Potential Buyer - Questions
11-19-08, 10:12 PM
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GA
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Greetings!
I'll admit that I posted an identical post on another forum, but this one seems to have more people and more information. I searched for a while and found some good info, but I still have some specific questions:
For various reasons, I'm considering purchasing a mid-mileage ucf20 ii. The cars I'm looking at are in the 70k-90k mile range and the 11k-13k dollar range. Above all else I want a car that is extremely reliable, but I also want it to be comfortable for traveling, get decent gas mileage, be quick enough to be fun, and be reasonably safe and capable in the snow with proper tires. So, I have a few questions.
1. Is it really as reliable as I'm hoping? If I buy a car with 90k miles, what can I expect to encounter for repairs by the time I hit 150k miles?
* Yes and no, small things will need to be fixed/adjusted/replaced, and they can empty your wallet quick! I would budget $4000.00 for 90-150K miles, if you don't do the work yourself. Seriously. At 90K the timing belt alone will empty $1100.00 out of your wallet, by it's self.
2. With snow tires, how capable is it? Will I get stuck in 6" of snow when I'm trying to make it home for the holidays?
* My 99 has trac. control, combined with snow tires, no problem.
3. The EPA rating, from what I gather is 19/25, and EPA ratings can be way off, especially for powerful vehicles. I don't care about city mileage, but with the cruise control set at 70mph for an interstate trip, what kind of mileage can I expect?
*About 24-27 MPG with cruise set at 70-80
4. (Don't scoff, and I promise I'm not a ricer.) My current sedan, a Volvo S60R, ran a 14.1 at 100.2 with a conservative launch the only time I tracked it. Is the LS400 at least close? Has anyone here tracked (drag) his/her LS400? Are there any ecu-tuning options to delimit the car (if limited)?
*An LS is not a race car, it is a Japanese "S" Class, powerful but smooth, buy a M-class BMW or an AMG Merc. if you want speed. I don't believe the car is limited, not with a 150+MPH top speed.
5. Anything to look out for when looking at used examples in my mileage range? Any known issues?
* Major things (eng./trans) very reliable, little things that can up to $thousands, not so much, unless you know how to turn a wrench. My older, higher milage M3 is MUCH cheaper to maintain, no $1100.00 timing belt, leaking power steering racks, $900.00 engine/trans. mounts, $800.00 blown rear main seals, valve gaskets, etc. But I still like my LS, must be nuts.
Thanks!
I'll admit that I posted an identical post on another forum, but this one seems to have more people and more information. I searched for a while and found some good info, but I still have some specific questions:
For various reasons, I'm considering purchasing a mid-mileage ucf20 ii. The cars I'm looking at are in the 70k-90k mile range and the 11k-13k dollar range. Above all else I want a car that is extremely reliable, but I also want it to be comfortable for traveling, get decent gas mileage, be quick enough to be fun, and be reasonably safe and capable in the snow with proper tires. So, I have a few questions.
1. Is it really as reliable as I'm hoping? If I buy a car with 90k miles, what can I expect to encounter for repairs by the time I hit 150k miles?
* Yes and no, small things will need to be fixed/adjusted/replaced, and they can empty your wallet quick! I would budget $4000.00 for 90-150K miles, if you don't do the work yourself. Seriously. At 90K the timing belt alone will empty $1100.00 out of your wallet, by it's self.
2. With snow tires, how capable is it? Will I get stuck in 6" of snow when I'm trying to make it home for the holidays?
* My 99 has trac. control, combined with snow tires, no problem.
3. The EPA rating, from what I gather is 19/25, and EPA ratings can be way off, especially for powerful vehicles. I don't care about city mileage, but with the cruise control set at 70mph for an interstate trip, what kind of mileage can I expect?
*About 24-27 MPG with cruise set at 70-80
4. (Don't scoff, and I promise I'm not a ricer.) My current sedan, a Volvo S60R, ran a 14.1 at 100.2 with a conservative launch the only time I tracked it. Is the LS400 at least close? Has anyone here tracked (drag) his/her LS400? Are there any ecu-tuning options to delimit the car (if limited)?
*An LS is not a race car, it is a Japanese "S" Class, powerful but smooth, buy a M-class BMW or an AMG Merc. if you want speed. I don't believe the car is limited, not with a 150+MPH top speed.
5. Anything to look out for when looking at used examples in my mileage range? Any known issues?
* Major things (eng./trans) very reliable, little things that can up to $thousands, not so much, unless you know how to turn a wrench. My older, higher milage M3 is MUCH cheaper to maintain, no $1100.00 timing belt, leaking power steering racks, $900.00 engine/trans. mounts, $800.00 blown rear main seals, valve gaskets, etc. But I still like my LS, must be nuts.
Thanks!
Hope that helps you, I am mostly happy with my car, just shocked at how the little things have added up. I'm not sure it was entirely worth it.
11-20-08, 09:49 AM
#17
Yup, forgot about suspension parts
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