1989LS400

Hey everybody, long time lurker, first time poster here. Looking to upgrade from my '02 gs300 and have been eyeing a few LS400s. I guess my main concern is the maintenance cost of these when they start to push 100K miles. As long as I maintain it regularly, am I going to run into any major problems? Hoping to keep this for the next 5-10 years if possible.

Anyways here are the ones im looking hard at. All check out ok with carfax and have been regularly serviced at lexus dealerships:

2008 LS460 Black (Base), 90k miles - $21K

2007 LS460 White (Base), 72k Miles - $21K
- This one does have damage reported :

Now I am slightly leaning towards the '08 because damage report on the '07 worries me a bit as the 2008 is listed as accident free. What do you guys think is better for the price? Any comments will help, thanks.

dlbuckls10

The '07 was in an accident and the '08 with 90K miles and accident free. I would pass on both of them and look for one with less miles. There are better 460's on the market. When you find the right one make sure you have it thoroughly inspected by a dealer. An extended warranty can be a peace of mind and save you thousands.

Doublebase

I think both those cars should be priced in the 17-19k range, but otherwise I wouldn't worry about buying a higher mileage LS 460. The major problem seems to be the control arms and you can replace those with aftermarket parts for reasonable prices. And even the control arms aren't what I'd consider "major", I think mine are bad on the driver's side - at least maybe one of them - and the thing drives fine...still tight, reasonably straight and I only hear a noise maybe once a week...if that.

There's no timing chain replacement to worry about, and that is huge when you are looking at cars approaching 100k miles, because on any luxury double overhead cam vehicle, you are looking at $1,200 or more to replace it.

R Z

Welcome! I would stay away from the accident car. As for the 08 with 90K miles, under $20 grand would be reasonable. A deal would be $18K. Average is about $19,500. I'm basing that on a SWB rear drive standard model. Does it have a Levinson? Is it an L?

If you want to pursue this car, head to the Lexus Drivers site and type in the vin to see what services have been performed. It very well may be a great car to own. Otherwise, being in Texas, take a look at sites like Cargurus.com and take a browse around.

roadfrog

Do you WANT a base model? As RZ noted, does it have the Mark Levinson stereo? Any other options? Have you done your research on what options you might want?

As for the mileage, it wouldn't concern me, as these are reliable cars. I agree that the prices are a bit high for base models.

Nospinzone

Welcome to CL!

I wouldn't let high mileage deter me as long as there are records that the car was properly maintained.

Of the two cars you referenced, I would pass on the one with the accident.

As far as values go, I would plug in all the particulars on Edmunds, NADA and KBB and see what you get. You can always use the site with the lowest valuation as your bargaining chip!

CRowe14

Welcome to CL!
Though I don't feel that high mileage would be an issue for these cars, I would say pass on both, as one has been in an accident and the other, the mileage is too high for the price. But that's not to say that a high mileage LS is a bad choice.
As the year progresses and the unveiling of the new LS is among us, the older LS models are and will continue to take a cut in value, so that's great news for someone in your position looking at older models. If you keep looking, you should be able to find one with lower miles for somewhere in that price range, give or take a grand or two.
Lastly, as R Z and Road Frog stated, make sure you are aware of the options and if its an L or not, as those variables can make a small difference as well, however at this point in the game regarding the older models, its mostly about the mileage point.

Wandl

Anytime there is disabling damage, that raises a red flag. As others have mentioned, I'd aim for high teens in terms of pricing for those cars, or look for ones with lower mileage. No big differences between 07-08's but they should be in the $17-$19k range, maybe $20k tops.

Gbp

If the choice is between a 2007 and 2008, all else being equal, I'd go for the 2008, especially if you're looking at a SWB model. A couple of reasons:

1. Just a guess for this situation, but often problems found in the first year of a model line are corrected in subsequent model years.

2. By default (unless a specific fix was done), the 2007 SWB had no laminated glass on the front side windows. The 2008 SWB, after a certain VIN, had laminated front side windows, which supposedly offer more protection against outside noise. You can also look at the etching on the front side windows, which will either indicate tempered or laminated glass. BTW, the LWB had laminated glass on all 4 side windows from 2007 on.