Worthy trade: 2001 ES300 for 2001 LS430???
09-17-09, 01:33 PM
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Worthy trade: 2001 ES300 for 2001 LS430???
Hi ES300 lovers!
I hope that some one can help me out with a dilemma.
Right now, I have an 2001 LS430 with about 93,000 miles. Some one is offering me a 2000 ES300 with only 10,000 miles (yes only 10,000 miles - one owner). That person is also looking for some cash as well so that is why he wants to trade and get money. He perfers to have a lexus trade in his ad. so my luck that I got interested.
1. What do you guys think? Is it a wise trade. I know I am going down but look at the miles!!! Right now, on my car, I have not done the 90k miles service that calls for timing belt change, coolant and power steering fluid flushes and possibly brake job in a year or so.
2. If you think it is a worthy trade, how much should I offer him in terms of cash along with my car. Do keep in mind that he is looking for a trade but he wants the money too.
Thanks a bunch everyone!
I hope that some one can help me out with a dilemma.
Right now, I have an 2001 LS430 with about 93,000 miles. Some one is offering me a 2000 ES300 with only 10,000 miles (yes only 10,000 miles - one owner). That person is also looking for some cash as well so that is why he wants to trade and get money. He perfers to have a lexus trade in his ad. so my luck that I got interested.
1. What do you guys think? Is it a wise trade. I know I am going down but look at the miles!!! Right now, on my car, I have not done the 90k miles service that calls for timing belt change, coolant and power steering fluid flushes and possibly brake job in a year or so.
2. If you think it is a worthy trade, how much should I offer him in terms of cash along with my car. Do keep in mind that he is looking for a trade but he wants the money too.
Thanks a bunch everyone!
Last edited by mukarram20; 09-17-09 at 02:02 PM.
09-17-09, 03:46 PM
#4
It's not even a fair trade. I would keep the LS430. You'll be downgrading so much. Besides, 93k miles is nothing on a Toyota engine so reliability is a mute point.
If anything, he should be offering his car plus cash for yours, not the other way around. Yes 10k miles is little, but it doesn't make it worth more than it is unless it's a collectible car of some sort.
Also, don't be too distracted by the mileage. Even with 10k miles, you're still going to have to do a timing belt and water pump change. Mileage isn't the only thing that deteriorates rubber. It's also age and after almost 10 years, I bet the belt doesn't look as good as a 2 year old ES with 30k miles. Not to mention suspension parts have rubber also.
The amount of money he's asking for the trade could be used towards maintenance on your car instead.
It's a cool factor to have but once you start driving it, you'll realize it doesn't drive any better than an ES300 with 90k miles.
If anything, he should be offering his car plus cash for yours, not the other way around. Yes 10k miles is little, but it doesn't make it worth more than it is unless it's a collectible car of some sort.
Also, don't be too distracted by the mileage. Even with 10k miles, you're still going to have to do a timing belt and water pump change. Mileage isn't the only thing that deteriorates rubber. It's also age and after almost 10 years, I bet the belt doesn't look as good as a 2 year old ES with 30k miles. Not to mention suspension parts have rubber also.
The amount of money he's asking for the trade could be used towards maintenance on your car instead.
It's a cool factor to have but once you start driving it, you'll realize it doesn't drive any better than an ES300 with 90k miles.
09-17-09, 03:49 PM
#5
honestly? he should be paying you to take the car off his hands!
do you know what is the worst thing you can do to a car? - let it sit without driving for years.
your LS has pretty low miles for a V8 btw. i take your LS over that car any day!!!
EDIT: GS you beat me. i totally agree. if this was a low mileage porsche - yes. but not a low mileage camry! lol.
your LS books at 11.6K his at 7.8K. check kbb PPV.
do you know what is the worst thing you can do to a car? - let it sit without driving for years.
your LS has pretty low miles for a V8 btw. i take your LS over that car any day!!!
EDIT: GS you beat me. i totally agree. if this was a low mileage porsche - yes. but not a low mileage camry! lol.
your LS books at 11.6K his at 7.8K. check kbb PPV.
Last edited by rlx101; 09-17-09 at 03:59 PM.
09-17-09, 03:52 PM
#6
My concern on the ES would be if the fluids and maintenance been changed according to time interval. The ES is not a bad car, but when you compare it to the ES, it is not in the same league in terms of poewr, quetness, and rear seat comfort. The ES is more nimble and compact.
I wouldn't trade if I were you. Use Kelly Blue Book for value approximation.
I wouldn't trade if I were you. Use Kelly Blue Book for value approximation.
09-17-09, 05:15 PM
#7
Anyone else care to look beyond the fact that it only has 10k ?
Seriously, bushings/seals everything will be due for replacement and extensive checking.
I have said it before on this forum and will say it again. DO NOT BUY A OLD CAR WITH LOW MILES.
It seems as if no one cares to read my posts. I have seen one too many times someone buy a car with next to no mileage and dump tons of money into it thereafter. Only realizing they would have been better off with the higehr mileage one.
And why downgrade from the LS430? If you still want an ES300, check mine out... '01, 106k, meticulously maintained, straight up trade...
Seriously, bushings/seals everything will be due for replacement and extensive checking.
I have said it before on this forum and will say it again. DO NOT BUY A OLD CAR WITH LOW MILES.
It seems as if no one cares to read my posts. I have seen one too many times someone buy a car with next to no mileage and dump tons of money into it thereafter. Only realizing they would have been better off with the higehr mileage one.
And why downgrade from the LS430? If you still want an ES300, check mine out... '01, 106k, meticulously maintained, straight up trade...
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09-18-09, 11:00 AM
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Foremost, THANK YOU FOR EVERY ONE who replied. I hate double posting myself but I posted the same question to both LS430 lovers and ES300 lovers and apparantely got the same answer of NO which is very interesting. I was very surprised that none of ES300 lovers liked this deal - astonished really.
I do want to start off by saying I LOVE MY LS430. I love the ride (it is short though). So you may be considering why I am tempted. The reasons for my looking into this trade were as follows
1. I bought my LS430 about a year ago when it had 89,950 miles on it so I am prettly sure that the last owner did not do 90k as it would not make sense to do it and then sell the car. In a year, I only have driven to the point where it is only 92,500 miles. Yes, less than 3000 miles a year. I do go to work but it is very short ride. So I never had the luxury of TRULY enjoying the drive when my drive to work is only 2 miles each way every day. I doubt that I will be able to take this on a 100 mile drive as when we travel, we travel as a family of five in a minivan. So, here it is a matter whether I will feel the luxury drive difference of LS430 t0 ES300 in a 4 mile daily commute. I am off the entire summer as I teach at a college.
2. UPCOMING COST: I have to look at major 90 k service and also looking at brake jobs as it is due as well. LS430 does make kinda funny noise when going over 60 miles so I am not sure if is tire alignment or not (my tire pressure are on the target). Also, I had put previous post of VSC not working which shows in Maryland as the tire not only skids in snow but in rain!!! Some post indicated to work with OBD scanner which I did but with no luck and since this is a dealer (stealer) only job, that is another cost I am looking at.
3. Back seats. I love the back seat of Lexus LS430 but honestly, I only sat in them once in the entire year as I drive it work and back. Who is going to drive me around?
4. Now coming to 2000 LEXUS ES300. Of course, i would never even thought of going down from LS430 to ES300 had it not been the condition and low miles. I tell you it looks like a BRAND NEW CAR. Now about that car. It is my friend's neighbour who is selling the car. My friend has been their neigbor for more than 10 years so knew the old lady who bought the car new in 2000. My friend swears that it was only out of the garage once a week for 2 mile drive to church. It does NOT even have a ding. I tried looking but damned be if I could find one DING ANYWHERE!!! Also, it has exactly 8100 miles CERTIFiED by CARFAX. She died few months ago and her son is trying to sell it as he wants money but he wants a lexus too. He had three offers but he refushed them all so far. He is looking for $1500 cash. He does have service records and it was meticulously maintained!
I AGREE AGAIN that I do not want to go down from a LS to a glorified camry but I hope you all realize my dilemma that:
1. My drive is only 3.8 miles total per day
2. I am the one one driving and not in the back seat
3. 90k maintenance cost
4. brake job due
5. Tires have about 20% life left where the ES300 tires look brand new!
6. LS430 has VSC issue - lot of garage have told me to take it to dealer only
7. Fix the noise above 60 miles per hour. (hopefully an alignment issue and not worth more than $150 add on expense)
If you STILL BELIEVE that I should keep and spend $2000 to $3000 to have my 2001 LS 430 with 93,000 miles to be what it should be rather than get 2000 ES300 with ony 8100 miles with no apparent issues and give $1500 on top of trade
P.S. My friend is neutral here. He is neither encouraging nor discouraging me.
Also, I did look at KBB values. However, to be honest, I am not sure if a 2000 Lexus ES300 with 8100 miles is worth only $1000 more than the same model and year with 100,000 miles. What do you guys think?
Thanks again. I did promise the owner of ES300 that I would get back to him on this Saturday. Hopefully, he is not reading this
I do want to start off by saying I LOVE MY LS430. I love the ride (it is short though). So you may be considering why I am tempted. The reasons for my looking into this trade were as follows
1. I bought my LS430 about a year ago when it had 89,950 miles on it so I am prettly sure that the last owner did not do 90k as it would not make sense to do it and then sell the car. In a year, I only have driven to the point where it is only 92,500 miles. Yes, less than 3000 miles a year. I do go to work but it is very short ride. So I never had the luxury of TRULY enjoying the drive when my drive to work is only 2 miles each way every day. I doubt that I will be able to take this on a 100 mile drive as when we travel, we travel as a family of five in a minivan. So, here it is a matter whether I will feel the luxury drive difference of LS430 t0 ES300 in a 4 mile daily commute. I am off the entire summer as I teach at a college.
2. UPCOMING COST: I have to look at major 90 k service and also looking at brake jobs as it is due as well. LS430 does make kinda funny noise when going over 60 miles so I am not sure if is tire alignment or not (my tire pressure are on the target). Also, I had put previous post of VSC not working which shows in Maryland as the tire not only skids in snow but in rain!!! Some post indicated to work with OBD scanner which I did but with no luck and since this is a dealer (stealer) only job, that is another cost I am looking at.
3. Back seats. I love the back seat of Lexus LS430 but honestly, I only sat in them once in the entire year as I drive it work and back. Who is going to drive me around?
4. Now coming to 2000 LEXUS ES300. Of course, i would never even thought of going down from LS430 to ES300 had it not been the condition and low miles. I tell you it looks like a BRAND NEW CAR. Now about that car. It is my friend's neighbour who is selling the car. My friend has been their neigbor for more than 10 years so knew the old lady who bought the car new in 2000. My friend swears that it was only out of the garage once a week for 2 mile drive to church. It does NOT even have a ding. I tried looking but damned be if I could find one DING ANYWHERE!!! Also, it has exactly 8100 miles CERTIFiED by CARFAX. She died few months ago and her son is trying to sell it as he wants money but he wants a lexus too. He had three offers but he refushed them all so far. He is looking for $1500 cash. He does have service records and it was meticulously maintained!
I AGREE AGAIN that I do not want to go down from a LS to a glorified camry but I hope you all realize my dilemma that:
1. My drive is only 3.8 miles total per day
2. I am the one one driving and not in the back seat
3. 90k maintenance cost
4. brake job due
5. Tires have about 20% life left where the ES300 tires look brand new!
6. LS430 has VSC issue - lot of garage have told me to take it to dealer only
7. Fix the noise above 60 miles per hour. (hopefully an alignment issue and not worth more than $150 add on expense)
If you STILL BELIEVE that I should keep and spend $2000 to $3000 to have my 2001 LS 430 with 93,000 miles to be what it should be rather than get 2000 ES300 with ony 8100 miles with no apparent issues and give $1500 on top of trade
P.S. My friend is neutral here. He is neither encouraging nor discouraging me.
Also, I did look at KBB values. However, to be honest, I am not sure if a 2000 Lexus ES300 with 8100 miles is worth only $1000 more than the same model and year with 100,000 miles. What do you guys think?
Thanks again. I did promise the owner of ES300 that I would get back to him on this Saturday. Hopefully, he is not reading this
09-18-09, 11:11 AM
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TO ABOBIZNOW
I agree. I thought something would have been fishy if my very good friend was not the seller's neighbour.
It was owned by a wealthy old lady who would drive it to church (1 or 2 miles away) once a week and that was it!!!! It is ONE owner car and I was not just surprised how "new" it looked but I could not even find ONE DING OR ONE SCRATCH ANYWHERE. and I mean ANYWHERE on the car. It has been kept that damn nice.
But I do agree that rubber does wear out. I am not experienced to know how much does it wear out. I am sure my 2001 LS430 has original timing belt. It if is 80% worn down with 90k miles of driving, how much % of timing belt on ES300 would be have been worn out with 8100 miles?
I agree. I thought something would have been fishy if my very good friend was not the seller's neighbour.
It was owned by a wealthy old lady who would drive it to church (1 or 2 miles away) once a week and that was it!!!! It is ONE owner car and I was not just surprised how "new" it looked but I could not even find ONE DING OR ONE SCRATCH ANYWHERE. and I mean ANYWHERE on the car. It has been kept that damn nice.
But I do agree that rubber does wear out. I am not experienced to know how much does it wear out. I am sure my 2001 LS430 has original timing belt. It if is 80% worn down with 90k miles of driving, how much % of timing belt on ES300 would be have been worn out with 8100 miles?
09-18-09, 01:15 PM
#12
Anyone else care to look beyond the fact that it only has 10k ?
Seriously, bushings/seals everything will be due for replacement and extensive checking.
I have said it before on this forum and will say it again. DO NOT BUY A OLD CAR WITH LOW MILES.
It seems as if no one cares to read my posts. I have seen one too many times someone buy a car with next to no mileage and dump tons of money into it thereafter. Only realizing they would have been better off with the higehr mileage one.
And why downgrade from the LS430? If you still want an ES300, check mine out... '01, 106k, meticulously maintained, straight up trade...
Seriously, bushings/seals everything will be due for replacement and extensive checking.
I have said it before on this forum and will say it again. DO NOT BUY A OLD CAR WITH LOW MILES.
It seems as if no one cares to read my posts. I have seen one too many times someone buy a car with next to no mileage and dump tons of money into it thereafter. Only realizing they would have been better off with the higehr mileage one.
And why downgrade from the LS430? If you still want an ES300, check mine out... '01, 106k, meticulously maintained, straight up trade...
09-18-09, 02:20 PM
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If I am not mistaken, it is a platinum edition black on black. Does ES300 require require regular or premium gasoline?
Also, I agree that one should not just jump on high years and low miles. However, as stated, I want you to be in my shoes where I am looking spending quite a lot to bring LS430 to shape as well. If my LS430 was up to its maintenance and had NO issues, heck, I would never consider trading it.
Also, I agree that one should not just jump on high years and low miles. However, as stated, I want you to be in my shoes where I am looking spending quite a lot to bring LS430 to shape as well. If my LS430 was up to its maintenance and had NO issues, heck, I would never consider trading it.
09-18-09, 02:56 PM
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Speaking from experience of owning a '97 ES300 and driving a '97 Camry, they are vastly different creatures. Yes, the ES300 is built on the same chassis as the '97-'01 Camry/Windom but I'd say it stops there. As far as interior build quality, components and body styling, I think they are very different cars.