2003 LC May Buy

[dukerules]

Recent lurker, long time LC fan-have wanted one forever.
I have the opportunity to buy an 03 LC, 55K miles, NAV, from CarMax. Price is 31K.
I have yet to see it/drive it.
Is this reasonable? I'm a little bit worried with the 60K maintenance coming up, in that I'll have to throw a bunch more cash into it soon. More importantly, anyone have opinions about CarMax? We bought another vehicle with them a couple of years ago and the experience was great.

Thanks for your thoughts. Love this board!

 

[2garfields]

There is a 03 LC with 52K miles in Gold color near Boston MA, they are looking for $29K.

 

[Jim_Chow]

There is a 03 LC with 52K miles in Gold color near Boston MA, they are looking for $29K.

Inexpensive, but Northeastern/Midwestern vehicle=rust. Gulf Coast/Midwest vehicles have also sat in high humidity and have been pelted w/ hail. There's a reason why airlines around the world store their aircraft long-term in the CA and AZ deserts.

 

[dukerules]

There's another option too. An 03 w/ 32K miles, NAV and DVD, for 34K. Fewer miles, though I want the color of the first (black) and wanted to keep things closer to about $30K. Assuming good prior maintenance, 55K miles isn't much in an LC, right?

 

[SWUtah]

There's another option too. An 03 w/ 32K miles, NAV and DVD, for 34K. Fewer miles, though I want the color of the first (black) and wanted to keep things closer to about $30K. Assuming good prior maintenance, 55K miles isn't much in an LC, right?

Sounds like a good deal and no 55K on a LC is nothing

 

[SC4Hundred]

it is design for 30 years of life span

 

[steenh]

it is design for 30 years of life span

My 40 is 10 yrs past it's expiration date I won't tell it if you don't.

 

[LXPearl]

The prices aren't bad but they don't seem super either. A lot depends on the condition of the car. With used cars, it is basically "buyer beware." Do not be bashful about looking it over closely - after my first LC, I was "very picky" and frustrated salesmen who wanted a quick sale. I saw a lot of mistreated 100s during my searches and the salesmen knew but little about the 100s so they were of little value. If you find a good quality 03 it will look, feel, smell, and ride essentially like a new one.

If the one with 32K is within 36 months of its first sale, it may have a slight amount of time on warranty. If so, you may be able to buy a Toyota Financial Services (TFS) extended warranty for reasonable price (do a search on this site) - e.g. Platinum, 7 yr/100K miles, 0 deductible. If it is out of warranty, then the warranty price becomes significantly higher and not as attractive.

I would check on LXs at a Lexus dealer that come with the CPO. You are not too far away in price to one of those. They will also deal off their price, especially with the end of the month coming up and gas prices at all time highs. An added benefit of their CPO is the ability to buy it with the new car loan rate if you plan to get a loan.

 

[ocbanana]

There's another option too. An 03 w/ 32K miles, NAV and DVD, for 34K. Fewer miles, though I want the color of the first (black) and wanted to keep things closer to about $30K. Assuming good prior maintenance, 55K miles isn't much in an LC, right?

Just found a 2003 in really good condition with 61k miles on it. I paid under $28 for it and with what was available within a 100 mile radius of me... I think I did okay. The miles on the car are relative I would think in the LC... just like you said, it all depends on how it was treated before you...

 

[SWUtah]

Just found a 2003 in really good condition with 61k miles on it. I paid under $28 for it and with what was available within a 100 mile radius of me... I think I did okay. The miles on the car are relative I would think in the LC... just like you said, it all depends on how it was treated before you...

Wow if it was serviced regularly you got a great deal.