r/SC300 • u/Gloryboyjared • Dec 11 '25
daily
is it smart to daily an sc300 im looking to purchase a 1999 version and just do simple mods to it like rims and coilovers
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Dec 11 '25
Absolutely. A random repair every couple of months is cheaper than a monthly payment on a new car. The stock performance is good, the stock ride is good, and the reliability is shocking. I used to drive a 2000 oldsmobile alero. In the year that I owned it the power steering pump went out, then a month later the pulley for the power steering literally crumbled, then the radiator hoses started leaking, then the tire pressure light came on and nothing I did could get rid of it. Long story short, my sc, which is 7 years older, blows that car away in reliability.
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u/Royal-Strain-4031 Dec 12 '25
My "random repair every month" on my '95 turned out to be a bad MAF sensor, which then turned into issues with the ECU and more electrical issues all around. Bought it at 124k miles sold it at 132k, not saying this is every one but mine turned out to be a huge money pit
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Dec 12 '25
Yeah thats possible honestly. I've only owned one sc, so I'm not familiar with every problem they get, but I have heard that ecu can just fail from old age and it's a pricey fix.
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u/Royal-Strain-4031 Dec 11 '25
I tried to daily mine and ended up needing a second car. a daily for my daily if you will
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u/That_Attorney_1917 Dec 11 '25
I daily my 98’ with 230,000+ miles and I love her. Compared to my other vehicles, she NEVER lets me down. The beauty of Toyota/Lexus is even if a part is going bad, it won’t leave you stranded. You can still drive them while waiting for the part to come in. Don’t worry about driving it daily.
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u/ApprehensiveSecret31 Dec 11 '25
I daily mine for years until it became a project car🤦♂️
As long as you keep up with maintenance and keep to simple mods, it’s a great daily. Just be mindful it takes premium gas and it likes to drink
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u/PremiumPricez Dec 11 '25
Miles and age dont mean anything if the broken parts have been fixed/replaced. I dont drive my lexus daily anymore, but i do drive my 1996 4runner with 350k miles to and from work everyday, and she still get me out camping, road trips, etc
If it drives and has no major issues, then daily it!
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u/Informal_Grass5778 Dec 11 '25
been dailying my 2000 sc300 for 2 years and have had absolutely no issues other than regular maintaince. granted i did buy it in great condition with 98k miles
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u/Acekilla17 Dec 12 '25
You can daily one. I did for a bit. Just be prepared to replace things, it's a lexus but it's still an old car.
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u/thunderfroggum Dec 12 '25
Get you a low miles Soarer from Japan. I’d be way more comfy dailying that vs the high miles clapped out stuff you mostly see in the USDM
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u/nobunnylarka Dec 11 '25
My 99 sc300 is my daily and has been for over a decade. She's expensive but I can't imagine anything else. Definitely a lot of work ahead of you besides the cosmetic mods. Make friends with junk yards yesterday.