Best lexus under $3500?????
09-30-13, 01:35 AM
#16
Best advice in this whole thread. Look for one owner cars, with a complete service history. At your price, its kind of luck of the draw as to which Lexus model you end up with. 1st gen GS cars tend to be CHEAP, but I've never seen one that was well kept and not falling apart. So stick to a 2nd gen GS(98 to 06) if you go that route. The ES cars, make sure the oil was changed on time. Oil sludge is a serious issue on cars that went more than 5 to 6k miles on an oil change. LS cars, avoid the optional air suspension. SC cars, they are pretty solid, just be aware the interior of the car tends to fall apart with age(loose/broke door panels, flaky gauges, burnt out climate/radio displays, cracked/torn leather).
I'd buy a clean, one owner car with 200k miles on it with a complete service history over a car with 3, 4, or 5 owners with 100k and no service history.
Although at your budget of $3500, look at mid 90's to early 00's Toyota Camry and Avalon as well. Both of those cars deliver that same sort of nice ride/quietness sort of "feel" you get from a Lexus. Usually they have cloth seats, which hold up a lot better than Lexus with leather over the years.
Last edited by Aron9000; 09-30-13 at 01:39 AM.
09-30-13, 07:15 AM
#17
Yeah I would try and avoid leather seats unless they are in mint condition, my Integra's seats look brand new and they are cloth. Same with my mom's 2000 Camry. Camry would be a nice buy too. Mileage is no object for Toyota/Lexus cars as long as proper maintenance has been done.
Cut the OP some slack, he's a student!
Cut the OP some slack, he's a student!
10-02-13, 04:53 PM
#19
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Thread Starter
Was at the dealership today. 1 owner 95 ls400 with 161k and all records for $3900. Took a drive everything was amazing until all of a sudden they added some BS like nitrogen filled tires and such and I was at $4700. Walked out right away 
10-02-13, 11:29 PM
#20
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They tried to charge you $800 for something they likely have free access to, or at the very most spent all of $20-$30 on up the street?!? I would have run as far and fast as possible. Good luck with your search. Even at $3500, I certainly hope that you have and additional $1k to put into your Lexus to make it mechanically sound once you obtain it. A deal is only a deal if you know what you are in for and don't get hamstringed after the sale.
10-03-13, 07:02 AM
#21
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The 90s ES300 had by far the highest quality interior. Gotta admire the Japanese & Lexus cars of that era. Not only the highest quality but also oozing with class. Who remembers the frameless windows of the 90s ES300? Those were nice!! Looking at the interior it is all quality. Thickly molded interior plastics, not only nice to the touch and eye but they also last forever. Plush velour upholstery, this gave a nice touch and again was very durable. Paddings everywhere, door padding was all rich leather, also nice colour combinations were used to create nice contrast and a general nice ambiance. And of the best aspects were the fit n finish. All the panels had incredibley even gaps, were of vault like solidity and all the interior storage compartments and ashtrays were dampened to give a beautiful luxury touch.
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ES300 is a no brainer!
ES300 is a no brainer!
10-03-13, 09:18 AM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
On any Toyota/Lexus product of that vintage, though, with the 3.0L V6, make sure that you can verify oil-change records. That engine, because of the way the oil-passages were designed, was not forgiving of extended-change intervals, and would gel up and sludge, resulting in serious damage or a ruined engine.
10-03-13, 12:54 PM
#23
I would go with the ES300, SC300, or a first generation GS300.
$3,500 can get you a pretty clean first generation LS400 though. They're hard to find though. I've heard from a few friends that had ES300's that they had a lot of issues with them, which is surprising for a car based on the Camry.
$3,500 can get you a pretty clean first generation LS400 though. They're hard to find though. I've heard from a few friends that had ES300's that they had a lot of issues with them, which is surprising for a car based on the Camry.
10-06-13, 11:02 AM
#24
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
So I really want either an ls400 or an es300. I like the ls400 more because its a v8 and rwd obviously.
About the car : 1993
155k
Lowered on springs
New struts
New braks
New timing belt
New water pump
Newer plugs n wires
New starter
New clear bumper lenses
All Windows tinted, even windshield
Heat and AC work
Heated seats
New kenwood speakers all around and deck
The only thing is he has no records for the t belt change or any of the other things. He said his mech looked at the car when he bought it and the t belt and alternator were new.
The other problem is the car has rust on the bottom. Its not on the frame but its on the jacking point area.
Is this a good buy for $3600 or should I stay away.
About the car : 1993
155k
Lowered on springs
New struts
New braks
New timing belt
New water pump
Newer plugs n wires
New starter
New clear bumper lenses
All Windows tinted, even windshield
Heat and AC work
Heated seats
New kenwood speakers all around and deck
The only thing is he has no records for the t belt change or any of the other things. He said his mech looked at the car when he bought it and the t belt and alternator were new.
The other problem is the car has rust on the bottom. Its not on the frame but its on the jacking point area.
Is this a good buy for $3600 or should I stay away.
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