mrkropp

Looking at a 95 SC400 listed for sale on Craiglist for $3600.

MIleage: 129k
Options: Traction Control, After market Navigation with backup Camera, Remote Starter hands free phone

Autocheck - Shows 1 owner, registered in the same location every year as a leased vehicle. Is it possible to lease a vehicle for 19 years?? When to dealer auction recently.

Autocheck - Shows an accident in 2004 to right rear corner

Lexus website - I was able to pull service records for the entire history of the vehicle going back to 1994. It was serviced at the same dealership. Mostly shows routine maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations, brakes, numerous repairs to the stupid telescoping antenna, Numerous issues with the remoter starter, built in phone system, CD Changer.

Timing belt replaced at 86k
Alternator Replaced at 90k
Power Steering pump replaced at 88k
AC Lines and AC Tube Unit replaced 105k
Rear Trunk stays replaced

Technician note at 121k that he heard noise from rear over bumps. Probably needs some suspension work.

Seems like pretty low mileage car for the age and have documentation that owner did routine maintenance on schedule. A little concerned about having an aftermarket radio and all the electrical repairs on the service records. I'm going to see it on Saturday. Is there anything else I need to look for?

Mike in IL

CSTU93

I've never heard of an auto lease lasting more than a few years... It may have been a business car??

I personally have had issues with CarFax/Autocheck... When trading my 2014 Lincoln it reported multiple owners. I drove the car off the lot brand new but due to it being a lease and then registered in two states it threw everything off and was reported a 2 owner car. I wouldn't worry about that. Autocheck and CarFax can make things tricky.. hopefully someone else here can chime in. The dealer maintenance is obviously a huge plus.

For the miles and records I would say that is a very fair price. Let us know how Saturday goes! Good luck!

eknine9

iTrader: (8)

Price and mileage is fine.
If the remote starter issues have been resolved I don't see an glaring problems. Would be nice to know when the timing belt and water pump was done.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Sounds like a winner, given the price, mileage, and full maintenance history. CSTU93 might be right about it being a business car, but I would guess screwy records. I found out last year that my car I had paid off 18+ years ago never had the paperwork fully released from the bank that no longer exists. That never would have come to my attention as long as I kept the car, since I had the title in my name and the letter showing it paid in full, but signing over the totaled title to insurance revealed the inconsistency in whoever filed the stuff.

I do find it odd that the timing pump, alternator, and PS pump were all replaced within 4k of each other, starting just before the fairly typical 90k mile service interval. That suggests it was having difficult-to-discern problems, although it could also indicate money was tight and they prioritized the most pressing repairs.

bigwhite

The high wear issuses with these cars. Interior, blacked out needles, climate control lighting, a.c working, driver door hinge wear?

mrkropp

Called the guy on Saturday to let him know I was leaving to come see the car. He told me he would not be available until 6pm. He wanted me to meet him in a remote location five miles out of town at the corner of two county highways. Was not comfortable with this meeting place and did not want to look at the car in the dark. Tried to get him to meet me during the day at the nearby Walmart parking lot, but he wouldn't. Scammer I think.

Ramblerman

Tell him you want to meet in the parking lot of the local Police station, bet you don't here from him again!

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I noticed a high degree of scammers with these cars when I was looking early on. I subsequently read that they were among the most frequently car jacked in the 90s. Gotta keep that Spidey sense tingling!