When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am running into a 2017 GSF (JTHBP1BL3HA002279) listed online with 34,605 miles, black on black. According to carfax history it's been marked as cooperate vehicle but without much of information and only shows 1 oil change.
The dealer is not that big, and it is not a lexus dealership. They told me he get the vehicle through auction. I do have a few videos sent by them, the car looks clean and neat inside and out.
My biggest concern - if the car sitting most of these year in the garage/parking lot without oil change in time, would that cause damage to the engine yet? Also the fluid sitting still might cause hose/rubber damage?
Meantime any of you know when the GSF comes to over 10 yrs or 100K miles, what would be the major repairs I should be be ready? I am ready to some repair but I hope it's not as crazy as my Mercedes over 100K miles.
This vehicle sold at auction in Seattle on 8/16/2023 for $45K and was listed as condition of 3.5 out of 5.0 scale. That's a low rating for low mileage vehicle. When I looked at the pics, the passenger side lower bumper is chipped up pretty bad and so is the middle and driver side. That's an expensive body piece plus the carbon in the middle section, never mind matching the paint on the metallic black. The dealer had to ship it across the US and then clean it up to what it is in the pictures. I think there is more room in the price. Maybe another $1500 to $2K at most. They've had it since August. The bigger issue, is in the current market, November 2023, I think its too much for the car. The wholesale pricing is definitely diving, and the retail will follow that curve. If you have to have the car, then go look at it and decide for yourself. If you can continue to wait, I think you will purchase for $5K-7K less within 6 months. Purely my opinion.
This vehicle sold at auction in Seattle on 8/16/2023 for $45K and was listed as condition of 3.5 out of 5.0 scale. That's a low rating for low mileage vehicle. When I looked at the pics, the passenger side lower bumper is chipped up pretty bad and so is the middle and driver side. That's an expensive body piece plus the carbon in the middle section, never mind matching the paint on the metallic black. The dealer had to ship it across the US and then clean it up to what it is in the pictures. I think there is more room in the price. Maybe another $1500 to $2K at most. They've had it since August. The bigger issue, is in the current market, November 2023, I think its too much for the car. The wholesale pricing is definitely diving, and the retail will follow that curve. If you have to have the car, then go look at it and decide for yourself. If you can continue to wait, I think you will purchase for $5K-7K less within 6 months. Purely my opinion.
Thank you so much for such details. When you mention the pics, is it the picture before they shipped to the current dealer? As I was told there is no paint scratches or chips on the paint..
Also, if you don't mind, where do you find those auction information, is there a website open for public? Regarding the price, I believe there might be still more room to go, they initially asked for 60K which is insane.
I have a black GSF and had the front bumper resprayed due to chipping. No issue matching the color. I would verify those are chips and not just dirt As many times I think i have a chip and then it's just a spec of dirt. Every spec shows up on a black car. Looking at my quote it was $440 for paint labor and $288 for paint supplies. Done at a reputable shop that is actually owned by the same group that owns the local Lexus dealership.but be warned the aftermarket paint is not as durable as the OEM, I got two chips within a few hundred miles. Then I add ppf and no issue even after tracking the car and getting blasted by rocks. I even resprayed the hood a shortly after doing the bumper and my biggest regret was not having them resprayed both at the same time to save some money. I would not be worried about duration car sat. The hood was about $800
Before flying out you can ask to have the car independently inspected by a nearby shop. I bought my GSF from a different state without seeing it. I just picked a local shop near the dealership and asked the dealership to take it there for an independent inspection. You will have to pay the shop of course. Ask for a detailed inspection, including scanning for codes, etc.
Thank you so much for such details. When you mention the pics, is it the picture before they shipped to the current dealer? As I was told there is no paint scratches or chips on the paint..
Also, if you don't mind, where do you find those auction information, is there a website open for public? Regarding the price, I believe there might be still more room to go, they initially asked for 60K which is insane.
I looked at the pics in the ad link you provided. The Auction listed the condition as a 3.5, not me. There is something or things of an issue if its rated that low. Lots of things can make it get here. Low tread tires, chips, dents, prior paint or body work, smoke smell, burnholes in the interior, etc and any combination of these or more. An independent party at the auction makes the inspection not the selling or buying dealer. Maybe this Dealer cleaned up/repaired whatever the issue/s were? No idea. The actual condition report is not viewable since the vehicle sold. No their isn't a public site to see this information.
I'm not you, nor is anyone else here. I had my GSF and had a great time with it. I won't put the car down one bit. The choice is yours.
When I was shopping for a GSF I was also looking at Manheim auction and actually bid on a one and did not get. There was a low milage blue gsf with 12k mile that I was willing to spend $48k on and the Manheim grade was mid 3. The morning of the auction that car was removed. A few days later it was relisted with a much higher score and price. The buying that I was working with though the dealership my brother worked at said that happens from time to time. Manheim does do a detailed inspection but people will pull car fix and send back though to Manheim. I have bought the car directly from Manheim with no issues.
@liazhang I used to live in the Atlanta area and there is a Lexus dealer about 6 miles away. Maybe you can get them to take it in and have Lexus check it out. Hennessey Lexus of Gwinnett. A sister Hennessey Lexus is who I went to and they were great.
@liazhang I used to live in the Atlanta area and there is a Lexus dealer about 6 miles away. Maybe you can get them to take it in and have Lexus check it out. Hennessey Lexus of Gwinnett. A sister Hennessey Lexus is who I went to and they were great.
I actually did find the dealer there and was also thinking about the option you mentioned. And thank you for letting me know it is a great dealer.
I looked at the pics in the ad link you provided. The Auction listed the condition as a 3.5, not me. There is something or things of an issue if its rated that low. Lots of things can make it get here. Low tread tires, chips, dents, prior paint or body work, smoke smell, burnholes in the interior, etc and any combination of these or more. An independent party at the auction makes the inspection not the selling or buying dealer. Maybe this Dealer cleaned up/repaired whatever the issue/s were? No idea. The actual condition report is not viewable since the vehicle sold. No their isn't a public site to see this information.
I'm not you, nor is anyone else here. I had my GSF and had a great time with it. I won't put the car down one bit. The choice is yours.
I see, thank you for getting all these details explained. Really appreciate it. I am now really on the fence, it will all depends the car's condition. I will probably ask the dealer send it for an inspection to make sure the trip don't let me down.
BTW, randomly was curious how long this one has been on the market and pulled up the CarFax. Looks like it was serviced at the Lexus dealer I mentioned back in August. You may be able to get some info out of the dealer if you called them.
11-16-23, 09:26 PM
Thoughts on this buying, worth the gambling?
