billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

this sure is tempting: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/3963493131.html

LScowboyLS

if you knew how much it would cost to truly fix that back to full original quality (if even possible) you would no longer think it is a good deal

I would say 10K minimum to truly do it right!

deanshark

I know you can do mechanics on all your cars but how are you with body work? If you can do it yourself and then just get it painted then yes, it is a good deal. But why would you want to get rid of one of your 99s? They still good?

Kansas

I think Cowboy's estimate on the repair cost is low by a substantial amount. Look at this photo of my 2000 LS400 last fall - the repair by the Lexus dealer's body shop cost over $8,000 under the oversight of the company that insures my car. The damage on this LS430 looks worse. At least my trunk lid did not have to be replaced.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

WELL, have no fear, I am keeping my 99's..... I just thought the price was attractive... but I am NO bodyman..

Legender

Don't know the miles but there is a cheaper one in Dallas...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/3987518287.html

says it just needs a paint job... but if I was looking to buy I'd talk to this guy in Arkansas... taking a while to sell and has lowered the price...seems to be legit private owner...

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/3983035324.html
Just not my color...

Twista4004

$10k is a low estimate? What the heck is a HIGH estimate?

That damage is no more than $5k done the RIGHT way here in FL WITH OE parts.

Even still, $7900 with that kind of damage is definitely high. There are mint 2003s selling for $8-10 private owner. Multiple.

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/3986958322.html <---$10k

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/ctd/3976463098.html <----$9500

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/3981174024.html <-----$9900

RA40

iTrader: (6)

It probably comes with a salvage title. I would suspect this one was picked that one up at auction and this dealer is trying to flip it to some unsuspecting buyer.

Kansas

Yeah, there are too many unanswered questions with this one. It would be interesting to know the circumstances of the damage since, even at $10,000+, its repair cost would have likely been well within the margin an insurance company would have paid for. Did the original owner pressure his insurance company into "totaling" the car? Did the previous owner not have collision/comprehensive coverage and damage the car while backing up? I guess we will never know.

LScowboyLS

I would never buy a car that has been in a wreck harder than a minor fender bender, and the reason is interesting, in my 30 years as a mechanic, we saw a very striking trend between hard accidents and future reliability problems!

and not in the obvious ways you might think, as an example, a car that is hit hard in the rear, might begin to have A/C problems, even though the entire A/C system is in the front half of the car!

it must be a g-force thing or something

but in any case, there is not a price low enough for me to buy a Lexus that has been in a hard accident, even as a parts car!

dc893

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-2006-LEXUS-LS430-REAR-BUMPER-COVER-WITH-SENSORS-AND-WIRING-INCLUDED-/280746471139?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415dcb2ee3&vxp=mtr
Used rear bumper ~$500

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEXUS-LS430-...f7a8cc&vxp=mtr

Used trunk (wrong color) ~$375

http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...S430-2003.html

new tail light set ~$372

If you did the work I imagine it wouldn't cost too much. Hard to tell without actually looking at the car in person though. Could probably find one in good condition for the same money by the time you actually finish the repairs though.