Hey, all, I have come across a 2015 IS with only 1,732 miles. The images look like it just came off the showroom floor. Are there sound reasons to NOT buy a car like this? The owner wants a stupid amount of money for it because it's essentially a 10 year old brand new car, so I doubt I'll be able to come to terms with her on it, but if I can, am I just asking for trouble because of dried out gaskets, seals, rust inside the power train, etc? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

 

Do you really want a 2015? Is their asking price close enough to just get an actual brand new IS?

 

you ask a couple of very good questions. thanks for that.

they want stupid money for it - which i won't pay - but assuming at some point they get tired of sitting on it and come down to a somewhat more reasonable price, i just think it'd be fun to have essentially a brand new 2015. but, i wouldn't be able to afford to pay a premium for it and then have to also put a lot of money into to because it's been sitting for 10 years. i know the mechanics of old vehicles suffer from sitting - i just don't know how much it affects modern, well engineered cars like a Lexus.

 

What were they asking? 250 or 350? Rwd or awd?

 

KBB estimates the price for a perfect condition fully loaded 2015 IS 350 with 1700 miles being sold by a private party at about 30K. Setting price aside for the moment, and focusing on how little the car is used, my questions would be:

1. Why only 1700 miles on a ten year old car? Does it sit or is it (supposedly) started regularly?
2. Are maintenance records available? Fluids still need to be changed. They don't last forever.
3. How old are the tires? Rubber deteriorates over time. The manufacture date is usually the last 4 of the DOT tire identifier number on the sidewall. No matter what some manufacturers say about a 10 year tire life, I'd not trust anything over 6 years old.
4. Will they take you and the car to a dealer for a pre buying inspection? If they are not willing to allow a pre buy inspection (even if you pay for it), I'd walk away.

Back to price. You can probably find a 22-23 CPO IS350 for somewhere between 40-45.

 

Driven regularly, 1/4 mile at a time.

 

appreciate your well thought out questions, Orkboyz. liked kj07xk's reply. funny.

the seller has been completely unresponsive, so, it's like if someone isn't going to just hand them $44k, they aren't interested. oh well.

thanks for y'all's help.