therizinos

Hi Guys,

Searching the web for advice on whether to buy this guy or not.

Note: This is CDN car so all numbers below are in KM !

Positive:
- Excellent exterior condition
- Excellent interior condition
- Service stamps from Lexus ~8K intervals until 2007, last known at 70K
- Car starts and idles very nicely

Negative:
- Worried about sludge problem
- No service records after 70K mark
- Radiator replaced with 2009 stamp
- Opened oil cap, and hole inside engine looks like crap (ie. hard crusty carbon buildup or is that sludge?)
- dip stick shows dark dirty oil

Note that a few stamps showed service at 10K intervals, so on average serviced (1) / year.

I really want to love this guy, but want to make sure before I commit. What is the best way to get the car inspected for sludge? Compression test? Open up the engine cover?

Any advice or comments is much appreciated !!!

Thanks !
Matt

GEORGE_JET

- Opened oil cap, and hole inside engine looks like crap (ie. hard crusty carbon buildup or is that sludge?)
- dip stick shows dark dirty oil

Sounds like too much money, and like it has not been serviced regularly. I have over 150k miles on mine, and if you look down the oil cap, there is only a little varnish. I feel that is too much money.

mmatheny

I paid $6100 for my '01!

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

NO! Do not pay 2/3 of that. Its worth maybe 3k$ assuming body is good.

By the sound of things it may be one of the 'injured' ones with a sludge problem. I have an '01, the oil goes in yellow/golden and comes out yellow/golden by the end of 3000 miles [american car]

These cars in my area [canada's capital region] go for 3-6k$ for the 97-01 gen. I saw an 2001 with 216km on it for under 7k$.

If you do end up paying that much for that car, im sorry but you are dumb!

Last, the 'low mileage' thing is not always a positive. If it was rarely driven [as KM's prove] the car may not be as reliable as you wish it to be. for starters if it is not driven for extended periods of time, the seals are prone to crack [big $$ bill to ix], brakes can be out of whack, suspension can cause issues. I have had many friends over the years buy 'super low mileage older cars' in the end they cost them them more than hoped for and weren't as reliable.

Another thing may be, the car was used by an 'elderly person' well sometimes the elderly tend to drive with two feet, one on the brake and gas pedal, that too is not a good thing for the vehicle. Again i have seen this in my experience.

All in all, i personally would buy a car with more mileage years/kms ratio. Since i know it was regularly started, and driven.

In short i have an '01 ES300 and it came with 91xxx miles, i am at 105xxx miles after 2.5 years. I drive not as much, but at least it does get driven.
*I live in a small city, everything is close by, LOL

therizinos

Damn, I was hoping that you guys would convince me to buy this baby.

I didn't know that the prices here in Toronto are inflated compared to other areas. I do know that the 1997-2001 models are pretty rare, especially ones with full history and maintenance records. This particular one has some service records, but doesn't seem that it was maintained regularly at proper 4-6mth intervals. I guess this fact and price to a lesser degree (I am willing to pay more for the *RIGHT* one!) makes it a dealer killer unless someone convinces me otherwise. I guess my search continues.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!!

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

well its the truth man.

For 9k you can settle into an Audi quite comfortably at today's prices. 7-9k$ can get you a nice 01 a4 [b5].

However for that price i wouldn't settle for anything less than an 2000-2001 ES300. They are nicer looking.
*mind you a 2001 car is getting old... and 9k is pure rip off.

mmatheny

Plus, mine had the engine rebuilt by Lexus for the sludge problem (gelled engine, rebuilt heads, complete new short block)

Maxx941

iTrader: (1)

Worth maybe $6k like others have said. Dont buy it for that high

ALarsh

I bought my 1997 a year ago with 43,000 miles on it for $8900. When I did do the first oil change there was that same crap under the oil fill cap and I was a little concerned. At 57,000 miles now and no issues? Any idea as to what it is?

But wow, the value on these must have dropped since a year ago though because at the time I got a screaming deal...

Rollin'ES3

Couldn't have said it better myself

buci

That's way to high for that year,never mind the mileage.Kilometers are not going to tell you anything about the condition of the car.Take a look at this one maybe...
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ124846547

03 ES

sounds like way too much money IMO...
i paid about 10k for my 2003 ES with 70k on it with full records from lexus

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Case closed.

ESeries300

no, dont buy it.
got my 97 es300. 133k for 5k almost had it for 4.9