TheRupp

A friend of mine is looking at a 1992 LS400. It's got 157,000 miles on it, great running condition and drives like a dream. It's Flint Gray Pearl with black leather. Paint is great, no rust, no bubbles, etc. No damage to the body of any sort. Timing chain (or belt?) was replaced at 100,000. Tires have about 80% life on them. It handles pretty sharply. All the windows work properly (including the roof). Turn signals work correctly, headlights are strong, the backlighting for the HVAC is out, but the controls work. Heated seats work well, no funny smells at all. It doesn't even smell like a used car

Now the bad:

It does need some brakes. There's a taillight bulb out, but that's easily fixable. The leather on the front seats is a little worn. It does have a few cracks and rips in the bottom, but only on one section per seat (meaning one area of the leather, not the entire bottom, or back, etc). There's a speaker that's blown in the driver rear.

Mechanically, besides the brakes, this car is a strong runner. It's shown wear and tear after 157000 miles, but it's by no means in bad shape.

Kelley Blue Book values this one in Fair condition at $3,830. He's selling it for $3,200. Opinions? Yay or nay? Thanks in advance

Edit: a couple of other things I should mention are that the key & remote are the original Lexus keys, and that all the gauges work accurately and properly. Temp gauge read perfect (right below the very middle; that's where my 2001 ES is always at).

damon

Sounds like a good car.

Tail light problem may be much more involved than just a bulb. It is a common occurance for the wiring loom to get pinched by the hinge & cause problems. There are post here.

It is indeed a belt & not a chain.
There will be a group "power-buy" from leatherseats.com that will allow your friend to take care of his seat issues at the start of 2006.

The HVAC display problem has been dealt w extensively here as well & is not that big of deal.

Shocked to hear that the suspension is in such great shape, have the struts been replaced?

dfkd

Timing chains are way loud. Too ghetto for a lexus.

thermal

From what you've told me, I would say 'yes', but I'd still get it checked out by a mechanic.

It's a timing belt.

TheRupp

Thanks for the help guys. My friend isn't really sure what he wants to do. The CEL came on while he was test driving it, so he's a little unsure.

It was only 26° outside while we were testing it, and he was getting on it a little bit, so I'm guessing either O2 sensor or an air filter, seeing as how there's 157,000 miles on it.