So, I found this GS, and I need some questions on whether this is a good buy or not.

It's a 2000 GS. Color is Spectra Blue Mica (SOOO SEXY!), and the interior is Tan (Favorite color combination).

The car has 117,794 miles on it. I took the VIN number, and went to Lexus Drivers, and it shows the service history for the car up to 22,500 miles.

Services include: 1k miles service fluid check, Battery r&r, mobil paint touchup, resurface break rotors, balance 2 front tires, 10k maintenance, secure b pillar, replaced front rotors and pads, painless dent removal, and a few other minor stuff.

After that, it shows the CARFAX history.

1st owner owned it for 1 year and 5 months, and up until 22,400 miles, 1 month later..

2nd owner owned it from 22, 644 miles, no service done, had the car for 2 years and 5 months, then..

3rd owner owned it from 66,429 miles, and has just 4 passed emissions inspections, no other service. Owned the car from 07/2005 until 10/17/2011.

The car was just posted 3 days ago, and the dealer is asking for $6,991.

I'm hoping they can give me the car for $6,500 out the door, with a $500 down payment. If my credit union finances the car for me, it will be financed at 1.99% apr, and the payments will be $171 a month for 36 months, or $130 a month for 48 months.

Is this a good buy?

Also, since the car is 11 years old, and has 117k miles on it, is there anything that I should expect to happen to it, service wise?

If all goes well, I could be getting this new car. Currently drive a '90 LS400, and the V8 is killing me. This car will definitely be a huge Step Up from my current ride, and I'm assuming that the mpg will roughly be the same as my LS?

 

do you still owe anything on your LS?

what's wrong with the v8 in your LS?

 

not bad of a price for dealer price. any link/pics? Gl!

 

Paid cash for the LS.

As for the V8, it's a gas guzzler. I get 19.5 gallons to the mile average. When going up a hill, I swear that I see the fuel gauge needle dropping slowly. It's ridiculous, and I hope that the I6 can be somewhat better on gas mileage.

But like I'm not sure if the GS will get good mpg, or at least mpg that is better than my LS.

 

Here's the car:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...acktype=usedcc

Here's the car fax:

http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...&partner=CDM_0

and here's the VIN: JT8BD68S9Y0093617 (In case you want to punch in the numbers for Lexus Drivers)

So, that's the ride. It looks great. I'm gonna contact my bank tomorrow, and see if they will finance this car for me, and if they will with the 1.99% apr, then I'm gonna contact the dealer and negotiate on the price.

$6,500 out the door would be nice, and I'd drop $500 for a downpayment, and have the $6k financed.

 

Is there anything wrong with your LS400, mechanically? 19.5mpg is a decent number for a 21 year old car if it's combined city/highway..

How is your fan clutch? If it's not working like it should, it's going to put drag on the engine like crazy. I know because I had to replace one recently for a friend's LS400. It no longer sounds like an 18 wheeler when accelerating or cruising on the highway.

 

There has been a problem for the past 2 weeks. Randomly, these 3 lights would go on and off: TRAC, TRAC OFF, and Engine CHECK.

I'm not sure what the problem is, but we're taking the LS to the mechanic tomorrow morning and hopefully they can fix whatever is wrong with it.

About a month ago, whenever I started my engine and went from Park to Reverse, there would be a whole bunch of white smoke coming out of my exhaust. It has happened for a while, but I'm not sure as to why that happened in the first place.

Anyway, if I don't get that car for myself, I'd want my brother to get this SC:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

 

The GS your looking at will get very similar fuel economy.... Is it a 300 or 400?

 

Smoking coming out of the tailpipe could mean a lot of thing. It's quite possible that it's your power steering fluid leaking into the engine. Very common problem in the first generation LS400. Yea, at this point, it's time for a new car.

 

Agreed Moses. If you can afford it (and I mean REALLY afford it, not talk yourself into affording it like some people do), then do it. Remember though, with a car payment comes the need for full coverage insurance.

Also, are you trading in the LS? The mod potential for the GS is cheaper, but honestly that thing looks really clean. Do a drop, some wheels/tint and drive it till it falls apart. If you dont trade in the LS, what will you do with it?

 

2jz is just as bad on gas. do yourself a favor and read through the epa ratings on the cars, they are all virtually the same

and instead of saving money, you decide to get yourself back into debt again? far from smart. of course, that's unless your ls400 has major problems which will rack up repair bills

 

1.99% APR...your credit score has to be AMAZING!!!

 

I think that is the case here, Henry...His LS is about to start giving him major problems I am thinking.

Incredible, make sure you get some kind of warranty coverage if you can. Dont worry about the gas, it definately should not be any worse than the LS.

I get hit with 0% APR frequently. Get it offered whenever I go to dealerships, even out of curiousity. Lowest I have ever been offered on a used car was 0.9%, which was on the truck. I took it, then paid it off about 6 months later. His credit should be getting much better, he has been paying off debt for about a year now

 

The GS is a 300.

I did have a power steering fluid problem. Some long piece got replaced (forgot what it was), and everything is fine now. Other than those lights going on and off.

I've been doing great with my credit card payments. Went from oweing $8.5k, down to $5k in about 10 months. One card paid off, other card in the process; but the apr is too damn high (30%).

The only way I'll buy that car, is if my credit union finances me; cause the apr will be low and the payments will be between $130-$170 a month (depending on how long I want the term to be). If they don't, then no way will I have the dealership finance me; cause then the apr will be too high!

Not gonna trade in the LS. Our current situation is that only me, my bro, and my mom have a car. My dad has his work van, and my sister drives my moms car. Either way, we need a 4th (and later a 5th) car. We were hoping to give my brothers '00 Benz to my sister, my brother gets my LS, and I buy this GS. Other option was to just buy the car for myself, and my dad gets my LS.

Either way, the only way this will happen is if the bank finances, if not; then it's a no-go til November '12.

 

$7000 for a 2000 gs300 isn't bad especially from a dealer although I'm doubting they will let it go for $6.5 k out the door but it never hurts to try. Gas mileage isn't any better and if you want a gas saver and still provide good comfort and spacious, then you might want to consider something like a camry 4cyl or something along that line.

Car payment sucks and your not really even saving on gas with the gs300 unless if that's the car you really want.