DJWLDW

Carguy89

Mid twenties, He went over 20 years on the Job last April. He is eligible to retire now. He turned 43 last April and is about to have his 4th child in January. He just wants something nice for a backup encase their 2015 Flex is down or he need to drive someplace where he cannot take his police car. He has had this thing for BMW's for a long time. I think he has had 2 a 325i and a 328i? Both convertibles ( I think he lost money on both but we don't talk about it) I keep telling him to wise up and by a Lexus but hey what do Dads know?

Dennis

CarGuy89

Haha wow way off, my mistake . I have had a few BMWs in the past. While I really haven't had any issues I never kept any of them long term (traded in 1-2 yrs typically) due to reliability concerns. He's had experience in the past so he knows what he's in for lol. Typically though the rule of thumb is to buy the I6 engines, the V8s have their valve seal issues and other odd things that will fail within 100k mi for some odd reason (though my lack of common sense possessed me to have 2 of these V8s in the past ). Again they weren't too bad reliability wise, I was actually impressed with how well my X5 held up, but I'm always too scared to keep them long term. Good luck, maybe he will come around after experiencing the ownership of an old 7 series

Nospinzone

That really made me laugh!

As Mark Twain is said to have written, "When I was 17 years old my father was so ignorant I could barely stand to have the old man around. By the time I turned 21 I was amazed at how much the old guy had learned."

But you know what? Although I agree what everyone else has said to stay away from it, but let him buy the thing. Hey it's only $3900, and with a little bargaining and discipline, he can get it for $3000 cash. Tell him to show up with that exact amount in his hand (all $100's). Tell the seller does he want three thousand now or wait until some kid gives him a check for $2000 and a promise to pay $100 every other week for the next year.

What's the worse that can happen? He pours another 3 grand into it and ends up donating it to the Salvation Army for a tax write off!

DJWLDW

I think we are looking for a older Lexus now. I have been researching older LS 400 today. He did ask why a LS over a ES? I said the LS's were the flagship. It would be like buying a Caddy over a Chevy.

Dennis

SW17LS

Having owned multiple LS models and multiple ES models, I wouldn't at all say its like buying a "Caddy over a Chevy".

The ES is a great car, when buying one that old it has a lot of plusses over the LS:

1. You can get a newer, lower mileage one for the same money.
2. They are cheaper to maintain and repair because essentially they are a Camry.
3. Cheaper to operate in general.

Hanna

http://www.carsdirect.com/compare/le...60-vs-bmw-740i

or better yet - Ford Crown Victoria.

SW17LS

Seeing that we're not talking about a new LS460 vs a new 740 here that link isn't very meaningful. We're talking about 20 year old LS400s and 740s.