Junglequac

Indeed. It is just there are many who lack friends with a solid knowledge when it comes to things like this. A service history would also be greatly useful to see what all has been replaced and or deferred.

The biggest thing to me is that the OP has funds set aside for all the things that will need to be done now and in the future.

steelers6

I definitely hear ya,a mechanic will definitely be looking it over thoroughly,i would like to bring it to LEXUS and let them fully inspect it,i dont know man,i might go out there and i might not,285,000 is a whole lot,but i have seen some other ones also in the 200,000 mile range...

Jks24

If the cars not rusted out talk him down and drive it for a bit then if need be just get a lower mileage engine and transmission and have it swapped it i mean as long as its not rusted out you can kinda makes it work spend $3000-$4000 on a motor and tranny swap and you have a car that can go another 200,000-300,000 miles all for under $10,000. If you want one with 60,000-90,000 miles be expected to pay $15,000-$19,000.

BradTank

I remember I got into a situation where a car I was looking at was well under market value, and something just didn't seem to be right. I'm pretty sure it was a situation where the guy didn't really "own" it, it was titled in a business name and my guess it was going bankrupt, so the car could have been seized to pay his debts. He insisted on cash only, not a cashier's check drawn from a local bank. Just seemed very shady so I bailed.

On this

That's just a lot of effort and I personally wouldn't recommend it, I would just rather buy one with lower miles. Even after the major components are swapped, you have a car that's going to be worth very little with nearly 300k miles of wear and tear even with a newer salvage engine and transmission.

If you really want value, buy the first generation LS, 2001-2003. Absurdly cheap right now and 95% the same car as 2004-2006.

warminwisc

I myself would be wary of any New York Boston car as the suspensions get pounded. I would think of spending twice the money or so to look for one with half the mileage not in the heavy stop and go pot hole areas of the east coast.. LS are nice but you are getting a worn ol stallion any way ya feed it. Good luck.

Junglequac

Indeed. On another post on this subform there is a 01-03 at a Infiniti dealer in FlorIda with half the miles an a complete dealer service history for $7000. Granted, I would guess the OP of that thread well might purchase it, but if not, would be well worth it to transport it. Or make a vacation out of it...

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

There is an AMTRAK Auto-train that leaves Sanford (just north of Orlando-home of dirt cheap air fares) and goes to Lawton, VA. You leave at 4pm and wake up on the other end at 8am. Car is very well cared for.

Tampa to Sanford is about 2 hours.

Junglequac

That is a great idea! I used to live on Siesta Key (barrier island just off Sarasota, FL) in SW Florida and one of the biggest things I miss aside from the Winters is just how competitive the car market is down there.

A corollary to all of the snowbirds is that there are a plethora of obscenely low mileage cars available. This is in addition to the non retiree marketplace where by virtue of a large population, there is a very competitive marketplace.

toddmorr

everybody seems to think this car is such a great deal at 3500. Its probably priced about right though. There are very few people willing to buy a car with this many miles, even an LS, and even with folks who really know the car like us guys on the forum. There are just too many examples with half the miles for double the price, perfectly good cars with much lower odds that major repairs are needed. Unless you got spare parts priced cheap, DIY labor and time, i'd proceed carefully.

grunner58

ANY Lexus over 10 years old is suspect! Why? Because the plastic and rubber components degrade with TIME! Yes, mileage will affect that schedule. But plastic and rubber, which is 95%+ of repair costs, are affected by time. Properly galvanized, and painted steel, will last decades, aluminum is the same, but plastics and rubber have vastly shorter lengths of useful life.
German cars are a joke, since they are fanatical about using recycled material. 7 years, and a BMW or Mercedes WILL have rubber/plastic problems. They are "legendary" for this cycle.
A Lexus will take this cycle to 10+ years because their use of recycled stuff is much less. But TIME still hurts a Lexus.