I've been toying with the Idea of selling my SC300...

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  • 33 comments
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Car?

  • Datsun 510

    Votes: 7 35.0%

  • Alfa GTV

    Votes: 4 20.0%

  • Keep it

    Votes: 8 40.0%

  • Chevy parts.

    Votes: 1 5.0%
  • Total voters
    20
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FlyingAGasoline
Well, the Tragic Wagon ('92 SC300) is getting Long in the tooth, and the last few years of aging have been pretty rough to it, plus I can't drive two cars at once, but I have no desire whatsoever to drive my Chevy in the winter. Here's some things that have gotten me to seriously consider selling it:

It's got 169,xxx miles, not too bad for 13 (14 years, counting the manufacture year) years old. The driver's side door handle was almost completely ripped off by one of my dad's employees, the passenger side window is all scratched up(long, long story), and The front bumper has taken it's toll from too many trips on Highway 36. A couple kids in Marceline, MO (where the car was for a couple months, while my cousin drove it) keyed the trunk and hood, I can tell because they are jagged, and they run across the hood and trunk, so it's impossible it was caused by a rock from a truck.Also, the Headlights SUCK. And the driver's side mirror was cracked in 3 places.(it wasn't me, honest.)
Also, a speaker blew, It's got a nasty dent in the back(not on the bumper, on the metal skin) the brakes are starting to crunch, and I've treated a power steering problem, but it still makes noise. just thankful the power steering pump isnt on the same side as the alternator. So, with one lexus in the family being put out of commision by old age, power steering and brake problems, I've been thinking it might be a good Idea to sell the car, and possibly get a smaller, more efficient one.(air and oil filters haven't semed to help any, my mileage really sucks.)

So, I've been thinking 4 things I've thought seriously about lately, but I want a small, vintage car that's got a 4 cyl and rear-wheel drive that I can have fun with and also do a little work on.

1.Datsun 510 - I almost got one instead of the '60 Chevy. But as luck would have it I got the Chevy instead. but something in me screams "510!"
2.an old Alfa GTV - This one's a long shot, because it would be more than what I'd prolly get for the lexus, and parts probably arent that easy to come by.
3. Keep the lexus and fix it up. - Problem is, parts for it cost an arm and a leg, even on Egay. Cheapest I've seen a headlight for was 129 dollars, but it's better than 4-12 hundred at the dealer.
4. Chevy parts. Lots of them. Very shiny Chevy parts. But I'd be off my rocker to drive that boat of a car in the winter.

So ends yet another "what should I do/get/does anyone even care" thread. :)
 
I'd keep the Lexus. Parts may cost alot, but that goes with the territory of luxury. And no matter what, at the end of the day, dents, scratches, crappy headlights - It's still a Lexus, and we all know that there's a certain feeling that comes with driving a luxury machine, you just can't help but enjoy it. And you could probably still afford lots of parts for the Chevy.

Although, you can drive those big boats in the winter. They're a little different than the lightweight RWD's, more weight=more traction. If you wanted to go that route, I'd just go with a good set of snow tires and not worry about it too much, but keep in mind that second and third gear starts are your friend.
 
ahh...the 510, a classic <8- D do it!! haha cheap economical cars are not always what the sound to be. my 89 honda civics oil consumption (yes, im not talking about fuel) is one that could be compared to my fuel consumption. my little 1.5 liter is supposed to give me about 40 mpg, and after a 45 mile drive i had burned 1.5 quarts! hahaha although making smoke on command is fun when the jerks who get to close decide not to back away ;- )
 
I'm a datsun fan, though you could even consider something like an ae-86 to keep it a bit more current, if that isn't too boxy for you.
 
Ghost C's post made alot of sense, but the lights, mirror, and bumper will probably add up to about 700 dollars..

I dont want to drive the Chebby in the winter because of the salt and snow, and because I'm not sure if the heater works.
 
I'd personally go with the 510, there's some part of me that just loves old Nissans/Datsuns (good ones; not crap ones like the Nissan Sunny...)
 
Yup, eGh3y....

Think I'd make it? It is my daily driver, but I've still got the Chevy. I might apply..
 
I agree with Ghost, also. SC is a very cool car, and at least you know what you're up against. I'm also a huge fan of Datsun 510, but if you thought your Lexus was a pain in the a**, think again. :D My brother recently sold his for like $800. I belive he installed 240SX motor, so he could sell it. There were just so much work on a car like 510, he had to sell it.
 
By 240SX motor, do you mean a KA24DE (North American 240s came with this), or an SR20DET (Japanese spec)?
 
Ev0
By 240SX motor, do you mean a KA24DE (North American 240s came with this), or an SR20DET (Japanese spec)?
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American. His friend imported Silvia's Turbo charged one for his 240, so they took the old one out of that, dropped it in my brother's 510.
 
Wha.... If I got a 510, I'd keep the L20. I don't really want to deal with lots of wires and technology under the hood. there's probably 11 total under the hood of my chevy, 8 spark plug wires, and the battery lines and wire going to the interior. Instead, the lexus is a mess under the hood. I'd have to take the intake manifold Off to change the spark plugs. If sell it, I want something simple. Either way, I'm not driving the chevy during the winter, as I'm going to be doing lots of sanding and bodywork, because that's the time to do it, It'll be off the road anyway.
 
Your SC300 is getting too old and beat up, and your solution is to buy a 510 or an old Alfa? That doesn't seem especially sane to me...
 
What you could do is get a Cadillac. Much better car than some hunk of crap Lexus ;) j/k

Think changing plugs on the Lexus is fun? Try changing them on a transverse V8 in an engine bay roughly the same size as a Geo Storm's engine bay (I'm not joking).
 
For the record, a vehicle manufactured in 1992 is now fifteen years old. When counting car ages, you're supposed to count both the model year of the car (1992) and the current model year, which, beginning January 16, 2005, is 2006.
 
Ghost C
What you could do is get a Cadillac. Much better car than some hunk of crap Lexus ;) j/k

Think changing plugs on the Lexus is fun? Try changing them on a transverse V8 in an engine bay roughly the same size as a Geo Storm's engine bay (I'm not joking).
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4.9? or Northstar?

I've got to do them on the 4.9...
MAn is it fun, and the best part is one of the cyl's has a problem so not only do we have to get PREMIUM GASOLINE...
But I have to change the plugs every 1000 miles....

Oh, and one of my motor mounts is dieing too...

FUKKIN GREAT!!!!!
 
Driftster
4.9? or Northstar?

I've got to do them on the 4.9...
MAn is it fun, and the best part is one of the cyl's has a problem so not only do we have to get PREMIUM GASOLINE...
But I have to change the plugs every 1000 miles....

Oh, and one of my motor mounts is dieing too...

FUKKIN GREAT!!!!!
Click to expand...

4.9

Are you sure it's a motor mount? There's an exhaust clamp on my car making a motor mount-style clunk noise on takeoff because it's loose - Either that, or I've got a motor mount going bad.

I'd advise replacing the head gaskets, they're notorious for going bad in improperly maintained examples and they foul the plugs.

And if you don't want to run premium, retard the timing two to four degrees and you can safely run 87.
 
Didn't want to make a new thread,

My door handle is about to completely break off.

I've got two courses of action, the first one is to just duct tape the handle back to the panel, which I don't really want to do. the other is to take it off completely, epoxy the broken pieces of plastic back together, and then let it dry.

Would either of these work? I closed my door today getting in my car and the mesh door speaker cover fell to the ground.:dunce: If I leave it alone it probably won't make it to next week.

Also, I was cleaning my windows, and I noticed something that wouldn't come off, so I checked the inside. I windexed and tried to rub it off with a towel, and it didn't do anything. The only thing that remotely removed even some of it was to hack at it with a paper towel, and the residue on the towel was silvery. Could it be my tint coming off? The crap is on the inside side(if that makes sense) of the window.

Oh yeah, my gas tank is in my trunk. (technically)

My Dad is going to drive it for a couple months (gas for his trailblazer is starting to get to him) , and after that, it might be the end of it. When we talk about it, he says, "it just needs to make it through the winter" meaning that when I can drive the Biscayne again the lexus might be dead. So, does anyone know anything about 1967-72 Alfa GTVs? (just a thought swimming in the back of my head-I would refuse to subject the Chevy to road salt)

I fixed my headlight (well, installed a new one) and a new bright, but my cover still gets more and more water in it. There's even part of a leaf inside of it!
 
menglan
Didn't want to make a new thread,

My door handle is about to completely break off.

I've got two courses of action, the first one is to just duct tape the handle back to the panel, which I don't really want to do. the other is to take it off completely, epoxy the broken pieces of plastic back together, and then let it dry.

Would either of these work? I closed my door today getting in my car and the mesh door speaker cover fell to the ground.:dunce: If I leave it alone it probably won't make it to next week.

Also, I was cleaning my windows, and I noticed something that wouldn't come off, so I checked the inside. I windexed and tried to rub it off with a towel, and it didn't do anything. The only thing that remotely removed even some of it was to hack at it with a paper towel, and the residue on the towel was silvery. Could it be my tint coming off? The crap is on the inside side(if that makes sense) of the window.

Oh yeah, my gas tank is in my trunk. (technically)

My Dad is going to drive it for a couple months (gas for his trailblazer is starting to get to him) , and after that, it might be the end of it. When we talk about it, he says, "it just needs to make it through the winter" meaning that when I can drive the Biscayne again the lexus might be dead. So, does anyone know anything about 1967-72 Alfa GTVs? (just a thought swimming in the back of my head-I would refuse to subject the Chevy to road salt)

I fixed my headlight (well, installed a new one) and a new bright, but my cover still gets more and more water in it. There's even part of a leaf inside of it!
Click to expand...
Starting to sound like the movie, "Money Pit", with Tom Hanks. :lol: I don't know if you're working on the inside or outside door handle, but either way, I'd try to find a used one. How did a leaf get inside the headlight housing? I'd try to clean it out and seal it, somehow.
 
it's the inside handle, and the light cover isn't worth fixing, as it's yellowed beyond the point of return.

I might buy a new, sealed unit, but that's 160 dollars I don't want to spend right now.
 
I voted 510, becuse my Dad's 210 took him through 10 new england winters with snow tires.

But really, if it is just to be a winter car, why not get an old Subaru, Jeep, or other 4x4 SUV?
 
menglan
it's the inside handle, and the light cover isn't worth fixing, as it's yellowed beyond the point of return.

I might buy a new, sealed unit, but that's 160 dollars I don't want to spend right now.
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Is this it?
passengerhandle.jpg


I tried looking for one on eBay, but no luck. I'd try looking for it in the used parts store/junk yard. Sometimes, you can get lucky in the car forums, too. Maybe Lexus or (Toyota)Soarer ones.

Headlamps can be pretty spendy. If you are planning on keeping the car though, it's worth the $$$ IMO.
 
Or you could turn it into a project car. First tuned SC300 wagon, yo!

But it's more of a satisfactory kind of thing when you've accomplished a goal you've set to repair the car and actually achieve it. It's so satisfying to know that your car is on the brink of desctruction and then all of a sudden it has come back to its full potential, or more.
 
No, I mean the part you grab to pull the door shut, not the latch to open it, like a6m5 posted. :) There's no such thing as an SC300 wagon...
 
menglan
No, I mean the part you grab to pull the door shut, not the latch to open it, like a6m5 posted. :) There's no such thing as an SC300 wagon...
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Like part of the armrest, lot of times?
 
menglan
No, I mean the part you grab to pull the door shut, not the latch to open it
Click to expand...

The door handle problem on SC300/Soarers is very common, after looking at many as my friend was interested to buy a 1JZGTE Soarer we discovered all of them had the inner door handle coming off or at least starting too.
 
This one's got only a few days left on it, it is the Armrest, but I guess it was a grood idea to make it the handle too.
 
menglan
This one's got only a few days left on it, it is the Armrest, but I guess it was a grood idea to make it the handle too.
Click to expand...
If you really are going to get rid of it soon, I'd do without the handle.
 

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