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1998
Lexus SC 400

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$53,000
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New 1998 Lexus SC 400
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Expert 1998 Lexus SC 400 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

It seems everyone in America wants to become a truck driver, so you might wonder if anyone still buys luxury coupes.

Thankfully, there are enough drivers who don’t want to join the convoy and, instead of a boulder basher, opt for a modern piece of rolling sculpture.

The Lexus SC300 and SC400 coupes are such four-wheeled works of art.

Their styling has aged well, with a slightly rounded, straightforward look that still has a unique grace that doesn’t mimic Mercedes, as the less successfully styled LS sedans do.

These cars make their own statement.

A small horizontal slit grille was added last year, which only differentiates it from previous models and adds little to its appeal. Out back, the taillamps have more detail. Again, this seems only to clutter up the original design, not enhance it.

But the promise of speed is still here, thanks to new engines and transmissions. The SC300 offers a 3-liter in-line 24-valve six-cylinder engine capable of 225 horsepower and 220 foot-pounds of torque.

Pop for the SC400 and you get a 290 horsepower V8 installed under the hood. This 32-valve engine and its smaller counterpart have continuously variable intake-valve timing to control power and fuel economy better. Keep in mind though, that fuel economy is a relative thing. The test vehicle — a well-optioned SC400 — measured 19.7 in mostly highway driving. The car requires premium fuel.

Both engines are fed through automatic transmissions. The five-speed manual has been removed as a choice from the SC300, which comes with a four-speed automatic, while the SC400 has a new five-speed automatic with a gated shifter to allow manual choice of gear.

The transmission shifts seamlessly and, hooked to the smooth V8, makes for a drive train with incredible amounts of power and refinement. The engine is silent at idle. A subdued growl emanates from the chrome-tipped dual exhausts when called for.

The five-speed transmission has three shift modes. Normal, power and snow. The snow mode is great for any kind of inclement weather.

Toyotas tend to have light rear ends, so it’s easy to make the tail slide around –sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. The snow mode helps keep things in check during all kinds of inclement weather. Of course, the handling wasn’t helped by the Goodyear tires on the test vehicle. They seemed to lose grip too easily, and wet weather traction was only average. Furthermore, when crossing expansion joints, they had a balloon-y feel and were particularly noisy, marring an otherwise quiet ride.

The normal mode seemed to keep the engine a gear above where you’d want it to be. The power mode always seemed to keep plenty of power on tap, whether you wanted it or not. This was the best position for most driving situations.

Pulling away from the pack is easy — the Lexus drive train attacks the pavement with the cool fury of a tsunami. Putting all that po wer to the pavement is a fully independent double-wishbone suspension with coil springs and gas-pressurized shock absorbers. This did a fairly good job of smothering bumps, but the ride is quite firm considering the silky fittings of the car. This seemed at odds with its otherwise smooth personality.

The brakes were quite good, although the pedal featured Toyota’s typical soft feel.

Foiling thieves has been enhanced this year with Lexus’ installation of an engine immobilizer. The keyless entry buttons are integrated into the key, so there’s no separate fob to carry around.

The interior features most of the necessities of this class: automatic headlamps, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic climate control, heated seats, integrated garage door opener, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, memory seats and, of course, leather trim and a killer sound system.

The wood trim has a more matte finish, one that’s more appropriate than the gloss used previ usly. There’s an indicator light to tell you when the car has turned on the headlamps, something some automakers don’t include with automatic headlamps.

The front seats were very comfortable, the leather and interior fittings were nicely made and the finish was excellent. The lone exception was the moon-roof cover, which felt flimsy.

Interior space is snug, something coupe-lovers don’t mind. Others might find the limited storage space and lack of rear leg room appalling in 192-inch car. I don’t care — it’s a coupe. That said, there should be some provision made for loose change and a turnpike ticket, something the most mundane car has. Also lacking was a trunk cargo net. In a car with this much power and agility, it would be nice to have a net to prevent small items from sliding around the 9.3-cubic-foot trunk. Considering the $52,700 base price of the car, it’s ridiculous that it’s an option.

But this car is still a blast to drive, with a poise and agility that’s quite fun. At the same time, some may find it soulless in its perfection.

Whatever your conclusion (I’ll go with the soulless crowd), it’s still more fun than a sport utility. All those nouveau trendy truck drivers don’t know what they’re missing.

1998 Lexus SC400 Standard: 4-liter 32-valve V8, five-speed automatic transmission, front and rear stabilizer bars, variable assist power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock, 225/55R16 V-rated tires with aluminum alloy wheels, dual front air bags, intermittent wipers, auto on-off headlamps, electrochromatic inside/outside mirrors, theft deterrent system, maple interior trim, electroluminescent instrumentation, front power passenger seat walk-in, keyless entry, trip computer, power windows with driver’s side auto down, power door locks, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power front seats, leather trim, memory seats, automatic climate control. Options: Color-keyedspoiler, power moon roof, traction control, remote CD changer, wheel locks, floor mats. Base price: $52,700 As tested: $57,230 EPA rating: 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway Test mileage: 19.7 mpg Competitors: Jaguar XK8, Mercedes SL, SLK, Lincoln Mark VIII, Cadillac Eldorado.

1998 Lexus SC 400 review: Our expert's take
By

It seems everyone in America wants to become a truck driver, so you might wonder if anyone still buys luxury coupes.

Thankfully, there are enough drivers who don’t want to join the convoy and, instead of a boulder basher, opt for a modern piece of rolling sculpture.

The Lexus SC300 and SC400 coupes are such four-wheeled works of art.

Their styling has aged well, with a slightly rounded, straightforward look that still has a unique grace that doesn’t mimic Mercedes, as the less successfully styled LS sedans do.

These cars make their own statement.

A small horizontal slit grille was added last year, which only differentiates it from previous models and adds little to its appeal. Out back, the taillamps have more detail. Again, this seems only to clutter up the original design, not enhance it.

But the promise of speed is still here, thanks to new engines and transmissions. The SC300 offers a 3-liter in-line 24-valve six-cylinder engine capable of 225 horsepower and 220 foot-pounds of torque.

Pop for the SC400 and you get a 290 horsepower V8 installed under the hood. This 32-valve engine and its smaller counterpart have continuously variable intake-valve timing to control power and fuel economy better. Keep in mind though, that fuel economy is a relative thing. The test vehicle — a well-optioned SC400 — measured 19.7 in mostly highway driving. The car requires premium fuel.

Both engines are fed through automatic transmissions. The five-speed manual has been removed as a choice from the SC300, which comes with a four-speed automatic, while the SC400 has a new five-speed automatic with a gated shifter to allow manual choice of gear.

The transmission shifts seamlessly and, hooked to the smooth V8, makes for a drive train with incredible amounts of power and refinement. The engine is silent at idle. A subdued growl emanates from the chrome-tipped dual exhausts when called for.

The five-speed transmission has three shift modes. Normal, power and snow. The snow mode is great for any kind of inclement weather.

Toyotas tend to have light rear ends, so it’s easy to make the tail slide around –sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. The snow mode helps keep things in check during all kinds of inclement weather. Of course, the handling wasn’t helped by the Goodyear tires on the test vehicle. They seemed to lose grip too easily, and wet weather traction was only average. Furthermore, when crossing expansion joints, they had a balloon-y feel and were particularly noisy, marring an otherwise quiet ride.

The normal mode seemed to keep the engine a gear above where you’d want it to be. The power mode always seemed to keep plenty of power on tap, whether you wanted it or not. This was the best position for most driving situations.

Pulling away from the pack is easy — the Lexus drive train attacks the pavement with the cool fury of a tsunami. Putting all that po wer to the pavement is a fully independent double-wishbone suspension with coil springs and gas-pressurized shock absorbers. This did a fairly good job of smothering bumps, but the ride is quite firm considering the silky fittings of the car. This seemed at odds with its otherwise smooth personality.

The brakes were quite good, although the pedal featured Toyota’s typical soft feel.

Foiling thieves has been enhanced this year with Lexus’ installation of an engine immobilizer. The keyless entry buttons are integrated into the key, so there’s no separate fob to carry around.

The interior features most of the necessities of this class: automatic headlamps, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic climate control, heated seats, integrated garage door opener, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, memory seats and, of course, leather trim and a killer sound system.

The wood trim has a more matte finish, one that’s more appropriate than the gloss used previ usly. There’s an indicator light to tell you when the car has turned on the headlamps, something some automakers don’t include with automatic headlamps.

The front seats were very comfortable, the leather and interior fittings were nicely made and the finish was excellent. The lone exception was the moon-roof cover, which felt flimsy.

Interior space is snug, something coupe-lovers don’t mind. Others might find the limited storage space and lack of rear leg room appalling in 192-inch car. I don’t care — it’s a coupe. That said, there should be some provision made for loose change and a turnpike ticket, something the most mundane car has. Also lacking was a trunk cargo net. In a car with this much power and agility, it would be nice to have a net to prevent small items from sliding around the 9.3-cubic-foot trunk. Considering the $52,700 base price of the car, it’s ridiculous that it’s an option.

But this car is still a blast to drive, with a poise and agility that’s quite fun. At the same time, some may find it soulless in its perfection.

Whatever your conclusion (I’ll go with the soulless crowd), it’s still more fun than a sport utility. All those nouveau trendy truck drivers don’t know what they’re missing.

1998 Lexus SC400 Standard: 4-liter 32-valve V8, five-speed automatic transmission, front and rear stabilizer bars, variable assist power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock, 225/55R16 V-rated tires with aluminum alloy wheels, dual front air bags, intermittent wipers, auto on-off headlamps, electrochromatic inside/outside mirrors, theft deterrent system, maple interior trim, electroluminescent instrumentation, front power passenger seat walk-in, keyless entry, trip computer, power windows with driver’s side auto down, power door locks, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power front seats, leather trim, memory seats, automatic climate control. Options: Color-keyedspoiler, power moon roof, traction control, remote CD changer, wheel locks, floor mats. Base price: $52,700 As tested: $57,230 EPA rating: 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway Test mileage: 19.7 mpg Competitors: Jaguar XK8, Mercedes SL, SLK, Lincoln Mark VIII, Cadillac Eldorado.

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years
Powertrain
6 years / 70,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
2 years / unlimited miles from your certified vehicle date of purchase.
Basic
2 years / unlimited miles from your certified vehicle date of purchase. Coverage begins after completion of the 4-year / 50,000 new vehicle Basic Warranty.
Dealer certification
161-point inspection

Consumer reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 5.0
Interior 4.8
Performance 4.8
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0

Most recent

  • Bought this car a couple months back & had to replace the

    Bought this car a couple months back & had to replace the power steering hose & alternator as there was a massive leak & spilt on to the alternator itself. Was a straightforward fix, as I had help from my instructors at tech-school using a lift. From reading many forums this problem was so dang common it’s almost inevitable. The SC’s called for a better aftermarket PS hose I’m assuming. Since then I’ve had 0 issues/leaks. This 26 year-old car has been so reliable & addicting to drive. With only 60k miles on it this car came in almost mint-códigos & drives better than brand-new cars coming out today. It’s like driving on a cloud & handles as smooth as butter. I work at a dealership driving new car models & the second i got behind the wheel, I knew I had to have it. Only complaint is that it’s not manual, & that gas mileage is terrible (16MPG), but I have a 04 corral to daily around. Would recommend this car as 11/10 as a driving experience & if u can afford the gas, daily this bad-boy :)
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Styling that is a head turner

    An true example of great engineering. Car has been reliable and even the cd player still works. On the highway drop it into 4th and the car just leaves everyone else in the dusk. Wish I could find another with low mileage but so few 98 99 and 20 were imported. People are always telling me they wanted this car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • The best car Lexus ever built!

    Our family has owned this car since 1992. Still going strong. This car has put on about 320,000 miles by now and never needed any major repair or part replacement. The only drawback is that it's not at all an ideal car to drive in snowy/icy condition. But in summer, this one is the best on the road. you gotta watch the speed or a speeding ticket is always waiting for you. Amazing car and would buy it again in an instant if lexus ever made this one again!!! ABSOLUTELY in love with it
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • quiet comfy beautiful and cozy

    Having owned, Preludes, MX-6, MX-5, Prius, Transam, xxx, F-150 and a suburban. I can say this is the best car I have owned. It's very quiet, smooth, the V8 power comes on strong and clean, not jerky. The 5 speed auto is silky smooth. This is a heavy car, not a Miata and doen't handle like a sports car, it's home is on the highway going 80mph for hours and hours.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • Twice the coupe of a MB SL500 at half the price

    Yes, this car is as fast and more nimble than the heavy footed SL500. And at half the price someone would need to explain what the other $50K is for. Similar options, power everything, etc, etc. yeah, the SL is a convertibel, but I could by a second car that is a convertible, maybe a HondaS2000 and still have change left over. Now factor in the fact that Lexus is the best built car on the planet, yes, the planet. You can drive this car for 300K miles and more. There is a reason that Motor Trend named the SC400 Car of the Year when it arrived in 1992. MT describes the engine as the "smoothest V8 on the planet" Not bashing MB here, but twice the price!! The SL is a nice machine and has some serious pedigree not to mention some "panache" but twice the price....... and the SC will leave the SL in the dust on the track. This is a beautiful car without being "gaudy", it is more "sleek" without the "sexy"...... BEST CAR EVER, for the money...... period.........
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1998 Lexus SC 400?

The 1998 Lexus SC 400 is available in 1 trim level:

  • (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 1998 Lexus SC 400?

The 1998 Lexus SC 400 offers up to 19 MPG in city driving and 25 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 1998 Lexus SC 400 reliable?

The 1998 Lexus SC 400 has an average reliability rating of 5.0 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1998 Lexus SC 400 owners.

Is the 1998 Lexus SC 400 a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1998 Lexus SC 400. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

5.0 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
  • Comfort: 5.0
  • Interior: 4.8
  • Performance: 4.8
  • Value: 5.0
  • Exterior: 5.0
  • Reliability: 5.0
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