2000 es with only 31,000 miles!!!!..
#16
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I'm always looking for nice used cars -- as office cars for my business and vacation houses -- you always want a to find that great older used car with low miles.
But not a 12 year old ES that cost 25K new for 12k.
For the same price you can get a perfect 2002 Mercedes w210 4matic and have money in the bank for repairs. W210's new cost 55k
But not a 12 year old ES that cost 25K new for 12k.
For the same price you can get a perfect 2002 Mercedes w210 4matic and have money in the bank for repairs. W210's new cost 55k
#17
Lexus Test Driver
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^ Those cars have ridiculously bad reliability rating, i know because of looking at them numerous times to possibly buy, friends who own them, and them having terrible resale values. Don't get me wrong i love those cars but i don't think i could bring myself to buy them. They also rust very badly, although i was looking at 96-00 models, maybe the 02 was a little different reliability wise
#18
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The facelift cars are the better ones -- after 2000 --- the early ones suffer from rust because of the use of then newly developed water based paint in 1996. The w210 production ended in 2002 -- the wagon in 03. Also ...the 4matic cars are IMO better because of the front end design
The w210 are not unreliable. They have a list of items just like any car that will need to be addressed ... and all the deprecation has taken place. You need to buy correctly -- just as with any Lexus.
The w210 was built to a very high level and are wonderful cars -- I own two. They get 27 MPG on the highway and are available w/4 wheel drive. They are nicer than the ES's -- and I have two of them. with 12k I would be getting a MB 210.
The w210 are not unreliable. They have a list of items just like any car that will need to be addressed ... and all the deprecation has taken place. You need to buy correctly -- just as with any Lexus.
The w210 was built to a very high level and are wonderful cars -- I own two. They get 27 MPG on the highway and are available w/4 wheel drive. They are nicer than the ES's -- and I have two of them. with 12k I would be getting a MB 210.
#19
Lexus Test Driver
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Thats actually good to hear because i really do love that generation of e class, and the one that came after that to be honest. when i am looking for one i will take your advice and look for a 01-02. Possibly an 03 with the different body style but my aunt who has two 03's said one is dead reliable and the other is a nightmare, guess its a crapshoot.
#20
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The w210 ended production with the 2002 model so your aunts cars are w211's -- Unless they are wagons. MB did not have the w211 wagon ready -- so they kept the w210 wagon and made that for 2003.
The early w211's are very problematic -- had many new electronic systems. They can be very expensive cars to maintain. The brakes especially. Nothing earlier than an 05 with the W211's
The later w210's with low miles are great cars if bought properly -- always with an inspection!
The early w211's are very problematic -- had many new electronic systems. They can be very expensive cars to maintain. The brakes especially. Nothing earlier than an 05 with the W211's
The later w210's with low miles are great cars if bought properly -- always with an inspection!
#21
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before buying the volvo i drove older merc and bimmers..and most of them had problems or will have problems down the road and were high maintenance cars..even when i searched online there were soooo many problems the owners were having..so thats why i backed off..but those cars drove very nice for sure
#22
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The w210 ended production with the 2002 model so your aunts cars are w211's -- Unless they are wagons. MB did not have the w211 wagon ready -- so they kept the w210 wagon and made that for 2003.
The early w211's are very problematic -- had many new electronic systems. They can be very expensive cars to maintain. The brakes especially. Nothing earlier than an 05 with the W211's
The later w210's with low miles are great cars if bought properly -- always with an inspection!
The early w211's are very problematic -- had many new electronic systems. They can be very expensive cars to maintain. The brakes especially. Nothing earlier than an 05 with the W211's
The later w210's with low miles are great cars if bought properly -- always with an inspection!
Thanks
#25
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The ES300 is a good reliable car no doubt and should get you to 300K miles easy.
The pricing is a premium for having low miles which you could calculate over the expected lifespan of the car depending on how long the buyer intends to keep the car.
One other way to think about this car is what are all the maintenance items that you can save money on by having this car with 31K miles versus another car with say 100k miles.
A 100K mile car will need new timing belt, water pump, spark plugs etc. How much will it cost to do all of these things vs the amount saved by not having to do them yet are some factors to consider. May be worth $1500 - $2000 more to some.
The pricing is a premium for having low miles which you could calculate over the expected lifespan of the car depending on how long the buyer intends to keep the car.
One other way to think about this car is what are all the maintenance items that you can save money on by having this car with 31K miles versus another car with say 100k miles.
A 100K mile car will need new timing belt, water pump, spark plugs etc. How much will it cost to do all of these things vs the amount saved by not having to do them yet are some factors to consider. May be worth $1500 - $2000 more to some.
#26
Lead Lap
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^^ you *should* do it regardless of mileage, so your point is moot.
Some think its awesome and a better buy than a 'typical' mileage car for the year would be - false IMO [and many others']
A car that has little mileage - sees little use, oil settles in crevices all over, trans. may suffer from 'under-use'.
Gaskets - may fail prematurely with more usage of a new driver
Suspension bushings - same thing, any thing rubber basically.
The list goes on. It may be an extreme, but IMO you can't ignore it since you just dropped 10K on a 10 year old Lexus. I'd feel pretty stupid if i skimped out on replacing the T-belt and having it snapping a few mos. down the road - again, extreme - but cars being cars there's always a matter of 'what if?'
This was definitely a snow-birds car, come down once a year for a few mos. and then it sits the rest of the year.
Some think its awesome and a better buy than a 'typical' mileage car for the year would be - false IMO [and many others']
A car that has little mileage - sees little use, oil settles in crevices all over, trans. may suffer from 'under-use'.
Gaskets - may fail prematurely with more usage of a new driver
Suspension bushings - same thing, any thing rubber basically.
The list goes on. It may be an extreme, but IMO you can't ignore it since you just dropped 10K on a 10 year old Lexus. I'd feel pretty stupid if i skimped out on replacing the T-belt and having it snapping a few mos. down the road - again, extreme - but cars being cars there's always a matter of 'what if?'
This was definitely a snow-birds car, come down once a year for a few mos. and then it sits the rest of the year.
#27
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The "golden" spot for low mile used cars is 8 years ........after that the age starts to matter -- parts age even if they are sitting.
I would (and have) paid a premium for a low mile car and would pay a premium for this car. My point is not that low mile cars are not worth more ....... they are. This particular car is not worth 12k to me when other newer cars are available for the same price.
I would (and have) paid a premium for a low mile car and would pay a premium for this car. My point is not that low mile cars are not worth more ....... they are. This particular car is not worth 12k to me when other newer cars are available for the same price.
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