charlie33

My Benz was totaled 2 days ago...so I need a new car. Undecided between these two cars....the 02 seems to be priced better....trade value, but the 01 is low miles in exc shape but they are wanting full blown retail.....any feedback appreciated. A little concerned w buying w over 200k miles. On a tight budget. Both are the Ultra lux packages. Which seems to be the better value/concerns/ etc.??? Feedback or advice greatly appreciated! Need 2 buy something win the next day or so... Thanks

SW17LS

If you're on a tight budget, I wouldn't buy either car.

Not kidding, these cars can be VERY expensive to maintain, especially UL package cars with air suspension, etc. Unless you are very mechanically inclined yourself, you need to be able to put your hands on a couple K readily to be able to handle things when they come up.

If you must have one, I would get the 01. Very reliable cars, but any car over 200k has done most of the miles its going to do in its life. Its cheap because theres a very thin market of people that would buy any car over 200k miles. The 01 is very low mileage for its age.

Seriously though, I would explore an easier, less expensive car though if the budget is tight. People buy these and say "Why would I buy a new Versa when I could buy this" well...there are lots of reasons why LOL.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Why not look at a 98 - 2000 LS400 as an option too. Considering you budget don't get UL fever. You can great ML's for around 8 - 12 grand.

SW17LS

Largely the same issue, they're not cheap to maintain if you can't do a lot of the work yourself. If you're "on a tight budget" an old flagship luxury car is not a smart purchase.

I made that decision in 2003 when I got the '03 ES. It was the same price as a nice 2000 LS400 on the lot, and I was tempted to buy that. But, I kept that ES until it had 165k miles on it, if I had gotten that LS it would have had 200k miles on it, had a timing belt replaced twice, etc. Wasn't the right time in my life for that.

Common issue on the LS400 is starter replacement, our 98 LS had a questionable starter when it was traded for the 430 with ~165k on it (had a rear air shock that lost air when it was off too). That starter job is ~ $1,000 because of where its placed in the car.

charlie33

Thanks for the responses....appreciated. use toown a 2004 LS 430 and it was probably my fav car Ive owned. I am not very mechanically inclined, but have a good mechanic buddy. I have saved up around 14k and just didnt want to spend all of my savings and just trying to get the best value I can. I make decent income, but dont want to carry any debt, so was looking at the older models. My old Lexus I financed like 30k and 600 mo.payment etc. Just trying to decide which route to go. I was leaning towards the 2002 with higher miles cause it is owned by alexus service tech & just fully serviced, new tires/ brakes/rotors etc. and can buy for 6700. The 01 has 83k miles but their wantying 12,750 out the door.

charlie33

Lavreshivo, what is a ML?

charlie33

Sw15......I thought these Lexus could do 300k plus miles if properly maintained? I can get an 03 Toyota Avalon XLS for actually 5500 with only 108k miles, but thats an old mans car and im only 45....lol Kind of got my heart set on a Lexus. I suppose I can get a ES330 for 8-9k with less miles.

SW17LS

ML stands for Mark Levinson, the upgrade audio system. If both are ULs they have ML.

Owned by a Lexus tech or not, 200,000 miles is a LOT of miles on any car. If you're going to be putting any kind of significant miles on this car, I would choose the lower mileage car. Yeah, its almost twice as much, but its less than half the mileage. You could put another 100k on that car, the 02? who knows.

lsdude

ML = Modern Luxury package.

How about an 04 with 76k miles for $13k? http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/chl/ctd/5104748633.html

There are more options if you're willing to ship it from FL, retirement central.

SW17LS

They can, but they don't operate between 200k and 300k as trouble free as they do between 50k-150k. You have to be able to have the knowledge/ability or the cash to maintain them and repair them.

If you want an LS I would think about a lower optioned one, an ML (didn't note how Lavrishivo used it, ML does stand for Modern Luxury) or nav/lev car (01-03) without air suspension.

As for an old man car...I'm a lot younger than you, and I have an LS too but the LS is the original old man car

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I meant modern luxury or even a custom Luxury. Really, the 400 and 430 are not that expensive to maintain as long as you don't drive into a Lexus dealer and say "fix it." You will get ripped off. You buy the parts yourself and pay for labor only.

In my opinion, the ideal mileage is right after the first owner already payed for the timing belt / water pump or right around 100k miles. Clearly SW15LS is it not on much of budget with his Lexus inventory but the 400 and 430 are truly fantastic cars. You can't go wrong with a good one.

charlie33

I was talking about the Avalon, not the Lexus cuz it seems like every time I see one, there is a Gma or Gpa driving. Thanks for the feedback!

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Here you go:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...our-ls430.html

It's also easy and cheap to add Bluetooth audio / iPhone or android /1/8" to the 430 stereo.

NickTee

Neither one, they're both overpriced. And I certainly wouldn't pay $7,000 for that near-death LS. People can claim they can run up to 300,000 miles, but they don't mention that that's near the end of their life and requires more maintenance as it comes closer to dying. Weatherstripping will be failing, bushings will be failing or failed, air suspension and compressor come into play, who knows how long the AC compressor will live, parts inside have probably loosened up and may start making noise, the engine itself is quite old, electronics are probably going to start failing, etc. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Not to mention that if you turn around to sell it, very few people want that high of miles and even fewer want to pay that much for it.
As was mentioned, both this and the Avalon are old men cars and you're not really escaping that stigma by buying a LS430. In fact, the LS is probably more of one than the Avalon.

I do want to mention that I have seen much better 2004-2006, the nicer model, for around the same price. When I was shopping for cars, a fully loaded 2006 LS430 popped up for $10,000 with 95,000 miles. It have every option you could possibly get, from adaptive cruise control, to air suspension, to executive reclining rear seats, to the rear fridge option. Everything. And it was in great condition with one owner and no accidents. You definitely shouldn't be paying $12,000 for an 01. And I wouldn't touch the other one with a 10 foot pole, no matter who maintained it.

A quick jump on craigslist found this:
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5113261443.html
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ctd/5109392742.html

Personally I'd just stay away from both, they're overpriced. Your budget would be enough for you to get some ES350s too.

SW17LS

The budget has improved tremendously over the years, but there was a time! lol

I knew what you meant. The LS average owner age is over 65 I'm sure though, just FYI. The GS is the only car I've ever owned that wasn't an "old mans car" lol