Is this IS300 a good buy?
09-25-10, 03:09 PM
#1
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Is this IS300 a good buy?
It is a 2003 IS300, gray with black leather interior, 5 speed. 85k miles on the odometer, ~100k miles actual. Car is salvaged and needs a bit of work, but I am planning on putting a little bit of money into it to get it up to par.
The thing that worries me is that it is salvaged (carfax said it was a total loss and it got a new cluster, hence the mileage difference). I haven't bought a salvaged car, and I'm coming from a GS400. I don't plan on keeping the car long, a year or two at most. Just need something relatively fancy to get me around town for now.
Pro:
Relatively low mileage
Clean paint
Drives good, new Stage 2 clutch, etc.
Cons:
Hood needs to be painted to match
Small minor dent on fender
Blinkers didn't work when I test drove it (could be bulbs, could be electrical)
4 different tires on the wheels
Salvaged, NOT ACTUAL MILEAGE, and an untruthful owner
Is this car worth ~$6,500? Moreso, is it worth the risk?
The thing that worries me is that it is salvaged (carfax said it was a total loss and it got a new cluster, hence the mileage difference). I haven't bought a salvaged car, and I'm coming from a GS400. I don't plan on keeping the car long, a year or two at most. Just need something relatively fancy to get me around town for now.
Pro:
Relatively low mileage
Clean paint
Drives good, new Stage 2 clutch, etc.
Cons:
Hood needs to be painted to match
Small minor dent on fender
Blinkers didn't work when I test drove it (could be bulbs, could be electrical)
4 different tires on the wheels
Salvaged, NOT ACTUAL MILEAGE, and an untruthful owner
Is this car worth ~$6,500? Moreso, is it worth the risk?
09-25-10, 09:22 PM
#2
Lead Lap
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as bad as i hate to say it, i dont think its worth 6500. I would shoot for the 4500 to 5k range, maybe less. this car with 100k miles on kbb private party is only about 9-10k excellent condition and never wrecked, but you have a salvaged title and odometer discrepencies, which mean the value of this car is dropped considerably, probably comepletely in half, and resale on this would be a very tough one. also, any body work on this car will not be cheap, as most aftermarket parts do not fit well, so you have to end up going with genuine lexus parts which are out the a** in price.
09-25-10, 11:11 PM
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First of all.... Why is it totaled?
You have to find that out before anything...
Don't trust what the owner says get a carfax report.
- If flood damage.... just walk away..
no...... RUN
- If accident, the carfax will say how bad the accident was.
If it has frame damage... walk away because chances are the owner did not correct it because that costs thousands to repair... Insurance totaled my old 95 eclipse GS back in the day, they saw that my hood and windshield was smashed and I guess they assumed a lot more damage was involved so they just told me it's totaled... They didn't even look under the hood or anything so I bought it back for $700, replaced the hood $100 and windshield $100 and they just basically paid it off for me, and I was good to go!! But I just got lucky, I don't think stuff like that happens very often..
- If fire damage, see what happened, if it's electrical (which is most often the case)
RUN away!
You have to find that out before anything...
Don't trust what the owner says get a carfax report.
- If flood damage.... just walk away..
no...... RUN
- If accident, the carfax will say how bad the accident was.
If it has frame damage... walk away because chances are the owner did not correct it because that costs thousands to repair... Insurance totaled my old 95 eclipse GS back in the day, they saw that my hood and windshield was smashed and I guess they assumed a lot more damage was involved so they just told me it's totaled... They didn't even look under the hood or anything so I bought it back for $700, replaced the hood $100 and windshield $100 and they just basically paid it off for me, and I was good to go!! But I just got lucky, I don't think stuff like that happens very often..
- If fire damage, see what happened, if it's electrical (which is most often the case)
RUN away!
09-25-10, 11:37 PM
#5
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Take it to your mechanic and tell him to check out the engine..
Me personally... Depending on the engine and how well it drove and all I would get it.
It has all leather interior, it's 2003, it is 5 speed, body doesn't look all that bad.
Do it east coast style.... Show up & hand the guy $5,800 cash..... he won't say no.
Me personally... Depending on the engine and how well it drove and all I would get it.
It has all leather interior, it's 2003, it is 5 speed, body doesn't look all that bad.
Do it east coast style.... Show up & hand the guy $5,800 cash..... he won't say no.
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09-26-10, 06:58 AM
#9
Pole Position
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First of all.... Why is it totaled?
You have to find that out before anything...
Don't trust what the owner says get a carfax report.
- If flood damage.... just walk away..
no...... RUN
- If accident, the carfax will say how bad the accident was.
If it has frame damage... walk away because chances are the owner did not correct it because that costs thousands to repair... Insurance totaled my old 95 eclipse GS back in the day, they saw that my hood and windshield was smashed and I guess they assumed a lot more damage was involved so they just told me it's totaled... They didn't even look under the hood or anything so I bought it back for $700, replaced the hood $100 and windshield $100 and they just basically paid it off for me, and I was good to go!! But I just got lucky, I don't think stuff like that happens very often..
- If fire damage, see what happened, if it's electrical (which is most often the case)
RUN away!
You have to find that out before anything...
Don't trust what the owner says get a carfax report.
- If flood damage.... just walk away..
no...... RUN
- If accident, the carfax will say how bad the accident was.
If it has frame damage... walk away because chances are the owner did not correct it because that costs thousands to repair... Insurance totaled my old 95 eclipse GS back in the day, they saw that my hood and windshield was smashed and I guess they assumed a lot more damage was involved so they just told me it's totaled... They didn't even look under the hood or anything so I bought it back for $700, replaced the hood $100 and windshield $100 and they just basically paid it off for me, and I was good to go!! But I just got lucky, I don't think stuff like that happens very often..
- If fire damage, see what happened, if it's electrical (which is most often the case)
RUN away!
09-26-10, 08:19 AM
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is 300
I agree w Lead Lap. walk away. this car will become a money pit. after you got it fixed up the title will aways say that it was a salvaged car. there are plenty of good IS 300s out there. good luck!
