Considering a LS430, please give me your input!
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Oh and thanks for those postings. The one in FL seems like the dream buy to me (southern car, at a legit Lexus dealership). I hope something like that pops up in the area soon. I was told to be wary of 3rd party sellers. Do you know anyone trustworthy ones? I still feel my best bet is a dealership.
Also, this is a question that I should've asked from the start: is Lexus cpo warranty honored at every Lexus dealer nationwide? My dad brought this up at dinner last night and I really wasn't sure. He didn't think cpo transfers.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Took a look at your last link caddyowner. I have been eyeballing that for a very long time. I love the fact that it's a Cali car and that it's basically the same as a cpo. However, I'm just not really a fan of the color. No offense to those who like the black cherry color (or owns one) but I really much prefer silver, black, dark blue, or dark grey (just my personal taste). If my deal with the dealer doesn't go through then this is a good choice.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,810
Likes: 15
From: MI
Per the Lexus website, the current CPO warranty:
Transferability
The Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty is not transferable to any subsequent owner.
If bought in the past, it may be transferable, though. I would check with a dealer.
One thing to be wary of with private party sellers are curbstoners - unlicensed dealers that buy and sell cars and pose as a private party. These folks don't usually transfer the vehicles into their name to avoid paying tax. When you look at a car, aside from carfax, autocheck, and mechanic inspection, compare the name on the title to the sellers drivers license to verify that he/she is the actual owner. If you get the "Oh, I'm selling it for my uncle Jim" line, just walk away.
I've bought and sold a number of cars with private parties. I bought one car with a title that didn't match the seller. The guy claimed he bought the older Monte Carlo on a lark and brought it home. The story was that his wife rejected the 2-door car because they had a new baby and using the carseat was a PITA. I don't know if the story was true, but the car was for one of my sons and it turned out to be OK.
Transferability
The Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty is not transferable to any subsequent owner.
If bought in the past, it may be transferable, though. I would check with a dealer.
One thing to be wary of with private party sellers are curbstoners - unlicensed dealers that buy and sell cars and pose as a private party. These folks don't usually transfer the vehicles into their name to avoid paying tax. When you look at a car, aside from carfax, autocheck, and mechanic inspection, compare the name on the title to the sellers drivers license to verify that he/she is the actual owner. If you get the "Oh, I'm selling it for my uncle Jim" line, just walk away.
I've bought and sold a number of cars with private parties. I bought one car with a title that didn't match the seller. The guy claimed he bought the older Monte Carlo on a lark and brought it home. The story was that his wife rejected the 2-door car because they had a new baby and using the carseat was a PITA. I don't know if the story was true, but the car was for one of my sons and it turned out to be OK.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Good advice there. Another reason why I am looking at a dealership. Yeah they might be a bit more expensive, but I know that there won't be anything fishy later especially if I get it in writing.
If the car itself were a CPO (warranty not active yet), would the warranty be honored at any Lexus dealer? I called about this yesterday and they said yes, but maybe you guys have some actual experiences?
If the car itself were a CPO (warranty not active yet), would the warranty be honored at any Lexus dealer? I called about this yesterday and they said yes, but maybe you guys have some actual experiences?
CL Community Team
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,915
Likes: 227
From: Alabama
CPO is a Lexus corporate product - honored by any Lexus dealer - 3years or up to 100k miles total on the car. The Miles limit means if you buy the used Lexus CPO car with 60k miles on it, the CPO warranty is for 3 years from your purchase date or when you put 40K miles more miles on it (so it hits 100k total). So if you drive 20k a year the CPO would only last you 2 years.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Right, so I expanded my search to 500 miles (my parents probably won't want to go that far, they are already unhappy with 200 miles but just in case). There was a very nice ML car brown on tan going for 25k cpo. If they advertise at this price, I am sure they will be more likely to go down to my 23k target. Here is a link, let me know what you guys think!
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Another question (surprising right? lol), is there an optional extended warranty that I can have with a CPO? I read online somewhere that there is an additional 3 yr / 25k warranty available, bring the potential total to 6 yr/ 125k, better than most new cars. If this is true (and will be honored at all Lexus dealers), then I might require this if my offering of 23-23.5k is not met. What do you guys think?
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CL Community Team
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,915
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From: Alabama
"professionally installed front and rear radar detector" - I don't like seeing that, might be fine ..but could also indicate it might have been driven hard. Its a NJ car - likely means lots of pothole filled roads and 6 years of hard winters with ice/snow and salted roads.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
Lexus offers the Lexus Platinum Warranty with 5,6, and 7 years and varying combinations of total mileages of 70,000, 75,000 and 100,000 miles. When I bought my 04 CPO UL with 21,000 miles in 07 I purchased the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty as it allowed me to get the year and expected mileage to match up.
Worked perfect for me. Go to the Lexus site and you should be able to find a full description of the Lexus Warrantys (they also offered a Gold Warranty). It will give you suggested retail pricing for both $0 deductible and $50 deductible as well as full listing of what is and is not covered.
Worked perfect for me. Go to the Lexus site and you should be able to find a full description of the Lexus Warrantys (they also offered a Gold Warranty). It will give you suggested retail pricing for both $0 deductible and $50 deductible as well as full listing of what is and is not covered.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
"professionally installed front and rear radar detector" - I don't like seeing that, might be fine ..but could also indicate it might have been driven hard. Its a NJ car - likely means lots of pothole filled roads and 6 years of hard winters with ice/snow and salted roads.
). Just seemed like a decent enough deal. I might get their bottom line pricing to use as a haggling tool for the one I'm currently looking at.Lexus offers the Lexus Platinum Warranty with 5,6, and 7 years and varying combinations of total mileages of 70,000, 75,000 and 100,000 miles. When I bought my 04 CPO UL with 21,000 miles in 07 I purchased the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty as it allowed me to get the year and expected mileage to match up.
Worked perfect for me. Go to the Lexus site and you should be able to find a full description of the Lexus Warrantys (they also offered a Gold Warranty). It will give you suggested retail pricing for both $0 deductible and $50 deductible as well as full listing of what is and is not covered.
Worked perfect for me. Go to the Lexus site and you should be able to find a full description of the Lexus Warrantys (they also offered a Gold Warranty). It will give you suggested retail pricing for both $0 deductible and $50 deductible as well as full listing of what is and is not covered.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
Yep. The color is probably one of the least important things about a car from a technical standpoint, but it really does make or break it for me. I tend to ignore the colors that don't look great in the small thumbnails on autotrader. I am at a 3-way tie between the brown, green, and gold as the colors I dislike the most.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
I did some reading about the extended warranty, but did not run across consistent pricing. It ranged anywhere from 800-2900 according to different threads... Does anyone here have it? Has it proved useful, or is it better just to save the money (as someone suggested) and use that + interest to pay for repairs if they do occur?
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,682
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When I was doing my car search almost 4 months ago, if there wasn't an available "Free Carfax", I usually ignored that particular car. I know if my car had a very strong carfax (1-2 owners with service records) I would have it right in everyone's face!