Diesel350

Spoke to the guy today and he said the car was bought from the dealer and he does not know if he is the second owner and he does not know if the 90k mile service was done so that makes be nervous.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

for 90-94 cars, there really isn't anything to be nervous about since the motors are non-interference. if the belt does break, it will just cause a stall. to me it's an indicator to work the price down since it is a $1000-1500 job. i've seen belts go well into the 150k mark w/o a replacement. it's really the water pump that i feel will fail first, or contribute to the belt failing.

you can always check the history at the dealership using the VIN number, if it indeed was bought and maintained at the dealership (factory dealer, not a 3rd party used car dealer).

LScowboyLS

recommend a 95 or newer due to several improvements on the car, 98+ had many more improvements

the main thing is you want to see the CARFAX and you want a never wrecked car

I would never buy any car without seeing the carfax first, you would not believe what I have found on a carfax before! - it could be a Hurricane Katrina or Nashville flood car for all you know, cars get shipped all over the country! - Never buy a flood car.

a wreck in the history tends to destroy the legendary Lexus reliability, take your time and find a one-owner cream puff!

I looked at LS400's for 4 months before buying my 96

Diesel350

What about the suspension/shocks on these cars after 100k? How do they hold up?

ISFPOWER

iTrader: (20)

would you guys stay away from a 1993 with 210k miles? how much is a timing belt job on t his vehicle?

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Depends how **** you are. If you are real **** you need to change at 80k if not so particular than 150k car will feel floaty after 130k

LScowboyLS

$1200+ at the dealership, but consider doing it yourself if you are pretty good with tools and attention to detail, it is really one of the easier cars to do, longitudinal engine and lots of room!

ISFPOWER

iTrader: (20)

I did my old eclipse GST, but honestly, i dont to do things like that anymore and its well worth paying a mechanic, lol. unless it's an aftermarket part, i dont enjoy working on cars like i use to.

if the dealer charges that, im sure shops can do half the price.

ls400geek

If I could do it over I'd get a 95-97 over my 98. Sure it has 30 less horsepower, but it's a pain to replace the camshaft seals on a 98 (10 hours labor on top of the timing belt & water pump change charge). It cost me $2300 to have the timing belt, water pump, pulleys, camshaft seals & crankshaft seal done.

Camshaft seal replacement on pre-98 is pretty trivial (minutes of work).

Aron9000

Man the real thing about your shocks wearing out is how well our your local roads maintained.

I have driven our family's 2000 Avalon since I was 16 and just got my license. That car is now 13 years old and has 225k miles on it. Honestly the shocks feel a bit "worn", if you're driving a curvy road, as it leans more than it should in corners and feels a bit sloppy.

Driving it over a worn/bumpy interstate at 70mph it still feels just fine. It just kind of floats/smothers those imperfections, honestly even at this mileage its one of the best riding cars I've ever been in, and I've owned two full size RWD Cadillacs for comparison. The old Avalon tracks more precise in a straight line than those old Cadillacs as well. Its almost too precise, as I find it easier to drive straight ahead with a little bit of slosh like those old Cadillacs had in them.

BTW old Cadillacs tend to drive pretty damn straight if the alignment/ball joints, pitman arm, control arm bushings, all the front end parts are working correctly. Once they get more than 70-100k miles on them they tend to get that sort of wander about them, that sort of big car slosh in the steering if you don't do some front end work on them. Cars living in the rust belt with lots of pot-holes tend to really wear out those front end parts quick


Which is why I love the Lexus LS400, they tend to track pretty damn straight at 100k, 150k, 200k.

Diesel350

Ok I just found a 2000 with 56,000 miles on it selling for $11,800, clean title. Going to see if I can look at it this weekend.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

I just bought a 99 with 228k for $4800. from the 2nd owner, first was a Dr. who drove between Dallas & San Antonio and ran up the miles to 168k , Sewell replaced TB/WP at 130k, second owner put 60k on it, all 4 struts & bushings, new brakes, and just wanted out before 230k job again.