I posted about this one before, but it popped up locally for sale again several months later. It was initially listed for $25,900 and I messaged back and forth with them on AutoTrader and mentioned that I might be interested at $23k. The guy said he didn’t have time to waste with lowballers and basically told me to meet him at X location at X time if I was interested. I was hesitant to even deal with the person based on his demeanor. I see he still can’t sell it.

Anyway, I pulled the carfax and it has 2 minor accidents and I’d rather have something with < 90k miles, 2014-2015, and black interior (this has flaxen). 111k. Service history looks good, and the coolant valley (heat exchanger) leak was repaired.

Prices have come down a little more. Should I save $5k and settle for this or keep looking for the black on black, accident free, < 90k one and spend more. The accidents looked minor, but I’d never really buy a car that had any. Carfax reports the most minor things. I had a PDR done for a fender ding on my ES and now carfax shows “minor damage reported”, which I’m not happy about. This one is really worth about $21k.

I’m losing patience trying to find one after many months, and the goal was to wait until December when the market is really cool. I’m leaning toward waiting it out a little more, maybe just spending additional money and get a newer one that I really want with lower miles. With this being local, it’s just easier. I always buy my cars out of state to get what I want, and sometimes it’s a hassle.

Basically, this post is just so I can have one or more people talk me out of it, so I feel better about not trying to save money, pulling the trigger, and just settling.

 

You were willing to pay $23, now only $21? Seller will likely remember your last offer and may give you the same response as last time. Don't let that stop you. Good luck.

 

It was worth $23k when he initially listed it at almost $26k; now it books around $21k. Prices have come down and he’s obviously had no luck selling it. I can about guarantee the local Toyota and Lexus dealer wouldn’t give him that based on the history.

 

Book values have limited practical value for private sales. What's more realistic is what the nearby market looks like. When you can show ads for other similar cars for less money to the seller, it carries more impact as real life. But, regardless of what I believe, it's between you and the seller to come to a fair price. Again, good luck in your decision and negotiations.

 

I haven’t found blue book values to be useful in years. Local market, CarMax, dealer trades etc. define the market. E.g. the people that actually purchase the vehicles. Dealers look at auctions.

 

Yes, I’m finding this to be true also. Prices have been all over the place for awhile and it’s difficult to find a baseline. I used to have access to Manheim online through a relative, but he retired; that was useful info. The problem with these cars is that there aren’t many for sale out there, and the values fluctuate greatly. I’ve seen some sit on dealer lots for months, continually having price drops, and others that sell quickly. It’s a moving target in the dark.

I’d rather buy private party and avoid the dealer BS, doc fees, etc. Believe it or not, Carvana’s prices haven’t been overly inflated on these, which shocks me. Carmax’s still are. Supply is slim, though. I suppose I can continue to wait, but it’s frustrating. It’s not like buying a white base Camry that’s a dime a dozen.

 

Do you need a car? If you do not, wait for the exceptional. Car market is cooling as supplies build up and interest rates go up.

 

If you plan on keeping the car for a while then waiit and spend the extra on the one you want. A few months after purchase you'll have forgotten the additional cost and will be enjoying the car you wanted. If you settle for something less then you'll never forget it.

 

I agree with the above, the right car for a little more money equals years of enjoyment. Some need to pay under market, even if it means not getting the year/miles/ features they want. The saving/bargain is what drives them to enjoy. I have a friend who won't buy a car unless he gets it for way under value. Then he tells you about how great of a deal he got well before he says how much he enjoys the car. He's been that way for many years. he's doing it his way, even if it takes a year or more to find one.

 

I'd go for Flaxen over Black in a heartbeat. Flaxen/bamboo would be my perfect 460.

 

Flaxen with Shimankou is kinda nice as well.

https://www.lexusofcalgary.com/used/...id12386448.htm

 

I don’t care about the deal at all, as long as it’s in the ballpark. You can waste so many hours of your life thinking about this.

I also agree about getting the right car. As a notoriously picky person I went with a good, but not perfect spec. I’ve been thinking about upgrading to something else since I bought it.

If I'm remembering correctly they really dropped in sales over the last several years. 2016 (my year) only saw like 7,000 sold in the US. S-Class sales were many times that.

 

My spec is a 14-15, SWB (but will take an L), RWD (live in the South and less to maintain), no air suspension, black on black, 19” (7 spoke?) wheels, ML is an absolute must, under 90k miles, shimamoku wood, no accidents, good service records. I don’t really care about other options. My ES’s always have to be a UL package with the ML, but the LS I’m not as picky on options other than what I’ve noted. Even my wife’s 2015 GX has the ML, so I’m spoiled with it. She had an RX loaner while hers was getting a recall completed, and the base system sounds awful.

The longer I wait, the more money I can set aside to buy a nicer one. Will need to replace my ES with another one in the next year or 2 as that’s my commuter. My 11 with 187k drives like new and still looks great. I hope to get 220-240k out of it.

Thanks for the advice. Best to wait. I don’t need a car right now; just getting impatient. These cars aren’t a dime a dozen.