^Thank you. I've approached every used Lexus, and car purchase in general, with the idea that if I can't afford to buy it flat out, I won't be able to fix it if something goes seriously wrong.

I don't lease for several reasons, but one of the main ones is because I drive 25-30k miles a year, so not only would I blow past my miles, it just makes more sense to buy a heavily depreciated, nice, reliable car, drive it for 3-4 years, then sell it. In your case, if you don't drive a lot, want a nice car, and have no problems making monthly payments, a lease might not be a bad option for you. A lease deal my sales guy sent me on a 2016 IS came out to be like 13k out the door for 3 years with 12k a year.

That being said, if you are considering an RX, and reliability and smoothness are what you are looking for, I think an ES350 would suit you better than a GS. It'll be cheaper to maintain, insure, and run, has more room, and I'd argue is more comfortable than the GS while being just as, if not more reliable than the GS.

 

Most dealerships will offer you an extended warranty on the car, and if you do finance you can have that be part of it. Although in my case with my 460 I never even have used it because I haven't ever had an issue. So it kind of feels like a waste of $3000, but it's nice to have peace of mind. I mean financing can be a great way to build credit for someone young like him, and Lexus are reliable cars. 3rd gen GS350s have really come down in price lately as well.

 

Funny how everyone is getting on the Younger person in the thread and trying to teach him finances. I wonder How many people here that gave that advise have any remote understanding of actual money management. I dare say over 90 percent of people on clublexus have financed a car, or are still financing today. With that said, the same could be found whether you drive a Kia, or a Bugatti Veyron. There are people that finance because they have better ways to use their cold hard cash. Point is, there are many different reasons to finance. Just because someone does not pay in cash, does not mean they cant afford it. Obviously, this kid has some good knowledge of money management for him to be able to save and consider purchasing/Financing.

With that said, Like someone mentioned already- Go with a 460, or 430. They are much more "reliable". Although if you know what to look for, any model will be just as good. If you plan on modifying the 3GS at all, stay away from the AWD model. The 3rd Generation GS has come down plenty in price for good deals to be had for everyone. At the end of the day, almost anyone can afford it now as it is going into its 11th year since it was first introduced in 2006. Still a great modern car with many amenities and options to offer. The 3GS is a much better car than an ES. I would not consider purchasing the ES at all. Things to look for when purchasing a car and an honest truth to car buying the smart way, is stay away from cars that have HUGE depreciation. In other words, try to purchase something that does not depreciate as much. That is real world, honest advice I can give you if you are purchasing a car and MUST have one (or a nicer one). Truth is, cars are the worst thing to purchase as they have huge depreciation, but if you make a good choice, you can either come out on top, or break even (which is always better than losing).

Good Luck!