Just want to get some input from fellow Lexus member. I currently own 2018 IS300 F Sport with 34k miles, fully paid off. I saw an 2017 ultrasonic with red interior GS350 with 31k miles for 39kish. The Carfax looks good with two owner and no accidents, but there a lot of paint issue on the car with picture below. They said if I am to trade in my Lexus IS300 they will give me 29-30k for it. Do you guys think its worth the trouble with those paint issues or just wait patiently for another newer year GS350?

 

GS drive like a boat. You'd be going from a sports oriented compact car to a literal boat. They should at least fix the paint before they sell it to you, I've had my car repainted and it's never the same as Lexus factory. Also, you've owned your car for whatever said miles, you know how you maintained it.. you don't really know how this person did and by the looks of the paint, probably not well. I personally wouldn't unless you're a huge fan of the GS and need a more family oriented vehicle.

 

Those small dealership agent said they will do a touch up if I'm interested, but I highly doubt they will do much as to only wash & polish the car. Those are deep scratches and some paint chips so I highly doubt they will be able to fix those paint issues. I will probly have to pay out of my pocket outside shop to redo the paint if I go to that route right? So maybe just wait it out and maybe look for 2021 IS350 down the road?

 

Should've done the touch ups before they sent the pics and touch up paint looks like trash because I've used it myself lmao (unless you know what you're doing). Those scratches look sus, why are they on the side of the car..? I'm sure a good body shop can make it look good but knowing body shops, they will say "we need to paint the whole door and blend the panels".. I had a similar door ding / scratch and I took the cheap route and got a *******y body shop to do it. I can tell in my side view mirror when I look back how blurry the paint looks. That door paint job will cost you at least $500-600 maybe more with todays prices and yeah you'd 100% pay out of pocket for that.

That's just the inconvenience factor, but they literally drive completely different.

 

I definitely wouldn’t do this deal.

 

Too many paint issues for me, though it is a nice color combo. I might do it for the right price just because it's Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0, but then again you never know what else happened to the car if it has that many scratches.

 

Ya that's was one of the reason I was temped to do the trade. It's NY so I assume the car has seen it days parking on the streets. I'm gonna see if they can lower it and have them buffed it up.

 

That paint looks pretty bad. I’d be worried about the spots potentially rusting. How long has that portion on the bottom with the missing paint been exposed?

Personally, I wouldn’t trade an IS for a GS. I especially wouldn’t trade into this one. If the previous owner took care of it, they would at least put touch up paint on the areas that chipped away to prevent exposure/rust.

 

Coming from a GS owner I absolutely would NOT buy this car. And if y'all think the GS drives like a boat lol try the ES or LS!

 

Really? I heard great things from GS owner saying it's comfortable, spacious and smooth. More than enough power compared to my is300.

 

I meant I would not buy the car with the paint issues that you showed.

The GS is a great, luxurious cruiser with plenty of power that I don't feel is a boat at all. It's More sporty than the ES and LS which are more focused on comfort so they are the "boats."

I've had an IS 300 loaner. GS is in another class. the only advantage is apple carplay or AA but I had that added aftermarket to my GS so that's not an issue

 

I will look around for some more. I see one on CarMax in blue with red interior 2018 for 44k with 27k miles vs 2019 black with red interior for 39k with 40k miles but also have triple beam and hud. Which would you prefer?

 

GS's are handsome nice cars, set of coilover's if handling is an issue and your done.
If not this GS then look else where, keep looking but sell your IS privately first and now.

 

Without knowing their service or accident history I would get the Blue one b/c I car more about color than features like HUD and headlights and I hate black b/c 1. it's a boring color (black, white, silver, gray) and 2. it's impossible to keep clean esp if you live in a snowy/rainy place like NY. Personally I only buy blue or red cars. I have a Riviera Red 2013 GS AWD. I love red Lexuses.

Also you need an AWD GS if you live in NY. If you don't care about color then get the one the has the best service history, zero or only a "minor" accident (which is usally scratches, scrapes or small dents) and the one that has the features you want and that appeals to you visually the most.

But I would never buy a car w/o knowing it's servicing history which you can find on drivers.lexus.com (for all Lexus dealer service) and running a CarFax which shows you Lexus and other mechanic servicing/oil changes and also will show if the car has had any accidents. CarMax never provides a CarFax which is annoying so you can buy one at CarFax.com

A friend of mine wanted to buy a CarMax car recently but after he ran the CarFax he saw that it had "moderate" damage after an accident which CarMax did not disclose.

 

Triple beams are cool looking but do they make a big difference from other LED lights? I have no experience with triple beams so I can't say. You have to test drive the car and see if it appeals to you and if something like HUD is a deal breaker to you. It's not to me and I prefer cars with less mileage b/c the paint will be in better condition (fewer rock chips and paint swirls/imperfections.)

And if you buy a car from a rust/road salt state, damaged paint and rust may be an issue.

Forgot to mention that even CarFax will not list all accidents. I had a Pre Purchase Inspection done on my car at an independent mechanic and they found it had been in a "minor" accident that was not on the CarFax since the owner had it repaired and paid out of pocket instead of going through insurance. They did a good job with the repair and it wasn't even noticeable so I went ahead with the purchase.