AJT123

That's not a US car. They stopped making the grey wood (IDK why...it's my favorite) after 2003 for the US cars.

ReggieT

Hey Guys,
How serious would you all consider a 2002 LS430 with 92K, looks "great" yet has not had the 90K service done...Clean as can be, has the original buyer's order, records from Toyota on oil changes/service, Clean CarFax...seller is willing to split the price of pre-inspection and is asking $6,900, but willing to negotiate. Bought from his Pops @ 30K...mostly garage kept except when driving! 2 owner car.
Just trying to weigh all the factors and possibilities...although my preference is actually 2004-2006...

TriC

Which would you rather have for $6900 - that '02 or an '04 or '05 with 150,000 or more miles?

ReggieT

I'm not a player on any year model with over 100K.
Too many out there with under 100K and with good records.
Thank God for not being desperate & having options!!

BCT

So timing belt and water pump is around $1000 unless you doing this yourself, so the final cost is $8K or so. How are the tires look like? That can be another $1000 if you need to replace them.

I always consider how much driving we are planning to do with any purchase. For us, the car will be driven ~10K/year. We just bought an 04 with 118K, so that will be 8 years before it reach 200K. I am sure it will run pass 200K easily, but lets say 200K is the target. Beside, 8 years from now, our 04 will be pretty old. While it may run fine, it will be lacking safety features that newer car has, which is always a big consideration for us.

So for us, it does not make sense to search for one with 50K. If 200K is the target, it will take 15 years and as of now, we are not planning to keep her for 15 years. My target was CL or UL with anything under 150K as long as it is maintained, and in great shape. We do prefer 04-06, but we were looking for the biggest bang for the buck from available LS for sale.

Now we may feel different in near future after owning this for while, and may get another LS430 with super low miles to keep as the second one while daily drive the one we have, but that is a whole different topic So far my wife has a big smile every time we drive the car, so that is a big plus.

ReggieT

Hmm...I like your logic & reasoning sir!
Thanks!

Mbodall

I'll second what BCT said. When you bring the car to a dealer for the inspection, they'll tell you how much they would charge for the 90k service. While you're there, ask exactly what components they typically replace during a 90k service, and if they'll do just the labor for the 90k service if you supply genuine Toyota parts, and if they do, ask how much they would charge for the labor. $1,000 for them to do the whole job including supplying the parts is pretty low in my experience. My dealership wanted $1,300-$1,400 for parts and labor excluding a few other components that I wanted to be replaced at the 90k mark, like the idlers and tensioner. Their price for parts and labor with everything I wanted replaced (11 components in total) was $1600+. I've talked about it in a few other threads, but I get all of my service done at my local dealership. The way I offset the cost and make it worth it is by buying only genuine OEM Toyota parts from parts.com. Parts.com works with many Toyota and Lexus dealerships across the country and all of the parts you order on there are shipped to you directly from a Toyota/Lexus dealer, but at a lot lower cost/less markup than buying them through your local dealers. I bought those 11 components for my 90k service for $415 and had my dealership install them for $579 including the idler and tensioner. That means I saved over $600 by supplying my own parts. For reference, the parts that I had replaced during that service are:

Depending on how you feel about the ethics of it, you can even use the dealer's quote for parts & labor for the 90k service in the negotiating, then still go buy the parts yourself and come out a little bit ahead.

Other than that, the $6900 price seems reasonable depending on exactly how good the condition of the exterior and interior, condition of the tires, as well as the options installed. Does it have the Mark Levinson stereo? What about NAV/backup camera? Also, have you test driven the car yet?

If you're not in any particular hurry to get an LS, I might wait for a nice '04'-'06 to come up... but that's just me. I'm also curious what you're using to do your car search. Craigslist? Autotrader? Newspaper?? (lol)

ReggieT

Great points indeed. I would definitely use the pre inspection to negotiate the lack of 90K service for sure.
Here is my situation, "I am semi-retired & working towards my Masters and will be through with school Jan 2020.
The LS 430 will help us save on the additional miles on the wifes Enclave for major trips and so forth.
Our average driving on it would be between 12-15K per year.
When I graduate and start work, I will probably reward myself with either a new Tundra/almost new or newer LS something.
So in all probability 3 years to 4 yrs max on the LS 430 roughly...probably give it to one of my kids or grandkids.
I use AutoTrader, Cars.com, CarGurus, FB Marketplace, Dealer Networks, Carsforsale.com, Edmunds.com, Craigslist is a tad "sketchy" around my parts, but occasionally I ferret through them.
Haven't driven this car yet, just tossing out some needed questions that will assist me on my quest. No Nav or Mark Levinson Stereo.
I have a decent amount of patience...the prospect of waiting on the 2004-2006 is winning out.
I'll be paying a personal visit to my Import Specialist Mechanic bud tomorrow and glean a little insight on his pros & cons...but, I doubt if he will be able to enlighten or empower me with anything greater than you guys have!
The info here is beyond phenomenal!
I just would hate to buy one sans the 90K service and snap ze timing belt on the way to his shop for him to do it.
He did quote me $300 for labor, contingent upon me buying the parts...a few months back.

Thanks Again!
Reg

Mbodall

Obviously I can't speak to the quality of cars or type of sellers that post on your local Craigslist, but I found both my '01 and my '04 on Craigslist (I live in Portland, OR). The '01 was being sold by a private seller that had bought the car new, a gentleman in his 50s, and he had me drive to his house in a very nice upper middle class neighborhook to check out the car and test drive. I'm also wary of anything and everything being sold on Craigslist, but after emailing with him and talking to him in person I was less apprehensive. Then of course, once the pre-purchase inspection was completed, all worry had dissipated.

My '04 was listed on CL by a small independent dealer (about 20-25 cars on their lot). The owner was the sole employee of this dealer and also seemed very honest and trustworthy. It also helped that the dealer had good reviews on Google and Yelp.

Sounds like you've got the bases covered as far as your search


I actually made myself paranoid about snapping my TB after reading about one or two belt failures when I had my '01, and had the car towed to the shop once my parts arrived. I figured it would be just my luck to have it snap on the way to have it changed, so I made sure that was an impossibility lol.


That's a very fair price! That means you can have the whole job done for a little over $700 even if you buy all 11 of the parts that I had done. That's outstanding!

VortecCPI

Bear in mind the state you live when getting feedback from others. Autos down here hold up much better and retain higher value than those of The Rust Belt area. Chlorine is very hard on vehicles. From my research down here before trading my 1995 for a 2002 that is a very fair price if the car is in excellent condition, even though the 90k service is required.

90,000 miles is nothing if the car was mechanically maintained and the leather and clear coat have been well cared for. My 1995 had zero maintenance from 50k to 200k (of course leather, clear coat, oil changes, timing belt were all cared for). When I bought it I had Lextec do the big 120k maintenance and it took me to 269k with no failures except starter and ECU caps. That old car still drove like it was new and had no squeaks or rattles and tracked as straight as an arrow. My "new" 2002 LS430, even with 126k miles, is simply amazing.

Johnhav430

I tried negotiating the 90k service and was not successful "except" at a Lexus dealership.

The funniest was a Hyundai dealership selling a LS430. When I mentioned the car was at 89k and would need an expensive 90k service, the sales kid said, "Let us not focus on what will be, but rather what is." HUH? lol!! I felt like it was something in a fortune cookie!

With a Lexus dealership, I asked for a timing belt/water pump job, salesperson said let me get back to you on that (it was a Friday evening). He left a message Sat. morning stating we are good, svc. mgr. approved that to be done.

The car I ended up with had 81k, so I just tried to get more money off, not really based on the 90k service. I managed to get another $300 off (not much), but at least it was better than $0. Then, when the door actuator and brakes were no good, and taken care of, I felt that was worth a good bit. So the car ended up being $1k less than the cars.com ad and they did brakes and door actuator...

Mbodall

Oooooh that kid was cruisin' for a bruisin'! I can't believe he actually said that to you! Unbelievable... lol


Sounds like you ended up with a great deal after all was said and done. Nothing better than knowing you didn't get ripped off and have a solid car that should be trouble free for another 90k+ miles.

ReggieT

Trying to respond to some additional comments concering the gentleman with the pristine 04 LS430 with the sport suspension.
Looks like they were either deleted or moved elsewhere.
That car may be a prospect down the line if still available...pics look good.
Feel free to nab it up...I'm in no hurry.
Still in the info gathering process...

G50carerra

Johnhav430

Sales is way different it seems today. I went to the Subaru dealer to test drive a manual WRX Limited, for $25 lol but I really wanted to see how the stick was. And it's old school turbo where it's laggy, then comes on with a rush, not full torque over a wide range. The kid tells me, "We only let people drive the cars if they are serious." I see like a 20 y.o. get into a WRX STi? lol I said he's serious, huh? Get the plates and let's go. Sometimes you have to politely and firmly call BS.....