wmt25eht

I am looking at purchasing my first Lexus sometime in the next week. I have found a 2002 GS430 that is loaded with 23,000 miles. It has NAV, Levinson, heated seats, HID, chrome wheels, L tuned side skirts & grill, and exhaust and is in overall GREAT shape. I am getting out of a GMC crew cab 4x4 pick up and look forward to the wonderful ride of this great car. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

rominl

iTrader: (4)

umm, i say around 33k? just wondering

you can get better prices at kbb.com

minus another 1-2k off the private party price

LEXUS_KID

iTrader: (4)

Just make sure you shop around and I would definitely by from a Lexus dealer with some kind of warranty. Never the less good luck

Welcome to the family

chuckb

if it's still under bumper to bumper warranty(which an 02 should be for roughly a year still, depending on milage & in service date) then I don't think it matters if it's from a dealer or not.
You can save alot of $ going that route and still be 100% under warranty.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Welcome..... Just got my 99 Lexus GS 400 last weekend... Wanted to get a 01 430 with 36,000 but couldn't afford it... Went to the next best thing.... It took me a good month or so to shop around... After coming out of a 97 ES 300 i new what to expect from lexus... but this car is totally different than anything i've ever driven... Especially getting out of a Ford mustang after seven years... This Lexus is definitly more car and a solid car.. A little more up keep but Hopefully its well worth it in the long wrong.... Besides waht other car do you know that has a A/C filter... come on this is Lexus....... Good Luck with your quest......tmf

wmt25eht

I have heard they can be pretty expensive. Are there other options out there that do not sacrifice to much?

Ripper

I hear you Chuckb. I saved a bunch on my '01 by going private party with low miles with nearly 2 years of powertrain warranty. Ad on the price of very good aftermarket warranty to cover the GPS and everything else bumper to bumper (which '02 should still have) and I still came out thousands below a Lexus dealer price.

FWIW - My 02 maxima had an in-cabin filter.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yup i agree, if someone is shopping for a gs430 now, probably a 02 or after is better, where they might still have warranty

of course the price is higher, but worth it imho

chuckb

I bought my 430 about 10 months ago, and my warranty is up TOMORROW!!

anyway, it's an awesome feeling to buy a used car and then be able to take it to the Lexus dealer for any little thing you can find wrong with it. They literally treated me like I just bought it brand new from them yesterday. I have had many things warrantied in that ten months, big and small. If someone wants to know what I've had warrantied, just let me know.

PrlGS3

iTrader: (2)

Man, that sound like a really clean car and the miles are excellent. $33k would be a good buy but if you are buying from a Lexus dealership be prepared to pay around $37k+ for something that nice.
Are you only looking for GS430s or will GS300s suit you just fine? 01 GS300s can save you a lot of money if you shop around. It has pretty much all the same stuff as the 02 GS300s but can be thousands less. For example, I have sold 01 GS300 with HIDs, NAV, ML Audio, etc w/ around 45k miles for around $25k. Of coarse, the 02 GS430 with the L-tuned grill, skirts, springs, shocks, ecu, low miles, 17"chromes, and the V8 might just be worth paying a little more.
Overall, if you can get the 02 GS430 for $33k and its really clean, buy it! Just make sure you have it checked out. If you aren't buying from a Lexus dealership, then take it to a Lexus or Toyota dealership and have it checked out. The inspection should cost around $130 but will definitely worth it.
Hope that helps.

UDel

With the NAV, L-tuned, HID's, Levinson and pretty low miles $33,000 is not too bad but since a brand new model just came out you might be able to still get better deals like around $29,000-31,000. You can certainly get a much lower price on 2001+ non-NAV non L-tuned models with a little more miles like around 23-27 depending on year and milieage. If you don't need a v-8 then you can get a much better price on a GS300. Also if you wait a little longer you should be able to get the 06 GS300 rwd for not too much over your original price especially when news of the GS350 comes out.

chuckb

I don't think L-tune exhaust, skirts and grill add any value, to most people it's probably a negative.(not here though ) and all GS430s have HIDs.

and please, don't get a GS300 without driving both. after driving both back to back, you'll understand.
(no disrespect meant to my GS300 friends )

Dsmart

02 430 will be like he said $33K if you are lucky, you are trying for low miles so it will be a deal if you find it at that price especially with a warrenty. I bought a 02 430 1 month ago with 72K miles on it and it had ML, NAV, chrome wheels, DVD's in the headrest, wood steeringwheel and all kinds of wood packages inside. I paid $21,500 cash for it. Got it from ebay, but it isn't perfect but since I paid low for it I can fix it up. I said it is only 2 year old car. (the person didn't drive it until 2 years ago) so it can't be in that bad of shape and the leather is good so I can take care of it from now on.
What did you have warenteed chuck B? how much stuff can be wrong with it? Also when I bought it the people lied to me so I got a 60K service done for $600, and then going to change the timing belt in a few miles and then I should be good to go.

chuckb

none of this cost me anything:

4 rotors turned
both window runners(seals) replaced
Driver side door seal replaced
front grill emblem replaced due to minor flaking
rear differential and driver side half shaft replaced(this is rare)
MAF sensor replaced
Stabilzer bar TSB(tightened)
new battery

wmt25eht

I have negotiated with seller and she is willing to sell it for $30,000. I am worried that in a couple of years I will wish I had waited for the new body style. Is this the best sedan for the money? What is routine maintenance like on these vehicles?