Hello!
I'm currently in the market for a used car (mostly against my will) and have been keeping my eye out for deals. I found a private seller with an '02 Lexus LS430 with 120k miles wanting to sell it for 4k. I know it can be a gas hog but are there any other reasons to not think this is a good deal? I would only be using it to commute to and from campus which is a 15-mile drive and a supermarket run that's like 10 miles.
I'm fairly new to cars in general, so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Lexus LSs can get pricey when they have to be repaired. They can last some time but I would have a mechanic look it over to make sure that everything runs and drives smoothly.
Okay, thanks for the info. Do you think that if the car is in good condition it's a worthwhile deal? I'm struggling with indecisiveness with any car purchase.
Yes but only if you hook up a scan tool. If the scan tool reads no codes, then it's safe to buy.
Look for maintenance records from the seller. At this age and mileage, so many things need to be changed including the timing belt. Also, depens on where you live, the rubber and plastic parts may be dry rotted and need to be changed which can become expensive. If you decided to go for the car, have your mechanic check the car before you buy it.
Yeah, I talked with a mechanic about common issues and it became a pretty big price tag. The tl:dr is that convertibles are not good for me considering my budget and that an IS would cover everything I need or want from a car for a cheaper price.
My understanding is the V8s that Toyota has offered doesn’t hold up as long as the V6s or Inline 6s. If it’s not naturally aspirated even more of a cause for concern if you’re thinking about having the car long term. Mileage is good. I would highly suggest getting maintenance records and having a mechanic familiar with Toyota products to thoroughly look through the Lexus. If you can find an IS or GS for cheaper, that’s likely a better option.
I followed up with the seller and it turned out to be a scam post. The same car was being advertised in Florida and New York on craigslist.
I am looking to the IS now, quite a few out there for less than 10k so thanks for the info!