If anyone’s around this morning, I could use some advice. There’s a sweet black on black 2001 LS with 153k for sale in my area and the price was just dropped from $4495 to $3995. Are these that cheap now? What type of maintenance or problems do these have at this age?

I don’t know yet about the timing belt, but I’m wondering if there are problems with these models like the control arms on later generation LSs or any other areas I should be concerned about. It just seems like a great price!

Thank you!

 

A price of $3995 (especially at a dealer) suggests a well worn example with problems of one sort or the other. Or it could be a bargain. Much more information is needed.

 

Does this year and with this mileage have any particular major problems to look out for? Thanks!

 

One thing I’m concerned about but haven’t seen much of here is complaints about the factory air suspension. This is the type of info I’m looking for if anyone has any insights, like when those need to be replaced!

 

There are a great many threads that address the questions that you raise. Search is your friend.

 

At some point everyone needs to stop dropping the “go search for it routine.” I have a twenty minutes to decide if I should drop $4000, it’s entirely reasonable for someone to simply state, “look for a, b, and c.” Quite clearly I *was* also searching.

This is a forum where we all help one another, after all.

 

What needs to stop are folks asking the same general question(s) over and over and over when the answer(s) are readily available. If someone doesn't have the time to search, why should others take their time to repeatedly answer the same inquiries?

A smart buyer will take the time to education themselves before jumping.

 

A) This is the Internet, not someone’s garage. Every piece of information is found thousands of times, so I wouldn’t worry about a duplicate thread asking about a car.

B) Often the new threads provide the most up-to-date info *right away*.

C) We are all here to help.

D) Instead of simply listing three things to look for, my time is being wasted by these arguments about some idealized, perfectly indexed Yahoo/InfoSeek Internet.

E) If someone had simply answered with a few things to look for, we wouldn’t have arrived at this point.

F) Don’t imply I’m not a “smart” buyer. Often people need info because of a fleeting opportunity about which they have little prior knowledge.

 

I would expect a GREAT example to go for 5-6K given pre-facelift and mileage, you can add 2-3K for a facelift model. So, I think it's a very fair price for an averagely kept/worn model.

There are no serious issues specific to that model, but mostly common issues you would find with any car around that mileage:
1) Struts likely worn - my front struts were changed at 130K and the rears have started leaking now at 140K
2) Front control arms, control arm bushings, tie rods all start showing wear at 125-150K
3) Wheel bearings tend to show up 150-175K
4) If your rotors have been resurfaced for the life of the car, they're probably due to be replaced
5) Timing belt obviously
6) Steering wheel tilt motor, door lock regulators, rear subwoofer, and trunk/hood struts are smaller issues that show up sporadically

 

Inspect the car carefully for rust before you make a decision. For that matter, with a car of that age and mileage, a thorough pre-purchase inspection would be a good idea. The car could be a money pit real fast or need virtually nothing at all. Too hard to tell from this distance on limited information. Check the dealer service record from the vin number as the lexus drivers site. Judging just by the price alone, I say "red flag." Good condition well maintained LS430s go for twice to three times that, at least out here in WA. A real nice 2001 LS430, black on black, base model, sold for over 11,000 a few months ago with 80,000 miles on it out my way.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. The car was just a little janky -- scratches/faded paint, loose interior parts, a faint smell of coolant.

It did drive well.

But the pics and text of an ad are rarely a substitute for seeing/driving a car for yourself!

 

If you think it is worth buying after your first inspection and test drive, take it to have a professional pre-purchase inspection place. Cost is usually $120-200. Lexus dealers also do this service.

Don't be alarmed when the report is like 10 pages long because they will be very detailed and report every single flaw on the car. As long as the vital stuff is good and you can live with the rest it is a good buy. If you end up not buying it because hidden and very bad stuff was revealed, then it is still worth the cost because spending a few hundred saved you several thousand and a major PITA. Don't fall in love with a particular LS430. The supply is still strong and a better one will come along one day.

 

If no red flags, that is a steal in todays market. It is a 20 YO car, I can live with a few scratches and fading if all is mechanically sound. Big premiums on good used wheels right now.

 

A maintenance record is mandatory as well as a carfax. This will tell you most of what you need to know about under the hood as well as if any body panels have been replaced or repainted.

I would be most concerned that all major maintenance was done in a timely manner (Timing belt, water pump, fluids, oil changes) and I would check for small electrical/functional issues like power mirrors folding, all power windows working correctly, hydraulic trunk hinges, etc. How these small things are treated is going to give you a bigger idea of how it was maintained.

If the timing belt hasn't been done and it's got a lot of smaller issues, you could easily be looking at 2K-5K+ to get it back to factory functioning condition. Anything cosmetic such as paint, tires, wipers, etc is not an issue as long as it is in passable condition for your standards.

Sounds like a good deal, just make sure it is mechanically sound. They go forever if they are maintained correctly. I love my 01' and will have it forever.