DOLMAXDOG

05 ls430 with 38000 miles 2owners car fax clean asking $22500. Is this a good deal?

caddyowner

Generally, it sounds like a good deal. However, need more info:

- What trim level: premium, modern luxury, custom luxury, or ultra luxury?
- Check service history on lexus.com using VIN
- Is this private party, retail, or Lexus certified?
- What are the findings of a thorough mechanical and electrical inspection by an independent mechanic?

IMO, if you find a car that has been well maintained and you can get the car + necessary repairs & maintenance for the KBB private party price, you should be doing OK. KBB private party range in my area range from $23.5K for a premium in fair condition to $29.1K for a UL in excellent condition.

Good luck in your search.

Jabberwock

Price sounds good but there is no way to access the deal value without looking at way more detail - look at autotrader for sale on line - look at all LS430s nationwide with this approx miles and year - that will give you an idea of price

1. Car condition and wear inside and out - mint cars are rare and worth more
2. Service history intact?
3. Rustbelt car? - exposure to salt is undesirable
4. Options on the car? - option packages affect price and desirability
5. Type and condition of wheels and tires? New tires on perfect cond wheels or old worn tires on wheel rashed wheels?
6. Any previous body repairs and paint work? - clean carfax means almost nothing , previous paintwork (except bumpers) makes car a lot less desirable
7. Smoker car? deduct $2-5K from price - nobody wants a 4 wheel ashtray

DOLMAXDOG

How to tell what trim it is, it does not have navi, i think it is a base car. A toyota dealer is selling it. I was thinking of paying no more than 20,000.

DOLMAXDOG

The only service history, is from car fax. The sales woman claims that if the original owner takes the car to a mom & pop place to change oil, there would not be any history. the first owner that title the car was a commericial company?? That seems strange. The second owner only registered it for a couple of months, claiming the dad died??? How should I proceed, take it to a lexus dealer & have them check out the car ( cost couple of hundred ) then try to naoigate a pxl??? Any help is greatly appreciated.

caddyowner

If the car does not have navigation, but has heated/cooled front seats and parking sensors on the bumpers, it is a premium trim level. (A base car (rare) would have only heated front seats and no parking sensors.) Also, check that it has smartaccess (most did) rather than a remote and traditional key. Smartaccess was a standalone option, but most all cars came with it.

You can take the car to a Lexus dealer for an inspection or an independent shop that specializes in premium Japanese brands. You can get the service history by registering as an owner on lexus.com and entering the VIN of the car as if it is yours. Delete the car if you don't buy it. Don't add/delete too many cars as I've head the admins will block you.

Don't be surprised that a commercial owner may be the first owner. It could have been a leasing company or a company-owned vehicle used by the owner or used for business purposes. I saw a number of these when I was looking. I'm sure you realize that stories told by salespeople are just that, stories.

DutchLS430

Good deal, in the Netherlands just bought an '06 LS430 50000 miles in ultra luxury trim ( but no massage seats in the back, this is an LS430 eurospec), standard specs, keyless entry, navigation, seat heaters back and front, seat coolers front, airsuspension, leather uppholstery, rear view camera, for 30000 euro's bought by a Toyota dealer, if I should buy this car in the same condition by a Lexusdealer with the red carpet treatment it would easily do 35000 euro's.

Full service history

Jabberwock

Get on the online Lexus owners site and register the VIN on the car as if you were the owner - takes 5 minutes. You will be ale to see all the service history that was performed by Lexus dealer.

Consider anything the salesperson tells you verbally (without them providing written proof or documentation to confirm) to be pure unadulterated 100% bull&*%$. If you want a demonstration of that phenomenon, just ask them to put their verbal assertions about the car in writing on the contract and what what happens.

STRONGLY suggest you take the car to Lexus for a formal inspection before you close the deal. You just can't spend $200 any better way than to verify and confirm a used car you are about to spend $20k on is actually in good shape.

As worse case example - I have heard of a person finding out after the fact that their Lexus (which looked virtually mint) was actually 2 partially wrecked cars that had been expertly stitched and welded together and somehow escaped having to have a salvage title when sold. You don't want to be that person. And of course the selling dealer will claim it had no knowledge so therefore no liability. Carfax is worthless if you are relying on it solely to protect you.

I am constantly amazed at the amount of risk people are willing to take with $20K plus when it comes to used cars. Take the time and spend the money to confirm and verify anything you are told.

Jabberwock

btw if you do try to buy a car at a car auction be sure to verify before hand that the accessories are still with the car.

Auctions are famous for having everything that can be removed from the car be stolen before it gets sold - on the LS you need to check to see if the spare tire, extra key fob, jack and tool kit, Lexus first aid kit, wooden shift ****, carpet mats if new, are still with the car. This stuff is routinely stolen as the car makes its way through the auction process and it all ends up on ebay.

When you are looking at fresh car ads and pictures on line - if the picture of the interior shows the shift **** is missing its a safe bet you are looking at an auction car.