Hey guys,

Debating on buying a 2001 LS430. Has 68K on the clock, original 80 year old couple buyers... Husband passed and I can buy for $12K, maybe a little less. Looks to be mint, my only reason I haven't pulled the trigger yet is that it is Gold/Tan... Going to go look at it this week. Seems to be smoking deal, just not a fan of gold. Things to look for in 01's?

 

It sounds like a good deal to me, assuming all the records are there, it has a clean accident history, and it was serviced properly.

Personally though, the color for me is a deal breaker, I hate gold cars, but that's a personal preference issue.
If you can get past the color though, it's a good deal. Just be prepared to have to give a similar discount when you sell it, gold cars usually don't fly off the shelf.

 

when i was shopping for my 430 i wouldnt even consider a gold 430.it just looks OLD to me.

 

I agree on the gold. Miles and price are just killer. I could probably convince her to sell for 10.5-11K. I need to see if it has the UL package. I'd only keep this for a year and then hey a LS460. My GS just hit 200K so this had me thinking...

 

Only you can decide whether gold is a consideration...

You already know it is a good deal....

 

There is only one LS color I would not buy and that is black and that is only because I live in DFW and its a pizza oven here 4-5 months a year.

You are buying the car to drive it not look at it. Its not as if it is hot pink or bright purple or something like that. When buying a used car condition, miles and price are the primary concerns that you need to satisfy.

 

Sounds great to me. I don't care about color when buying a used car, as long as it isn't pink or black.
Wimmen, now, all they seem to care about is color.
Black is too hard to keep and too blame hot in LA.
Gold would be great.

 

Sounds like a good deal. I bought my 2001 LS430 UL with 150K for $11k year ago. 68k sounds very good.

 

Why not I live in DFW and have a Black Onyx, AC is very powerful in these cars.

 

That is an awesome deal, but gold is the ugliest color I've seen on the LS. It makes the car look extremely outdated, especially on an 01-03 model.

 

It does get hot in DFW, but as long as you have good tint and your AC works black is fine. It's going to be hot no matter what you're driving in the summer anyway.

 

Color makes a huge difference in how hot a car gets in the sun. Try this - on a blazing hot summer day when you are in a parking lot with lots of cars - put your hand flat on the roof of any white car - you will discover that the surface is warm but you can keep your hand on the metal for as long as you want. Now walk over to the nearest black car and try to keep your hand on the same metal surface for 60 seconds - you will not be able to do it without actually burning your hand.

Black is the color used on solar ovens and water heaters for a good reason.

 

If you like the car and how it drives why not purchase?
Nothing wrong with the color gold to us but it is a personal thing.

 

I bought a Parchment Crystal LS430. It is much cooler in hot Louisiana and is also the easiest car to keep clean. If you are a nut like me, you will work yourself to death trying to keep a black car. Put it under fluorescent lights and see every little imperfection in the finish. I will take a light colored car with light colored interior any day.

 

I guess the color does make a difference but it's so hot in Texas either way. My Saturn is white and my Lexus' are all black. The white Saturn does stay cooler on the outside though, so you're right about that. I don't even like touching the other cars in the heat.

Luckily the LS' AC keeps the car ice cold in the summer.