New 1997 LS 400
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: AR
New 1997 LS 400
i am the second owner of a 1997 Lexus LS400. It was purchased from the local Lexus dealer in December of 1996. The owner passed away 5 months later. His wife kept the car in the garage but drove her own car. It has all of the service records at the dealer and they have been transferred to me. The car has 52K miles on it. That’s not a typo. 52K .. it looks, drives and the leather smells new. Even has an installed cell phone under the arm rest. It is a time machine. Timing belt was changed due to time not miles. Any idea what this car is worth? Thank you.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,159
Likes: 214
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Welcome to CL...and congratulations on the LS. 
Sounds like a real cream puff of a used car. For its worth, KBB will figure its trade-in, retail, and private-party values. Just punch in your zip code and some info on the car's age, condition, and options/equipment.
https://www.kbb.com
https://www.kbb.com/whats-my-car-worth/
Sounds like a real cream puff of a used car. For its worth, KBB will figure its trade-in, retail, and private-party values. Just punch in your zip code and some info on the car's age, condition, and options/equipment.https://www.kbb.com
https://www.kbb.com/whats-my-car-worth/
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,968
Likes: 232
From: California
Not considering the model year, 52k miles is still a fair amount of driving. I would not disclose this as being "new." There should be some wear just by the seat time. (I have never seen a leather seat that looked and smelled new at 52k miles, but I suppose it is possible.) Sounds like she or someone else was doing more than just driving their own car.
Regardless, this is still an amazing time machine, as you put it, as well as having low miles for the age. And sounds to be in excellent overall condition. Nice catch and enjoy!
Regardless, this is still an amazing time machine, as you put it, as well as having low miles for the age. And sounds to be in excellent overall condition. Nice catch and enjoy!
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 548
From: fl
Nice find. Are you looking to get rid of it (is that why you're asking about the value)? I'm guessing you had to have done some sort of research when buying it to determine what you were going to offer and if the asking price was reasonable. That being said, given what the circumstances sound like, I have to imagine you got a good deal. I owned a 96 LS and absolutely loved that car. If yours was a 98-00 I'd make you an offer you couldn't refuse!
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,553
Likes: 388
From: PA
I think it would be worth top dollar, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess $5k. If I had the car, I doubt I would be willing to part with it for $5k, so I'd likely drive it. I don't think there is any collectable factor the way there is with Land Cruiser or SC's. my .02.
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