LS430's are such fantastic vehicles, I would recommend purchasing a more basic trimmed vehicle, and adding bluetooth with a grom adapter. I've done it and it is amazing! Oh and my other recommendation is alignment, and michelin primacy tires.

I did forget to mention the Achilles's heel of the car. LOL the KEY FOB's back from that time just didn't hold up. The ignition has a firm resistance when you start the car and the plastic fobs would just crack.

You can hash out your preference later if they had not been updated. Maybe plan on $100 to get a GOOD primary fob and a decent backup key cut. There are lots of options/methods.

+1 on the key fobs....mine has the smart key so I was glad to get two masters from the dealer, valet missing as was the one that's flat. As soon as I went to change the batteries, on one of them, the mechanism that ejects the key blade broke apart. could not find the missing parts, they went flying. I guess I just tell myself I don't actually need the key, so I continue to use the broken one, and preserve the one that is intact (both are worn, the intact is the lesser worn). Worst case I'd buy a new fob for $100, take the electronics out, put mine in, but would need to get it cut.

It seems that the driver door actuator breaking is a sure thing. If it were me, if there is no evidence of replacement, I'd ask the seller to replace it (not a private party but a new or used car dealer). This would likely cost them $150 being in the business. If they won't do it, then take $400 off the selling price (it's $860 at Lexus but DIY will cost $240 plus time).

Hey, my dad grew up in Clinton! Been there a bunch of times over the years (Fulton Ill as well). Car looks clean, but as always, check the service history. Heck if they want 7K for one with 170,000 miles, I'll sell you my 01 for that. It's only got 142,000 on it and the brakes were just done. I even have brandy new snow tires on it.

I like this one if the price came down....

edit oops sorry forgot the budget is 7k....

http://www.sewelllexus-dallas.com/Ve...-TX/2879432113

John, I'm sure most dealers would tell you to go and pound sand. They aren't in the business of performing preventative maintenance on their dime. What I'd rather have as a buyer is a free warranty of some kind to cover stuff that breaks after the sale.

As for the door actuator, it cost me all of $8 or so to replace the DC motor in mine. I think I was like you and didn't notice that it was not working until after I bought the car...

Here's an LS430 with 128K and right in your price range...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/5944698767.html

No affiliation with seller... They're out there... just have to keep looking.

Looks like an LS is cheaper if you don't buy in CA.

Mine was discovered after I drove away, and they fixed it after the fact, free of charge. I had a 1 mo. / 1,000 mile warranty as required by NYS law, but that's only the powertrain. I look at it as you don't know until you ask. I asked on another that the water pump and timing belt be done, and they said fine, as the car had 89k when they were selling it. If they told me to pound sand, they're not going to be making the sale. I get that if you're a private party, you cannot start fixing things after the fact. But a new car dealer should understand that things like the door lock, brakes, etc., these things should be working on a car costing ten grand or more.

That they should however in your post that I was commenting on you were advising the OP about asking the seller to change a door lock even though it was functional. Huge difference between asking a dealer to fix something that's broken vs something that might break down the road. As you say it doesn't hurt to ask but in this case I highly doubt that any dealer would agree to do this especially since it is not an item in the maintenance schedule...