Hey everyone!

My car got totaled last month and I've been looking for a car to replace it. I've decided that a second Gen is350 is the best bang for the buck in terms of reliability, features, and fun-factor.

Unfortunately the listings for is350's are rare here in the Seattle area. There are a few with around 150-160k miles going for around 7.5-10k and I was wondering if purchasing such a car would be wise. I'm decently mechanically inclined and can do most maintenance myself but don't have the tools or knowledge to do most specialized repairs. I'd like the car I end up getting to need the least amount of repairs possible.

I'm a student in my last year right now so my funds are relatively limited until I'm working post-graduation in hopefully 6 months which is why I'm emphasizing reliability. I've been bussing to campus for the first couple weeks of this quarter but really hope to have a car soon because my commute takes around 3-6 hours per day instead of the 40 minutes round trip it would take by driving.

The listings I'm curious about are first, an 06 is350 with 160k miles listed for 8.3k and second, an 09 is350 with 153k miles listed for 10.3k.

When looking at used cars I inspect them pretty thoroughly (obd2 scanner, acceleration and braking test, checking under the hood, etc) (I'm using a checklist by ChrisFix lol don't make fun of me) and I usually bring my friend who's training to be a mechanic to look at the cars too. Is it still worth it to pay a mechanic to look at the cars anyways? The lexus dealership near me doesn't offer pre-purchase inspections so I'd have to go to some other place.

Can an is350 with 150-160k miles be that kind of purchase for me or would I be better served waiting and finding a listing for a car with less miles?

 

I don't know what your budget is, but Carvana has a 2010 IS350 Sport Coupe for $17,800 with below 100K and a 2012 IS350 with the F-Sport package for $18,800 below 100K. They had a few 2010's with low mileage last week, but they sold really quickly. My co-worker bought a car from Carvana back in August and said they would do it again. Here is the listing: https://www.carvana.com/cars/lexus-i...%20350%20sport

2010's usually don't last more than a week on Carvana

 

My budget is a little lower, preferably below 11k.
I'm looking at a car right now and was offered 10k for it. 2011 is350 fsport, but has some questionable mods (pretty ugly rims)
Listing: https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...050478130.html
Thoughts?

 

Got it! Just be careful buying from Craigslist. You can get a gem, or end up with junk! Good luck in your search

 

I had a lexus dealership near where I bought my car do a pre-purchase inspection and they did not catch anything wrong with the car. Over the next year when I brought the car in for maintenance at my local dealership (where I have friends working at), they noticed a few pipes that had been clearly glued together.

So in summary, I would rather rely on your mechanic/friend who you trust instead of thinking a dealership would do a better pre-purchase inspection.

Also, I suggest you look in california for an IS350. California would have a much larger selection of 350s (which avoids the dreaded carbon build up problems of the 250s) and at a cheaper price. The cost of flying into California and doing a road trip back to Seattle should be less than $500

 

....And you get to take 101/Pacific Coast Highway back home! I drive my IS350 between Northern Cal and Southern Cal frequently, and it's a very comfortable trip car. That is until I hit Socal traffic

 

[QUOTE=Dronyn;10713972]My budget is a little lower, preferably below 11k.
I'm looking at a car right now and was offered 10k for it. 2011 is350 fsport, but has some questionable mods (pretty ugly rims)
Listing: https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...050478130.html
Thoughts?[/QUOTE

I like the rims.

 

Make sure that those are actual F-Sport accessories, I have seen plenty of fakes bought on Ebay. You will be surprised (or not) how much fake crap comes from Ebay. Someone I knew blew a cylinder after buying NGK spark plugs that turned out to be counterfeits

 

[QUOTE=Petet;10714285]Haha really? If I get it I'd basically bring it back to stock f-sport with gunmetal rims, remove the plasti dip, and maybe also remove the window rainguards.

 

Yeah I worried about the same thing because of the non-fsport rims and plasti-dipped emblems. But it's got the f-sport seats (Alcantara) and the f-sport steering wheel, I don't think someone would go as far as to replace those to make a fake f-sport.

 

I would go with the 09 is350 with 153k miles listed for 10.3k.
I would stay away from Carvana. They have title issue and getting vehicles outside the country that have voided warranties.
Also I would not buy any vehicle that is a Lexus from craiglist. I dont care, Always DLR or privet owner locally that is like an older couple.
I dont play with that internet crap. Im old school and it pays off to either wait and keep looking or invest everything in to Who" you buy from.