Going to look at a GS400 tomorrow...
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Going to look at a GS400 tomorrow...
Sorry for the long first post...
There's a local guy advertising a 1998 GS400 for $10000, 130K miles. I've always loved these cars, so I decided to send him an email asking for some particulars...That lead to me calling him about the car...
He's the original owner; Bought it off his original lease, he fell so in love with it (so he says). The conversation was going REAL well until I asked about maintenance and records; Silence.
"What do you mean by maintenance? I don't have a garage to put it in."
"No, no, I mean like where have you been taking the car to for oil changes, routine maintenance, recommended maintenances..."
"Oh, you mean like Jiffy-Lube?"
Silence from me. I was a bit stunned, to be honest. So, I dive back in: "Um, I guess they're okay for oil changes..."
"Yeah, they always gave us the best deals..."
Okay, duck, move along...Jiffy Lube can't be that bad, right?
"So, where did you have the 90-thousand mile service done?"
"The 90-what?"
Now I'm rolling my eyes and cursing under my breath.
"The 90-thousand mile service, the service where the timing belt, water pump and a bunch of hoses and other fluids are replaced--it's pretty invasive and typically expensive."
Silence. Then, "Well, I haven't been keeping all the receipts after I bought it off lease."
WESPEAKYENGLISHNO?
"So you didn't do the 90-K?" <--Me
"No, no, not that I recall. I don't remember ever having to change a belt for any reason. And nothing's leaking. Come drive it, you'll like it."
So honestly, what would you guys recommend to a lurker making his first post and test driving his first Lexus tomorrow, if you were in my shoes?
There's a local guy advertising a 1998 GS400 for $10000, 130K miles. I've always loved these cars, so I decided to send him an email asking for some particulars...That lead to me calling him about the car...
He's the original owner; Bought it off his original lease, he fell so in love with it (so he says). The conversation was going REAL well until I asked about maintenance and records; Silence.
"What do you mean by maintenance? I don't have a garage to put it in."
"No, no, I mean like where have you been taking the car to for oil changes, routine maintenance, recommended maintenances..."
"Oh, you mean like Jiffy-Lube?"
Silence from me. I was a bit stunned, to be honest. So, I dive back in: "Um, I guess they're okay for oil changes..."
"Yeah, they always gave us the best deals..."
Okay, duck, move along...Jiffy Lube can't be that bad, right?
"So, where did you have the 90-thousand mile service done?"
"The 90-what?"
Now I'm rolling my eyes and cursing under my breath.
"The 90-thousand mile service, the service where the timing belt, water pump and a bunch of hoses and other fluids are replaced--it's pretty invasive and typically expensive."
Silence. Then, "Well, I haven't been keeping all the receipts after I bought it off lease."
WESPEAKYENGLISHNO?
"So you didn't do the 90-K?" <--Me
"No, no, not that I recall. I don't remember ever having to change a belt for any reason. And nothing's leaking. Come drive it, you'll like it."
So honestly, what would you guys recommend to a lurker making his first post and test driving his first Lexus tomorrow, if you were in my shoes?
#3
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South OC, California
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
your asking the right questions and your getting all the right answers; i.e. the truth.
if the car was younger, I may still buy it, but it's not, so keeping looking in my opinion.
thanks for the great post... anyone looking to buy their first lexus, or car for that matter should read your post.
if the car was younger, I may still buy it, but it's not, so keeping looking in my opinion.
thanks for the great post... anyone looking to buy their first lexus, or car for that matter should read your post.
#4
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by djjt
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa oh god, some one save me, my face is about to turn inside out from laughingggg
hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa oh god, some one save me, my face is about to turn inside out from laughingggg
So...How do you have that "bug", how do you fall in love with Lexus enough to keep going back for more, yet you don't keep maintenance records and take your car to Jiffy-Lube?
In his defense, he has offered to allow me to come up and take the GS to a local Lexus dealer for their car sale inspection.
But still. I have been thinking and thinking and thinking about my conversation for a couple days now...
Last edited by educk; 07-27-06 at 10:55 PM.
#5
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Dont get it i recommend you keep looking you might save some money but in the long run you might spend more (maintenance wise) so be patient and look very carefully... thats my opinion
Trending Topics
#9
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was hoping you guys would say "Don't worry, these cars are lined with fairy-dust from the manufacturer just in case a bad owner buys one."
I wonder if I should even tempt myself and go look at it?
I wonder if I should even tempt myself and go look at it?
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The golden rule w/ our cars is... take care of them and they'll take care of you. It sounds like this guy has done nothing but oil changes (and at Jiffy Lube of all places - RED FLAG!!).
The reason most poeple don't have many major probs is b/c they do the maintenance. Unless you can talk him down to a rediculous deal ($8-9K) & get a full positive inspection report from Lexus, walk away.
The reason most poeple don't have many major probs is b/c they do the maintenance. Unless you can talk him down to a rediculous deal ($8-9K) & get a full positive inspection report from Lexus, walk away.
#12
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by aliti19
The golden rule w/ our cars is... take care of them and they'll take care of you. It sounds like this guy has done nothing but oil changes (and at Jiffy Lube of all places - RED FLAG!!).
The reason most poeple don't have many major probs is b/c they do the maintenance. Unless you can talk him down to a rediculous deal ($8-9K) & get a full positive inspection report from Lexus, walk away.
The reason most poeple don't have many major probs is b/c they do the maintenance. Unless you can talk him down to a rediculous deal ($8-9K) & get a full positive inspection report from Lexus, walk away.
I called Pohanka Lexus, and they won't give ME any Lexus vehicle info (for a car I don't yet own), although they admit they can look any of them up by VIN. Should I just keep calling around until I find one that might be willing to give me maintenance history of a Lexus I am considering purchasing?
#13
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by chuckb
I wonder if it has original trans fluid w/130k miles?
#14
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You'll never know until you try. Go look at the car, spend a $100 at Lexus and have a pre-buyer inspection done. Then you'll know exactly what needs to be done to have the car in great shape for it's mileage. Negotiate with the fact that this or that needs to be done and subtract from his price so that in the end you spend 10K. If he doesn't budge then you can move on knowing that at least you tried to make a deal.
#15
Lexus Test Driver
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by educk
If he hadn't said "Jiffy Lube" without me saying it, I probably would still be all over buying this GS. And I can't describe it, but his attitude on the phone about maintenance was non-chalant, he kept saying "come drive it, you'll see it's in good shape." I've owned a couple clunkers in my life, and at one time or another, they drove well.
I called Pohanka Lexus, and they won't give ME any Lexus vehicle info (for a car I don't yet own), although they admit they can look any of them up by VIN. Should I just keep calling around until I find one that might be willing to give me maintenance history of a Lexus I am considering purchasing?
I called Pohanka Lexus, and they won't give ME any Lexus vehicle info (for a car I don't yet own), although they admit they can look any of them up by VIN. Should I just keep calling around until I find one that might be willing to give me maintenance history of a Lexus I am considering purchasing?