Hi, new to the board. Going to get an ES300 tomorrow!
04-10-03, 08:19 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Hi, new to the board. Going to get an ES300 tomorrow!
Hi everyone. I'm 18 and a senior in high school. I have wanted an ES300 for over half a year and my parents know a dealer guy who has been looking. He finally found one. It is a 1997 ES300, pearl white, power everything, heated seats, leather, moonroof, loaded. It is going for about $12,500 estimated. I haven't seen it yet and am going tomorrow after school. He said it was the cleanest car he has ever gotten. The downside? It has 103,000 miles, oh well. I'm just worried about the routine maintenance (oil, coolant, tranny, all the fluids) Any comments on this car? I chose the 1997 because I like the body style change. I did a lot of research and this car got one of the best reliability ratings out there, I'm just worried that something big will go wrong. I know the repairs are a lot on Lexus' Anything I should check for? Thanks
04-10-03, 08:42 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Welcome to CL and especially this forum, DK! Consider yourself lucky to get a superb vehicle like an ES300 at a young age 
With a car that has over 100K miles on it, you're going to have to question all of the previous service and maintenance work done to it, any past accidents or hits, known problems or hassles, etc. Don't rely just on statistics and ratings of the car, it's up to you to decide if the car is "perfect" for you and your finances. Also, heed the dealer's word with caution; just because he/she says something is great about the car doesn't mean it's the same way for you. It's the dealer's job to attract the fish, so to speak. Create a shield around yourself when you go there tomorrow, and be armed with clearcut questions about the car. Keep us informed, and good luck!
With a car that has over 100K miles on it, you're going to have to question all of the previous service and maintenance work done to it, any past accidents or hits, known problems or hassles, etc. Don't rely just on statistics and ratings of the car, it's up to you to decide if the car is "perfect" for you and your finances. Also, heed the dealer's word with caution; just because he/she says something is great about the car doesn't mean it's the same way for you. It's the dealer's job to attract the fish, so to speak. Create a shield around yourself when you go there tomorrow, and be armed with clearcut questions about the car. Keep us informed, and good luck!
04-10-03, 09:38 PM
#3
welcome to CL, DK!
i think i beat you to it though. got ES at 16.
even though i'm still 16. but that's besides the point.
but i have a '93 ES and it has about 102k too. just as much as your ES.
as long as the maintenance was done correctly and at correct intervals, it should be a keeper.
just be happy you don't suffer the first gen needle problem. i hate trying to read speeds with no needle light at night... especially when i don't know i'm going 110.
i think i beat you to it though. got ES at 16.
even though i'm still 16. but that's besides the point.
but i have a '93 ES and it has about 102k too. just as much as your ES.
as long as the maintenance was done correctly and at correct intervals, it should be a keeper.
just be happy you don't suffer the first gen needle problem. i hate trying to read speeds with no needle light at night... especially when i don't know i'm going 110.
04-11-03, 11:14 PM
#6
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one of the best tips i give people when going to get a used car is remove the oil filler cap stick a rag in or finger if cold and wipe the inside of the rocker cover
if it has been looked after the deposits will be minimal on the rag rather than black burnt or chunks of old missed oil changes from carbon build up
also never test drive in rain or follow a dealers so called route take your time
and always open her up
plus chck the ac system
alot of people forget that when they buy a car in winter
good luck your new car
and welcome
if it has been looked after the deposits will be minimal on the rag rather than black burnt or chunks of old missed oil changes from carbon build up
also never test drive in rain or follow a dealers so called route take your time
and always open her up
plus chck the ac system
alot of people forget that when they buy a car in winter
good luck your new car
and welcome
04-11-03, 11:29 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
It's 1 in the morning right now and my parents are sleeping so I will try checking for the carbon deposits tomorrow and let you all know what I found. Sorry, can't post pics, I have no digi cam 
sorry, trust me it's incredible though Thanks
sorry, trust me it's incredible though Thanks
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04-13-03, 08:38 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Ok, I checked. Right when I opened the oil cap, all I saw was black. I rubbed it with my finger and nothing really came off, It remained black and sand (felt like sand paper) I also used a paper towel and tried rubbing it, again nothing really came off except for dark brown oil. Is this good or bad? Thanks
04-13-03, 10:04 AM
#9
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well the sand paper feel isn;t a very good one
the engine usually has to be alittle warm to loosen deposits
sounds like you may want a engine flush
basically a can of solvents made to loosen oil in 15 minutes
after you drain and replace
i actually instead
flush then drain replace with cheap oil and run for 1 day
as there will always be some of the solvent and i want to remove all of it
then after 50 km i change the filter and oil to synthetic
caution is to be aired as older engines if the have deposits caked in real gooo from a leak ,actually stop the leak of gaskets and seals
by doing a flush you may loosen the deposits if you have any causing the car to loose or burn oil after
it doesn;t create problems but will remove any natural band aids of oil
just a thought
hope this help
later
the engine usually has to be alittle warm to loosen deposits
sounds like you may want a engine flush
basically a can of solvents made to loosen oil in 15 minutes
after you drain and replace
i actually instead
flush then drain replace with cheap oil and run for 1 day
as there will always be some of the solvent and i want to remove all of it
then after 50 km i change the filter and oil to synthetic
caution is to be aired as older engines if the have deposits caked in real gooo from a leak ,actually stop the leak of gaskets and seals
by doing a flush you may loosen the deposits if you have any causing the car to loose or burn oil after
it doesn;t create problems but will remove any natural band aids of oil
just a thought
hope this help
later
04-13-03, 11:20 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Re: Hi, new to the board. Going to get an ES300 tomorrow!
Originally posted by DK Audio
Hi everyone. I'm 18 and a senior in high school. I have wanted an ES300 for over half a year and my parents know a dealer guy who has been looking. He finally found one. It is a 1997 ES300, pearl white, power everything, heated seats, leather, moonroof, loaded. It is going for about $12,500 estimated. I haven't seen it yet and am going tomorrow after school. He said it was the cleanest car he has ever gotten. The downside? It has 103,000 miles, oh well. I'm just worried about the routine maintenance (oil, coolant, tranny, all the fluids) Any comments on this car? I chose the 1997 because I like the body style change. I did a lot of research and this car got one of the best reliability ratings out there, I'm just worried that something big will go wrong. I know the repairs are a lot on Lexus' Anything I should check for? Thanks
Hi everyone. I'm 18 and a senior in high school. I have wanted an ES300 for over half a year and my parents know a dealer guy who has been looking. He finally found one. It is a 1997 ES300, pearl white, power everything, heated seats, leather, moonroof, loaded. It is going for about $12,500 estimated. I haven't seen it yet and am going tomorrow after school. He said it was the cleanest car he has ever gotten. The downside? It has 103,000 miles, oh well. I'm just worried about the routine maintenance (oil, coolant, tranny, all the fluids) Any comments on this car? I chose the 1997 because I like the body style change. I did a lot of research and this car got one of the best reliability ratings out there, I'm just worried that something big will go wrong. I know the repairs are a lot on Lexus' Anything I should check for? Thanks
Check the owner's manual to see whether you need to have a timing belt replaced around 90,000 miles. If so, whether the previous owner has replaced the timing belt. Enjoy your ES.
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