1993 Lexus SC400 review from North America

Replaced shocks all around.

Replaced the LCD panel on the climate control. These are notorious for suddenly "flooding" and good used climate control units are hard to come by and expensive. I found an after market replacement from Sacramento, CA for about $100 that took about 2 hours to install - works great. Look on e-Bay under Lexus climate control LCD. The kit comes with new light bulbs for the unit so it's like a climate control refurbishing.

Replaced radio antenna mast - broken.

Repaired A/C liquid line perforated by corrosion from road salt in Ontario. Lexus wanted over $1,000 to replace the line. I patched it for $50 - including buying a tube flaring tool. Works fine - no leaks - easy repair.

Replaced both headlights with new because of discoloration and fogging. Tried reconditioning/cleaning, but mine had inside moisture damage - new replacements are about $300 each on the Internet and well worth it - the car looks soooo good with clean headlamps.

That's it. Everything else works - over 200,000 miles and it still runs like a new one.

I've owned 60 or so cars over the past 43 years and this one is my favorite. It had 270,000 kilometers on it when I bought it 2 years ago and I still get a thrill out of it when I walk up to it. It has an incredible subtlety to its design that just makes you sigh.

Driving it is just plain pleasurable. It's quick, but not scary quick. It handles very well on the highway and you could drive it all day at 100 mph if you could find a place to do it without attracting a ticket or two. The seats are comfortable and there is a minimum of squirming even on very long days behind the wheel. I drove mine 3,000 miles in 4 days without incident - and what a great car for passing 18 wheelers with - zoom - your past. The cockpit design is cozy, a real driver's car.

The SC400 is an anomaly among cars. It gets sexier each year that goes by. It still turns heads every day, including my own.