Jeffn

Hello all, primate here on my 1st post. I ran across a 2000 LS today and always admired them since they arrived(I took my 90y.o. Italian nonna to see the grand opening of Massapequa Lexus in NY-she was impressed!)

Anyway, this on has 80k, supposed 2 owners, no records but the guy claims to have done valve covers gaskets just this week(still smells of oil on manifolds) and a new starter(are they really under the intake??). Clean but needs bumper covers painted and faded pinstriping wiped off or refreshed.

The one thing I noticed right off was a hum like a Ford power steering pump which was very unLexus like. I even felt it through the wheel. I thought it might be the a/c pump and it seemed to quiet but not stop with the air off.

Any thoughts? It seems like a deal at 5900 asking and looks like all nice OEM paint but for the flat spray painted bumpers by the 90y.o. owner(I think this guy is selling it for him on an open title).

Signed,

smoky in FL

dicer

Too much I think.

Stroock639

yes the starter really is under the intake (not necessarily such a bad thing) and the power steering pump will whine like that if there's some air in the system, low fluid, or the screen at the bottom of the reservoir is clogged with dirt. it could also just be the pump itself but the power steering on these is sort of the "achilles heal" of the LS.

if you could get it down to $5000 that wouldn't be so bad, but with only 80,000 miles idk why the starter or valve cover gaskets would even need to be replaced... that's the only thing making this a bit sketchy for me. anyway is the noise you hear like this?

https://soundcloud.com/jakesiegs/lexuspsnoise

Jeffn

Maybe for the condition and I should run from more projects. Other similar 2000s locally here are around 10k and they NADA for more than that also. Seems like too many issues for a lo-mile Lexus for any age.

Jeffn

And yes, that sounds like the irritating noise but maybe not as loud on this one. Just a new PS pump or more complex?

lextout

5900 is a steal of a deal, yet offer 5000 if the tbelt needs replacement, at least the starter was replaced, that's a 1000$ job its self.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

What these cars are worth and what they are actually selling for are two different values, same with 4Runner. Considering the miles, that's a steal because any LS around me for that price has twice the miles.

Jeffn

Seems cheap but add in painting 2 bumpers, pinstripe remove or repaint, has some added on woodgrain that's curling inside and the PS pump (perhaps) and it's still got oil drip smoke/stank and I think it's too much of a project right off the bat. Here another: http://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/5496825798.html

mappo

That's not a bad price at all if it's all that it seems. I'd pay the $30 or whatever it is to get the carfax, or press the seller to provide it themselves, to see if the miles & number of owners is accurate if nothing else. Timing belt should have already been done at this point, if it hasn't that's another bargaining point.

Here another: http://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/5496825798.html

Definitely go 2000 over 95, if price and condition are comparable.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

buy it, fix it and have a nice low mileage LS.. mine has 200+ and still looks and runs good

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

RUN...DO NOT WALK AWAY.

You NEVER want to buy a car with an "open title", especially off Craigslist. These bottom of the barrel SCUM are defacto dealers breaking the law who prey on the unsuspecting public, selling sub-standard cars which are "buy-here, pay-here" rejects.

Buy your car from this site, Autotrader, eBay, a licensed used car dealer or any other source that you can deal with the owner directly and who has a car with maintenance records, etc. CARFAX is essential, and you can use the Lexus website to get records with VIN.

Her's on example which recently sold: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lex...-for-sale.html

dicer

If someone is painting the faded bumpers with a rattle can then what other nonprofessional things have been done to it ? Did they let their kid fix the bumpers? And then there is, power steering has trouble, timing belt is due. I would itemize the cost to fix everything against what a fixed car would go for and hit them up with that.
And like the guy above says......Maybe it was a flood car too. Anyway the crap bumper fix alone would turn me off, and any interior defect other than normal small wear on the driver seat is a turn off, especially when more than 1200 is being spent to buy it. For 5 to 10 grand I want only perfect body and paint and interior, the engine and transmission can be broke but yeah for that cost they better not be. And always look under any car to make sure the floor has not been worn through from some kid lowering it, also worn fender lips from tires rubbing them.

Scraape

the whine must just be the power steering pump, they're known to leak so maybe it's low on fluid. These cars are reliable as hell, as long as you somewhat keep up with maintenance

........didn't read the part about open title. RUN!