ephisig764

Hi all, new to the board, thanks in advance for your help! Looking at buying a 2005 RX Thundercloud Edition. Clean Carfax, 1 owner, timing belt and water pump just replaced, maintenance records are good. Clean inside and out, minor wear expected for 2005, but above average. My only concern is the mileage, 109k. I wouldn't even consider another car at this mileage, but because of the RX reputation I am. Looking at paying $16,000. Should I feel comfort with buying this car at this price and condition considering the mileage?

lexus114

I would have no problem with that. Take the vin# and go to the Lexus owner site. Lots of good info on there.

mandyfig

Post pics and we can recommend. As lexus114 says check out the VIN so you can feel at ease.

Carver

How many miles a year do you drive?

ephisig764

About 18k per year.

RX330inFL

Would definitely go to the Lexus Owner's web site and enter the VIN, or, go to a Lexus Dealer with the VIN and see about getting a copy of the maintenance performed within the Lexus system. Timing belt and water pump changed. Usually, the latter is not required. What about the rest of the belts? How are the tires and brakes? If all those are OK you have many of the most expensive routine maintenance items already out of the way.

You can always take it to Toyota or an independent shop should you choose to do so after purchasing.

Also, think to yourself what you could purchase otherwise for $16K. And with driving 18K miles a year, which is quite a lot, you need not worry about depreciation as you would with anything newer or with less miles.

Carver

Good advice 330inFL, within a couple of years you will drive quite a lot of the value out of it but that doesn't mean you can't keep driving it.

The engines and transmissions seem bullet proof on these cars but you will spend money on brakes, rotors, wheel bearings, rack and pinion (I'm replacing mine now at 73k), perhaps struts, leaking head lights are an annoying issue.

All these things may well have been done but they might need it again someday so plan on a bit of maintenance. It seems the best way to get a long life is to be rigorous with maintenance. I just bought mine and it's in the shop getting every fluid in it changed, pads and rotors, new rack and pinion.

None of those things HAD to be changed but poor boying a Lexus seems to be the path to ruin so it all gets taken care of.

RX330inFL

Thanks, Carver. Sorry to hear about your rack and pinion issues. Am a bit perplexed at that to be honest.

Was just common sense stuff, IMHO. When I bought my 2004 I planned on holding on to it for 10 years. So, it was taken care of with that in mind. Agree with you on keeping up with the maintenance. As there were only used RX300's at the time of my purchase, the RX330 had only been out a month or two, I bought new. If I needed a new (replacement) vehicle today and found a 2005 Thundercloud for $16K I would definitely be interested if all checked out.

Have been told several times that the 3.3L engine is quite strong and relatively trouble free. What concerns me most about newer cars is the electronics. As I do not have NAV and such, less to go wrong over time.

ephisig764

Thanks for the help. I made a young stupid mistake eight years ago when I bought my 02 Ford Explorer Limited. I financed 26k for six years and had a huge monthly payment. I went through three transmissions, rear diff and several replacement wheel bearings. Now my cd changer, rear back-up sensor, exterior keypad, fuel gauge, 4x4 and cruise control have gone out. I need to get out of this car fast, but am reluctant to make a quick decision. But the reliability of the RX's makes me feel more comfortable with a vehicle like the one I'm looking at. How exactly do I check the VIN at the Lexus Owners' site?

lexus114

WOW!! that Ford must have been built on a real bad day eh?

Adamjeeps

After all that I would be buying a vehicle with a warranty.

The Lexus Drivers Site has a page where you enter the VIN and it tells you all the service the dealer has done and any other services the previous owner has entered into the system.

Carver

Go to Lexus.com and register as a driver and enter the VIN of the car then you can login to the drivers section where one of the options is service history. It will only give you the services done at Lexus but that can be quite telling.

Owners can also enter work done at non-Lexus shops but that is extremely rare to find.

ephisig764

I looked up the service history and it was serviced at a local Lexus dealer the whole time. The last entry was on 12/10 and there was a 95,000 mile service performed. It says campaigns for the service on 12/10? It appears that every maintenance item was done per the manual. Doesn't look like any major work was ever needed except for: STEERING WHL/MAIN SHAFT. Not sure if this link will work, but here is the list: https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...do?d-16544-p=1

Carver

Sounds good. Some of them bind on the lower steering column and it has to be replaced, that may be what they refer to. What happens the steering wheel doesn't center after a turn.

Wonder if they'd take 15000?

ephisig764

Well not sure if they'd take 15000. They have it listed for 17,900, but I should be able to get it for around 16000.