goldminer4

hi and good morning . i am trying to decide betwen 2 cars . #1 is a 2004 ls 430 black on black 88,000 miles has the ml-nav package . pretty clean car . 1 st no history 2nd front seat warmer dead 3rd blown rear subwoofer . does not have the new timing belt / waterpump. Has new perfomace tires (federal brand ) with seems alot of road hum $17,899

2nd car a 2005 ls 430 with on gray very clean car has been seviced reg with 110,000 miles on it most of them highway. $18,500 Just has just timeing belt / waterpump done The tilt won't work but dealer said he have it fixed before i buy it. Fells like it with need front brakes has a very mild shake when stopping

Seattle prices seem high on these cars .we have a lot i have look at the have been brought here from s cal.
any way help me decide the better car i am close to flipping a coin
they both seem clean each has it own issues
thanks for any and all imput Ray

Jabberwock

The 2005 with new TB/WP would be my choice, especially with tilt fixed but I would also insist that dealer do the front pads and install brand new rotors (must be OEM Toyota parts) as part of the deal. Shaking while braking is most likely warped rotors but it could also be suspension problems so insist that it be fixed before you buy. 110k on these cars if they are maintained is not significant.

The 2004 sounds like a pig in a poke - especially with off brand tires, missing service history, broken seat heater and TB/WP repair/maint coming up in 2k miles.

VNN326

iTrader: (21)

i agree ........... ^^

nmikmik

I also agree with all of the above especially for the price difference, but my question is. Not to be hijacking the thread.... Even more worth the money if it was only serviced at the dealer from day one.
Don't you have a preference in color black on black and white (i assume) on gray is pretty much as extreme as it gets.
What is your guys experience with black/black cars. I think i had one of those in the past and it was a pain to keep clean and also a pain just to sit down on the hot summer day, even though it was not in California.

LexusFan09

Go for the 2005 model. The tilt wheel and brakes is a simple fix!

goldminer4

thanks everyone .that was how i was leaning i own a 2004 gs 430 for 4 years and the only issue was the brakes . i love these cars. as far as colurs they white lite tan are the worst . i can live with most colurs i just care about the comfort when you are in the driver seat it really doesn't matter now does it . thanks again for your time

AlexusAnja

As a buyer, it's of course more assuring that there is a dealer service record, but really it all depends on how the car looks in person and getting it inspected prior to purchase. Just because it was serviced at a dealer, doesn't mean the car was not beat up or treated like a loaner.

I'm a DIY'er, but I change my oil every 4K and use OEM filters and Mobil1. I change air filter every 15K. Cabin filter 20K. Tires I am **** about, I don't wait until the wear bar and I replace them. On "paper" it probably looks like I did nothing to my vehicle, but I can say, if someone purchased my vehicle, they're getting a better than average maintained vehicle.

Looking at service history is just one marker, not the only one.

Jabberwock

I am a diy also - you may want to consider going into your Lexus service history online and adding the stuff you do yourself or that you have done at non dealer (like for me new Tires at Costco and then period rotate and balance there also). I have posted engine and cabin filter changes, brake jobs, TB cleaning, new tires, etc all jobs I did myself into my online Lexus service history. Doing this establishes a documented service history and is very useful for tracking next need work for me.

AlexusAnja

I did not know you could do this. So what validation is there besides just keying in that it was done? Someone could just go in and claim they did this and that, but never have done it.

So, the real truth would still be dealer history and "personal" history with a grain of salt.

Jabberwock

Agree - someone could go back in and enter fake diy service. My guess is that the typical person who does not bother to do proper service is also not going to take the time and effort to learn about this feature and then reconstruct a bogus online service history - although it is certainly possible. I also keep my receipts (or most of them at least : ).

goldminer4

hi i got the 2005 ls430 16000 full tank of fuel out the door and i take care of the tilt . i found out thru the lexus site it had had at least 80% of all it work done at the dealer ship. All aways oil changed at 5000 miles give or take . All the service done close to time . the dealer put $1200 in before selling it all replaced bad door lock switch and service plus all new tires. at the price and what has been done i couldn't go wrong hopfully . thanks for the imput ray in seattle

chris81964

I post my service that I do or that others do on the Lexus site too.

Forbidden

Sounds like you got yourself a pretty good deal