Franks87

Hi Folks,

I am in the market for a Lexus ES 350 for my sister as her first car. There is a local guy listing his 2007 ES 350 at $5000- 240k highway miles:
- One owner.
- Clean car.
- All services were done at Lexus dealership upto 237k miles. 21 pages of service history looks consistent.

I can highlight major things ( from 21 pages of history):
@ 237k REPLACED ENGINES WATER PUMP, PULLEYS, AND SERPENTINE BELT
@235k: CANISTER, EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS - REPLACE ~ ~ ~ ~,CUSTOMER DECLINED .EVAP PRESSURE SWITCHING VALVE STUCK OFF, TECH FOUND EVAP HOSE TO SWITCHING VALVE HAVE A BIG CRACK IN HOSE. REMOVE AND REPLACE HOSE AND PERFORMED EVAP CHECK.
@200k miles: FRONT - ENGINE TIMING - RESEAL. TIMING COVER LEAKING. ~ ~ ~ ~,CUSTOMER DECLINED.
HOSE, RESSURE - POWER STEERING - REPLACE. MODULE, ENGINE CONTROL - REPLACE
@ 189k : CODE P0420 CATALYST EFFICEINCY BELOW THRESHOLD DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE IN CAT. ~ ~REPLACED BANK 1 CATALYST. RAN MONITORS
@185k : ROTORs.
@175: CORE, EVAPORATOR - REPLACE
@173: DEFECTIVE EXPANSION VALVE, FREON LINES UNABLE TO SEAL PROPERLY, REPLACED EXPANSION VALVE, AND ORINGS, ALLOWED 12 HOURS TO PASS CHECKED FOR LEAK AGAIN, EXPANSION VALVE FITTINGS NO LONGER LE
@172: REP EXPANSION VALVE ~ ~REPLACE LEAKING EXPANSION VALVE ~ ~ ~ ~172751 EXPANSION VALVE LEAKING CP 250 REPLACED EXPANSION VALVE

@145k: REPLACED TRANS TEMP SENSOR AND TRANS WIRE ~ ~CLIENT STATES: INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC FEE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - VSC TRAC LIGHTS ARE ON - CLIENT DRIVING AT ALTITUDE IN COLORADO WHEN LIGHT CAME ON ~ ~ ~ ~400 REPLACED TRANS TEMP SENSOR AND TRANS WIRE
@ 143k: REPLACED ALL 4 MOTOR MOUNTS
@120k: ~ ~REPLACE DRIVE BELT ~ ~

When i looked at the service history, this guy seemed to take the car every 3000-5000miles to the same Lexus dealer for inspections and services. Long story makes short, RUN AWAY or BUY IT?

Best,
Frank.

Franks87

ps: I tested drive the car, it is very smooth and seems better than my 2009 Camry V6 with 90k miles- which I bought new and havent done anything but recall and regular maintenance.
The paint is good, interior is well taken care of. If we buy it, what to expect in the next 2-3 years of ownership ? (my sis is a new driver and she might drive 5000-7000 miles per year)

ESh

That's too much mileage, even for a Lexus.
I bet Honda Civic 2006+ would be better buy.

LexBob2

I agree. $5k with 240k miles as a first car for your sister is too much and the $5k could be better spent elsewhere.

ThumperPup

in my opinion, only time a car with 240k is good is if your the one who has put the 240k on it then you know all about the car already.

I had my 07 ES350 with 44k when I bought it now has 173k and only reason I feel comfortable with it is that fact that I put 130k on it and I know what it does and doesn't need

however, at the same time, i don't think 5k is too much for that car I think 5k is a good price fair price for that car if it been well maintained.

you have to thinka about market value what is a car worth what other cars are selling for.

I know i just had to have about 2700 in collision work done to my 2007 with 173k on it because someone backed into my front end
i was expecting the insurance company to total the car out and try and give me like 5k for it.
They fixed it because the FMV Fiar market value on my 2007 with 173k on it they would have had to wright me a check for 9,000 that's with my 1,000 deductible they were saying my value was 10,300 the FMV so i know in my area the same car with 240k would probably be about 8000

Franks87

Thanks a bunch guys,

Presumptive value for the car is $6700- using DMV standard presumptive calculator and that what we expect to pay for the title transfer tax.
Offer him $4200. Let see if he really want to get rid of it.




Ps: TIMING COVER LEAKING. ~ ~ ~ ~,CUSTOMER DECLINED==> looks like this one is a serious defect but he declined to fix it.

tolian21

I dont get it, if car has all service records and in good condition, why low Ball on the price?

tolian21

Cant demand spotless service service details on a car with 240k miles. He should be glad that car was maintained for most part at the dealer and that information is available. I would not br surprised dealer lied about leak or exaguarated, when car gets old there are always oil spots around timing chain cover. Its a car with 240k miles, take it for what its worth or move on.

mlacomb

Why low ball? That's what you do when you buy a car, you haggle. By all means, if you like the car and like the price, pay it. As for me - never pay sticker, plenty of other vehicles out there.

12jimmyjam

It's definitely ok to haggle here. With that mileage it's going to be more difficult to sell. It's business- not personal.

That being said, I'm sure a buyer will appear. Folks buy high mileage vehicles all the time.

tolian21

sure, you can haggle, no one will stop you. As long as you are not upset if he sells it to someone else. In used car market the inventory for particular models are offten limited. if he wants this particular model for 4k-5k range, does he have a long list of sellers ? Can he buy another brand, or he wants this particular model and year. Do other sellers have better service history. Those are the questions to ask yourself. All depends on what you want to do.
when I buy new cars, I hagle a lot because identical product is available at multiple places. With old used cars, each car is unique and inventoty is limited

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I can't stand haggling for a car. I might be in the minority, but buying a car should be like going to the grocery store. Theres a price, and you either pay it or you don't, my time and the frustration aren't worth it.

Back to the OP, this car could be a 5k steal, or a huge money pit, its too hard to say with that many miles, even with the service records. Personally, when my brother began to drive 4 years ago, , I had a 2001 ES300 with 240k miles that my dad had bought brand new that I wanted to give him. Despite its perfect shape, and full service history, we decided to sell it and get something newer. It's hard to put a new driver in a car with that many miles, especially if they aren't handy or know how to fix small issues (which you are bound to have on a car with that many miles). Honestly, while I hate leasing and I wouldn't for myself, for 5k you, can get a lease on a Civic or something like it and have the comfort of a new car and a warranty and might be the best choice unless you're willing/ able to be there when something goes wrong.

12jimmyjam

duplicate post

Franks87

Thank you guys,
Maybe I should get her a Civic.
The lexus is well maintanced, one owner but he listed for 3 weeks and it is still there???

Also, it is completely okay to haggle...it is a business anyway.

Franks87

it is not low balling. I just feel it is okay to give a try at $4200 + TTL fee==> $5k anw. There is a chance that it could be a lemon to the next owner so...please forgive me!