Memout

Greetings all! First off I'd like to give everyone a huge thank you for contributing to the CL forums. I myself will admit I haven't added much however I have been lurking for the past year or so. Fell in love with this car the day the IS first came out.

Anyway this is my first official post where I'm asking you guys for some help.
I came across a used AWD and I'm very tempted to jump on it. This will be my first car purchase, so I don't have much experience, but the dealership seems very trustworthy. I will be getting the VIN number for this car on Friday, so I can look it up on CarFax.

I guess my questions are;
Isn't it kind of suspicious for someone to be getting rid of a fully loaded IS250 AWD with only 9400km unless it was accidented?
What's your take on purchasing a slightly used car?
Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Is it better to buy a luxury car brand new, so you can 'devirginize' it in yourself.

USED 2007 LEXUS IS 250 AWD - Luxury Package with navigation (9400km) $43,900.00 (www.canadatrader.com, I can't link directly but if you select Quebec, you'll see pictures there)

NEW 2008 LEXUS IS 250 AWD - Luxury Package with navigation $54,000.00 MSRP

That's an $11000 savings right there.

Yes, I know these prices are pretty high compared to US prices, but I feel more comfortable buying from Canada, I just don't want to deal with the hassle.

I guess what I'm looking for is approval from you guys, I just don't want to make a mistake, especially on a large purchase like this.
Any opinion would be much appreciated.
Thanks guys.

DROBB

I went with my friend to look at new is250 AWD's and after we sat there and got the lowest prices from the dealerships i ended up paying about $2,000 less for my 06 with 14k miles and the only major difference was the luxury package. Don't know if that helps, I guess my advice would be go haggle a little more and see what you can do.

Fearlessfx

AWD's come at such a premium in canada, i just got my 2008 IS250 RWD MT w/ leather and 17"s (yes, leather is an option in canada) today and it came to 34 thousand before taxes.

i managed to get 5000 cash back, 900 off msrp and free floormats (because the dealership forgot to add it onto the bill of sale when i paid lol)

Brian231

I have been to many Lexus dealerships in Canada and I was surpised at how much more the cars cost and the different option packages they had. Seems like a lot more Ala cart there. As for the AWD, I would strongly reccomend that in Canada. I live in Chicago, and my AWD drives like a dream in the bad weather we have had on the past two months. I did not expect it to drive so good. Definitley get a carfax and look at the car underneath on a lift at the dealer. Look for orange peel, new paint, poor blending, glass spatter (from welding), and non-salvage title. Lexus can run the VIN and see if it is a Salvage titile. if it is, they will not honor the warrenty.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

yikes! $43.9K? you can buy a 350 with that!

9400km is extremely low.....ask why the 1st owner sold the car?

And yes, you need AWD in montreal......

lexboi250

iTrader: (10)

don't even ask me how much i paid for mine back in July, i don't want to remember...

rdgdawg

Paid $29,272 for a loaded 2006 IS250 AWD with 9,600 miles on it Labor Day 07, put 10K miles so far with nary an issue... oh yeah, dealer replaced all 4 wheels ( 2 had minor curb rash) at no charge

Memout

I finally managed to get the VIN number. Oddly enough, I asked the sales man where he got the car from and he said it's from the US. Doesn't this sound fishy?

Does anyone have a carfax account who can do some checking for me?
pm me if you can, I'll give you the VIN number
(not sure if we're allowed to paste VIN numbers in this forum)

Thanks guys really appreciate it.

TAP4636

With the US dollar dipping below the Canadian dollar...buy from the US!

Maybe the car was a dealer driven car or something...or a demo.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

I dont think the forum would allow carfax for others.....

sounds wayyyyyy too fishy.....

If that's that case, why not buy a new AWD from the US?