Dear Scotty...I value your opinion and think you are a rockstar of car knowledge! I am purchasing a new used SUV. I narrowed it down to the Lexus RX 350 between 2011 and 2015 cuz I dont like the dashboard or the look of the newer ones. With that said I am running into high mileage and I am trying to stay under $20,000. I guess you could say I am looking for a needle in a haystack.
I found the needle....so I hope. A 2011 Lexus RX 350 with 45k miles on it for $18500 through Carvana. Pressure is on I have 20 hours to make my mind up and I am really terrified after the last purchase through a Ford Dealership buying a CPO 2013 Ford Edge Ecoboost engine with structural frame damage. Yeah four people signed off saying they certified it as like new and come to find out not so. SUV going back to the dealership and I am on a hunt. Thing is I liked the Ford Edge room and comfort but refuse to purchase from Ford again and not so sure about the quality of it either. Especially since my car before that was a Nissan Maxima with 286k on it. I need something that is reliable and that I will get high mileage out of. I want an SUV but I dont want a tank.
I like the sporty look and the plush inside of the Lexus. So my question to you is with the budget and the wants I have to go with an older Lexus. But how old is too old in years? How many miles is too many with an older car? And what are the things that I can expect to be replacing that is wear and tear assuming that this one is in fine working order with the lower miles? I mean is it the year or the miles that are most important. Overall is this something that sounds pretty fair? I will take it to my mechanic and they have a 7 day buy back return policy so I prefer to have that as safety and I dont trust anyone really so it doesnt matter what their reputation is like really. Carfax doesnt mean a whole lot but it does help. I just dont trust those either since the last one I purchased the structural frame dame didnt get on the Carfax for 7 months after I bought it and it happened 4 months before I purchased it.
Thanks for your thoughts I do value them.
Kim
San Diego, CA
Never buy a car that way 20 hours no no no no no. This is not how you buy car. Carvana LOL
Here's what I found for >20,000 https://www.autotempest.com/results?make=lexus&model=gs350&zip=90210&radius=1000&maxprice=20000
needle in a haystack lol Found the needle https://www.cars.com/vehicle/2011-lexus-gs_350/jthbe1ks9b0053375/?aff=atempest&cmp=atempest
Its been a super busy night so sorry for late reply
You already have an experience with rush buy. Do not do that.
I don't think you can find a newer RX350 with that money unless it has tons of miles. Those are well made cars and since they are SUVs, they are very popular and people pay way more that they really worth.
If you can convince yourself to switch to Toyota, get yourself a highlander, you can find a better deal on that and the repair cost is much less than RX350.
