98 GS400 Silver w/grey int 229K on the clock is $4500 too much to pay???
04-30-10, 06:14 PM
#1
98 GS400 Silver w/grey int 229K on the clock is $4500 too much to pay???
Local chick is selling her fathers car that has 229,000 miles on it. It's a silver with grey interior 98 GS400. She had an ad listing it for $6000 OBO(lol)
The car is pretty clean, interior is nice, car is fully loaded, factory Navi, factory hids, spoiler, factory chrome 17's, etc.
Only negatives are steering feels floaty, needs an alignment/balljoints, and theres a 8in long 1/16th of an inch wide deep scatch/dent on the lower drivers side door, headlights are hazed over in yellow, and the miles are SKY high.
I checked it out drove it and called her back the next day offering $4,000 for it. Which I figured was fair according to the average value between edmunds/KBB but a little low. She called me back two days later after the weekend and offered it to me for $5,000.
I'm debating about offering 4500 for it. I have 5500 saved for a gs400 right now but 5K is too much for me with this many miles and with a gash on the drivers door.
Cliff notes:
Does $4500 seem like too much for a 229K 1998 GS400 in solid but not steller shape?
I'm leaning towards holding out and waiting for a 98-99GS400 in the 140-160K range for $5-5500
The car is pretty clean, interior is nice, car is fully loaded, factory Navi, factory hids, spoiler, factory chrome 17's, etc.
Only negatives are steering feels floaty, needs an alignment/balljoints, and theres a 8in long 1/16th of an inch wide deep scatch/dent on the lower drivers side door, headlights are hazed over in yellow, and the miles are SKY high.
I checked it out drove it and called her back the next day offering $4,000 for it. Which I figured was fair according to the average value between edmunds/KBB but a little low. She called me back two days later after the weekend and offered it to me for $5,000.
I'm debating about offering 4500 for it. I have 5500 saved for a gs400 right now but 5K is too much for me with this many miles and with a gash on the drivers door.
Cliff notes:
Does $4500 seem like too much for a 229K 1998 GS400 in solid but not steller shape?
I'm leaning towards holding out and waiting for a 98-99GS400 in the 140-160K range for $5-5500
04-30-10, 10:45 PM
#3
looks pretty decent. need a pic of that Dent or "gash"
I'd offer 4500, but before you do that, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH that car!
Carfax
Mechanic
Receipts, Receipts, Receipts! Make sure she has those but I highly doubt she has those.
Just ATLEAST make sure last timing belt was done at 180K miles. if not, be prepared to do that as soon as you get the car...
I'd offer 4500, but before you do that, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH that car!
Carfax
Mechanic
Receipts, Receipts, Receipts! Make sure she has those but I highly doubt she has those.
Just ATLEAST make sure last timing belt was done at 180K miles. if not, be prepared to do that as soon as you get the car...
05-01-10, 02:01 AM
#5
I have a feeling not too many people will be rushing to grab it with those miles on it. If I get the VIN from her I've heard I can view all maintanence records performed at Lexus dealers. Does that apply to these older 98-05 GS vehicles?
05-01-10, 02:04 AM
#6
looks pretty decent. need a pic of that Dent or "gash"
I'd offer 4500, but before you do that, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH that car!
Carfax
Mechanic
Receipts, Receipts, Receipts! Make sure she has those but I highly doubt she has those.
Just ATLEAST make sure last timing belt was done at 180K miles. if not, be prepared to do that as soon as you get the car...
I'd offer 4500, but before you do that, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH that car!
Carfax
Mechanic
Receipts, Receipts, Receipts! Make sure she has those but I highly doubt she has those.
Just ATLEAST make sure last timing belt was done at 180K miles. if not, be prepared to do that as soon as you get the car...
I'm pretty sure it needs balljoints/possibly struts juding by how floaty/odd the steering felt.
05-01-10, 05:49 AM
#7
CARFAX, BLOWS!! Did you know that Carfax will actually change a vehicles history report if the dealer/owner makes a counter-statement/claim and it gets accepted!
Instead I would use Autocheck, www.autocheck.com , an Experian company, They NEVER change a history and only list factual, unmodified data. Not sure if you have noticed but Autocheck is the report you will find on All Ebay Motors vehicles!
There report contains better info, is easier to read and you get 60days unlimited use for ~$40. I don't work for them or anything but buying a car is serious business and why not get the best bang for the buck.
Instead I would use Autocheck, www.autocheck.com , an Experian company, They NEVER change a history and only list factual, unmodified data. Not sure if you have noticed but Autocheck is the report you will find on All Ebay Motors vehicles!
There report contains better info, is easier to read and you get 60days unlimited use for ~$40. I don't work for them or anything but buying a car is serious business and why not get the best bang for the buck.
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05-01-10, 06:17 AM
#9
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Like 10SecLS1 said, take the VIN to any Lexus dealer and they can pull all the service records for your. But $4,500 doesn't sound to bad to me, if the car was properly maintained it will go without problems for another 100k. The 1UZ is a rock solid engine.
05-01-10, 09:29 AM
#11
A replacement trans is only $300 from the local slavage yards, luckly I have acess to a lift ad a helper anytime thanks to my connects in the LSX world.
Wat do you think it's worth Rich?
05-01-10, 09:31 AM
#12
and he says it's still kicking flawlessly. Heys only had to replace a starter, a timing belt, and a VVT solinoid over the last 100K!complete 1UZ's are available if the unfortunate ever occurs for roughly 1000-1200 with 60K-140K on the clock.
or I could throw a $600 6.0 LQ4 longblock in that ***** and make 350RWHP/350RWTQ with just bolt ons
Last edited by 10SecLS1; 05-01-10 at 09:38 AM.
05-01-10, 10:12 AM
#15
Hey man I think 4500 is a little high. I work for lexus and 229k is up there on the 400. I would go more in the 3800-4000 range. I just bought a 99 with 140k for 5000. But good luck man. Check out if it has been wrecked and that sort of stuff. Biggest problems are the regula rear main leaking and so on.