What Would You Pay for a Low-Mile Lexus LS400 Today?
How high would you be willing to go to buy a 30k-mile, nearly perfect example of the legendary Lexus LS400?
The Lexus LS400 is, without a doubt, one of the most legendary automotive models ever built. It’s a car that’s famous for racking up insane mileage numbers without skipping a beat. Simple, basic maintenance is pretty much all that’s required for a car over-engineered to the point where it’ll last forever. Thus, it’s no surprise that used Lexus LS400 examples still sell for good money today. And it had Club Lexus member Heberhobby thinking – what should he pay for a very low-mile example of this fine automobile?
“I’m about to make an offer on a 1995 Lexus LS400 with 30,000 miles. It’s been serviced at the same dealer its entire life. Body is in great shape with no rust, except for a scratch along the passenger side from the front wheel well to the back rear well. What would you pay for it?”
Turns out, several members have made similar deals recently and have some great advice on what the OP should pay. Starting with AandSC.
“No rust on the chassis or otherwise and an up to date timing belt, $10,000. That’s what similar LS400s are selling for on BaT. I paid $12,000 for my like-new 33,000 mile LS almost four years ago. One of the best deals ever.”
Fellow member oldskewel agrees with that assessment and gives some additional advice.
“I’ll say roughly $10k+ minus whatever it will take to fix the paint/body damage. 1995 was the first year of the interference engine on the LS400, so a timing belt failure could cause significant engine damage. So you’ll need to factor that in on deciding how much risk to take on the timing belt. Spec is probably 7 years or 90k miles, whichever comes first. I’m currently at about 80k miles and 18 years on the T-belt in my ’91. But since my engine is non-intereference, a T-belt failure will be inconvenient, but not destructive.”
Then again, bradland feels like those valuations are a tad high.
“I think $5k is a bit extreme, but I also think $10k is a bit extreme. Somewhere in between, but I’d lean closer to $5k. Paying a premium for low miles with an LS just doesn’t make good financial sense based on the reliability and longevity these cars offer. I drove my first LS, a 91, daily for about a month shy of a decade. When I decided to sell it I posted an ad and a buyer handed me $1,000 the very next day. The car had almost 270k miles. In the end would it matter if the car had 45k or 85k miles when I purchased it?”
If nothing else, the OP has a pretty good idea of what price range he can offer for this gem of a Lexus LS. But we want to know what you think. So head over here and tell us what you’d be willing to shell out for a car like this!
