Why is it so Hard!!!!
06-13-12, 06:46 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Why is it so Hard!!!!
Been looking for a LS for the last 2 weeks... Every car I thought about getting has either been sold or some BS went down! Thinking about getting some payments!!!
Looking for a 96-99 LS... Not a lot of choices w/o high mileage....
Looking for a 96-99 LS... Not a lot of choices w/o high mileage....
06-13-12, 07:22 PM
#3
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I feel u man. I must have looked at like 30 ls's before I found a nice one.
Aparently everyone thinks cars with major problems or missing important parts or just generally neglected qualifies as "perfect" or "flawless". Even worse are the people that deny the problems when you show it tl them. "oh that, it's supposed to leak antifreeze" or "never gave me any problems", but the car doesn't even run, you don't know why but yet the ad and you say "it runs great!" soooooo glad I'm done looking.
Aparently everyone thinks cars with major problems or missing important parts or just generally neglected qualifies as "perfect" or "flawless". Even worse are the people that deny the problems when you show it tl them. "oh that, it's supposed to leak antifreeze" or "never gave me any problems", but the car doesn't even run, you don't know why but yet the ad and you say "it runs great!" soooooo glad I'm done looking.
06-14-12, 12:06 PM
#5
Two weeks is not a long time lol, I've been looking on/off for about a year, then three months prior to purchasing mine I would be checking every classified daily for three months looking for one that was in mint condition! In the end it was worth it, I got a mint LS that has never seen winter 
06-14-12, 12:33 PM
#6
If you are willing to travel to get to the car this will help a lot. The deals in the South looked pretty decent. Check out the link.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...Radius=0&Log=0
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...Radius=0&Log=0
06-14-12, 12:45 PM
#7
Two weeks is not a long time lol, I've been looking on/off for about a year, then three months prior to purchasing mine I would be checking every classified daily for three months looking for one that was in mint condition! In the end it was worth it, I got a mint LS that has never seen winter
it's taken me months and sometimes years to find the right cars, truck, and bike that i wanted.
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06-14-12, 05:15 PM
#9
it takes much patience, and be ready to spend a bit more on the car you want. i am more than willing to spend more on a well cared for car for that extra piece of mind.
it took me 3 months of constant searching to find one w/o a tan interior, and i spent more than i wanted to. you will eventually know what to weed out so you don't waste your time. good luck!
it took me 3 months of constant searching to find one w/o a tan interior, and i spent more than i wanted to. you will eventually know what to weed out so you don't waste your time. good luck!
06-14-12, 05:21 PM
#10
Just a quick note in case you come across these while looking down south, a Chrysler dealer in Easley sc has a 2000 with just 95000 on it.... However it has an accident report that said it was bad enough to be towed.... Also they are trying to get 13900 for it.
There is a private seller on autotrader that has a green 99 with 129000, advertised as one owner garage kept no accidents and all maintenance.... I almost bought this one however I pulled a carfax the night before and it had been rear ended.... Still might be a nice car but the lie made me drop it like a hot potatoe.... Anyway he has it listed for 11900 but he was prepared to go below 10... Especially after I found out about the accident, the guys a dr
The third one is in Lauren's sc... It's a platinum edition 2000 or 99, black on black, they were asking 10900 at little river trading company, 120000 miles, no maintenance records, interior looked decent but used, I test drive it and the rotors were warped,
Just passing these on.....I was determined to buy an accident free car.... They are out there but remember carfax will save you..... Regardless I think you should hold back a couple thousand out of your budget..... Generally speaking if a car has gone to auction,someone did not want to fix something or perform a major service.... In my case I had to do the timing belt service and a new starter...... Also as a general rule of thumb, order you a transmission mount, they are cheap and most likely it will improve the ride dramatically
There is a private seller on autotrader that has a green 99 with 129000, advertised as one owner garage kept no accidents and all maintenance.... I almost bought this one however I pulled a carfax the night before and it had been rear ended.... Still might be a nice car but the lie made me drop it like a hot potatoe.... Anyway he has it listed for 11900 but he was prepared to go below 10... Especially after I found out about the accident, the guys a dr
The third one is in Lauren's sc... It's a platinum edition 2000 or 99, black on black, they were asking 10900 at little river trading company, 120000 miles, no maintenance records, interior looked decent but used, I test drive it and the rotors were warped,
Just passing these on.....I was determined to buy an accident free car.... They are out there but remember carfax will save you..... Regardless I think you should hold back a couple thousand out of your budget..... Generally speaking if a car has gone to auction,someone did not want to fix something or perform a major service.... In my case I had to do the timing belt service and a new starter...... Also as a general rule of thumb, order you a transmission mount, they are cheap and most likely it will improve the ride dramatically
06-14-12, 05:31 PM
#11
Lead Lap
With the average annual miles driven being 16,550 miles ( http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm ), you can expect the average 1996 LS400 to be have driven 264,800 miles and the average 1999 LS400 to have covered 215,150 miles. You would have to shoot for a much newer model year to have much of a selection of low mileage cars. The most low mileage Lexus LS cars I've seen have been "geezer-driven" cars in south Florida and the Scottsdale AZ areas. Some of the best low mileage examples I've seen have been sold through social/country club bulletin boards. My own geezer-driven 2000 LS400 is at almost 154,000 miles (I'm the geezer) and I currently plan to drive it to around 210,000 miles before I sell or give it away.
06-14-12, 05:34 PM
#12
good info scott, i too learned my car had gone through auction. i was curious as to why as the carfax was spotless. then i saw that at 130k the timing belt has not been changed smh.
another key note to check that all panels, doors, fenders, hood, trunk, and in some cases the glass, have matching VIN numbers. ensure that they are there and you can be assured the originality (though of course they can be repaired).
another key note to check that all panels, doors, fenders, hood, trunk, and in some cases the glass, have matching VIN numbers. ensure that they are there and you can be assured the originality (though of course they can be repaired).
06-14-12, 05:37 PM
#13
Lead Lap
FYI, I recently had the transmission mount on my 2000 LS400 changed, just for the hell of it, at the 150,000 mile service. I could not tell any difference with the new mount and was surprised that the original mount looked like new with no compression or cracking.
06-14-12, 05:42 PM
#14
I was actually surprised so many of these cars can be found between 90 and 120000,
One has 120 and I felt that was pretty awesome... I was checking out autotrader and they have one in Atlanta with just 18000 miles.... They are asking 16900 and it has 8000 views haha..... Scary
One has 120 and I felt that was pretty awesome... I was checking out autotrader and they have one in Atlanta with just 18000 miles.... They are asking 16900 and it has 8000 views haha..... Scary
06-14-12, 05:48 PM
#15
Jim, possible it was changed before you got it? Not saying they all fail but from my research it is the main culprit if anyone feels the drivetrain.... Just something everyone should be aware of since it's the cheapest repair you will ever make on this car 