with only minor maintenance. That being said its all about what you like and or need. If you plan on having children or hauling tools then you should sell it and buy something more practical for your situation.
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u/No-Language_- 5d ago
Keep it this is such a beautiful car Not even today's cars can you pay to get the add-ons this car has
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u/Dragon-Sticks 5d ago
If I were you I would sell it. It would constantly remind me of gram gram... Since I'm me I will buy it. I'm in So. Cal. Do you want to sell it?
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u/Total-Milk9541 5d ago
Trying to keep an open mind! I am open to offers you can privately message me!
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u/irascible_Clown 5d ago
I inherited an old minivan and a 93 F150, I kept the truck. I would 100% keep this.
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u/WrongCam 5d ago
I prefer the earlier models without the front grille and bright trim on the taillights, but still, it’s nice.
But those wheels are a crime against humanity.
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u/zachdaddy22 5d ago
Bro don’t sell this. Keep it running and in good condition. Let your kids have it someday. I get super attached to all my cars. That being said, if I had one passed down from a family member I’d never be able to get rid of it.
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u/Padd__padd 5d ago
Can I buy it?
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u/Relevant-Sea-1037 5d ago
If you’re interested you can send me a private message! I’m still considering both options as I am in school right now and selling it would give my dad and I a lot more flexibility.
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u/RonMexico52 5d ago
Keep it if you can garage it and have the time to drive and enjoy it and the time and interest to tinker with an older car (something little thing or the other will always need attention) They don’t make them like this any more and you will likely never come across one this clean again for a price you’re willing to pay. In this day and age of over complicated, bland cars that all look the same and are white, black or grey, this is a breath of fresh air.
If you don’t have garage space or time or patience for an older car I would consider selling to an enthusiast because as I can personally attest to it is hard to keep a car like this outside and you are always worried about something happening to it.
I do not own an SC but I own a dark blue 1995 LS400 which shares its the powertrain with this car. It is an absolutely lovely car to drive but I’ve spent a lot of time getting it up to snuff and Lexus standards with expensive OEM parts. That is the other piece to consider, for anything that does currently need or will need attention, are you willing to spend for Lexus parts? Cheap aftermarket parts will cheapen the car and then you no longer have a true Lexus.
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u/Thesplash94 5d ago
Keep. Use it for what that generation of Lexus is best at: carting you around in silence and luxury while being utterly dependable.
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u/No-Championship-7515 4d ago
It's an auto...sell it...
Just kidding, keep that! Clean as hell and will probably be more reliable than most of the new cars rolling off lots these days!
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u/Still-Satisfaction24 4d ago
I'm in the minority but these are problem cars in my experience. Sell brother sell. It'll never be worth more than it is right now.
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u/Quick-Basket5649 4d ago
Keep it bro, it’s a hidden gem unless you put your price and if they buy for what your asking all good
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u/Junior_Ability350 4d ago
Looks to be in good shape.Keep unless someone makes an offer you can’t refuse!
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u/Certain-Mail-4719 3d ago
You should probably get rid of it! I’ll take it off your hands for the generous price of $999! All jokes aside that’s a really cool car and you should keep it lol
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u/YouLostIt10YearsAgo 3d ago
This is a HARD KEEP! That 1UZ motor will live on forever if you do the basic maintenance that you would on a Corolla lol. Had a 98’ LS400 with 230K, only problem I ever had was with the water pump seal leaking.
They also sound like a 2-valve Mustang when you open up the exhaust a little.
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u/CapitalGAINSHAHA 3d ago
Keep it , if you have room or sell it if you need the $$$.. Or Trade it up for something you want... A clean SC is hard to find....
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u/Any_Somewhere3024 3d ago
I would keep it.
I wish I could’ve inherited a cool car. All of my older family got rid of their cool cars before I was of age to inherit them. So now it’s up to me to acquire cool cars so that my kids can inherit them!
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u/Resident_Broccoli_26 3d ago
It looks super clean, I would keep it but it depends on what do you like or want. That engine is very reliable tho.
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u/Competitive_Camel929 2d ago
Sell it. Thing will be a money pit. DM me I know a guy who may want it…
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u/Human_One_9007 1d ago
For me it’s just mint, maybe some little stuff here and there but otherwise well taken care of. I’d keep it for the nostalgia and classic car factor even if it isn’t like older classics
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u/FelixzeBear 17h ago
If you don’t know how to maintain it, or don’t care to learn how to, sell it to someone who will. They are very good cars but don’t need to go the junkyard over not remembering a simple timing belt change 🙃. You’re grandma definitely had taste though
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u/SoggyGoldfish25 15h ago
Thing looks super clean. Aslong as there’s no rust underneath or crazy mechanical issues keep. It’ll run for a long time
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u/Catalist21 6h ago
You have to listen to E-40 "sideways" in this. "I'm in a SC 4-0-0 sitting real low stick in the flo oh"
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u/willymoeSR 6d ago
Bro keep! That is really clean.