scasian

Man, you guys have been so helpful! Thanks so much, I'll definitely get a carfax and do a compression test.

Another thing I'm worried about is my insurance going up. I crashed my 2011 Sonata by running a red light and T-boning a car, so already my insurance is going to shoot up..... dammit...

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

Since you say the current owner take the car into the dealership for all of the maintenance, you can sign up for an account at lexus.com and setup your account using the VIN # of the car. Once setup, you can view the previous car's service history...no matter the Lexus dealership it might have been taken to.

Overall, the price ain't bad and the fact that the plugs haven't been replaced wouldn't be a deal breaker in my book. I would as $11k with cash in-hand.

Silver10

Besides the maintenance if this is going to be a show car then jump all over it but its going to be a daily just walk away and spend a bit more and get newer and less mileage..02.

davyjordi

maintenance on the vehicle sounds a bit sketch given that he hasn't replaced the spark plugs yet as others have mentioned, although you can do what gville350 suggested and create an account on lexus.com to check any service records they have.

aside from that, get a mechanic - perhaps your nearest lexus dealership - to inspect the vehicle. additionally, run a compression test. you'll likely run into some carbon build-up issues as well, so i'd check for any top-engine cleanings that have been done and/or need to be done - hopefully the car doesn't need the csb partial-engine rebuild.

look into the car's maintenance guide and see what has been done and what is totally missing.

12k is a low price, although you might be getting what you're paying for. :/

biiishplz

I have to concur here. Spark plugs are a pretty simple and vital part to skip maintenance on for almost *double* the manufacturer recommended interval, especially for someone who takes their car to the dealer. When something that vital is skipped, I can't help but wonder what other vital components have been neglected...

funglenn

iTrader: (10)

my two cents---it sounds like he took it to dealer for oil changes, not maintenance. Some think they are the same thing. If the spark plugs were not done (due to cost--they are expensive to change) then other maintenance was probably not done. I would walk away from a car that was probably neglected....

wlk12

Not sure what you mean re "valve cleaning", but if you are referring to the Carbon Build Up issue, it's VERY major. They tear apart the engine and replace pistons and rings.

You may want to read more details on this on some of the posts on this forum. Lexus covers it for nine years, til about 2016 for a 2007. not that far away.

Just something to consider.

carlos3366

for sure get a lexus account and check the lexus car history plus the carfax.

scasian

Thanks guys, it was good to get good and bad feedback. I'm leaning towards not purchasing it, as it's going to be a daily driver and I do drive more than the average person. Also, I do agree that if he really did do "maintenance" then soak plugs are not something you skip. Pretty standard. Thanks guys for the input and saving me the trouble!

B16da9

iTrader: (7)

you guys are saying to do a compression test but you're forgetting that to in order too get access to all the intake manifold needs to be removed in order to remove the spark plugs and at that point you might as well just have them changed.

bruins678

I was curious to see KBB pricing on that car, trade-in ranges from $9000 to $11,500 and private party can go up to $13000 or so...I don't know about the condition of the car, but it doesn't sound like a great deal, just an ok deal.

davyjordi

which is all fine because the compression test would determine damage to the engine and if no damage were found then replacing the plugs would be necessary anyhow and he might consider then buying the car.

it looks as though he's not going to buy the car, though, and that seems to be the wise decision.