jtm1469

Hey everyone, just checking to see if anyone knows of someone that might want my 1996 Lexus LS 400? I am tired of dealers offering me $6,000 for the car. It has 118,000 easy highway miles and was used to commute in. The car is two tone silver and tan leather. Nak upgrade and CD changer, tinted windows and brand new tires. I live in Colorado and need a 4x4 to dig through the snow.. 16" last week. I will sell it for a fair price of $13,300 obo. Please let me know. Thanks.

Kansas

If in excellent condition and at 118,000 miles, the Kelley Bluebook trade-in value for a 96 LS with Nak and CD in the Denver 80002 ZIP code is $7,925. Based on what I have been seeing in the past few months with used car prices being in some sort of bizarre "free fall", the Kelly valuations are probably way too high. $6,000 may be realistic.

When I sold my previous LS last year, I saw other LS400's advertised week after week (actually month after month) at unreasonably high prices in the local paper. The reason I moved mine quickly (other than it being in extraordinary condition) is that I priced it at its true market value.

Where do you live in Colorado? I've spent the equivalent of many months driving (mainly Mercedes) rear wheel drive cars in the mountains of Colorado ski areas in the Winter over the past 30 years and I have not gotten stuck in the snow a single time. Do you really just need to buy a set of four decent snow tires?

jtm1469

Thanks for the info. I live in Loveland and have for 35 years. Kelly BB is a joke to most dealers. NADA has a trade value of 11,500, and a high Retial of 14,600. I have a local dealer that is offering 11,200 on a trade. I guess maybe I should take them up on it. Thanks for the info. Where do you live in Kansas?

audphile1

I sold my '96 LS with about same milage for 10,500 in June. You are asking too much I think. For that kind of money, I doubt you will sell it. Put it on www.autotrader.com. that is how I sold mine.

ychachad

Just 2 months ago, I got my 1995 LS400 for $8k with 122k miles, every single option and in mint condition. I thought that was a good deal. I think you can realistically expect $10k, no more. As great as these cars are, they are a hard sell, and NOT everybody is enamored by their greatness and high quality. Go for 10k now, or go for 9k 6 months from now because your price would have been too high, and by the time you do drop the price, the car will have depreciated further.

jvcn

The biggest single mistake sellers make is to want too high a price. Like it or not, a private seller will get a lower price than a dealer unless he has a friend who knows him well and trusts him for the sale. I talked to many sellers who simply had an unrealistic price and hence were still waiting for a sale after 4-6 months.

I got a near mint 95 with Nakamichi etc, and only 95K miles for only $8800 a few weeks ago and it had new tires, timing belt, front brakes, ps pump, alternator, hood struts, spark plugs and a few other things. I turned down two local offers for 96 LS400s with about 105K and 110K miles asking $11,500 and $10,900 respectively. A local dealer has a 96 with only 68K miles for about $13,900 and he can probably be talked even further down or asked to throw in a warranty.

If you can get 10K, do it and don't look back.

Lexusfreak

One has to always go by market value & it also depends where in the country your selling. For a private sale, the Auto Trader is a wise choice......however private selling can be a huge pain in the butt depending on the situation. If a dealer is offering a fair trade in, I would give it serious consideration.....your time & energy have to be worth something IMO. Good Luck!

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

Let me just tell you this, my friend bought a 1996 LS in EXCELLENT condition in 2001(over 3 years ago) with 58K for $13,200... I truly wish you good luck, but you have to be somewhat realistic.

jtm1469

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

BrickHead

Have you considered selling it to Car Max? They will buy your car even if you don't buy anything from them. Some people get good prices from them and some don't. I was pleased when I sold my Camry to them 4 years ago at $1000 over NADA's trade-in value. I waxed and cleaned the car real well before I took it there. I also left the print out of the 'retail' and 'trade-in' values on the passenger seat while they inspected the car. It wouldn't hurt to try. Good luck.