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230k miles, all maintenance records, one owner. Current owner has 3 other LS's. what are the risks here? He's asking $6,500, I am thinking I am going to hit him at $6,000.
Talk me out of this. Its the right color, and I am looking for a car to swallow 50k miles a year in silent comfort. The drawback? I am in Texas, the car is in Alabama. CL Username MarkLouis is checking it out for me. In the meantime, should I jump on this?
It does look clean. I never like it when sellers of cars don't show the driver's seat, or most of it is obscured in some way. If it's got complete records, and a recent timing belt, go in at 5,500 and see if he'll bite. With that mileage, the next round of problems will start popping up. Things like wheel bearings, bushings, struts, dare I mention the starter?
I feel like we are members of a cult...what is it with people owning 3 of the same car....it's just that good, right? I mean you don't see people hoarding CR-V's or Accords or anything....
When I told my wife today I want to buy another LS430, she was really against it, she said something like oh you're such a big shot with your big money, you're going to get another one? I get her point, 10 grand is 10 grand, if you have it to spend, you want a 5th car with limited driveway space, she said just what are you doing with the Maxima?
the wheels are not for an '05 so I would ask about that. look like 16 inch wheels for an 01-03 model year. since most of us like the bigger wheels I would ask for him to replace with the 17 or18 inch wheels or come down on the price. of coarse if you plan to go with aftermarket wheels anyway that would not be an issue for you.
the wheels are not for an '05 so I would ask about that. look like 16 inch wheels for an 01-03 model year. since most of us like the bigger wheels I would ask for him to replace with the 17 or18 inch wheels or come down on the price. of coarse if you plan to go with aftermarket wheels anyway that would not be an issue for you.
The wheels are 17s. I have them as an option on my 01.
The wheels are 17s. I have them as an option on my 01.
Those look like the rims that came on my '04. I switched them to the 18" 5 star rims but had to buy a new set of tires as well due to the different rim size. I think those rims were offered from '01-'06 in slight variations. I will say the tires look a little odd to me- looks like they have big tread. I'd want to drive it because that would have a big impact on ride quality and road noise.
About the car:
I have 248k on my 2004 LS. I was thinking I'd be lucky to get $2,500 to $3k for mine and mine is in equally as good of shape as the one you posted pics of. I'd specifically look on the service to see:
- Timing belt & water pump: when was it done last? Recommended every 90k which would put a hefty expense on you in only 40k miles (9 months of your anticipated driving). Budget $800-$1,200 for that unless you are DIY type.
- Spark plugs
- Transmission fluid change
- Power steering fluid change
- Any O2 sensor replaced? Common failure on LS
- Look at control arms and bushings.
- When were brakes done last?
If I were gonna drive 50k/year in silence, you're looking for the right car (model), just not sure I'd buy one with 230k already, especially not at that price. I think you could get one around 150k miles for $7k-$8k easily (if you could, think of it this way: you could drive it for 2 years and only have paid an extra $2k from what this car is priced at). I don't know if you'd insult him too much if you came in at or just under $5k. And if timing belt and water pump need to be done soon.... I'd come in way under that. Be patient.
- Timing belt & water pump: when was it done last? Recommended every 90k which would put a hefty expense on you in only 40k miles (9 months of your anticipated driving). Budget $800-$1,200 for that unless you are DIY type.
- Spark plugs
- Transmission fluid change
- Power steering fluid change
- Any O2 sensor replaced? Common failure on LS
- Look at control arms and bushings.
- When were brakes done last?
.
My strategy would be let's assume none of the above were done, and deduct accordingly, and then get them done. Nowadays, how do we really know the timing belt was done...there are inconsistencies on Carfax, does someone having a receipt truly mean it was done, this is the car business....I dealt with one new car dealer that was as funny as that SNL skit where Spicey was saying he's quoting you and the circular use of the word is on you. The car had 89k, so I said it needs a timing belt in 1k. He goes,"Let's not talk about what might be, and instead focus on what is." What Dale Carnegie did this guy go to?
My budget is $6,000 max at the moment, I did find a 2001 LS 430 UL in MSM here in DFW that has only 167k, and its 5000 @ park place through true car (USAA).
Im hopefully going to go look at that tomorrow. i dont much care for silver, but its low maintenance.
My budget is $6,000 max at the moment, I did find a 2001 LS 430 UL in MSM here in DFW that has only 167k, and its 5000 @ park place through true car (USAA).
Im hopefully going to go look at that tomorrow. i dont much care for silver, but its low maintenance.
Buy an 01-03 ML or Base. They're cheap. Starting w/ shocks, potential UL costs are much higher. Not a good idea.
Buy an 01-03 ML or Base. They're cheap. Starting w/ shocks, potential UL costs are much higher. Not a good idea.
Both the blue one pic'd in this thread and the silver one on TrueCar here local to me have had the conventional strut conversion, from air.
Originally Posted by tallcaguy
Just looked on Autotrader. Several nice 01-03's in low 100's for 6 - 6.5 That's out here where prices tend to be a little (or a lot) higher.
There is almost nothing out here in the 5-6k range. Everything is in the 8-15k range. I am going to keep looking but not taking either car off the table yet until Mark tests drives the blue one but you are right, I would prefer (unless it is IMMACULATELY maintained and all highway miles) to have fewer miles but, is age or mileage the bigger factor in these cars?
Let's not forget, I owned a 1996 that had 370k on it when it was totalled. I do all my own mechanical, TB/WP jobs do not scare me at all, nor do struts. About the only I can't do are thing's I don't have tools for, like alignments (where you need the computer), and things like that.
Car pictured is not an UL. It's a Base or Premium model. No Nav. No Mark Levinson stereo. Seats aren't heated. No height adjust on center console. Etc, etc.
02-16-17, 12:37 PM
thinking of buying 05 LS430 ML/Nav
