Pretty amazing to find one in the wild like this: 2001 LS430 with 35K miles, High blue book is $7K, dealer wants $15K. I imagine that I might be able to negotiate down to $11K. If I get a loan on it, wouldn't the lender have a problem with the price being so far above KBB?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd...103257923.html

 

Thats not a 2001. Thats a 04+ isnt it?

EDIT : no I guess Im wrong, I usually hate 01's, that one looks clean to me though!

 

The mileage is actually too low. Means it sat for way too long and you are going to encounter more problems than you would expect. That's a $8000 car tops and even that is a stretch, assuming it needs the 90k service due to timing belt age, tires (check date code) are probably dry rotted... lots of potential issues. Use that to negotiate but for me, I'd pass. An 06 with that mileage, I'd easily pay $13,000 right now to drive it away... an 01, not a chance.

I see it does have the TB service done. Still, $8000 tops.
Keep searching, plenty of low mileage LS430s still available that are priced more competitively.

 

Can tell by the headlights, grill, tail lights, and fog lights that it is a 01-03.

 

Why do you think it's a 2004+? It says "2001" in the ad in multiple places...

 

Yea I just googled, thats a clean 01 lol. Pardon me...as you were, gents.

 

Yea yea...I made a mistake lol.

 

IMHO the car is worth about $10,000 tops. Until mid-March, the value of low mileage LS models was seemingly on a bit of an upward trend. Present reports have it that used car values have dropped about 10% since then.

Getting a loan on it could present problems both due to age and variance from book value. One solution is to use a lending source where those factors don't matter. Last month I tapped LightStream for money to buy my LS 600h L. Although I applied for an "auto loan," their proffered terms were really of a personal loan nature, i.e., no lien was taken on the vehicle. It was an amazingly easy and quick transaction. Caveat: based on reviews, one must have great credit with LightStream.

 

Clean car, but price is beyond crazy. I agree $8,000 sounds like ballpark. You can get a 2006 with 100,000 miles or a little more for $8,000 or less. It's still a 20 year old car with low mileage. If you must have it, get it checked out and stretch if you must, but remember many items that you see replaced for this car on this forum will need repair/replacement on the 01 just due to age. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

SF Bay Area prices are always higher but that is too much. Not being driven enough can be just as bad as driven too much.

 

If it didn't sit for years at a time, it will be fine. But probably still prices too high.

 

That car sat more than it was driven that means normal parts that do not normally need to be replaced will need to be fixed, such as injector o rings, thermostat gaskets, valve cover gaskets, subframe bushings, driveshaft coupler basically everything that is usually lubricated/moved by the vehicle running has not been properly utilized. You take into account its gonna need lets say $1500-$3000 to make it so you get in and go no problems, this is my opinion so take it as you will.

 

Guy is insane! I don't care how low the miles are. That is a 19 year mass produced old car. The only people that really like these are those of us on the forum. Everyone else just views it as an old Lexus. Things dry out regardless of mileage. I personally don't think there is anything worse than a car that sits. They might say that it was used for short trips. Also not a good thing for a car to only be used for short trips. I would pay about half the asking price.

 

Please check out my post on the 04 that I bought recently. It has several pictures with it. 173,000 miles. Inside and out still look that good. Car was a highway driver and serviced on a regular basis. $7500 tax, tag, title, everything. Lots of better options out there than that one. i looked for three months until i found one that checked all the boxes i wanted. Hope this helps.