this is the time
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 100
From: Florida
I set myself up a mental list of priorities when I shopped for my new to me LS. It will be a long search if you have no flexibility with regard to the car.
Here's my priorities.
1. Condition
2. 04-06 model years. I like the six speed and the restyling, but mainly they are the last of a great series and all the "bugs" are pretty much worked out.
3. Low mileage. I set my "meter" at about 125 K max. This one can be a little flexible, depending on #4 below
4. Service records. Superior service records will cause consideration of higher miles.
5. Options. I want all or most of the toys. Adaptive cruise was a major priority for me, that one will really limit the field.
6. Colors interior and exterior. This is where I can be most flexible.
My perfect car would be an 06 custom luxury with PCS. I'll be amazed if you find one. Custom is rare enough. I did not see one for sale with PCS period.
The difference is PCS features radar cruise, non PCS is laser cruise. Laser is fine for some, we have really rainy weather here in the NW and laser does not work in the rain. That would drive me nuts.
I've had radar cruise in my Prius for 325 K miles now, thus why it is a must have on the LS.
The search is part of the fun. I bought this one sight unseen. Dealer had posted excellent hi res pics, and the Lexus PPI and the service records are excellent. No need to hop on a plane, but still I am anxious for it to arrive.
I will share some pics when it arrives, should be here early next week. I ended up with an 05 UL in Mercury metallic and Ercu. 18" wheels. With PCS and 106 K I think they just ticked every box on the option list.
Here's my priorities.
1. Condition
2. 04-06 model years. I like the six speed and the restyling, but mainly they are the last of a great series and all the "bugs" are pretty much worked out.
3. Low mileage. I set my "meter" at about 125 K max. This one can be a little flexible, depending on #4 below
4. Service records. Superior service records will cause consideration of higher miles.
5. Options. I want all or most of the toys. Adaptive cruise was a major priority for me, that one will really limit the field.
6. Colors interior and exterior. This is where I can be most flexible.
My perfect car would be an 06 custom luxury with PCS. I'll be amazed if you find one. Custom is rare enough. I did not see one for sale with PCS period.
The difference is PCS features radar cruise, non PCS is laser cruise. Laser is fine for some, we have really rainy weather here in the NW and laser does not work in the rain. That would drive me nuts.
I've had radar cruise in my Prius for 325 K miles now, thus why it is a must have on the LS.
The search is part of the fun. I bought this one sight unseen. Dealer had posted excellent hi res pics, and the Lexus PPI and the service records are excellent. No need to hop on a plane, but still I am anxious for it to arrive.
I will share some pics when it arrives, should be here early next week. I ended up with an 05 UL in Mercury metallic and Ercu. 18" wheels. With PCS and 106 K I think they just ticked every box on the option list.
ive worked here at a dealership now for 5 years, 1 in sales, 4 in the service department. what you say about PCS is true. it is very VERY rare. ive only seen ONE show up after all this time.anyone will have a snowballs chance in hell at finding one. the ULs are uncommon as well but plenty of mid tier 430s show up here on the regular. like i said, im not really a fan of the 430 at all. im a 400 guy all day long. i think it looks like a crunched W140 Benz and has a weird driving stance. feels like im in a bathtub or something. im sure you guys will rip me from limb to limb for saying that but its just my opinion. no offense meant, just not the LS for me, however, i will say the 430 has one of the most beautiful interiors Lexus ever made. the wood is absolutely spectacular, and there is one that absolutely melts my heart and makes me weak in the knees when i see it. an 05 Black/Black UL with the burnt orange wood trim. that car is sex on wheels. the reason i started this thread is bc im an unfortunate soul thats been looking for one particular year, style, color, and trim package LS400 that sadly, waited too long to look for. just dont make the same mistake that i made. if theirs that one dream 430 that you lust after, as they age more and more, there is not much time left to find it.
and yeah, the search part really is half the fun. the thrill of the hunt. i cant tell you how many off-the-beaten path places i never knew existed i discovered in my travels searching for my cars. made some friends along the way too!
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 391
From: PA
As an original owner of a 1998 Maxima, it was quite disappointing to see where that model went. By 2004? no stick, expensive ABS problems, and basically poor performance. How about the sunroof which was turned 90 degrees, who thought of that one? But as far as the LS500, it looks like an overgrown Mazda 6 to me. Just drive one and I think that would be enough to just say no. The LS500 makes the Chevy Impala's steering feel like a sports car.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 69
Likes: 7
From: New Hampshire
As an original owner of a 1998 Maxima, it was quite disappointing to see where that model went. By 2004? no stick, expensive ABS problems, and basically poor performance. How about the sunroof which was turned 90 degrees, who thought of that one? But as far as the LS500, it looks like an overgrown Mazda 6 to me. Just drive one and I think that would be enough to just say no. The LS500 makes the Chevy Impala's steering feel like a sports car.
Ah well.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 215
From: Ontario, Canada
Some ranting about the Impala, as I just had a rental 2018 Impala for 31 days.
Electric steering: extremely vague, no road feedback, making it dangerous to do quick u-turns and difficult to control the car on snowy/icy roads. The steering feel of the LS430 is infinitely superior. I test-drove an LS600hL several years ago and I didn't like the electric steering there either.
Electric parking brake: no way to tell how tight the brake is holding, and there is significant lag. After I click the switch and get out of the car, the car rolls back a bit and I can hear the brake activate when I am already standing outside of the car.
Turning radius: terrible, had to do 3-point turns where the LS430 easily wouldn't have to.
Handling: very front-heavy, causing huge understeer, and traction control is much worse than my 2002 LS430's traction control. Sharp turns I could do at 60km/h in my LS430 have to be done at 30km/h in the Impala.
Fuel economy: Winter in-town, short drives in the 2018 V6 Impala was 16L/100km. This is much worse than my 2002 V8 LS430, where my winter in-town short drive fuel economy is 13-14L/100km.
Audio system: Nowhere near comparable to 2002 Mark Levinson system, but no one ever said it should be. Very hard to listen to other systems when you are accustomed to the reference-quality ML system.
Someone tell Lexus to bring the LS430 back. Every generation after seems to have gone downhill. Just a few simple engineering tweaks at minimal cost to Lexus could make the LS430 unstoppable.
Electric steering: extremely vague, no road feedback, making it dangerous to do quick u-turns and difficult to control the car on snowy/icy roads. The steering feel of the LS430 is infinitely superior. I test-drove an LS600hL several years ago and I didn't like the electric steering there either.
Electric parking brake: no way to tell how tight the brake is holding, and there is significant lag. After I click the switch and get out of the car, the car rolls back a bit and I can hear the brake activate when I am already standing outside of the car.
Turning radius: terrible, had to do 3-point turns where the LS430 easily wouldn't have to.
Handling: very front-heavy, causing huge understeer, and traction control is much worse than my 2002 LS430's traction control. Sharp turns I could do at 60km/h in my LS430 have to be done at 30km/h in the Impala.
Fuel economy: Winter in-town, short drives in the 2018 V6 Impala was 16L/100km. This is much worse than my 2002 V8 LS430, where my winter in-town short drive fuel economy is 13-14L/100km.
Audio system: Nowhere near comparable to 2002 Mark Levinson system, but no one ever said it should be. Very hard to listen to other systems when you are accustomed to the reference-quality ML system.
Someone tell Lexus to bring the LS430 back. Every generation after seems to have gone downhill. Just a few simple engineering tweaks at minimal cost to Lexus could make the LS430 unstoppable.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 260
Likes: 32
From: CA
Looking at an 05 ls UL
On the fence what I should offer for an 05 ls 430 UL Flint Micra on black interior with 150k. All maintenance records at Lexus dealers, timing belt/water pump and all air struts replaced within 30k.
private ListingListing says $9990. I'm thinking $7000 cash.
private ListingListing says $9990. I'm thinking $7000 cash.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 302
Likes: 30
From: Washington
I would of course try to beat them down, but I would pay that price. I Pd. 9500 for an 05 with all the options including PCS, with 106 K. One or two owners is the max. for me. 2 owner cars are often a lease return and a long term owner. 2 owner is generally a pretty safe bet if it's a lease return and the service records are solid.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 199
From: DFW, TX
Assuming no other real issues, $7k would be a steal. It also depends on your area since different parts of the states bring different values but I would say anything under $9k is probably reasonable. If it's in real good condition with the good service records and in CA where I think prices are higher, honestly $9,500 isn't unrealistic.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 302
Likes: 30
From: Washington
Drop By
Still tapping my foot waiting for my car to be shipped. I am just about out of patience......It's been three weeks since I purchased the car. Anyone have any ideas how to put some pressure on the dealer?
TIA
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 24
Likes: 5
From: TX
For me at this point, I'd want a car with no more than 2 owners. My car is just fine, so if you bought mine there would be 3 owners. That's a deal breaker for me. The implication is if only 1 owner, you potentially could get it from someone who took care of it, but was told by the dealer they need $6500 worth of repairs, when they don't really need it. so now they want to get rid of the car. It's the be greedy when others are fearful conundrum. Folks are often caught up in mileage, and again, besides being able to drain/fill the tranny with no chance of harm, what's the difference between 60k, and 150k, if the car goes to 200k easily and likely 300k easily....
I should note asking price is $4k and I think I can get it for at most $3.5k. Interior is clean and it is the ML so no worries about the common major ticket fixes.
Last edited by West51210; Jan 14, 2019 at 02:59 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 391
From: PA
I am currently looking at a 2 owner 05 LS with 206k, first owner was leasing. Second owner has owned it since 2007. 57 service records, but owner says he has never done TB/WP and Lexus nor Carfax show it. Other maintenance has been kept up and owner also recently replaced AC compressor and had system flushed. In 2016, at 179k looks like wheel hubs replaced on front, brakes, and oil pan gasket. Nothing on Crfax since...so his independent shop probably doesn't report which is understandable.
I should note asking price is $4k and I think I can get it for at most $3.5k. Interior is clean and it is the ML so no worries about the common major ticket fixes.
I should note asking price is $4k and I think I can get it for at most $3.5k. Interior is clean and it is the ML so no worries about the common major ticket fixes.
My rule is way outdated but at that price, I would want 3 years of use, and I wouldn't bother fixing anything, just maintenance/wear items. Even though $3k sounds cheap, my car has 111k, pretty much mint, 2006, no accidents, FLA car, blah blah blah, and carfax shows it as being worth $5k. As much as we dislike seeing that our cars are worth less wholesale than a tax refund (ah hem maybe through TY 2017), it's reality.
My problem with cheap cars is we have emissions testing in PA, so we can't simply get around any type of service engine soon stuff. My cousin has a 2003 M5 that he got for 28k and drove for 10 years and it's mint with 275k miles. Problem is he's in MA and has emissions testing--he does the reset, drive until I/M readiness shows, park immediately, drive only to testing station, pass again for another year. I can't deal with that stuff cuz eventually the light will come back immediately upon reset lol (I did with Maxima for about 3 years, then broke down and paid $300 to have EGR cleaned--prolly shoulda had valve replaced while intake was off).
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 24
Likes: 5
From: TX
These cars are supposed to be 200k cars all day long, and very likely 300k cars.
My rule is way outdated but at that price, I would want 3 years of use, and I wouldn't bother fixing anything, just maintenance/wear items. Even though $3k sounds cheap, my car has 111k, pretty much mint, 2006, no accidents, FLA car, blah blah blah, and carfax shows it as being worth $5k. As much as we dislike seeing that our cars are worth less wholesale than a tax refund (ah hem maybe through TY 2017), it's reality.
My problem with cheap cars is we have emissions testing in PA, so we can't simply get around any type of service engine soon stuff. My cousin has a 2003 M5 that he got for 28k and drove for 10 years and it's mint with 275k miles. Problem is he's in MA and has emissions testing--he does the reset, drive until I/M readiness shows, park immediately, drive only to testing station, pass again for another year. I can't deal with that stuff cuz eventually the light will come back immediately upon reset lol (I did with Maxima for about 3 years, then broke down and paid $300 to have EGR cleaned--prolly shoulda had valve replaced while intake was off).
My rule is way outdated but at that price, I would want 3 years of use, and I wouldn't bother fixing anything, just maintenance/wear items. Even though $3k sounds cheap, my car has 111k, pretty much mint, 2006, no accidents, FLA car, blah blah blah, and carfax shows it as being worth $5k. As much as we dislike seeing that our cars are worth less wholesale than a tax refund (ah hem maybe through TY 2017), it's reality.
My problem with cheap cars is we have emissions testing in PA, so we can't simply get around any type of service engine soon stuff. My cousin has a 2003 M5 that he got for 28k and drove for 10 years and it's mint with 275k miles. Problem is he's in MA and has emissions testing--he does the reset, drive until I/M readiness shows, park immediately, drive only to testing station, pass again for another year. I can't deal with that stuff cuz eventually the light will come back immediately upon reset lol (I did with Maxima for about 3 years, then broke down and paid $300 to have EGR cleaned--prolly shoulda had valve replaced while intake was off).
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