Should I pick up a 96 LS400 for 750 bucks?
10-22-12, 06:39 PM
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ga
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Should I pick up a 96 LS400 for 750 bucks?
I was at the junkyard today picking up an oil cooler off an FC3S. (amazing trans cooler for like 15 bucks)
ANYWAYS
The owner of the yard is a family friend and he just got a dark green 96 LS400 in 2 days ago with a smashed up front end.. Looks like it went under a light duty truck and bent / smashed up the front.
I know where a 96 is sitting with a decent front end that I could probably get for around 3-500 ish...
This things interior is in pretty good condition along with it seriously looks like it has less than 120k miles on it....
I honestly wouldn't mind picking it up, doing wheels / springs and throwing a 200 shot on that beast of an engine
How do you guys like these cars?
ANYWAYS
The owner of the yard is a family friend and he just got a dark green 96 LS400 in 2 days ago with a smashed up front end.. Looks like it went under a light duty truck and bent / smashed up the front.
I know where a 96 is sitting with a decent front end that I could probably get for around 3-500 ish...
This things interior is in pretty good condition along with it seriously looks like it has less than 120k miles on it....
I honestly wouldn't mind picking it up, doing wheels / springs and throwing a 200 shot on that beast of an engine
How do you guys like these cars?
10-22-12, 06:55 PM
#3
That's a tough call bro? I would have to first ask you how experienced are you with doing body work, and welding and or frame work. If you're experienced, or know someone that would do the work for a good price...I would say go for it! If funds are limited, and you're not able to most or some of the work I would pass. Or worse case, buy it as a parts car...Just my 2 cents...if you can snap some pics of it, and post it up...we will be able to get a better idea of how much or how detailed the work involvement would be.
10-22-12, 06:59 PM
#5
So all said and done youll be in it 1300 plus a whole lot of hours. Then theres the body labor, unless you want to do all that yourself, Then paint unless they are the same color.
Lets say you dont do the labor. Total costs will deffinatly exceed 2300 at this point.
Now wheels and spring.
Spings; tanabe most likely. 350 for springs. And self respecting lexus owner would do shocks and rubber parts at the same time, lets say 1000 for parts plus labr.
Wheels; Lets go cheap and browse craigslist. you find a ""nice" vip set of rims with tires for 700.
Then theres that 200 shot. Nitrous I presume. Add another 1000.
Lets get a total. 5000 so far. While blue book for a good condition is 4500.
Of course then there is maintainence costs.
Better hope she isnt due for a timing belt or has a power steering leak.
Becauce that will add another 1000+ easy.
She may see like an incredible deal, but costs add up quickly...
Lets say you dont do the labor. Total costs will deffinatly exceed 2300 at this point.
Now wheels and spring.
Spings; tanabe most likely. 350 for springs. And self respecting lexus owner would do shocks and rubber parts at the same time, lets say 1000 for parts plus labr.
Wheels; Lets go cheap and browse craigslist. you find a ""nice" vip set of rims with tires for 700.
Then theres that 200 shot. Nitrous I presume. Add another 1000.
Lets get a total. 5000 so far. While blue book for a good condition is 4500.
Of course then there is maintainence costs.
Better hope she isnt due for a timing belt or has a power steering leak.
Becauce that will add another 1000+ easy.
She may see like an incredible deal, but costs add up quickly...
10-22-12, 11:08 PM
#7
Unless you enjoy projects, better value IMO is to buy a car that is ready to drive. It will have salvage title as well. If you already had an LS that needed parts I'd say go for it.
SpencerT covered it sufficiently as far as what additional costs will be ahead.
SpencerT covered it sufficiently as far as what additional costs will be ahead.
Trending Topics
10-22-12, 11:37 PM
#8
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ga
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So all said and done youll be in it 1300 plus a whole lot of hours. Then theres the body labor, unless you want to do all that yourself, Then paint unless they are the same color.
Lets say you dont do the labor. Total costs will deffinatly exceed 2300 at this point.
Now wheels and spring.
Spings; tanabe most likely. 350 for springs. And self respecting lexus owner would do shocks and rubber parts at the same time, lets say 1000 for parts plus labr.
Wheels; Lets go cheap and browse craigslist. you find a ""nice" vip set of rims with tires for 700.
Then theres that 200 shot. Nitrous I presume. Add another 1000.
Lets get a total. 5000 so far. While blue book for a good condition is 4500.
Of course then there is maintainence costs.
Better hope she isnt due for a timing belt or has a power steering leak.
Becauce that will add another 1000+ easy.
She may see like an incredible deal, but costs add up quickly...
Lets say you dont do the labor. Total costs will deffinatly exceed 2300 at this point.
Now wheels and spring.
Spings; tanabe most likely. 350 for springs. And self respecting lexus owner would do shocks and rubber parts at the same time, lets say 1000 for parts plus labr.
Wheels; Lets go cheap and browse craigslist. you find a ""nice" vip set of rims with tires for 700.
Then theres that 200 shot. Nitrous I presume. Add another 1000.
Lets get a total. 5000 so far. While blue book for a good condition is 4500.
Of course then there is maintainence costs.
Better hope she isnt due for a timing belt or has a power steering leak.
Becauce that will add another 1000+ easy.
She may see like an incredible deal, but costs add up quickly...
Considering they both need paint it'd be amazing to paint them the same color and have the soarer as my go fast car, and the LS400 as the "on the town" car.
I have to say I REALLY love my SC300... so I just may pick up this LS400. He said 750 almost instantly... so if I can get him down to 500 i'll buy it tomorrow. haha
10-22-12, 11:40 PM
#9
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ga
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's a tough call bro? I would have to first ask you how experienced are you with doing body work, and welding and or frame work. If you're experienced, or know someone that would do the work for a good price...I would say go for it! If funds are limited, and you're not able to most or some of the work I would pass. Or worse case, buy it as a parts car...Just my 2 cents...if you can snap some pics of it, and post it up...we will be able to get a better idea of how much or how detailed the work involvement would be.
Another good friend said he'd help me with the radiator support... His work is the leadin body shop for central GA. Big money machines that I'd have access to on the weekends.
I'll see if I can't get some pics up tomorrow. Now I'm seroiusly interested in this car. Doh. haha
10-23-12, 12:39 AM
#11
the 95-97 have lightweight, skinny rods so if you plan to nitrous it on the stock block make sure you have either a built motor or early motor sitting around to replace it with.
and yeah if its as bad as you say then the main reason it would have been salvaged was due to frame damage, so have fun fixing that.
and yeah if its as bad as you say then the main reason it would have been salvaged was due to frame damage, so have fun fixing that.
10-23-12, 05:36 AM
#12
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: ga
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the 95-97 have lightweight, skinny rods so if you plan to nitrous it on the stock block make sure you have either a built motor or early motor sitting around to replace it with.
and yeah if its as bad as you say then the main reason it would have been salvaged was due to frame damage, so have fun fixing that.
and yeah if its as bad as you say then the main reason it would have been salvaged was due to frame damage, so have fun fixing that.
