Hey all,
I'm from upstate NY, and have temporarily moved down to NC to live with my sister for a few weeks to find a rust-free LX/GX470. I've pretty much settled on the GX due to availability and price...(feel free to convince me otherwise)
My question is about which approach to take when buying one of these. It'll end up being really up to me, I know, but hearing input might be helpful.
I've driven 10+ of these in the past week, everything from an immaculate white pearl 08 with 120k on it to an 05 that felt like it had the death wobble my 97 Cherokee used to have. I've got an overly detailed spreadsheet and have looked at every line of service record for each vehicle I've driven or researched...the Lexus Service history site has been amazing...I can't imagine trying to buy a used vehicle without access to it now...you find some fun things (see attached).
The first approach (A) would be to take the immaculate White Pearl 2008, 120k, detailed service records, with the exception being no timing belt being done...also it is the base model, so no KDSS or ML Sound. This one drove noticeably nice than any of the other 12 I've driven. Asking$16,900.
Second approach (B) is a on Grey 2005, 105k, been in an accident, big dent in the left running board, drove pretty smooth except for the death wobble (tire balance issue maybe??), no timing belt, the interior is nice. Asking price $10,999.
So the question is (A) spend more than I wanted to on a 11 year old car, but hope that it literally needs besides the timing belt for at least a year, or (B) spend much less than I expected to spend, but assume that I will put $4-5k into it in the first year?
I had hoped to spend at most $15k on a nice one, but that doesn't seem to be possible based on my first week of hunting.
I know no one can make the call but me, but I overthink these type things and it might help to hear some reasonable thoughts.
Thanks!
I'm from upstate NY, and have temporarily moved down to NC to live with my sister for a few weeks to find a rust-free LX/GX470. I've pretty much settled on the GX due to availability and price...(feel free to convince me otherwise)
My question is about which approach to take when buying one of these. It'll end up being really up to me, I know, but hearing input might be helpful.
I've driven 10+ of these in the past week, everything from an immaculate white pearl 08 with 120k on it to an 05 that felt like it had the death wobble my 97 Cherokee used to have. I've got an overly detailed spreadsheet and have looked at every line of service record for each vehicle I've driven or researched...the Lexus Service history site has been amazing...I can't imagine trying to buy a used vehicle without access to it now...you find some fun things (see attached).
The first approach (A) would be to take the immaculate White Pearl 2008, 120k, detailed service records, with the exception being no timing belt being done...also it is the base model, so no KDSS or ML Sound. This one drove noticeably nice than any of the other 12 I've driven. Asking$16,900.
Second approach (B) is a on Grey 2005, 105k, been in an accident, big dent in the left running board, drove pretty smooth except for the death wobble (tire balance issue maybe??), no timing belt, the interior is nice. Asking price $10,999.
So the question is (A) spend more than I wanted to on a 11 year old car, but hope that it literally needs besides the timing belt for at least a year, or (B) spend much less than I expected to spend, but assume that I will put $4-5k into it in the first year?
I had hoped to spend at most $15k on a nice one, but that doesn't seem to be possible based on my first week of hunting.
I know no one can make the call but me, but I overthink these type things and it might help to hear some reasonable thoughts.
Thanks!
