1999 Lexus SC Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
Describing this car is difficult, because out of all the cars I've ever driven or owned- this is by far my favorite. Not just because it looks like it's still brand new by standards of style or because of its' great construction; this car just encompasses the total driving experience. Lexus designed this coupe to be a balance of performance, luxury and convenience. They succeeded beyond any measurable expectation. I recently had an opportunity to read a Car and Driver comparo between a '95 BMW E3, 300ZX, Acura Legend and an SC400 (the SC300's big brother). Though the car came in second behind the M3 at the time, fast forward 17 years and compare them now. I've owned the 300Z (how do you like upwards of $150/labor hour to work on them in some places and very expensive replacement parts), the Legend (great car, always in the shop- also expensive to replace) and driven the M3 (just look at Top Gear's experience some time to get an average view of the ownership of this car). 17 years on, it looks great, runs even better and still has enough kick to make it feel special. Though most newer cars could spank me off the line, there's an X-Factor here that new models lack. Even the higher end Mercs, Beemers and Lexes. My only advice to you: take care of this car once you have it and do your research before you buy it. There are wonderful resources (ie ClubLexus) as to what foibles to look for when buying and what to avoid. Mechanic's specials on these models can run major bucks, even if you do the work yourself. Be wary of cars that look like they've been abused- trust me, I speak from experience. But as far as a total package, WOW. This baby is soundproofed with a DynaMat like material (or maybe it is actually DynaMat) so very little road noise comes through. The seats are very comfortable, and great for short hops or long drives. The stereo still sounds awesome 15 years later, and the technically minded can get MP3 output with a few dollars in parts and an hour in labor. Many of the repairs can be done by someone moderately technically inclined. As far as years ahead of it's time: the headlights are an art form in and of themselves, and the steering wheel tilts up and away so egress is very easy! Driving one of these gives you an idea of why Lexus was so dangerous to the Germans in the '90s, and why Hyundai and Kia have supplanted them today. Bottom line: Lexus strived for excellence, and surpassed it. These cars stand the test of time, and we'll see examples of them one day on Barrett-Jackson. And with the number of good original examples diminishing over the years, it'll be something you'll enjoy driving and looking at years later.
VS
Critical Review
I have a real love/hate relationship with this car. We've owned it 1 1/2 years & bought it with 150k on it, so I expected it would require some maintenance, which it has. The engine is amazing, the trans smooth and the handling is great. The alternator has been replaced twice in 2 years as has the power steering pump, parts are jaw-droppingly expensive (p/s pump & rack was $2000, they want $867 for the Nakamichi stereo amp), and EVERYTHING is a pain to work on if you do your own work. A radiator shouldn't take 5 hours to change, but since it has a hydraulically-powered fan, you bet it does. Anyway, my advice is that if you are considering one, do yourself a favor and make sure it has either low mileage, very good mechanical upkleep or both. Oh, yeah, I gotta say that the traction control is AMAZING on snow. Better than a couple a 4WD's I've driven.
1999 SC Reviews
Showing 8 of 215 reviews.
Nothing
Endless money pit
Avoid the SC400 cars, they are money pit cars to own. They aren't as reliable as they say. Parts are often expensive and hard to get.
Timeless styling, smooth power, comfortable
None
Once you own one of these cars, you will forever be comparing everything else you drive to this car. The car is very comfortable and so smooth it's hard to tell it is running. Very safe as well, I was in a head on collision in my previous SC and it probably saved my life! I can't say enough about this car. It's extremely comfortable, has timeless styling, great power, and has charm. Build quality is great and has held up extremely well to this day; although that seems to be a problem on not as well kept examples. Common issues are window trim cracking, vents cracking, rear seats can split along the top. If you treat it well, it'll do the same to you. The only things I have done since owning it is oil changes, and a thermostat replacement. I have the traction control, heated seats, and nakamichi stereo, all still working to this day (and absolutely wonderful). This car has charm that no other car I've driven has; it is timeless and with the motors in them, will probably live on forever.
loud , fun to drive, classic/rare, durability
Dash cluster has some faults
I’ve owned this car for almost 2 years now. Hands down the. Sexiest. Car. To ever hit the streets. As long as you take care of it, it handles great, it’s powerful, good for cruising too and it’s built to last every feature on mine still works.. my only complaint is how expensive repairs are these days. My car is 29 years old now and parts are pretty difficult to locate so repairs can can take longer than newer vehicles and definitely more costly.. so unless you have a good chunk of money to drop on a car I wouldn’t recommend getting an SC just because if you get one for a decent price you may want to start off by investing a little into it to ensure it’s going to be safe. Remember the age of the car and just know parts wear out if the previous owner didn’t take care of what needs replacing it could very well be a safety hazard. Now if you are willing to buy one that costs a little more since someone else has already spent a decent amount to make sure it’s safe to drive then I’d say sure why not it’s a fun sporty car and definitely classic when I’m out driving I get a ton of smiles and I’m often stopped by random people when I get out at places who just wanna chat about the car and ask me the history usually they share their SC stories lol. But I love mine and I’m definitely attached. Best of luck:)
One of the best cars ever m
Very quiet engine
Doing a Time the owner of the $400 c Lexus I haven't had any major problem with the car it has a lots of horsepower,
everything, reliability,luxury, handling,
nothing
I have owned three Lexus coupes. First a 93' SC 400, then a 92' SC 400, and for the last 4 years a 95' SC 400. The 92' thru 96' SC 400 is by far the most impressive car I have owned.
reliable, quick, comfortable
doors are heavy to open, sits low to the ground
I actually have a 1996 & a 1997 Lexus SC 300s. Love-Love-Love them! Both cars have 250,000+ miles on them, and they keep on running!! I have never had ANY problems, just change the oil regularly, new tires, and brakes every so often, thats it! Interior door panels at the top are cracked, which seems to be the norm for this car, otherwise, everything is in excellent condition! The paint has held up very well, and when waxed, people ask me if I just had the car painted!
A classic in the waiting to write its own history
can be a bit slippery with the rear drive train
I call her the Black Widow. The first time I drove a 98 SC400 was in Houston back in 2000. She was hot but the used price was still a bit strong for my pocketbook at the time. Waited two more years and purchased my California Dreamer (originated in LA) with just 27,000 miles on it. Now after owning her for the past 15 years as she quietly turns 20 years old, she is a fantastic machine. Purrs like a kitten and can roar like a lion. She shares garage space nowadays with our 13 Audi A8L, 450hp, twin-turbo V8, and our 14 Audi S5 Coupe, 333hp, supercharged V6. Add the 290hp SC400 and we have a combined 1,073hp available to us for terrific adventures!
quality, large v8 timeless
small rear seat cupholder and wish it had a 6 gear
Bought car and its been a lesson learning the lexus way... well built beautiful classic design and for a car 24 years old it still seems current when sitting amongst newer models...
