Howdy!
Need advice on a potential buy on my next car.

1996 Lexus LS 400. Asking price is 7,000 with 210,000 miles on it. Consistent oil and fluid changes done at intervals of 3k miles and 6k miles, respectively. I've attached some pictures for you guys to take a look at, and some key parts of the description. Any advice/ honest opinions would be appreciated! Cheers!

'got mint interior and exterior, good gas mileage 25 average, very well maintained, and the 1UZs are bulletproof too, these engines go for long periods of time, it’s got 212k miles and it runs great, had timing belts, spark plugs, all the fluids changed about 6k miles ago and I do oil changes every 3k.

It also comes with all the mods ready to satisfy your needs along with the stock wheels too see on the last slide.'

Backseat

Front seats

Front

Front #2

Rear

Rear #2

 

Cosmetically it looks pretty good for 200k.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...de-2024-a.html

Mechanically having the timing belt done isn't a full justification for a full price. If the car is healthy and major stuff has been addressed (power steer, motor mounts, shocks, etc, etc), then I can see an argument about it being worth the 7k.

 

$7k is too high. The future potential simply doesn't match the price.
Generally speaking, a well-maintained LS, 400 and/or 430, is just broken in at 100k miles. 200k miles is a leisurely walk in the park. 300k miles and beyond is certainly viable but the reality is most people don't go that far.

That said the sweet spot for a reasonable, and more importantly financially smart, LS purchase has always been a car with 100k to 120k miles for $10k to 12k.
This formula gives the buyer an amazing automobile most will drive to approx. 250k miles, approx 150k miles net, for a fraction of the original sticker price with surprisingly low maintenance cost.
Obviously, those 100k mile LS400's are now few and far between. This same formula has shifted with time to some 98-00 400's and most 01 to 06 430's.

If a buyer can take this car to 300k miles, which is rather optimistic for a 28 YO car, you might get 90k miles for $7k. Emphasis on "might"...
Unfortunately, the road from 200k to potentially 300k is much rougher than the road up to 200k miles. Add major maintenance/repair cost and headaches to the $7k purchase price.

This car is a nice find but if you don't have your heart set on a 96 look for a 98-00 400 or any year 430 with much less mileage.

 

Don't like the interior condition.

 

I rarely see a mint condition car with over 200K miles on it. This one is not mint either. Mint cars don't need body work and paint jobs. The body is not mint on this car. So if someone is willing to lie about the obvious, they sure wouldn't mind lying about the not so obvious. 7K is way out of line. Cars are softening in values too. Maybe $3500.00

 

I buy and sell quite a few cars every year the vibe I get here is it needs quite a lot of work and judging by the interior I bet the paint work is not exactly mint either. Has crappy aftermarket wheels, bent license plate and a "this is mint" price when the car isn't.

This may offend some but I wouldn't pay more than $1,500 for that it's gonna need thousands to bring it up to my standards.

 

I definitely second this. The only way they should be asking for that price with a straight face at that mileage is if everything, and I mean everything, on that car has been through at least once using quality parts not cheap aftermarket crap and they have the receipts. For starters: Timing belt/water pump/crank and cam seals. Suspension refresh using quality parts. Motor mounts. Power steering pump and rack. STARTER. Valve cover gaskets. They better have a maintenance book of receipts an inch think. I have come across cars with this level of maintenance done but they are rare birds.

Otherwise no way in hell and that price needs to come down significantly.

 

Find a better example. I recently saw a one owner '98 with 100K miles out here in western WA and it looked a hell of a lot better, at $ 11.5K, recent timing belt, dealer service since new, rust free WA car, etc.

 

 

just got neighbors es300 1999 with 80k on the clock for 1 dollar. Needs normal maintenance. car is gorgeous california garage queen. everything works but the clock screen. has an oil leak. starting to work on it . chrome wheels look noce. Just washed and waxed some areas then landscaper bleww stuf all over. after i use it for 6 month or so Im letting it go. But first a full servicing. I dont need 4 cars.. Im saving this one from being junked.

 

i never met a used car that was serviced like owners manuel. So budget a lot. as cars age they need stuff..

 

Wow! Thank you everyone for your wonderful advice! This has all been very helpful, and I'll definitely be using all of this advice moving forward as I look for my next car. Cheers!

 

I wish I had joined this club and forum years ago when I bought my 1996 LS 400. I would have benefited from all the excellent advice I'd have found here and would have had lots more fun from conversing with similar car owners.
I bought it used in 1999 as a certified car from Lexus of Westminster (California). It was the best car I've ever owned, very comfortable for a guy with a bad spine. About 5 years ago the transmission went bad and I couldn't afford the $3500 or so to fix it, so I left it parked in my apt. building carport, pending future repairs. Other than the inoperative transmission the car was in very good condition as I took good care of it. I am now 80 years old, disabled, in poor health and I must say goodbye to the car. Do collectors of this model seek original parts that will be worth more the the entire car? Or is it better to leave it as is and take whatever I can get? For medical reasons, I must do something quickly. If anyone near Alhambra, CA has good advice about how to do this, where I might find help, good advice, etc., I would be very appreciative. Many thanks. Frank D., fdraskovic@hotmail.com

 

The sense I get is you could either part out a car like this, which might yield the most money (but not an option for you given your situation and health) or just sell it for best offer above scrap value. I’m guessing the scrapper will give you $500-1000, somebody who is gonna drop a used trans in it or maybe swap in a manual trans might give you maybe $1000-1500 max? As it has been sitting for 5 years no one in their right mind will touch it unless (a) they get a screaming deal and (b) they are going to wrench on it themselves including track down and put in a used transmission themselves. Anyway others I’m sure will reply to correct me as needed but this is my sense.

 

You're right. Let's hope a scrapper near zip 91754 is reading these posts. He'll get his screaming deal before the words are out of his mouth! Thanks.