I was looking around for a new car since mines was recently totaled and I happen to see a 2008 es350 lexus with 100,00 miles for 9,500.I really like everything about the car until I heard family and friends say that Lexus are expensive to maintain and repair. I love how the car looks but since I’m only 19, I’m a little nervous to pay this amount without knowing if it is a good choice when I could get a 07 Honda civic. Also, last question, is the 2007 es350 Lexus any much better or worse than the 2008? I know it was a very long message but thank you for your time!
Any older vehicle is going to have issues. (It appears you are looking at cars in the 15-20 year-old range.) A luxury car is going to be more expensive to repair and maintain than a standard or economy model.
All else being equal, the '07 Civic would be a better choice if a mechanic confirms it is in good condition before purchase. There are some potential problems to be aware of, the worst of which is the possibility of a cracked engine block:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2007/
However that engine block problem appears to fairly uncommon and at least somewhat related to overheating, it's something you would want a mechanic to check for:
https://community.cartalk.com/t/likelihood-of-honda-civic-cracked-engine-blocks/120900
They do have some more expensive parts should they break, which is not often. The ratings and reviews on that one show many happy owners with few issues.
My GX470 I bought 5 years ago with 125k miles, and it has been a great vehicle, now at 200k. Only normal issues.
Keep in mind an advantage of Lexus, I mostly see people own them that are older, and who take care of them. I don't think many people buy them to race.
I would sign into the lexus/toyota website and put the vin to it as your own, and see what the maintenance history looks like. Mine was taken care of at Lexus until 100k, and they did everything you would want.
They are definitely good vehicles but I'd feel more comfortable if we were talking about teenage ownership of luxury cars approaching 10 years old rather than 20 years. Simplicity is an asset as a vehicle ages.
I would certainly hope there are normal issues after only 5 years.
@imperator well it is 16 years old. I did forget one thing, the air bags for the suspension needed replacing two years ago. Cost $200 and took me one hour with a friend to replace.
Lexus are expensive to maintain and repair
it's true. Parts are expensive, and being luxury cars they have a lot of gadgets, computer modules and luxury features that will break as the car ages. They need special dealer-only tools to fix them.
The 350 does have a known issue that I can't remember right now. Pretty sure the Car Care Nut covered it on Youtube. He still recommends it as a reliable engine though. Having said that 100,000 miles is a lot on any vehicle without some proof of service.
a luxury car will be more expensive to maintain, especially as they age. Also, ES350 is a V6 which will have more maintenance than a 4cyl. However, reliability wise, a Lexus is an excellent choice. The ES350 is an entry level Lexus, which means they sell a ton of them and there's more parts interchangeability with other Toyota/Lexus models, so parts are somewhat cheaper, and there is a large aftermarket, and you'll have no problem getting used parts, but there are going to be those few parts that are Lexus only and those are going to cost you more. Out of any Lexus, the ES would probably be the cheapest to maintain. Being a Lexus, at only 100k, it's still got a lot of life left in it. It'll rarely break, so the while the majority of it will just be fluids, brakes, and tires, be prepared for a slightly more expensive repair every now and then.
is the 2007 es350 Lexus any much better or worse than the 2008?
07 and 08 were part of the same pre-facelifted 5th generation of the ES. The mechanical differences if any at all should be minimal. If you're deciding between an 07 and an 08, assuming a mechanic checks them both out and they're both in good condition, look at what features each one offers you, and price, mileage, and cosmetic condition.
