Just bought a 2006 LS with 68k: need maintenance advice
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Driver School Candidate
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From: VA
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: PA
So of course the value has gone up and I would say high 20's. j/k
I have noticed an obsession with mileage on this forum that may be considered odd by the avg. Joe. This car does 200k all day long, and 300k likely with ease. It is 9/19 and the car is already no less than 13 years old (6/06 were the last cars produced). What is the advantage in getting a car with 68k over 120k?
Top condition 68k I would say maybe $8000 (it's 13 or more likely 14 years old). Remember this car does 19 mpg to a new car's 26 and it runs on premium. Drive it into a Lexus dealer like I did in 10/16 they will likely recommend $6500 worth of work based on age alone (not that any of it is needed but that's how imho they get the car in trade and then flip it).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: PA
My experience with "friends," price tended to be full private party retail hahahaha
Relatives are a different story. They just gave me cars for free--we are all talking about cars that likely had a wholesale of $5k or less. I did have a "friend" give me a car for free once. His parents gave him a new one so he gave me his old one. Wouldn't accept any money, was prolly worth $2k retail.
Relatives are a different story. They just gave me cars for free--we are all talking about cars that likely had a wholesale of $5k or less. I did have a "friend" give me a car for free once. His parents gave him a new one so he gave me his old one. Wouldn't accept any money, was prolly worth $2k retail.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 15
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From: VA
When I purchased mine in 10/16 a dealer wanted $22k for one with 68k hahahahahahahahahahaha
So of course the value has gone up and I would say high 20's. j/k
I have noticed an obsession with mileage on this forum that may be considered odd by the avg. Joe. This car does 200k all day long, and 300k likely with ease. It is 9/19 and the car is already no less than 13 years old (6/06 were the last cars produced). What is the advantage in getting a car with 68k over 120k?
Top condition 68k I would say maybe $8000 (it's 13 or more likely 14 years old). Remember this car does 19 mpg to a new car's 26 and it runs on premium. Drive it into a Lexus dealer like I did in 10/16 they will likely recommend $6500 worth of work based on age alone (not that any of it is needed but that's how imho they get the car in trade and then flip it).
So of course the value has gone up and I would say high 20's. j/k
I have noticed an obsession with mileage on this forum that may be considered odd by the avg. Joe. This car does 200k all day long, and 300k likely with ease. It is 9/19 and the car is already no less than 13 years old (6/06 were the last cars produced). What is the advantage in getting a car with 68k over 120k?
Top condition 68k I would say maybe $8000 (it's 13 or more likely 14 years old). Remember this car does 19 mpg to a new car's 26 and it runs on premium. Drive it into a Lexus dealer like I did in 10/16 they will likely recommend $6500 worth of work based on age alone (not that any of it is needed but that's how imho they get the car in trade and then flip it).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,582
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From: PA
kbb is like zillow is for homes imho....there's a reason why they overstate values....meaning one could never sell their home for what zillow says...yet, there's a real possibility they could sell it for what realtor.com says (much less) my .02
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 974
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From: WA
Here in Western WA, really nice 2004-2006 models, rust free, with well under 100,000 miles asking prices are between $10K and $15K, dealer and private party. One for sale in Spokane with a saddle interior was posted on CL for around $ 12K and the post went down a few days later, presumably sold at or near that price. The prices seem to be very steady here. There is a gorgeous custom luxury model, with all the desirable features, like radar cruise, timing belt just done, with really low miles for sale right now out here, it WILL sell for more than 10K..
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2019
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From: Texas
Don’t be cheap, replace the timing belt. They deteriorate with age, and you can kiss the engine goodbye if it breaks. There was a guy that bought a 60k mike GS430 on the GTO forum that grenaded the engine because he had the same thought as you. That thought cost him the whole car.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: PA
Don’t be cheap, replace the timing belt. They deteriorate with age, and you can kiss the engine goodbye if it breaks. There was a guy that bought a 60k mike GS430 on the GTO forum that grenaded the engine because he had the same thought as you. That thought cost him the whole car.
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2019
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From: VA
Interesting so there are cases of 3UZs being destroyed due to the belt (or was it something else)? Again I look at it this way, just round off, say it costs $900 at an indie, and it lasts 90,000. If you squeeze it to 100, 110, 120, 130, let's say 135. You took on some risk, you saved $450. Hey I like to save $450 too, was that savings commensurate with the risk? I did mine at 86k "but" at the same time it was past the "time" recommendation at 12.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
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From: VA
Congrats!
If you should find zero coolant in the overflow, and zero in the radiator, do not be alarmed. That was me at 81k. My mind said blown head gaskets, but the car has a 30 day warranty by law in NYS. Nope. Normal because the interval is 10 years so nobody touches it and the reservoir window is looked at from the back looking to the front. Filled it up and car has had zero issues in 3 years.
At 68k, if you subscribe to the camp that transmission fluid should be replaced (not everyone does but I think most do), that is a perfect mileage. Supposedly, and I believe it, ZERO chance of causing damage by doing a drain and fill. And ideally you would do 3, such that after 3, you have 19% old fluid, 81% new fluid or thereabouts. I did 3 when I got my car, and then waited about 18 mos. and did #4. I don't think there is any proof this matters to 200k, but it can't hurt. I would have an indie check the rear output shaft, mine was leaking when I got the car, and 2 Lexus dealers did not say anything from a multipoint. Because the job is too small the part is $16, mostly labor and they want bigger fish.
Coolant and trans would be my first things to look at. Then of course brake fluid, just change it out, cheap enough. Good luck!
If you should find zero coolant in the overflow, and zero in the radiator, do not be alarmed. That was me at 81k. My mind said blown head gaskets, but the car has a 30 day warranty by law in NYS. Nope. Normal because the interval is 10 years so nobody touches it and the reservoir window is looked at from the back looking to the front. Filled it up and car has had zero issues in 3 years.
At 68k, if you subscribe to the camp that transmission fluid should be replaced (not everyone does but I think most do), that is a perfect mileage. Supposedly, and I believe it, ZERO chance of causing damage by doing a drain and fill. And ideally you would do 3, such that after 3, you have 19% old fluid, 81% new fluid or thereabouts. I did 3 when I got my car, and then waited about 18 mos. and did #4. I don't think there is any proof this matters to 200k, but it can't hurt. I would have an indie check the rear output shaft, mine was leaking when I got the car, and 2 Lexus dealers did not say anything from a multipoint. Because the job is too small the part is $16, mostly labor and they want bigger fish.
Coolant and trans would be my first things to look at. Then of course brake fluid, just change it out, cheap enough. Good luck!
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: CA
The LS430 most definitely does have an interference engine, meaning if the timing belt goes, the valves will go and you'll have an expensive problem on your hands.
Lexus Test Driver
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From: PA
But I picked up my car with zero coolant in the reservoir or radiator to be seen, and needle was not hot. So what I'm saying is don't panic if there's no coolant, just top it off....
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Driver School Candidate
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From: VA
I knew I was wrong. Ok, I'll replace it at 120k unless I sell it or total it or there is some other repair that makes it worth doing.....I get that it is a risk...but that's ok.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Ohio
I bought mine with 62,000 miles in January 2018 and fretted about the timing belt. The $700 replacement cost (TB, WP, and serpentine belt) at a Toyota store during a Black Friday service special last Thanksgiving sure gave me piece of mind and seemed like very cheap insurance.
CL Community Team
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From: Alabama
Unless you are broke and can;t afford it, if you are going to do the belt at some point in the future it makes little sense to wait. I did my TB/WP aright after 90k because I plan to keep the car for a few more years but will likely sell it before it hits 180k. So it made zero sense to wait past 90K given the risk of bricking a fantastic motor.
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