IIRC anything Toyota manufactured with the 1UZ V8 powertrain (LS/Celsior, SC/Soarer, Crown, etc) was paired with an automatic. There are manual swap options for people wanting that sort of thing.
@@svenllama For the time I was driving it, i'd say it was equal to what I drive now, I have an '05 Q45 now, which suits me better at age 35-45 than that, but when I was teen-20s the SC400 was the best choice.
I grew up in a lower middle class household located in a lower middle class town. For the vast majority of families, it was the caprice wagon, an old pickup, an old suburban, maybe a cavalier or other mid 90s domestic shitbox. Its all we really knew. In my early high school days, I became friends with a kid whos father was an eye doctor. His father had purchased a brand new 1992 SC400 in 1992 and had it for about 5 years when I first had the chance to ride in it. I will never forget it. He drove 3 of us to a concert. I remember every detail of that car. The soft, supple leather, the amazing sound system with an actual subwoofer (we were listening to Moby and it hit just right). I remember noticing how well the car handled. It legitimately felt like it was on rails. It just glided over the road. The interior build quality and materials were like nothing I had ever seen before. My friends were all just focused on whatever nonsense young teenage boys are yapping about while on a car ride and I was entranced by the sight and feel of this car. It left a real imprint on my brain. I would later go on to own an GS400, which I loved dearly, but I never had a chance to own the SC. I still think about that car. I suspect that if I were ever to own one, it would not live up to the hype that exists in my mind from that first experience. So I will let that memory live on, untouched, forever.
Same. Lower middle class family and all others in my area. Around my college years I started taking an interest in Cadillac STS and Lexs SC400s and bought one when I was 19, low miles and beautifully maintained. It was like nothing else me or my friends had ever seen or driven before and it totally thrust me into the world of high-end japanese luxury cars that Ive never looked back once. They are enthusiast cars now, and require expert care and someone who understands them as they are all 30+ years old.
Funny enough, my dad is an eye doctor and bought a gold 93 SC400 new when I was 6, had it until 2002 when he traded it in for an 01 Q45, it was having some problems and needed to be traded in. Every Friday he would get off work early and pick me up from school. It was the best part of my week. He’s never purchased a new car since, still babies his 04 SL500. I miss that SC400 so much, he let me drive it down the road at 11. Whenever I see one, it hits me in a certain nostalgic way that I don’t know how to describe. One day, after all is said and done, I’ll have an old one and feel like a kid again.
From my first hand experience, the p/s pump also required a new pressure hose/valve which is a dealer only part, and yes, the alternator. It was like a $1,000 project back around 2004 when I did it.
No snark: What do you get when you start with a bar of soap and a huge block of clay and let some experienced designers get creative? You get one of the most beautiful designs of the 1990s combined with a stellar interior and legendary reliability. For the under-25s here who weren't alive when this came out, the seismic shift (shot across the bow) that Lexus did with the LS400 and the SC400 was unreal. It was the ultimate middle finger to the Germans that forced them to up their game and take notice.
Absolutely, it's rumored that this car is responsible for the R33 GTRs bubbly design. It's said that it was a frightened reaction from Nissan create a rounder design to compete. It makes sense yet not confirmed.
It was actually designed in California as a competitor for the larger BMW and Mercedes grand tourers like the 8 series. Toyota Japan loved it so much they sold it worldwide as the 3rd generation Toyota Soarer.
@@Samus5164 yup but we good the good engine, the japan 1-2jz gte was pure trash, the v8 was slow not nimble at all and underpowered af but at least its very reliable with proper maintenance
Roman I’ve been subbed for around a decade, RCR videos being a regular part of my Monday for most of that time. I used to always skip your outro music, I wouldn’t watch video’s you narrated… But I’ve warmed up to you and your style, and viewers like me have really liked watching you come into your own. I look forward to your videos now, and I appreciate what you bring to RCR
They make a great team. Roman is the more down-to-earth presenter who seems less inclined to dump on everything and find the proverbial silver lining...he can probably find a bunch of positives in a broken down Yugo! I love the reviews where they work together. This is by far one of the most entertaining car channels on TH-cam and with the exception of some rare misses (the original Elantra N review a month ago that got taken down which fell so, so flat), I like their style.
Unpopular opinion: unlike MkIV Supra, this actually looks good (extremely good to be precise) and I'd rather have a V8 than a straight 6 no matter how legendary the 2JZ might be.
The Lexus SC430 is a fantastic car. It's well built, styled well, is very comfortable like a luxury car, and then they set it to a convertible. It's the ultimate geriatric Sunday cruiser. It's just not sporty, and was never built to be. Case in point, my dad bought a convertible Mustang as a retirement present to himself- the 4 cyl turbo, automatic. It's never going to be driven in any sporting way, it's just a convertible Sunday cruiser. The Lexus SC430 performs that job brilliantly.
Even now, people ALWAYS seem to miss the point with these types of cars. I had a 2000 Accord V6 coupé I bought used in 2004 and I remember folks down here in Puerto Rico mention to me how "sporty" it was, and I always ground my teeth in the back of my mind because even then my 25-year old self always thought: "this isn't a sports car or even a sporty car just because it has two doors, it's just a PERSONAL car". You know, that car that's just for you and a passenger, with a big enough boot that you can actually see utility in it, but something that doesn't invite everyone aboard like a sedan or an SUV does. Comfortable leather seats, a lazy automatic transmission, reasonably quick, but with just enough verve in the chassis to make you feel safe if you do indeed decide to drive briskly. And seeing this car reminds me of that car in so many ways. And even though they may have the same bones as the Supra, that's the last thing that comes to my mind when I see one of these. This is a personal car, just like the other coupés mentioned in the video. The world really is poorer now that there are none of these types of cars left available for purchase brand new...
I remember when I got my 92 SC400 around 2002, it was selling for much less than you could buy an Accord coupe at the dealer, like, thousands and thousands less. It was amusing to me because people were still buying the accords.
@@CGJ7755 the only reason I bought my 2000 was because I wasn't approved for financing for a brand new 2004 model with the 6-speed because I had basically no credit history at that point. I found mine a few dealers down the street from the local Honda dealer I went to see the '04 at and I was cross shopping between that one, a Mazda 3 hatch, and a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. Lexus never even entered into my mind at that point and the only reason I was interested in the Accord was because my dad had an EX 4 cylinder at the time and I was very fond of that car.
You just described why I loved my Solara so much. There was plenty of space *if* I took a passenger or two, but the car was mainly for me. I really wish "personal" cars could come back, an SUV or truck is way more daily car than I need.
i owned a 99 SC400 with the fancy intake, my father owned an 83 Corolla SR5, and his father owned a 79 Celica XX. its an unspoken tradition in my family to drive RWD 2 door Toyotas. hopefully my son one day picks the RCF over an FR-S lol
@@DrewLSsix Cressida is the LS400, Altezza is the IS300, Aristo is the GS300. The SC (later the 3rd gen Soarer) used the A80 platform that the Mk4 Supra was eventually built on. :)
every single of these jdm ive worked on, the most common job is to replace the engine, trans or rear diff, man these cars were garbage, im glad ive havent seen one since at least 15years
I've liked the design of this car much more than the mk4 supra because it lacks the childbearing hips the supra has. I'd even say that it would be much more on brand if this would've been the "supra" instead of the mk4.
Every one of these 90s Lexus V8 cars are the official cars of Car Enthusiast with a Phobia of Unwise Decisions. Source: I had a GS400 all through college and when that got hit I immediately bought a GS430.
One of Romans better videos I would say. I don't know what you changed but this one actually made me laugh out loud. Good work bro. I think you've found your sweet spot.
When I was about 10 years old, a couple of rich high school kids were driving through my neighborhood and pulled up to me while I was riding my Razor Scooter around, rolled their windows down and asked a question but I couldn’t make sense of it. I scooted closer to them and asked them to repeat the question. “How do we get out of this neighborhood?” (It’s a single entry/exit neighborhood) I scooted a bit closer to tell them, at which time the driver of the pearl white SC300 slapped me in the face and said, “Don’t talk to strangers, dumbass” I was so confused and alarmed. Was I assaulted or were they trying to teach me a lesson? I have still yet to figure that out. Do they remember me as much as I remember them? We’ll never know.
Sales manager at the radio station I worked at in the mid 90s had a green SC400. He thought he was the cock of the walk. He was like, 50 then, and is probably dead now. Too dark?
“I miss him for all the things he didn’t get to teach me” I lost my dad when I was 19 (c.2011), and since then I have become a father, and a husband, and there are so many questions I wish I could have asked him. We enjoyed railroading and aviation when I was growing up, and I have since become a locomotive engineer and I am working on my pilots license, and there’s so much I wish I could tell him. I’m sure it’s been brought up before by you, Roman, but I guess this time around it finally stuck that you lost your dad as well. You are seen and your emotions valid. 🍻🖤
I had an SC300 when I was 19. It was the best car I've ever had. I did have to change the ECM, catalytic converters, and countless spark plugs because one of fuel injectors were stuck open. Unfortunately it was totaled due to a t bone. RIP Valerie
So your review in a nutshell hits the mark. Subdued Supra for sure. Working on one is very similar as well. The Supra though sportier feels like it has a cheaper build quality, the interior underwent massive retooling for weight savings and its shows. The SC has a tight solid ride quality as long as the suspension isn’t showing it’s almost 30 year old wear and tear. For the money a clean one is a BARGAIN as long as you don’t mind working on it once in awhile and sourcing parts. I bought one recently that needed some maintenance items and a few body/cosmetic repairs. What a nice looking and driving car!!! Turns heads wherever it goes and I look forward to driving it on longer trips. Who has the insane money for a MK4 Supra these days??? I’ve driven them new back in the day during my stint working at a large Toyota dealer. They were nice driving cars but definitely not worth what they’re going for now
I miss my bright red ‘99 SC300, “Liam”. So many ragrets selling him in 2017. Looked like-new on New Years Day 2015 when I bought him - $8k, 75k miles. I can still feel the hangover from the drive down the CA coast. My mom always compares my current cars to it when I visit, like how it glided over speed bumps on canyon roads. Recently I found that Liam’s next owner killed him after evidentially torturing him with gross wheels & silly racing stickers. RIP.
Watching this, and at the fragility bit, made me feel more at ease knowing that my man Roman also gone through living without aa father. This video just made me feel easier, and relaxed. Happy Fathers day to you Roman, to giving us obscure regular cars.
All it needs is a modern navigation headunit, upgraded cooling system, timing chain instead of timing belt, an eight speed transmission and 30% better fuel economy.
I've had my SC400 for about a year now - sitting at around 85,000 miles. I put a new timing belt, new brakes, a head unit (the factory stereo is incredible) and some coilovers, wheels & tires on it. I loved it immediately and it's grown on me more and more as time has gone on. Really just a wonderfully well put together car in all regards and feels like even more of a flex for how understated it is. Great video as always!
It’s a nice grand tourer, you could take it across the U.S., Canada, or Japan in quick reliable comfort. It Doesn’t have to be a 700 horsepower fire breathing sports car or Bentley or rolls equivalent just needs to be good at what it does.
I just bought a 1996 SC400. Never thought I would see this channel review one it’s awesome to see that. I love the car so much it’s amazing. It’s currently in the shop because I’m doing preventative maintenance for timing belt & water pump, but I cannot stop thinking about it. I had the exhaust done and gosh is it a beautiful sound. This is definitely a car I will be keeping forever.
I had the fortune of meeting the owner of this car on the weekend, and got to see the car. 😎 👍 Great guy, and being up here in Canada, I never imagined that I'd ever get to see an actual RCR car in person. RCR is my favourite TH-cam car channel!
My Dad at the 2.5 litre 1JZ twin turbo Soarer. It was really something else. Didn’t take much for him to open up the exhaust and the intake and get a decent whack of power. He found he could surprised cars on the highway, as it was a bit of a sleeper at the time. I remember how long and heavy those massive doors were too. Not very supermarket friendly.
I bought a non running SC400 to 2jz and CD009 manual swap, i decided to get the car running and driving before swap, after driving it i sold the 2jz and the CD009, this is a great car
It’s a beautiful grand tourer, just like the CL, the 8 series… but none are appreciated and usually all are falling apart, except this one. CL and 8 series never came in manual either though.
I bought one a few years ago from someone who had really abused it, and have been restoring and upgrading it since. I'm really glad to see them getting more attention! Some things to note for anyone who *would* potentially like to buy one: - the interior leather is fantastic quality, but something about the stitching just does not hold up with age. It's near impossible to find SCs without awful looking seats, if still original. - the interior trim around the window breaks. It just does. - the power steering pump is located right above the alternator, and the gasket will eventually go out on it, it's inevitable. When it does, it'll kill your alternator. - they only came with open diffs. The Mk4 Supra Torsen bolts right up, but most have been abused by now and aren't worth the insane price people want, BUUUUT that also means aftermarket Supra diffs work. A majority of the suspension, brakes, and driveline are identical to the Mk4 Supra. - popular manual swaps (continuing the similarity to the Supra) are the R154 transmission out the Mk3 Supra and the W58 out of the Mk4 (or the rare factory manual SC300). Since the GM AR5 transmission is essentially identical to the R154 (Pontiac Solstice transmission), it also works with an adapter and everything else you need for auto to manual swaps. - look for rust! they're very durable cars if taken care of, but people DON'T and a lot of them are hiding rustybois.
I loved seeing both yours and Brian's reviews in tandem, and this is easily my favorite review of yours! I'd argue that the SC400 doesn't need to feel any sportier, as it's really just a GT car at heart. (however, the SC300, with a manual, is a riot! The juxtaposition of the tighter manual experience and plush tan interior is such a joyous experience.)
Yoh the line: "Skills provide security, but don't provide security within themselves." Great line! Very deep dive in to a realm of my own life i wasn't expecting from a car channel on TH-cam. Good perspective.💯
I had a 96 SC400 years ago before it fell victim to black ice on the road. I miss this car often and wished back then that there would be an RCR review. Finally.
My first car was a 1992 SC400. I bought it five years ago and it was my daily up until this year when I retired it from winter driving. I've done the regular maintenance, had one of those door hinges replaced (a $1,000 job!), the hydraulic hood struts and trunk struts replaced, and put an aftermarket aluminum skidplate on it. One of the previous owners put an anti-roll bar in the engine bay so it can go through corners at double the posted speed limit, and also an aftermarket spoiler. I had to get each muffler welded back on (separate occasions) after driving for 12 hours, but other than that it's stock. The second owner did replace the factory stereo with a different Nakamichi tape deck and 6 disc CD changer, a Nakamichi amp, and Kicker speakers back in 2000 when Nortel was still a good stock (remember those days?). I absolutely love that car. It's built for cruising down the highway for as long as you want, and if you're diving down two lane country roads it's perfectly suited for that as well. I'm gonna drive it until they stop producing gas because it's such a wonderful vehicle.
One of my faviortie cars I ever Owned. Bought one for 3000 cash back in 2011 had 150k miles on it. Man did that V8 sing! Its design is so timeless. Jim Press, president of Toyota North America at the time, had a custom SC400 that had a Manual and others have swapped in but yeah never from factory only the sc300. My friend had a 2jzgte in his 1998. Also yes most parts switch out evenly with Lexus LS 400 and Toyota Supra most bolt right on.
Supra = Soft Grand Tourer 3.0 I6 SC = Soft Grand Tourer 4.0 V8 They are equally soft, I can't believe that in the American mind the Supra is ingrained as a sports car, only modded ones are close to sports cars.
Loved my '91 V8 Soarer - you're right about the heat. The only major technical issue I had with it in the five years i had it was the top radiator cracking. My 'If I won lotto I wouldn't say anything but there would be signs' would be the sudden appearance of a blown UZZ32 in the drive.
My 1998 Lexus GS300 has tighter steering and handles better than the 1996 Lexus SC300/1997SC400 I drove it’s wild that a sedan handled better than a coupe I feel like the SC was a comfy highway cruiser while the GS was made for highway cruising and handling California canyons or blue ridge parkways mountain passes
When I look at this car, it reminds me of my mom's 1994 Camry coupe (probably same platform) but with a sportier front end, which is actually quite ugly despite the intensions of making it sportier than the Camry. Its almost like Toyota caught a glimpse of Honda's 3rd gen Integra, but didn't want to make it obvious they stole the spider eye headlight design.
I had a 98. Something like 40 more hp I believe. Thing was a tank. I got rear ended by a truck doing 45 and barely felt it. A tree finally fell on it. RIP :(
I own an SC400, and -- as a guy who wanted BOTH the Supra AND the LS400 sedan -- this thing is the PERFECT melding of the two. Enough Supra DNA to be a spirited sports coupe. Enough LS400 DNA to allow me to live that luxurious life. This car allows me to not have to choose, and I'm never selling it.
OPE Performance Wheels DR1 17x7.5 5x114.3 with 35 offset. Tires are Michelin Pilot Sport a/s 225/45zr17. Source: I'm the owner of the car in the video. The wheels are a decent IS F Sport knockoffs. I slapped some Lexus center caps on it to finish up the look.
Strikes me as a "performance car" in the same way many bmws, audis, etc. and porches like their suv are performance. It has an engine and performance elements, but the interior and everything but marketing is more about being comfortable and classy. Grand tourer style, I guess?
did you really call a timing belt/wp and a radiator replacement a mechanical failure? calling routine maintenance a failure is the same thing as getting mad that the gas needs to be refilled when you drive it
He did say, "Perfection doesn't exist" as a way to justify the statement. Sloppy writing, I agree. Mechanical failure through wear is an inevitability, not a feature that can be engineered. Non mechanics/engineers reviewing cars to be entertaining I guess.
I think the mark vlll comparison is definitely a good one, both v8, both luxury coupes. Tho I remember my mark getting more like 26-28 highway. I'd perfer the mark for the cobra motor but the sc400 is always on my list of maybes haha
Seeing that CD player just reminded me that. my father in law is getting a CD player installed into his 2023 Lexus RX. I should have asked if it is OEM, I am guessing not.
@@Unholyhairhole thanks but I meant for my FIL’s car does Toyota sell an accessory CD player. I had a 2001 Lexus GS with the OEM 6 cd changer in the glove box it was rad.
The legacy of the Toyota Soarer has always been luxury & this car is kind of like a final hoorah from the era of 80's Japanese luxury. Have a look at the Z20 soarer & all of its cool features like the active aero cabin! The Z30 Soarer came with the first backup camera, all wheel steering, & a really fancy active suspension system. BEST MOTORING did a segment on the Z30 Soarer that you should have a look at, where they compared the 2.5 Turbo GT to the 4.0 & you can see just how smoothly the Soarer handled with all of the luxury features Japan got that the American SC300's & 400's did not get :( I own an SC300 myself & I love it! It's a very emotional car
i don't wanna win that 370, i wanna win that sc400
I wanna win that sc400 interior for mine
Slap the Lexus badge and you got yourself an sc370
@@samgome01ew
@@jkumadapharaoh8514 grey supremacy
@@jkumadapharaoh8514same thing ya dad said when ya mum birthed you
Correction - the SC400 never came in manual transmission. The SC300 was available with a manual, but never the SC400.
My spirits soared, then plunged headlong into the earth in less than thirty seconds... thanks. T^T
Sc300 also came with a 2jz
IIRC anything Toyota manufactured with the 1UZ V8 powertrain (LS/Celsior, SC/Soarer, Crown, etc) was paired with an automatic. There are manual swap options for people wanting that sort of thing.
@@Chucifer1jz, not 2j
@@albinoyak2755 please do a Google search.
As someone who owned an SC400 from age 19 all the way to age 34, I squeeled with joy when I saw RCR was doing a segment on it... this is amazing.
Was it the best car you've ever owned? I've had a crush on these for 30 years.
@@svenllamaI’ve been restoring a ‘92 SC400 for the past few months. Fuck this car.
Squeeled, I'm in.
@@Alan-hw3jg Haha, noted!
@@svenllama For the time I was driving it, i'd say it was equal to what I drive now, I have an '05 Q45 now, which suits me better at age 35-45 than that, but when I was teen-20s the SC400 was the best choice.
I grew up in a lower middle class household located in a lower middle class town. For the vast majority of families, it was the caprice wagon, an old pickup, an old suburban, maybe a cavalier or other mid 90s domestic shitbox. Its all we really knew. In my early high school days, I became friends with a kid whos father was an eye doctor. His father had purchased a brand new 1992 SC400 in 1992 and had it for about 5 years when I first had the chance to ride in it. I will never forget it. He drove 3 of us to a concert. I remember every detail of that car. The soft, supple leather, the amazing sound system with an actual subwoofer (we were listening to Moby and it hit just right). I remember noticing how well the car handled. It legitimately felt like it was on rails. It just glided over the road. The interior build quality and materials were like nothing I had ever seen before. My friends were all just focused on whatever nonsense young teenage boys are yapping about while on a car ride and I was entranced by the sight and feel of this car. It left a real imprint on my brain. I would later go on to own an GS400, which I loved dearly, but I never had a chance to own the SC. I still think about that car. I suspect that if I were ever to own one, it would not live up to the hype that exists in my mind from that first experience. So I will let that memory live on, untouched, forever.
Same. Lower middle class family and all others in my area. Around my college years I started taking an interest in Cadillac STS and Lexs SC400s and bought one when I was 19, low miles and beautifully maintained. It was like nothing else me or my friends had ever seen or driven before and it totally thrust me into the world of high-end japanese luxury cars that Ive never looked back once. They are enthusiast cars now, and require expert care and someone who understands them as they are all 30+ years old.
They are still beautiful but they may not be childhood memory beautiful.
Funny enough, my dad is an eye doctor and bought a gold 93 SC400 new when I was 6, had it until 2002 when he traded it in for an 01 Q45, it was having some problems and needed to be traded in. Every Friday he would get off work early and pick me up from school. It was the best part of my week. He’s never purchased a new car since, still babies his 04 SL500. I miss that SC400 so much, he let me drive it down the road at 11. Whenever I see one, it hits me in a certain nostalgic way that I don’t know how to describe. One day, after all is said and done, I’ll have an old one and feel like a kid again.
You’re missing out on the real feeling of owning one! I miss mine and would pick up another in a heartbeat
The leaky power steering fluid on the alternator hit home 😂
Owned one for 15+ years, I had to do the dreaded p/s pump and alternator fix.
My GS400 and my parents’ 2UZ Land Cruiser both got the “dish soap bottle alternator shield” after the alternators crapped the bed.
Ptsd is real on this one. 😅
From my first hand experience, the p/s pump also required a new pressure hose/valve which is a dealer only part, and yes, the alternator. It was like a $1,000 project back around 2004 when I did it.
One uzi problems
No snark: What do you get when you start with a bar of soap and a huge block of clay and let some experienced designers get creative? You get one of the most beautiful designs of the 1990s combined with a stellar interior and legendary reliability. For the under-25s here who weren't alive when this came out, the seismic shift (shot across the bow) that Lexus did with the LS400 and the SC400 was unreal. It was the ultimate middle finger to the Germans that forced them to up their game and take notice.
Absolutely, it's rumored that this car is responsible for the R33 GTRs bubbly design. It's said that it was a frightened reaction from Nissan create a rounder design to compete. It makes sense yet not confirmed.
The perfect car for middle aged Japanese middle managers going through midlife crisis. That's who they were marketing this too.
Japanese salarymen don’t have midlife crisis since the 90’s. It’s a consistent crisis.
That’s S2000
That’s a whole lotta mid
It was actually designed in California as a competitor for the larger BMW and Mercedes grand tourers like the 8 series. Toyota Japan loved it so much they sold it worldwide as the 3rd generation Toyota Soarer.
@@Samus5164 yup but we good the good engine, the japan 1-2jz gte was pure trash, the v8 was slow not nimble at all and underpowered af but at least its very reliable with proper maintenance
We all know that Race to the Bottom will find its crown jewel of trash once The Roman gets his hands on an Hummer H2
Hummer H2 enjoyers when they run out of gas after driving 10 feet
The Hummer H2 is the car you get to live your 2000s MTV Cribs dreams!
I would LOVE to get my hands on a Hummer. There's a joke in there somewhere but I'm too lazy to make it right now.
@@ozzie_goatcommon hummer owner L
i Repo'd a Hummer H2 2 months ago, i couldnt believe someone still had a loan on one. Yes of course it was yellow
Roman I’ve been subbed for around a decade, RCR videos being a regular part of my Monday for most of that time. I used to always skip your outro music, I wouldn’t watch video’s you narrated… But I’ve warmed up to you and your style, and viewers like me have really liked watching you come into your own. I look forward to your videos now, and I appreciate what you bring to RCR
They make a great team. Roman is the more down-to-earth presenter who seems less inclined to dump on everything and find the proverbial silver lining...he can probably find a bunch of positives in a broken down Yugo! I love the reviews where they work together. This is by far one of the most entertaining car channels on TH-cam and with the exception of some rare misses (the original Elantra N review a month ago that got taken down which fell so, so flat), I like their style.
He writes and talks like I think. By that I mean the "and who wouldn't want ..." type things.
Loved the twist on Radiohead's 'No Supra-ises'
Thank you! It means more to me than I actually know how to say, which is odd for someone who writes words for a living.
I fucking love Roman videos
Why?
Thank you! That really does mean a lot to me.
That's funny because I can't stand Roman's videos!!
Unpopular opinion: unlike MkIV Supra, this actually looks good (extremely good to be precise) and I'd rather have a V8 than a straight 6 no matter how legendary the 2JZ might be.
If a hypothetical v8 and an i6 were exactly the same power output - which would you pick? I think straight 6's sound amazing
@@Sam-go3mb Straight 6:s sounds good, yes, but I think V8:s sound even better. So, a V8 would be my choice.
@@Sepi-bx5qd Yeah I definitely get it. Agree in general tbh, but imo a 2jz sounds better than a 1uz for some reason.
You should have a listen to some ITB 1UZ's... they were very de-tuned from the factory like everything else Toyota.
The Lexus SC430 is a fantastic car. It's well built, styled well, is very comfortable like a luxury car, and then they set it to a convertible. It's the ultimate geriatric Sunday cruiser. It's just not sporty, and was never built to be. Case in point, my dad bought a convertible Mustang as a retirement present to himself- the 4 cyl turbo, automatic. It's never going to be driven in any sporting way, it's just a convertible Sunday cruiser. The Lexus SC430 performs that job brilliantly.
Watch that ecoboost like a hawk. They don't live long. :0
My first car is an 02 SC430 😊
Well said buddy, well said.
Even now, people ALWAYS seem to miss the point with these types of cars. I had a 2000 Accord V6 coupé I bought used in 2004 and I remember folks down here in Puerto Rico mention to me how "sporty" it was, and I always ground my teeth in the back of my mind because even then my 25-year old self always thought: "this isn't a sports car or even a sporty car just because it has two doors, it's just a PERSONAL car". You know, that car that's just for you and a passenger, with a big enough boot that you can actually see utility in it, but something that doesn't invite everyone aboard like a sedan or an SUV does. Comfortable leather seats, a lazy automatic transmission, reasonably quick, but with just enough verve in the chassis to make you feel safe if you do indeed decide to drive briskly. And seeing this car reminds me of that car in so many ways. And even though they may have the same bones as the Supra, that's the last thing that comes to my mind when I see one of these. This is a personal car, just like the other coupés mentioned in the video. The world really is poorer now that there are none of these types of cars left available for purchase brand new...
I remember when I got my 92 SC400 around 2002, it was selling for much less than you could buy an Accord coupe at the dealer, like, thousands and thousands less. It was amusing to me because people were still buying the accords.
@@CGJ7755 the only reason I bought my 2000 was because I wasn't approved for financing for a brand new 2004 model with the 6-speed because I had basically no credit history at that point. I found mine a few dealers down the street from the local Honda dealer I went to see the '04 at and I was cross shopping between that one, a Mazda 3 hatch, and a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. Lexus never even entered into my mind at that point and the only reason I was interested in the Accord was because my dad had an EX 4 cylinder at the time and I was very fond of that car.
You just described why I loved my Solara so much. There was plenty of space *if* I took a passenger or two, but the car was mainly for me. I really wish "personal" cars could come back, an SUV or truck is way more daily car than I need.
Roman when cybering, the CAPSLOCK STAYS ON
i owned a 99 SC400 with the fancy intake, my father owned an 83 Corolla SR5, and his father owned a 79 Celica XX. its an unspoken tradition in my family to drive RWD 2 door Toyotas. hopefully my son one day picks the RCF over an FR-S lol
(pulls up in a Mazda Miata) "Look dad I got one of them Toyotas you're always going on about..." 😂
@@admiralrustyshackleford119 my sister drives a Yaris iA lmao
Oh man, the 83 Corrola SR5. What a Notchback.
I also follow in these footsteps with my regular cab Tacoma!
@@TonyBasuro he had liftback
The official car of "Yeah, it's basically a Supra"
I thought that was the creceda? Or the IS300...
@@DrewLSsix Cressida is the LS400, Altezza is the IS300, Aristo is the GS300.
The SC (later the 3rd gen Soarer) used the A80 platform that the Mk4 Supra was eventually built on. :)
every single of these jdm ive worked on, the most common job is to replace the engine, trans or rear diff, man these cars were garbage, im glad ive havent seen one since at least 15years
Its a Gen3 Supra and Gen4 combined chassis wise. However its not 100% of either.
Not a poor man's supra, a cope man's supra
Iv owned my 98 SC400 for over a decade now, and I still absolutely adore it. Your comentary was spot on.
I've liked the design of this car much more than the mk4 supra because it lacks the childbearing hips the supra has. I'd even say that it would be much more on brand if this would've been the "supra" instead of the mk4.
Every one of these 90s Lexus V8 cars are the official cars of Car Enthusiast with a Phobia of Unwise Decisions. Source: I had a GS400 all through college and when that got hit I immediately bought a GS430.
Hilarious description
One of Romans better videos I would say. I don't know what you changed but this one actually made me laugh out loud. Good work bro. I think you've found your sweet spot.
Thanks! I'm always gonna keep trying.
I loved my Soarer
It was so well built
Just to open the fuel cap, you had to remove ten screws, eight bolts and twenty four clips
When I was about 10 years old, a couple of rich high school kids were driving through my neighborhood and pulled up to me while I was riding my Razor Scooter around, rolled their windows down and asked a question but I couldn’t make sense of it. I scooted closer to them and asked them to repeat the question.
“How do we get out of this neighborhood?” (It’s a single entry/exit neighborhood)
I scooted a bit closer to tell them, at which time the driver of the pearl white SC300 slapped me in the face and said, “Don’t talk to strangers, dumbass”
I was so confused and alarmed. Was I assaulted or were they trying to teach me a lesson? I have still yet to figure that out. Do they remember me as much as I remember them? We’ll never know.
Beginning in 1972 all SAABs got heated driver's seats as standard equipment,
Sales manager at the radio station I worked at in the mid 90s had a green SC400. He thought he was the cock of the walk. He was like, 50 then, and is probably dead now. Too dark?
they are great cars. i had one at 19
It's probably for the best.
Ya don't want some 100 year old demoposing in those seats .
Bummer. Let me know if his widow still has the car.
If Lexus had dropped a manual transmission, many people would be saying, yesterday and today, "Who puts a manual transmission in a luxury car?"
Doesn't need a manual. It's a GT car not a sports car.
Everything needs a manual...
E V E R Y T H I N G ! >:[
@@jamesgizasson came here to say this.
Mk4 supra doesn't need one either then, huh?
@@andreydildin They serve different purposes.
@chriseaton2730 yeah, that's what the marketing team said. But when you get down to the nuts and bolts, do they really?
“I miss him for all the things he didn’t get to teach me”
I lost my dad when I was 19 (c.2011), and since then I have become a father, and a husband, and there are so many questions I wish I could have asked him.
We enjoyed railroading and aviation when I was growing up, and I have since become a locomotive engineer and I am working on my pilots license, and there’s so much I wish I could tell him.
I’m sure it’s been brought up before by you, Roman, but I guess this time around it finally stuck that you lost your dad as well. You are seen and your emotions valid. 🍻🖤
Is this Matt Farah's Milion Mile Lexus?
Nah. It's Adam's *indeterminate* miles Lexus.
crazy how california is different on cars, a lexus in north canada last about 5 years until its completely rotted
No
Fun fact: the SC came before the MK4. Oh and half the suspension was taken from the SC for mk4 use
And the other half was from the Aristo
I had an SC300 when I was 19. It was the best car I've ever had. I did have to change the ECM, catalytic converters, and countless spark plugs because one of fuel injectors were stuck open. Unfortunately it was totaled due to a t bone. RIP Valerie
I had one fresh out of college and I miss it
The SCs even the 430 weren’t bad, just misunderstood. I hope one day history can smile on them.
I hope not. I want the motor cheap for projects.
Yeah! It also helps i love luxury cruisers that LOOK sporty but only look sporty. Specifically 2doors.
History already is, you see the prices for them?
SC430s and MR2 Spyders are underrated,
@@louiearmstrong i miss my sw20
Nice, heartfelt tribute to your dad. I miss mine too, but he did give me his "love of cars" gene and lots of shared automotive memories.
WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT A RELIABLE JAPANESE V8 REAR WHEEL DRIVE LUXURY LEATHER INTERIOR COUPE?
This is EXCELLENT writing.
Thank you! This made my day.
So your review in a nutshell hits the mark. Subdued Supra for sure. Working on one is very similar as well. The Supra though sportier feels like it has a cheaper build quality, the interior underwent massive retooling for weight savings and its shows.
The SC has a tight solid ride quality as long as the suspension isn’t showing it’s almost 30 year old wear and tear.
For the money a clean one is a BARGAIN as long as you don’t mind working on it once in awhile and sourcing parts.
I bought one recently that needed some maintenance items and a few body/cosmetic repairs. What a nice looking and driving car!!! Turns heads wherever it goes and I look forward to driving it on longer trips.
Who has the insane money for a MK4 Supra these days??? I’ve driven them new back in the day during my stint working at a large Toyota dealer. They were nice driving cars but definitely not worth what they’re going for now
I miss my bright red ‘99 SC300, “Liam”. So many ragrets selling him in 2017. Looked like-new on New Years Day 2015 when I bought him - $8k, 75k miles. I can still feel the hangover from the drive down the CA coast.
My mom always compares my current cars to it when I visit, like how it glided over speed bumps on canyon roads.
Recently I found that Liam’s next owner killed him after evidentially torturing him with gross wheels & silly racing stickers. RIP.
As Henry Cavill as the Witcher said: "Fuck".
RIP Liam. :(
"Mom, can I have a Supra?" - "No, we have got Supra at home."
So better than a Supra?
"Supra? No lil Jimmy it's pronounced Saturn, Saturn..." 😂
the sc400 is a superior car
my coilovers say supra on them. so theres that.
Almost bought a Soarer here in Australia 23ish years ago. Bought an R32 Skyline instead. Don't regret it.
Dont drive the JZZ30 version because you might get a regret lol
Seeing all of these 90s cars show up is nice. Tho I should really get ahold of yall sometime so we can laugh at my 97 Rodeo
God I miss 1990s Lexus/Toyota. I need an SC 400 in my life
Good plan
I'd get it just for the Nakamichi tape deck
Watching this, and at the fragility bit, made me feel more at ease knowing that my man Roman also gone through living without aa father. This video just made me feel easier, and relaxed. Happy Fathers day to you Roman, to giving us obscure regular cars.
Thank you! Happy belated Father's Day to you as well!
I owned two of these. I'm down to one now, and I love it. My grandfather bought it back in 93 and I've got it now.
Main reason why I keep rescuing these Scs. I can't get enough of them, they are truly great cars.
All it needs is a modern navigation headunit, upgraded cooling system, timing chain instead of timing belt, an eight speed transmission and 30% better fuel economy.
I've had my SC400 for about a year now - sitting at around 85,000 miles. I put a new timing belt, new brakes, a head unit (the factory stereo is incredible) and some coilovers, wheels & tires on it. I loved it immediately and it's grown on me more and more as time has gone on. Really just a wonderfully well put together car in all regards and feels like even more of a flex for how understated it is. Great video as always!
The "No Surprises" parody at the end was a nice surprise. Pun intended.
It’s a nice grand tourer, you could take it across the U.S., Canada, or Japan in quick reliable comfort. It Doesn’t have to be a 700 horsepower fire breathing sports car or Bentley or rolls equivalent just needs to be good at what it does.
That gray interior is beautiful. Owner of 3 of these ... right now a 97 sc300 👍
I have the exact same one im trying to make it go alive little faster lol
I just bought a 1996 SC400. Never thought I would see this channel review one it’s awesome to see that. I love the car so much it’s amazing. It’s currently in the shop because I’m doing preventative maintenance for timing belt & water pump, but I cannot stop thinking about it. I had the exhaust done and gosh is it a beautiful sound. This is definitely a car I will be keeping forever.
Good move
What mileage? I hope it treats you well I’m in the market for one @nate8466
@@gaberichards9143 270k miles. I’ve had it from 267-270
@@gaberichards9143I have a 1992 for sale.
When I was 18 working at dirt lot used car lots - THIS was the best car I ever drove, TT z cars, supras, Porsches - the sc reigned supreme
I had the fortune of meeting the owner of this car on the weekend, and got to see the car. 😎 👍 Great guy, and being up here in Canada, I never imagined that I'd ever get to see an actual RCR car in person. RCR is my favourite TH-cam car channel!
I have a 92 as a daily driver and the only thing broken on the car is the automatic antenna. Seriously one of the best cars ever made!
So, so true!🤔🤫🤗😇
That Red Lobster snap was personal!!! 😅 Where will we go after getting Kanye'd by our exes?
Roman is becoming one of my favorite TH-camrs!
My Dad at the 2.5 litre 1JZ twin turbo Soarer. It was really something else.
Didn’t take much for him to open up the exhaust and the intake and get a decent whack of power.
He found he could surprised cars on the highway, as it was a bit of a sleeper at the time.
I remember how long and heavy those massive doors were too.
Not very supermarket friendly.
when I was a kid the sc400 was a drug dealer car that being said i loved my 92 sc400 - and still do, its my favorite car.
I bought a non running SC400 to 2jz and CD009 manual swap, i decided to get the car running and driving before swap, after driving it i sold the 2jz and the CD009, this is a great car
It’s a beautiful grand tourer, just like the CL, the 8 series… but none are appreciated and usually all are falling apart, except this one. CL and 8 series never came in manual either though.
8 series came in manual
@@andreydildin Very very rare oddity, as in like less than 10% I believe, but yes indeed.
I bought one a few years ago from someone who had really abused it, and have been restoring and upgrading it since. I'm really glad to see them getting more attention!
Some things to note for anyone who *would* potentially like to buy one:
- the interior leather is fantastic quality, but something about the stitching just does not hold up with age. It's near impossible to find SCs without awful looking seats, if still original.
- the interior trim around the window breaks. It just does.
- the power steering pump is located right above the alternator, and the gasket will eventually go out on it, it's inevitable. When it does, it'll kill your alternator.
- they only came with open diffs. The Mk4 Supra Torsen bolts right up, but most have been abused by now and aren't worth the insane price people want, BUUUUT that also means aftermarket Supra diffs work. A majority of the suspension, brakes, and driveline are identical to the Mk4 Supra.
- popular manual swaps (continuing the similarity to the Supra) are the R154 transmission out the Mk3 Supra and the W58 out of the Mk4 (or the rare factory manual SC300). Since the GM AR5 transmission is essentially identical to the R154 (Pontiac Solstice transmission), it also works with an adapter and everything else you need for auto to manual swaps.
- look for rust! they're very durable cars if taken care of, but people DON'T and a lot of them are hiding rustybois.
If you pop off the skirts, the rocker panels can be a fuckign nightmare
@@CGJ7755 glad the pre-facelift skirts are a lot less prone to rust. 🤕
@@Samus5164I had a 92 and when they took the skirts off to repaint it after 20 years it was not doing well under there
I loved seeing both yours and Brian's reviews in tandem, and this is easily my favorite review of yours! I'd argue that the SC400 doesn't need to feel any sportier, as it's really just a GT car at heart. (however, the SC300, with a manual, is a riot! The juxtaposition of the tighter manual experience and plush tan interior is such a joyous experience.)
If it comes with a SuperUnknown CD in the changer, it's worthy.
Also, your song was fantastic. Always look forward to a Roman parody.
Ahhh, the Bubble Lex'. Favorite car for rappers in the golden era of the 90's...
Yoh the line: "Skills provide security, but don't provide security within themselves." Great line! Very deep dive in to a realm of my own life i wasn't expecting from a car channel on TH-cam. Good perspective.💯
I had a 96 SC400 years ago before it fell victim to black ice on the road. I miss this car often and wished back then that there would be an RCR review.
Finally.
Glad to have the songs at the end back!
My first car was a 1992 SC400. I bought it five years ago and it was my daily up until this year when I retired it from winter driving. I've done the regular maintenance, had one of those door hinges replaced (a $1,000 job!), the hydraulic hood struts and trunk struts replaced, and put an aftermarket aluminum skidplate on it. One of the previous owners put an anti-roll bar in the engine bay so it can go through corners at double the posted speed limit, and also an aftermarket spoiler. I had to get each muffler welded back on (separate occasions) after driving for 12 hours, but other than that it's stock.
The second owner did replace the factory stereo with a different Nakamichi tape deck and 6 disc CD changer, a Nakamichi amp, and Kicker speakers back in 2000 when Nortel was still a good stock (remember those days?). I absolutely love that car. It's built for cruising down the highway for as long as you want, and if you're diving down two lane country roads it's perfectly suited for that as well. I'm gonna drive it until they stop producing gas because it's such a wonderful vehicle.
Just do the timing belt before it lets ya down
One of my faviortie cars I ever Owned. Bought one for 3000 cash back in 2011 had 150k miles on it. Man did that V8 sing! Its design is so timeless. Jim Press, president of Toyota North America at the time, had a custom SC400 that had a Manual and others have swapped in but yeah never from factory only the sc300. My friend had a 2jzgte in his 1998. Also yes most parts switch out evenly with Lexus LS 400 and Toyota Supra most bolt right on.
Supra = Soft Grand Tourer 3.0 I6
SC = Soft Grand Tourer 4.0 V8
They are equally soft, I can't believe that in the American mind the Supra is ingrained as a sports car, only modded ones are close to sports cars.
Loved my '91 V8 Soarer - you're right about the heat. The only major technical issue I had with it in the five years i had it was the top radiator cracking. My 'If I won lotto I wouldn't say anything but there would be signs' would be the sudden appearance of a blown UZZ32 in the drive.
the dial on the gauges look like spatulas
My 1998 Lexus GS300 has tighter steering and handles better than the 1996 Lexus SC300/1997SC400 I drove it’s wild that a sedan handled better than a coupe I feel like the SC was a comfy highway cruiser while the GS was made for highway cruising and handling California canyons or blue ridge parkways mountain passes
As was a supra really. Similar suspension but different damper and spring rates. But good for parts for hot rods.
i really enjoy Roman narration. Good work man am looking forward to next one
Roman rocks! Awesome vid as always and thanks for the happy Father’s Day. Hope y’all have a good one 👍
Thanks for the Father’s Day wishes. Very touching to hear about your father. Great work Roman!
Everything in that interior will still work in 30 years.
True. I've got a 2004 LS430 and there hasn't been a single fault or failure in the cabin.
When I look at this car, it reminds me of my mom's 1994 Camry coupe (probably same platform) but with a sportier front end, which is actually quite ugly despite the intensions of making it sportier than the Camry. Its almost like Toyota caught a glimpse of Honda's 3rd gen Integra, but didn't want to make it obvious they stole the spider eye headlight design.
Did you test out the nakamichi stereo at all? I've heard they were really good in the ls400!
They were spectacular! Like for the times, great!🤔🤗😬
I had a 98. Something like 40 more hp I believe. Thing was a tank. I got rear ended by a truck doing 45 and barely felt it. A tree finally fell on it. RIP :(
i have an 98 gs300.. got it nonrunning cus it was dirt cheap and has a 2jz.. its an automatic but it is what it is
Was gonna get one of these but missed out at the last minute :( also this is absolutely. The best car that Roman has reviewed in a while
as someone who recently purchased a GS 350 i feel like it's really rare to have an overall bad experience with a lexus.
I want a retro-luxury personality.
My eyes got big when you said "viennetta" man, that ice cream was soooo good lol
Roman! Doing great, keep it coming!
LOL the alternator died on my 93 SC400 yesterday, and reading this comment section, now I know why! Thanks Roman!
I own an SC400, and -- as a guy who wanted BOTH the Supra AND the LS400 sedan -- this thing is the PERFECT melding of the two. Enough Supra DNA to be a spirited sports coupe. Enough LS400 DNA to allow me to live that luxurious life. This car allows me to not have to choose, and I'm never selling it.
Please please please tell me where you got those wheels and what the tire and wheel spec are😢
OPE Performance Wheels DR1 17x7.5 5x114.3 with 35 offset. Tires are Michelin Pilot Sport a/s 225/45zr17. Source: I'm the owner of the car in the video. The wheels are a decent IS F Sport knockoffs. I slapped some Lexus center caps on it to finish up the look.
15:44 - 18:37
I’m a 16 Year old with a SC400 and currently going through problems with my dad for a couple months now, this part made me tear up
Strikes me as a "performance car" in the same way many bmws, audis, etc. and porches like their suv are performance. It has an engine and performance elements, but the interior and everything but marketing is more about being comfortable and classy. Grand tourer style, I guess?
I own a 1995 SC400... it's low milage stock, special car.
did you really call a timing belt/wp and a radiator replacement a mechanical failure? calling routine maintenance a failure is the same thing as getting mad that the gas needs to be refilled when you drive it
He did say, "Perfection doesn't exist" as a way to justify the statement. Sloppy writing, I agree. Mechanical failure through wear is an inevitability, not a feature that can be engineered.
Non mechanics/engineers reviewing cars to be entertaining I guess.
Jeez 6 in the morning upload, can’t wait to finish
RCR makes early mon mornings easy!
I think the mark vlll comparison is definitely a good one, both v8, both luxury coupes. Tho I remember my mark getting more like 26-28 highway. I'd perfer the mark for the cobra motor but the sc400 is always on my list of maybes haha
Seeing that CD player just reminded me that. my father in law is getting a CD player installed into his 2023 Lexus RX. I should have asked if it is OEM, I am guessing not.
The 12 disc changer in this car is, in fact, OEM. It is part of the Nakamichi upgrade package.
@@Unholyhairhole thanks but I meant for my FIL’s car does Toyota sell an accessory CD player. I had a 2001 Lexus GS with the OEM 6 cd changer in the glove box it was rad.
@@jamesbernald2850 oh okay! My apologies. I was unaware they offered one as an accessory. That's pretty cool they used to do that.
@@Unholyhairhole no problem and I checked and they don’t unfortunately.
It’s not a fake Supra, it’s just an Upscale Supra, not meant to be the fastest on the block
The legacy of the Toyota Soarer has always been luxury & this car is kind of like a final hoorah from the era of 80's Japanese luxury.
Have a look at the Z20 soarer & all of its cool features like the active aero cabin! The Z30 Soarer came with the first backup camera, all wheel steering, & a really fancy active suspension system.
BEST MOTORING did a segment on the Z30 Soarer that you should have a look at, where they compared the 2.5 Turbo GT to the 4.0 & you can see just how smoothly the Soarer handled with all of the luxury features Japan got that the American SC300's & 400's did not get :(
I own an SC300 myself & I love it! It's a very emotional car
I never knew these existed until last week, I was driving along side one in New Zealand in mint condition, like brand new.
As always, your content is some of the best on the internet.
Great cars, I'm currently building the engine in my SC300.