jonlexus39

Hey everybody, I live in Canada and have never owned a Lexus before but I want to buy one now for reliability and safety of my newborn.

My friends cousin who is 38, who Ive known personally for many years is selling his 2005 Lexus ls 430 with 170 000 km which he bought at 105 000 km in 2013 from an older gentleman and he says he has the car proof ( service records ) from the previous owner. He said that he changed the timing belt and spark plugs a few years ago but doesnt have the receipts as his brother-in-law is a mechanic which i know is true so maybe he gets them for cost price but he doesnt have many receipts. He said that he changed the strap, im not sure if that means the whole timing belt or not. He never had to change the shocks. He got an alignment done, changed the discs with regular oil changes. He drives like me, maybe 7000 km a year and a slow driver. The only thing i must change now are the brakes and an oil change. There are 2 small rust spots on the front of the car which I personally dont care about but would fix in due time. He is selling it to me for $ 7500 canadian. I got $ 4500 and selling a 2010 toyota matrix for 3000. He is wealthy and is selling because he is getting an SUV for his growing family and wont be driving the LS 430 anymore which he kept super clean inside






.

There is another guy on a local classified website in my city who i dont know personally but spoke to him by phone, he is 31, sounded very educated, honest and geekish. He is selling a 2002 Lexus Ls 430 with 170 000 km purchased with 105 000 km in 2012 from an older gentleman. He has done the following repairs on the car in 2015 at a Lexus dealership and has all of the receipts. He is selling because he didnt drive it much in the last 2 years, just taken out on sundays and has a pick up truck for his company business. He wanted $ 9800 but agreed to sell it to me for $ 8000


Never driven in winter ! Leather treatment, carpet shampoo, paint polishing and sealer, front and rear lights polishing, in excellent and perfect condition, 1 year warranty from the owner (bumper to bumper)
2nd owner, pay $ 10,000 2012
Parts + work to be replaced at the Lexus dealership with invoices from the dealership! ($ 9,880 in original Lexus parts and works with invoices!
-change brake pads + discs (original)
-change pulleys + all belts (origin)
-change water pump (original)
-change timing belt (origin)
-change thermostat (original)
-change spark plugs (original)
-change engine filters (original)
-change cabin filter (original)
-change driver + passenger bench filters: a / c bench + heater (original)
-change oil filter (original)
-change alternator (original)
- battery change (original)
-change Wheel Bearings (original)
-injector cleaning
-change of engine oil (original)
-differential oil change (original)
-change transmission oil (original)
- brake oil change (original)
-change antifreeze liquid (origin)
-change two electric mirror motors (original)
-change heated windshield with antifreeze injection (original)



Based on all of this, which car do you guys suggest I buy. I cant afford to put money into a car right now. And yeah, people have told me, if you dont got the cash to maintain a Lexus, dont buy one ! But..this is my window of opportunity.

The pictures attached are of the 2002 Lexus Ls 430

TriC

Tough choice, but if, in fact, the '02 has never been driven in winter, it is the winner.

jonlexus39

do you think the 2005 LS will need repairs soon or its good

Striker223

A winterless car will easily beat a car with 1/2 the miles

jonlexus39

is there any way to know if it was really winterless driven ? lets just say both cars were driven in the winter, which 1 would you buy based on all the info i wrote

Striker223

Look under it, look at the softness of the seals, lol behind trim to see if there is residue of salt and other areas that people don't typically clean

jonlexus39

if lets say both were winter driven, which car would you buy based on the story

TominPT

Don't buy either one until you have seen them directly with your eyeballs and driven both. You might discover things pictures do not reveal. You may find the '02 too dated in appearance.

jonlexus39

do you think the 02 is superior based on the guys repair receipts

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

I think the 2002 is better choice based on that list of repairs.

It’s a really tough choice to be honest. I can’t stand how the 01-03 LS looks but I would buy a well maintained one.

ironlexus

did you have any issues with your 05 lexus ?