Thoughts on 08 LS600h Potential Purchase
 

Hey everyone,

I've been a longtime lurker and previous owner of a 430 but am thinking of getting a 460/600. I came across a 600 with 125k miles near me from a small used car dealer, likely sourced from a dealer auction.

A little history about the car is that it is a 2 owner car, clean title, no accidents reported. It was sold at 54k in late 2011 and last serviced at 122k in oct 2017. From the service history I was able to pull up, it has been dealer serviced and then indy shop serviced every 5k with regular oil changes.

Major items done were:
2011- 54k - starting battery replaced
2011 - 55k - brake fluid, spark plugs, fuel injection system, valve rocker arms serviced, engine valve springs replaced (likely post private sale).
2016 - 112k trunk release switch replaced, trunk lock replaced
2016 - 115k front & rear shocks replaced, lower control arms replaced

No history of hybrid battery issue or service. I have inquired locally from a hybrid battery shop that works with all sort of hybrids and they quoted me a 2500 hybrid replacement (liekly swapping it out for a replaced battery versus total new unit).

Only wear and tear on interior is the center console leather being worn down and slightly discolored and needing some reupholestry. New Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ on 19 factory 19's are a plus. Likely unused original spare tire in trunk.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

Sounds like potentially a nice car. What's the asking price? With those miles, I would think somewhere under $19k would be expected.

On the plus side, you'd have brand new air ride shocks all around (a major potential expense for this car), and the control arm replacements are also a plus. Potential other problems are the brake actuators, upper control arms, ML amp, wind noise and hybrid batteries. None of these offer cheap solutions (except the wind noise), so you'd have to be comfortable with the possibility of a major expense over the next couple of years. I'm not sure how the hybrid batteries could be repaired/replaced for $2500. I don't think its easy (or even possible) to locate and replace individual worn out cells, and there are no viable aftermarket battery packs for the LS600 that I know of. A new OEM Lexus hybrid battery can be purchased for around $4k, with another $1k for installation.

I'd say if the price is low enough and you're financially able to sustain a possible major repair, this might be a great car for you. It probably cost somewhere north of $100K when new...

I agree with riknchar.

Thanks for the advice. Currently they are asking 17.5k for it. With tax and doc fees, I'm hoping to walk out paying no more than 17.3 as they have had the car for over 30 days. It appears there is a niche market for older vehicles (10+ yrs) with 100k+ miles and less ability to finance makes such cars a bit more difficult to move.

This is one of the rare cases where I would seriously recommend a aftermarket warranty for a Japanese car, there are so many very expensive things that can go wrong with the hybrid LS and because it weighs so much more it will be harder on suspension components, the history does not show control arms or air suspension shocks being replace so I would budget a couple thousand just for that.

​​​​​​You must have missed it.

Yep, did miss it. That is at least some good news.

Another way to look at this deal is to note how much the "price premium" associated with owning the LS600hL compared to a similar LS460 has shrunk over the years. In 2008, when this LS600hL was new, it probably cost around $110K, compared to roughly $75-80K for a similar LS460L. In other words, at that point, it cost around $30-35K more than the 460.

Today, on the used market, I would think a 2008 LS460L loaded down with similar options as the LS600hL, with similar miles, would easily sell for around $14-15k. So the LS600hL "Premium" has shrunk from $30-35K when new to $2-3K today. Back when they were new, it was probably pretty hard to justify paying $35k more for an LS600hL, but now, with such similar prices, I think the LS600hLs might be a pretty good value. The relative rareness of the LS600hLs, along with the options not even available on the LS460L (leather dash, etc.), make it an attractive buy. The main risk for the LS600hL is the hybrid batteries failing. I'm very interested in getting more info about the hybrid shop that quoted you $2500 to fix the LS600hLs batteries...

Older hybrids just don't hold their value, for some reason (maybe people are afraid of the potential cost of traction battery repair/replacement). Look at the RX400/450 prices - frequently, they are lower than their non-hybrid RX350 equivalents!

I so wanted a 600 with executive seating. I even researched fixing failing batteries ala the Prius forums but found no options for the 600 hybrid battery.

I am new to this site but I bought my 600 with only 45k miles on it and I am loving every single minute of this car. When I compare it with my S550 & my 750i hands down Lexus wins. Through out my entire ownership experience I've never had any crazy maintenance issues. The hybrid battery never gave me any issues. The only issue I came across is the air suspension and that is it.

Still haven't pulled the trigger on the 600 and it's still sitting there. Seems like that the case with many 600s as hybrid fears and premium gas prices may be weighing on potential buyers' minds. I know I can get the car for 15.9 + taxes but am still weighing out my options. From a local auto contact, I know that Manheim MMR for these 08's are going for 12,250 (139k miles - 3.8/5 grade). So this one would maybe be adding another 1k or so making this selling around 13,250 k at auctions + buyer fees. Granted, it could be lower or higher, but I figure that the dealer bought it for under 14k.

While looking, I also came across a a 600h with 290k miles that was used as a limo. Hybrid battery had issues at 125k (4 yrs), more issues at 203k and finally replaced at 223k (in 2015). No engine issues, just mainly suspension air struts and control arms, auxiliary battery. 240k (2016) engine and transmission mounts were an issue. Also had a transmission d/f at 200k.

So, for a 600h, it seems that yes there will be a HV battery in the near future should I purchase the vehicle. Nothing major besides air struts from what I gather from other similar car histories.

On the 2500 battery quote for replacement with a repaired HV battery is a shop in the OC. I think they are a battery shop. Gotta track down the name later. But they offered a 2 yr warranty with that quote and i think its a 200-350 deductible for replacements. No exactly sure how that'd work.

Small update on this car. I purchased it in a roundabout way for $14.7k. Adding on 700 dealer fee + 150 transport + 65 doc fee + 58.25 smog + 254 dmv + 1139 taxes. Grand total of 17,066.25.

Still going to have to wait till next Thursday or Friday to pickup the car since my dealer is out of town till then but a deal has been made.

So, the Base MMR for the car was 13,200 - 400 for excess mileage (3k over). Ended up costing 14,700 with was 1900 over the adjusted MMR. Autograde was a 3.3 - Average condition.

Some front and rear bumper dings and curb rash as well as a "broken rear bumper" which edge pops out on the driver rear fender wall but all in all, an above average 600h Southern California Lexus hybrid.

Thinking about stopping by to get the Transmission Fluid, both differentials, and an oil change serviced by a local Lexus guru near Westminster, CA as well as getting a more in-depth look by a hybrid battery company. Anything further advice to what I should be looking at would be much appreciated.

Small sidenote. The next tire size I am thinking of getting for this car are 255/45R19s versus the standard 245/45R19 that come standard.

Must say you're very good at negotiation. Excellent deal! In my experience, the dealers are the most difficult to deal with & they seldom go down on asking price. May be a few $100s. That's why I avoid them. How were you able to bring them down so much?

What is Base & Adjusted MMR? How do you determine the exact value?
And what is Autograde?

I keep going back & forth between 600h L, 460L, post 2011 models, etc. in my mind. Wonder if I can find aftermarket battery shop around Raleigh, NC, a relatively smaller city compared to CA. And on the other end, it appears that it's like taking a lot of chances since everything runs on this battery.