rfisherman

I have an opportunity to purchase this vehicle from my neighbor for under $4,000.00. It has 251,000 miles. I drove it this afternoon and noticed a couple of things:

1. Slight whine from the drive line.
2. Idle jumped up and down after we returned from trip. It settled down after I turned AC off.


Also, I asked him when the last timing belt was put on.......he said he has never replaced it and never had need for any repair other than oil changes, brakes, etc.

The car is really clean with no obvious defects. Is it a buy and what should I be paying special attention to as I consider purchasing it? Any advice is much appreciated!

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

if it has 251k and never had a TB/WP, I would not want to start it up, for fear of trashing the motor, .... but I would buy it.

killsnake

Would buy, but not for 4K. 3K sounds cool.

rfisherman

Thanks for the replies! If I buy it, what should be done to it aside from the timing belt / waterpump? I'm trying to get an idea of what the total cost will be to make this a vehicle I won't have to worry about for awhile. I just don't want to get into something I'm going to have to keep putting alot of money into to keep on the road.

Schnitz

iTrader: (5)

Strut rod bushings for sure. You have to get it up on a lift and really check it out.
Mine only has 90k miles and I've replaced the TB, WP, starter, strut rod bushings and the rear lower control arm bushings need replacement now.

turboomni

Transmission seem ok?

rfisherman

Transmission shifted nicely, very smooth. Been awhile since I've driven a rear wheel drive car. Noticed a slight whine / noise from the driveline at cruising speed. Is this fairly normal, especially with the miles?

7schulz

Where in Indiana, I bought mine in Indy for $3300 it was a 95 with 150k and 2 inches of dealer receipts. and 2 timing belts. 4K seem high for the mileage but mine was a steal. I would shy away if the only thing he did was oil changes. was the trans fluid ever changed. rear diff fluid? spark plugs, wires the list goes on.
lots of unknows with no maintenance records for the mileage.

Go here and sign up and put in the VIN and see what records come up. For comparison mine has 10 pages of records and stops in 2001 I have receipts from 1000 miles to present.
https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/home

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ctd/1793738423.html
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/1792540197.html

MicahBerry

First post!

I'm not sure how a TB could last 250k miles... For under $4k, I'd probably do it, knowing that I'd need to have somewhere in the range of $2k for replacing the TB, WP, all fluids, may be tires, brakes, etc. Does he have records? If he does, the shop may have replaced the TB/WP as a part of that expensive 90k service interval. I can't imagine spending that kind of money without KNOWING what I was being charged for though...

Micah

rfisherman

Took it for a spin again last night and I decided to make the purchase for $3,600. After going through service receipts and talking to his independent mechanic he found out that timing belt and water pump had been replaced @ 160,000 miles which eased my mind but they are now due again. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions but I'll try to get answers through search feature first so I won't waste anybody's time.

Looking forward to ownership of this car. Not often that one UPGRADES to a 12 year old 250K mile car. Now I have to part with my '89 SHO that I've had since new. Anybody need a project?

turboomni

I just bought a 97 LS400 as I totaled my 2005 Toyota XB! My first accident. But for much less money than the insurance company gave me for the XB I bought the LS400 and went from the bottom of the line Toyota to the top of the line!! Also with lots of change left over. Your gonna love this car. I love mine .

amcdonal86

Whine in driveline? You sure it's not the power steering pump?

rfisherman

I did the throttle body cleaning over the weekend and it sure helped the response but it now idles @ 1250 rpm until its warmed up. Also some extra noise up front with the high idle the moves up and down in pitch with the throttle. Maybe the alternator or power steering pump? Jacked up the rear to check differential fluid and grabbed each rear tire to check for movement. There seemed to be quite a bit in the right rear. I think I have a bad rear wheel bearing for sure. I'm going to take it to a shop this A.M. and have a few things checked out. I don't think I'm up for changing the bearing myself but the estimate may change my mind!

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

no, you didnt put the vacuum lines back in the right places.

rfisherman

I just checked my re-installation of parts after throttle body cleaning. Everything looks correct! Shop can't look at wheel bearing issue until Wednesday.