Wiley9

Hi all,
I'm in a bit of a dilemma and hoping you fine folks would be able to give me some guidance. One year ago, I bought a 2004 LS430 UL with a little over 40K on it. It's been the best car I've ever owned and absolutely love it! After one year, it now has 90K miles on it and almost no mechanical trouble...still drives like new. I know the trade in values drop substantially after 100K, but I just haven't found another car to get that comes even close. Even the LS460 seems a little stripped down compared to this. Sooooo...my question for everyone here: Do I trade this in and get as much money for it before it hits 100K or just drive this into the ground forever?

Legender

I think you've answered your own question... trade it in to get what?
"Been the best car you've owned. Have not found a car that comes close..."
You did not buy it as an investment... so use it and enjoy it... or trade it and and drive something else and try to enjoy it...
Seems to me you're better off keeping it...

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. Considering cars are pretty much the worst financial investment we make I would keep it. You've only had had the car for a little over a year and you have put on 50k miles?

votru

iTrader: (7)

Keep + buy a cheap DD.

ultm8mind

iTrader: (3)

50k + in a year? What did you drive to the moon and back? LOL...

Tom57

If you average 50K miles a year, you still have at least 4+ years before you reach 300K miles. What other car will get you to 300K miles? Since you're concerned about depreciation, if you put 50K miles on a newer replacement car, the depreciation on that car would be more than if you just kept the LS. The longer you keep and drive a car, the cost of ownership goes down.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

50k a year is unheard of , you would literally have to be driving around non stop 8 hours a day

keep it anyways , see how far she can go

Jabberwock

Keep it. No other car you can replace it with of any compatible value and type is going to depreciate more slowly. To really lower costs you'd have to sell it and ride a scooter. I have very little use for my LS430 these days but I am keeping it because I know 100% that given what is available in the market today, I will never be able to find or afford a better car than my LS430.

empringham

I think you should keep it, Especially if you're putting that kind of mileage on it, no other car will run as good as a LS if you gotta do that much driving, i think.

wuznme

Not at all 20 years ago, was a field engineer, racked up 120k miles on a Civic in 11 months. My expense checks were more then my paychecks.

Most people that live in high cost areas, tend to put lots of miles on their cars. They live in the burbs and commute into the cities. Got a co-worker that commutes 275 round trip daily.


Same here, think maybe 4500 over last year. Think about selling all the time, but would miss it. What could I replace with it for the money I get from it? Nadda!

elid786

I have been thinking of selling mine a few times.. good thing is my parents love the car so much that they will buy it off me once they can.

I do love the LS430.. drove an BMW E60 530D the other day as I was thinking of getting one of them. Jumping back in the lexus reminded me how comfortable the car really is. I just want a car that I dont see only old people driving, I am literally the only young guy I have seen driving one. Thats here in the UK that is.

AlexusAnja

The only car I can see replacing my LS is either a Bugatti or Ferrari...so, I don't think of replacing her often. I'm running my baby till she can't run no more, and then 8 might keep her just for sentimental reasons because it would have been probably 20+ years. I cried when I let my 20 years old GSR go in 2012... :*(

warminwisc

Whats the value? The worth is 15,500 to 16 give or take. I got a nice Highlander for $20 k 2010/42k miles SE model for wifey. Still prefer my LS.

warminwisc

I cried when I let my Touareg go 012 TDI Exec. My LS is 04

mannye

I think you need to get a nice detail job and drive that sucker until it throws a rod.