wnyjazz

Coming out of a '94 LS 400, this is the 1st 2nd gen I've ever driven. Just started looking into these cars after a u-turner totaled ours last week.

Very clean car, drove right.

Really like the improvements.

I don't have a history on it...so far.

Dealer wants $9200.

Not sure if/what I'd offer him yet.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Too much IMO.

wnyjazz

Low miles obviously but I agree.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

if you have the money...but most people don't so i would do like your name and "skip" .

anesthesia

Considering the milage being low, and if cars is in great mech. Condition with no major cosmetic issue I offer him high 7 low 8k And call it a day. Good luck

wnyjazz

Yeah, I don't want to get a rep as the guy who paid the most for a '00 in '14.

lol

Thanks...agreed.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

As well they should have the TB service, pristine wheels, flawless exterior and interior, fresh floor mats including trunk then 5 oil changes followed by a drive in the LF-A. Skipping all that and presuming it is in very nice shape, $7,600-$7,800. Still they should do the TB service.

mappo

I guess that's me? I just bought a 2000 for $9K even, but I actually feel pretty good about it.

My girl is pristine, 81K, from Texas (no snow or salt) one owner (wealthy old lady), dealer maintained for every single thing its entire history, timing belt service done, strut rods replaced, trans and dif fluid changed every 30K, new Michelin Primacy tires all around. The only issues were hood struts and having to get new master keys. (And this forum saved me a bunch there - I wouldn't have known I could buy new masters online and program them myself without this place!)

I hunted all the online sites for several months, and I never saw another 98-00 LS in tip top shape with full service records go by for less. In fact, in my area here around DC, I watched a couple super clean ones go for $10K-$11K.

sayow

I see dealers trying to push 8-10k pretty regularly but the are all willing to go quite a bit lower. I do not think any LS 400 is worth more than 7-8k IMO because you are entering LS430 territory. But then again, a good deal is a state of mind from the buyers perspective.

mappo

Yeah the asking on mine was $10K. Clean, low mileage, well serviced 430s don't currently go for less than $12K from what I saw during my search. For a while I was torn between getting a 98-00 400 or an 01-03 430, as I'm pretty headroom-challenged in the 400. But the higher cost plus those bug-eyed headlights on the 1st gen 430 turned me toward the 400.

Am I also correct in my belief that the 1st gen 430s were around the time when Toyota started their slow descent on build quality? It seemed the better choice to go with the last of legends rather than the first of the mortals, so to speak.

wnyjazz

Mappo,

The car you bought certainly sounds a good deal better than the seemingly fine example I drove.

GH5T

Picked up my 98' last July for $8650 in VA.
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By August.
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It was the most expensive one in my area but it was also in the best condition. Local one owner maintained by the dealer all records from day1 up to when it was traded in on the Lexus web site.
It all depends on what you really want and are willing to spend to get it. 117k miles on the clock

wnyjazz

Nice.

Gene01

I think that the build quality of the LS430 is just about as good as the LS400.

anesthesia

Mappo, you got a great car considering all that was done to the car. 9k was not bad.
In regard to build quality ls430 is as good as ls400 it just depends if you like the more boxy ls430, for me the body style of the 98-00 ls400 is timeless.