LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

Steal or not?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-11-19, 03:36 PM
  #1  
UspeedLs
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
UspeedLs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Steal or not?

Spotted a black LS400 at little car lot stopped to talk to them guy says starter needs to be replaced he has it and will have it done.AC does not really work.Interior in pretty clean and it has 111k miles on it they are asking $3500 steal or not?
Old 06-11-19, 03:52 PM
  #2  
Sin1UZFE
Racer
 
Sin1UZFE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: California
Posts: 1,383
Received 66 Likes on 59 Posts
Default

For non working AC? nah 1500....ac and starter fix assuming everything else is good.....depending on year and condition 3k
Old 06-11-19, 06:51 PM
  #3  
RA40
Super Moderator

iTrader: (6)
 
RA40's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 20,851
Received 472 Likes on 362 Posts
Default

If the A/C system has been open and doesn't hold the refrigerent that may be a compressor, condensor and misc stuff. At 111K miles it is also probably due for the timing belt. Two big areas for $ to be spent. Add in the other fluids for usual maintenance: PS, transmission, differential and brakes. Will also probably need the ECU capacitor fix which may be related to the A/C not working. My suggestion is to get the VIN and run it through the Lexus site for maintenance history. $3200-$3500 is acceptable if everything is up to date and 100%.

https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/history
Old 06-11-19, 08:47 PM
  #4  
jaaa
Lead Lap
 
jaaa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 707
Received 60 Likes on 53 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by UspeedLs
Spotted a black LS400 at little car lot stopped to talk to them guy says starter needs to be replaced he has it and will have it done.AC does not really work.Interior in pretty clean and it has 111k miles on it they are asking $3500 steal or not?
year? add ons?
Old 06-11-19, 09:39 PM
  #5  
spuds
Racer
 
spuds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SoCal mtns.
Posts: 1,601
Received 195 Likes on 176 Posts
Default

I'd pass.
Old 06-11-19, 11:24 PM
  #6  
UspeedLs
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
UspeedLs's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by jaaa
year? add ons?
97 and it’s stock.
Old 06-12-19, 08:07 AM
  #7  
Legender
Racer
 
Legender's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 1,856
Received 85 Likes on 76 Posts
Default

No deal... pass.
Old 06-12-19, 10:28 AM
  #8  
peterls
Instructor
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

$1500 if everything worked. Without AC, $1000, at the most. And if they do a lousy job on the starter (like screw up the wires for the knock sensors, or screw up the sensors themselves, or they don't replace the knock sensors at all) you may have to dig into that engine all over again.
In my view - no deal.
Keep in mind that this is an OLD car, and somethng is bound to fail very soon. So you are looking at:
1. Price of the car
2. Price to fix what you know is broken (AC)
3. Price to fix what you don't know is broken. And on a car that has more than one thing broken, I start wondering how diligent they were with the maintenance.
Even when a car is in a great condition, you will probably need new tires, new shocks, one or more suspension pieces (UCAs, Lower ball joints), a gasket here or there, MAF, who knows... and none of those are cheap even if you do your own work..
The following 2 users liked this post by peterls:
MrBodega (10-18-20), spuds (06-12-19)
Old 06-12-19, 10:56 AM
  #9  
Sin1UZFE
Racer
 
Sin1UZFE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: California
Posts: 1,383
Received 66 Likes on 59 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by peterls
$1500 if everything worked. Without AC, $1000, at the most. And if they do a lousy job on the starter (like screw up the wires for the knock sensors, or screw up the sensors themselves, or they don't replace the knock sensors at all) you may have to dig into that engine all over again.
In my view - no deal.
Keep in mind that this is an OLD car, and somethng is bound to fail very soon. So you are looking at:
1. Price of the car
2. Price to fix what you know is broken (AC)
3. Price to fix what you don't know is broken. And on a car that has more than one thing broken, I start wondering how diligent they were with the maintenance.
Even when a car is in a great condition, you will probably need new tires, new shocks, one or more suspension pieces (UCAs, Lower ball joints), a gasket here or there, MAF, who knows... and none of those are cheap even if you do your own work..
I'd offer 500 and fix what needs to be fixed slowly
Old 06-15-19, 02:02 AM
  #10  
Losiracer2
Racer
 
Losiracer2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 1,278
Received 211 Likes on 171 Posts
Default

i would pass on this. At 111k, everything should be working. Sounds like this car is going to be a nightmare for someone as it was neglected. On my 300k mile car, everything was working as it should and it was a 97'. Sold it for $2500 since all the preventative maintenance was done until 350k miles for the next buyer and I had records for everything, plus its probably the only 100% rust free AZ car in MI.
Old 06-15-19, 09:09 AM
  #11  
Fit1too
Advanced
 
Fit1too's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Indiana
Posts: 592
Received 125 Likes on 109 Posts
Default

Deduct $500-1000 for being at a car lot, deduct $1200 for the starter, deduct $1000 for the A/C, deduct $1000 for the timing belt and water pump, and he'll be paying you to take the car! The starter is located under the intake and many things have a tendency to break along the way to getting it out. All those "things" have to be repaired (correctly) or you'll be back here asking why does my car ___________. Same with the TB & WP, the neck for the top hose on my radiator partially disintegrated upon removal. That was an added expense I did not foresee. The A/C system is something I have no way of repairing unless it is a simple fuse or relay. If it is something else, then I am at the mercy of a repair shop. Also, if you can't even start it or drive it, then it is a guessing game all the way around.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bernynhel
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
8
06-06-14 01:04 AM
moodylu
Lexus Vehicles Classifieds
4
03-18-13 08:03 AM
fisher9720
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
4
11-08-11 01:18 PM
rx3scrappy
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
1
03-06-10 07:11 PM
seesaw
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
1
12-28-05 08:21 PM



Quick Reply: Steal or not?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:31 PM.