Originally Posted by FatherTo1

It took almost two months but the LS 460 changed hands about 2 hours ago for $22,000. It is a bittersweet moment and our whole family is sad to see it go. It was hard to let go up to the very end. The buyer even joked whether I really wanted him to buy it because I was pointing out the curb rash on the wheels, the small PDR dent on the driver's rear door, the repainted hood, coolant leak repair, etc. He could tell we took good care of the car. We hope the LS serves him and his family well.

Thanks everyone for the support and advice over the years. CL is indeed a very special forum. I have not come across a forum with quite a knowledge base and members so eager to genuinely help one another. As much as Tesla owners love their cars, the forum itself has an abundance of egos and snarky comments rather than helpful replies. All the best to CLers out there!

Originally Posted by riknchar

This is a classic reminder to everyone that depreciation is by far the largest cost associated with owning an LS! Father-to-1 negotiated a decent deal in March of 2017 on his 2013 Ultra-Lux LS460 (paying $39.5k). He was able to sell it after months of advertising to a private party for $22k (it would have been more like $17-18k had he traded it in like most of us would do out of laziness and expediency). So his cost of ownership over 28 months was $17,500 (around $7500 a year) - pretty steep, but remember that he bought the car after it had already depreciated for 4 years, and had lost more than half it's value already! Think how much the original owner paid per year!

My point is that we spend countless hours on this forum agonizing over the potential cost of replacing the batteries in the LS600hL ($5k), or a brake actuator ($3k), or an Air Shock ($1k per corner) while the true big-ticket cost (depreciation) goes by without much discussion.

This is why, in my mind, the absolute best value to be had in an LS is in an older version (2010-2012) that has been well maintained and is in terrific condition. These cars, while definitely lacking a couple of nice-to-have upgrades, are insane values at the $12-18k price they are currently commanding. You can drive one of these cars for 5 years and only see depreciation of $5-8k total! So even if you have to spend money on a couple of pricy repairs, you're still WAY better off than with virtually any other luxury car on the planet.

I bought my current LS600hL last year for $27.5k. It originally stickered at $126k (so you do the math on that depreciation curve for the original owner - OUCH!). I spent $3k on a 6-year CNA "bumper-to-bumper" warranty (to control my potential repair costs). I plan to happily drive the wheels off my LS600 for the next 5 years while it's covered under warranty, and when I'm done, might be able to sell it for $8-10k or so. So my cost of ownership of this AMAZING car will end up being somewhere in the ball park of $20k. So over 6 years, this ultimate Lexus Flagship will cost me around $3.5k per year, which is actually less than I'd expect to spend on a decent Accord or Camry over 6 years of ownership.

Just some food for thought...

Originally Posted by jrmckinley

Best of luck to you in your Tesla! You left out some huge things that many of us would like to know.....what model did you get, what color is it, year, mileage, etc? You were looking at all of their models at one point so curious what you settled on. Also, I'd love to know your take on the Tesla purchase experience (I hear buying used is different than what we're all accustomed to) and please keep us updated on ownership experience. Enjoy it!

Originally Posted by riknchar

This is a classic reminder to everyone that depreciation is by far the largest cost associated with owning an LS! Father-to-1 negotiated a decent deal in March of 2017 on his 2013 Ultra-Lux LS460 (paying $39.5k). He was able to sell it after months of advertising to a private party for $22k (it would have been more like $17-18k had he traded it in like most of us would do out of laziness and expediency). So his cost of ownership over 28 months was $17,500 (around $7500 a year) - pretty steep, but remember that he bought the car after it had already depreciated for 4 years, and had lost more than half it's value already! Think how much the original owner paid per year!

My point is that we spend countless hours on this forum agonizing over the potential cost of replacing the batteries in the LS600hL ($5k), or a brake actuator ($3k), or an Air Shock ($1k per corner) while the true big-ticket cost (depreciation) goes by without much discussion.

This is why, in my mind, the absolute best value to be had in an LS is in an older version (2010-2012) that has been well maintained and is in terrific condition. These cars, while definitely lacking a couple of nice-to-have upgrades, are insane values at the $12-18k price they are currently commanding. You can drive one of these cars for 5 years and only see depreciation of $5-8k total! So even if you have to spend money on a couple of pricy repairs, you're still WAY better off than with virtually any other luxury car on the planet.

I bought my current LS600hL last year for $27.5k. It originally stickered at $126k (so you do the math on that depreciation curve for the original owner - OUCH!). I spent $3k on a 6-year CNA "bumper-to-bumper" warranty (to control my potential repair costs). I plan to happily drive the wheels off my LS600 for the next 5 years while it's covered under warranty, and when I'm done, might be able to sell it for $8-10k or so. So my cost of ownership of this AMAZING car will end up being somewhere in the ball park of $20k. So over 6 years, this ultimate Lexus Flagship will cost me around $3.5k per year, which is actually less than I'd expect to spend on a decent Accord or Camry over 6 years of ownership.

Just some food for thought...

Originally Posted by FatherTo1

@lextout , I am already having second thoughts now that Tesla has removed free Supercharging on all their used inventory. The change literally happened yesterday. I had my eye on a red Model X with white interior. It had all the options too and was priced right, included free Supercharging, plus additional warranty, except it was located in Massachusetts and I didn't want to deal with the exposure to salted roads over there. If only I pulled the trigger. Sigh. Oh well, will keep looking. Free lifetime Supercharging is still transferable for pre-Jan 2017 Model S/X if you buy from private party or non-Tesla dealer. Disappointing that you lose that perk if you buy direct from Tesla.

@Kuhan , we have not purchased yet but the sale of the LS 460 brings us one step closer to Tesla ownership. We are looking for a 2016 Model X 90D in red, with white interior, 6-seater. In the meantime, I'm back behind the wheel of my former 2006 LS 430 -- borrowing it from my Dad. It is now due for an oil change since I last parted with it in March 2017; Dad has basically only driven it 5000 miles and the odometer is now at 69K. The 430 is still very quiet and that velvety purr of the V8 is so smooth.

Originally Posted by FatherTo1

@lextout , I am already having second thoughts now that Tesla has removed free Supercharging on all their used inventory. The change literally happened yesterday. I had my eye on a red Model X with white interior. It had all the options too and was priced right, included free Supercharging, plus additional warranty, except it was located in Massachusetts and I didn't want to deal with the exposure to salted roads over there. If only I pulled the trigger. Sigh. Oh well, will keep looking. Free lifetime Supercharging is still transferable for pre-Jan 2017 Model S/X if you buy from private party or non-Tesla dealer. Disappointing that you lose that perk if you buy direct from Tesla.

@Kuhan , we have not purchased yet but the sale of the LS 460 brings us one step closer to Tesla ownership. We are looking for a 2016 Model X 90D in red, with white interior, 6-seater. In the meantime, I'm back behind the wheel of my former 2006 LS 430 -- borrowing it from my Dad. It is now due for an oil change since I last parted with it in March 2017; Dad has basically only driven it 5000 miles and the odometer is now at 69K. The 430 is still very quiet and that velvety purr of the V8 is so smooth.

Originally Posted by LS430FL

Just going by your math, his cost of ownership over 28 months was $17,500 which equates to $625 a month. I don't find that steep at all. I think this is personally very reasonable assuming I bought for cash and wasn't making payments. This is one heck of a car for $625 a month and a lot cheaper than leasing one. Sure you could put the cash somewhere else and get a return of maybe 4% so add that in but still pretty reasonable for the caliber of car. There are some far inferior cars out there leasing for that price or more. If you get one CPO and loose similar depreciation you're getting an even better deal as you will have limited out of pocket expenses. I bought my 2011 CPO and extended it to 4 years CPO warranty with all prepaid maintenance. I've had the car almost 3 years and have shelled out a total of $40 for wiper blades plus the prepaid oil changes when I bought it.

Originally Posted by FatherTo1

@lextout , I am already having second thoughts now that Tesla has removed free Supercharging on all their used inventory. The change literally happened yesterday. I had my eye on a red Model X with white interior. It had all the options too and was priced right, included free Supercharging, plus additional warranty, except it was located in Massachusetts and I didn't want to deal with the exposure to salted roads over there.

Originally Posted by Nospinzone

As a lifelong New Englander, I wouldn't let that deter you on a relatively new car. Prolonged exposure to salt roads in winter can do a job on a car. My wife's 2001 Jag S-Type has some serious rust problems and my beloved 1995 Inifiniti Q45a finally gave up the ghost due to rust. I don't know how many winters that car has been through, but if it is only one or two, I wouldn't be concerned. Also even a car exposed to regular winter salt,won't feel ill effects for at least 8 to 10 years, by then you'll be out of it!

Originally Posted by SW17LS

Best of luck to you buddy, we'll miss you here. My guess is you'll be back

What I find interesting is $625 a month is about what my 2017 LS460L lease costs me after the tax savings of writing off the lease