mrjazz

Saw this Lexus at the dealer. It is in very good condition. 2000 LS 400 with 79,000+ miles. Hasn't
had timing belt yet. I am going to take it to an independent Lexus shop to have it checked out before
buying. Just wondered what you guys thought of this particular car and its price. Those are original sport wheels I believe.
By the way, I entered all the info on the Lexus site and it has had a very good maintenance history.
Here is a link:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...32756934&Log=0

Cheers
mrjazz

LMoney4o8

iTrader: (2)

Too expensive IMO. It is clean though but personally, I wouldn't buy it

phlorida

That appears to be a nice vehicle with incredible low miles. They are asking right at NADA retail. I'd offer to give them that price with the timing belt replaced.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

those aren't factory or factory option wheels at all. overpriced a bit but you're paying for the mileage.

I wouldn't touch it without having the full timing belt/90k mi. service.

Your choice to pay the high premium.

ls400geek

Keep in mind the car is 13 years old and could start leaking from the front seals soon -- regardless of the miles. 1998-2000 LS400s have Variable Valve Timing and to replace the camshaft seals is 5 hours labor per head since the camshafts have to be removed (unlike the 1997 and lower where you can change the camshaft seals in minutes).

I bought a 1998 with 179000 miles for $5000. I knew it needed a timing belt change and that the front seals were leaking. I figured this could all be done for under $1000 and decided to buy it (after the pre-purchase inspection at Lexus dealership). (I didn't know how complicated it was to replace those camshaft seals.) Turns out it cost me $2300 to replace the timing belt, water pump, 2 timing pulleys, 1 drivebelt pulley, camshaft seals, crankshaft seal--because the job is so complicated I had to take it to a Lexus dealership; anyone else would most certainly likely fail on this task and ruin the heads. It also turns out that the cam timing oil sensors get clogged up when doing this job--the dealership replaced them both for me free of charge (normally $95 per head for the part)--they didn't want to sit there for hours keep trying to flush out the carbon from these cam timing oil sensors.

I got about $8000 in this car now, about a $1000 more than I wanted to spend, but I know it'll last me a long time now since those front seals, water pump, pulleys & timing belt are fresh. I'd hate to spend $13k on a car though and then spend another $2300 to replace the camshaft seals on it.

Dranom

iTrader: (7)

Price is high

Kansas

I've seen lower mileage early LS430's here in the midwest for similar or lower prices but they were private party sales. It's different with you being in the "reality-free zone" of California. The biggest "issue" with that car is that it has the horribly obsolete navigation system - no updates since 2004. Run, run away from it.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

I drove by South bay Lexus today, I missed that one. Price is high but typical of a dealer lot price. The wheels are Haggle them for some 18" GS wheels instead.

ls400geek

I really want 2007 GS350 18" wheels They look so good! RA40, btw did you modify your suspension to handle the 18"s or did you keep it stock?