Help - Buying; 28 options around me.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: NC
Help - looking at LS tomorrow. Good deal? What to inspect?
Hey, I'm the guy that posted the crazy excel list of 20+ cars two weeks ago and asked for help picking one
One car that just popped up looks like a really good deal.
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
One car that just popped up looks like a really good deal.
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: NC
One car that just popped up looks like a really good deal.
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 820
From: TX
Smooth acceleration both part throttle and full throttle.
Smooth braking without pulsation through the pedal or wanting to pull one side or the other.
Any clunks or rattles when going over bumps/imperfections in the road?
Test the function of everything, all windows from all switches, door locks, mirrors (adjust/fold/auto tilt in reverse), T&T on the steering wheel.
Good place to start. At that mileage and being an unknown year, you could have a great car or you could have a car that could get expensive real quick. Take a long test drive and go to an off site location to really go through the car without feeling rushed, preferably without the owner. Then report back to us with some pictures and we can advise if it is a solid buy or not. GL!
Smooth braking without pulsation through the pedal or wanting to pull one side or the other.
Any clunks or rattles when going over bumps/imperfections in the road?
Test the function of everything, all windows from all switches, door locks, mirrors (adjust/fold/auto tilt in reverse), T&T on the steering wheel.
Good place to start. At that mileage and being an unknown year, you could have a great car or you could have a car that could get expensive real quick. Take a long test drive and go to an off site location to really go through the car without feeling rushed, preferably without the owner. Then report back to us with some pictures and we can advise if it is a solid buy or not. GL!
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: NC
Smooth acceleration both part throttle and full throttle.
Smooth braking without pulsation through the pedal or wanting to pull one side or the other.
Any clunks or rattles when going over bumps/imperfections in the road?
Test the function of everything, all windows from all switches, door locks, mirrors (adjust/fold/auto tilt in reverse), T&T on the steering wheel.
Good place to start. At that mileage and being an unknown year, you could have a great car or you could have a car that could get expensive real quick. Take a long test drive and go to an off site location to really go through the car without feeling rushed, preferably without the owner. Then report back to us with some pictures and we can advise if it is a solid buy or not. GL!
Smooth braking without pulsation through the pedal or wanting to pull one side or the other.
Any clunks or rattles when going over bumps/imperfections in the road?
Test the function of everything, all windows from all switches, door locks, mirrors (adjust/fold/auto tilt in reverse), T&T on the steering wheel.
Good place to start. At that mileage and being an unknown year, you could have a great car or you could have a car that could get expensive real quick. Take a long test drive and go to an off site location to really go through the car without feeling rushed, preferably without the owner. Then report back to us with some pictures and we can advise if it is a solid buy or not. GL!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 820
From: TX
I mean, that's an OK price for an 02 with that mileage, but for a few grand more you can probably find a newer car with less miles/wear. Really aren't a ton of common issues with the LS other than the door lock actuators and the mirror switch. You really just want to do a standard inspection like you would do on any 18 year old car. Look for rust underneath, look for leaking, ask for maintenance receipts, look for accident damage, etc, etc.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: NC
I mean, that's an OK price for an 02 with that mileage, but for a few grand more you can probably find a newer car with less miles/wear. Really aren't a ton of common issues with the LS other than the door lock actuators and the mirror switch. You really just want to do a standard inspection like you would do on any 18 year old car. Look for rust underneath, look for leaking, ask for maintenance receipts, look for accident damage, etc, etc.
Guess I should've mentioned this is my first time buying a used car. Before I bought cars from my parents.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 210
From: Florida
Tbh this is the lowest price and the average mileage that I've seen. 120mi hovers around 9k and slips to 7k after 150mi. At least on the east coast. He did say that the door actuator isnt working but it's a cheap part on amazon. How difficult is it for me to fix myself?
Guess I should've mentioned this is my first time buying a used car. Before I bought cars from my parents.
Guess I should've mentioned this is my first time buying a used car. Before I bought cars from my parents.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 210
From: Florida
Tbh this is the lowest price and the average mileage that I've seen. 120mi hovers around 9k and slips to 7k after 150mi. At least on the east coast. He did say that the door actuator isnt working but it's a cheap part on amazon. How difficult is it for me to fix myself?
Guess I should've mentioned this is my first time buying a used car. Before I bought cars from my parents.
Guess I should've mentioned this is my first time buying a used car. Before I bought cars from my parents.
Maybe take a look here ... https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...buy+a+used+car
here is a video showing how get to the lock actuator (but, for a different issue). ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 210
From: Florida
Hey, I'm the guy that posted the crazy excel list of 20+ cars two weeks ago and asked for help picking one
One car that just popped up looks like a really good deal.
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
One car that just popped up looks like a really good deal.
160k for 4k in light blue(my fav color)
timing belt done at 90.
it has some scuffs on the rear and drying leather on the drivers side but that just looks like age
belonged to a mechanic
only is issue is door actuator not working.
I'm waiting for the vin to see if its premium or ML.
When I test drive and inspect the car, what should I check for ?
Maybe take a look here ... https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...buy+a+used+car
here is a video showing how get to the lock actuator (but, for a different issue). ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo
Last edited by 430SLOwner; Jul 31, 2020 at 05:47 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 92
From: FL
When you get the VIN check out the service history on Lexus owners site to see how recent it is. Other than that check all electronics are functioning properly and then it's pretty much everything that you would check on a car that is now 18 years old. At this point good maintenance history is key due to age.
