I need some recommendations please. I tend to be frugal but not make poor decisions so I thought I would come to those with the knowledge.
I have been a Honda owner for a few years now. My current car is a 2001 Honda Accord V6 coup. It has been a great car I bought it with 185,000 miles on it and now I have 219,000 miles on it. Still a great car. I am feeling the need for a change. As I have been studying Lexus...... WOW! great freakin cars. Then I start driving the
ls 430, ls 460. What amazing cars.

I found a 2001 ls 430 that is not perfect but I really liked the drive. All the maintenance has been done. Second owner for 17 years. New tires, 185,000 miles and he wants $3,600.
Please give me thoughts or questions. I need a little help to make this decision.

Thank you
A.R.

 

That's not a bad price, is the timing belt recent on it? It is unilaterally a better car than an accord and won't have a transmission failure or subframe rusting out

 

He has done all scheduled maintenance including a timing belt. If I maintain this car how many miles/years could I get out of it?
Thank you
A.R.

 

Till you get bored really, we have members here over 500k with little more than oil and timing belts. The things that normally "kill" these cars are rust from stupid owners who don't take care of them, suspension wearing out and requiring too much in replacement costs for people to want to fix it, or a pile up of little annoyances like a starter failing since it cost a lot to have done even though it's really easy. (All hand tools, can be done on the ground in a few hours no issue)

There isn't really anything that fails to the point the car can't be used.

 

That is good to know.
A.R.

 

Lexus parts aren't like BMW, MB or Audi though relative to Toyota it can be spendy on maintenance needy samples. Find the best maintained sample you can afford with history.

 

Sounds reasonably priced. Lot to read in this forum and items to look for but in general these are good if not extraordinary cars.

Door lock actuators, telescoping steering wheel, mirrors, and various features should be inspected. The a/c vents that modulate side to side are cool and make sure the driver and passenger temp adjustment buttons work. To name a few...😀. Our ‘01 has 244k and we plan on having it for quite a long time....

Some pics of your prospect and features will assist in more opinions....😏

 

 

The pictures show the car to be very dirty. For me that would be an immediate hard pass.

 

Man, Jabberwock, that's hard. But you are the man. A good source of information.

For a 2001, I don't think it looks that bad at all. Its a good price and should serve this guy well.

 

I agree that it is dirty. I feel that I can bring it back to a healthy standard. When I drove it it was like a magic carpet ride. I think I can bring it back to its former glory. The price is $3,600 for an ls 430 I think I could Do you agree?

A.R.

 

It will require you to pull the interior out to do it right, it's very possible and can be done if you have time and know how to strip the interior out. I did it to mine but it wasn't nearly as bad as the one pictured

 

I am concerned about the leather and even considered paying $1000 to have the seating and the console re-done. I do have to live with it. This car has bean maintained by a lexus dealer.

 

$1000 is a good price, I was quoted $3800 lol

 

You are probably right. I use a re-upholsterer for our company cars. I was guesstimating.

Thank you for all your insight

A.R.