Stereorob

the early LS460s are finally old enough now where clapped out neglected ones are showing up on craigslist. this is the cheapest ive seen yet. base model with 246k miles, bad electronic brake actuator, with the dash lit up like a christmas tree for $5,000...

https://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/d...491580502.html

ive always loved the 460 and its sad to see them starting to fall from grace, but in a way this could be a good thing as they are getting old enough now to be cheap. no, i wouldnt DARE buy this one, but how much longer before we see high mile examples this cheap that were actually cared for? i want one damnit!! they are almost affordable for the lower income guy like me. almost..

ive always been an LS400 driver. ive had several but they are just too old now to still be reliable, and i absolutley hate the 430. ive never liked it. but right now the 430s are the clean $5,000 high mile craigslist car..

how much longer should i hold out for that cheap high mile 07-08 LS460L? a year or two? i DO work at a lexus dealership so lots come in as trade-ins. should i hold out, or pony up the $10k for that 90k mile senior driven creampuff ?

Dave144239

Maybe wait a few more months until the last of the 460s have been sold, and the trade-in values drop a bit. I'd rather go for a good trade-in at $10k than buy a hooptie for $5k. That one on craigslist needs a brake actuator, has no nav, and has sticky/crumbling dash, and probably door panels too.

Working at a dealer, you're in the right place to get a snowbird car. I saw a few really nice ones while I was looking.

Doublebase

TexasTea

I totally agree about spending a bit more for a nicer car to enjoy driving for years to come rather than spending less and having to spend more time/money fixing all the wear/tear problems.

Notice the $5k Craigslist car with 246k miles only showed a photo of the passenger side backseat that likely has the least amount of wear instead of the driver's seat that every driver has to sit upon.

Benjam1n

If you find a creampuff with 90k miles for only 10k please buy it. Thats a great deal.

mckellyb

Texas is rife with high mileage pretty much everything.

These two stood out, however. The first, because there ain't no way, no how, I'm touching that.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...494516291.html

The second one, however...Levinson, nav, looks to be in remarkably good shape, and no mention of replacement engines or the like. Steering wheel is not worn our nor covered with some $0.99 garbage cover-thing, the wheels match, even has both a spare and the tools in the trunk. I mean, even the headlamp covers are clear!

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/d...478411103.html

fwhomeboy

So, why not touch the first one in Dallas? What am I missing?

mckellyb

Rebuilt engine, the console armrest is funky, the wheels, hazy-*** headlamps...the car appears to have not been taken care of at all, and it's a grand more than the one in Houston.

roadfrog

I wouldn;t walk away from a rebuilt engine. That means it;s good for another 200k

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

^Thats assuming it was done correctly and I hate to generalize, but given the condition of the rest of the car, I wouldn't be surprised if corners were cut. If they can't do simple things like polish the headlights, match the rear tail lights, easy jobs like that, I'd hate to think how they did a major job like replacing the engine.

JLAWS

My definition of a beater is seems to be a little different than yours. I've always thought of a beater as an economical vehicle you don't care about cosmetically, rarely detailed and do the bare minimum to keep running and pass inspection. For what you spend on a LS460 "beater" you could spend on a newer more solid vehicle that will be far less a problem and expensive to own.

Btw my beater vehicle is a 1994 Toyota Camry with 220K miles. I paid $600 for it 9 years ago and gotten far more out of it than I ever imaged. It has been so good to me that I have rewarded it with new parts from time to time and hunt for restoration odds and end parts on Ebay. I doubt a beater LS460 would give me the same overall ownership experience. There will be a point where the LS460 is just now worth owning just like a lot of German cars from early 2000 you no longer see on the road. The LS460 is not is the beater category yet. The 2007-2012 are still very nice and relevant Luxury cars. I think we will have to wait till the LS500 replacement for the LS460 to finally fall from grace. There are still many that prefer the 2007-2012 LS460 over 2013 to current

mckellyb

To me, even the 430 isn't luxury beater status, yet. Pre-1998, or so, LS400s, sure, they're prime 'beater' candidates as you can find them still in quite good nick for really low prices.

R Z

I guess the answer to your question is, it depends on how long you can wait. I too had the 400 and liked my 430, but love my 460. I don't think there's a perfect time to buy a LS460. It's right when you are ready. You might want to try and find one under 100K, head to the Lexus Owner's site to see what has or hasn't been done, and decide from there.

riknchar

True! I just paid $21,600 for my "creampuff" 2010 LS460L with 91k miles... I'm guessing it will be worth around $10k in 3-4 years at 120-130K miles, though.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

I agree, a rebuilt engine can be a good thing "IF" it has full documentation and receipts from the shop that did the work, but if not then id definitely walk.

On the corvette forums and used market there are tons of guys who claims "rebuilt engine" and when you inquire about it its usually " oh, well the guy I purchased it from told me it was rebuilt" or " I had my mechanic rebuild it but seem to have misplaced the receipts", or sometimes they just admit that they did the work themselves in the garage.

There are other people who consider swapping in new gaskets and coolant as a full rebuild........ and with these complex Lexus engines unless the rebuild was done and documented by the dealer theres no chance in hell id consider it.