Buying/Selling - what year, how much, etc. - ask for opinions here (5 Viewers)

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CONDITION is far more important than miles indicated.

I have customers with nearly 400K miles on their LX-470's that look, feel, perform as new. There are maintenance/replacements required to keep them like that, but those are VERY reasonable. Things like belts, hoses, fluids(all lubes and coolants and brake fluid), filters, tires, brakes, wheel bearings, misc rubber joints, CV boots, paint nicks, rust-proofing, etc.

The vehicles are extremely robust and durable in all respects--driven on street and modest 'dirt/sand' off-roading. they ARE NOT a heavy duty off-road vehicle like a Jeep or? as the are heavy and not built for 'rock crawling'

If the vehicle runs, performs, looks good-inside, outside, under, inside engine, inside radiator, it probably is a good bet for long life. If it is dirty, bent up, rusty, dirty under hood and inside engine, radiator full of bug carcasses, expect expensive things to be used up a lot more. If the owner/driver 'used it hard' it is well used and you should pass. If it was lightly used--it is hardly worn at all.

Excellent advice. It is greatly appreciated. It looked very clean with a clean carfax that listed all scheduled maintenance. I will likely pick this LC up.

Thanks.
 
Hello,we are looking at a 2002 w/100k.It's at a Toyota dealer and they want 19k or so.Looks clean,it's a silver one with the LC lettering in the rear in black.Also looks like no tow pkg.so that kind of a bummer,but not a big deal.
I think we are going to go and test drive this comming weekend.Clean carfax report w/some service records.I did not see a TB 90k service on there,but I will check it out to be sure it's been done.It's also located 2.5 hrs. away.
I really want to get the wife into a 02 or up.I have been looking at a lot of 03's,04's & 05's and have seen some really good deals.Most were around 26-27k depending on the miles.But it would be nice to stay under 20k $$,thats why I am leaning toward the 02.
So the thing is,we have a chance to go in there and make them an offer as we will not need to finance or trade in anything(we were thinking the 2000 4Runner)but I would like to keep it for now.
So here's the question; What should I offer?? I would like to say 15k or we are walking!!
Thoughts,opinions-need more info on the 02???

Thanks,John
 
Hi All,I just double checked the carfax report.I found some red flags!!! 2-18-2004 13,650k a damage report was taken at a collision repair place.Said rear damage and to have it inspected by dealer or professional.That could explain the black lettering in the rear.

3-15-2010 Truck was sold at an Auto Auction in pacific region.Listed as a dealer vehicle.Was also listed as a 1-owner.

Thoughts?? I guess my carfax was not clean!! I have read a bunch.

Thanks,John
 
Just for price comparison I got a bid from carmax for my 2004 LX470 with 64K miles, its a Mall cruiser Black with grey interior and no rust was a Austin Tx truck and all maintance over done. They offered me $24K, I am not selling it, long story but that should tell you what dealers are paying.
 
Thanks SWUtah,I am still looking for sure.Here are a few more,but a bit out of our price range.But cash talks!!!

2005 $27,900 79k Nav.,DVD,ect. Private owner- 2.5hr.away

2006 $35k(ouch) this one is really nice!! 29k Pre-paid maint. to 55k Private owner- 1.5hr. away

2003 $27,895 54k Dealer - 45 min.away
 
Thanks SWUtah,I am still looking for sure.Here are a few more,but a bit out of our price range.But cash talks!!!

2005 $27,900 79k Nav.,DVD,ect. Private owner- 2.5hr.away

2006 $35k(ouch) this one is really nice!! 29k Pre-paid maint. to 55k Private owner- 1.5hr. away

2003 $27,895 54k Dealer - 45 min.away

Buy the 2003 with 54K miles, should get it for $24K
 
Good choice utah! I am liking the mileage on that one.We are going to look asap.It's a silver one w/gray int. so it should be really nice.
This one does have a clean carfax w/ 1-owner& service records.
There is no photo on the ad though.Hope to see it soon.
Thanks,John
 
I guess this thread does not see a lot of replys!
Here it goes anyway,the 03 w/54k sold fast it's gone!!So I test drove a real nice 04 today.Man it drove like a dream!My First time driving a 100. But the guy is holding FIRM on $28K.Truck has 70k miles and really silver.All options(Nav.,dvd.,ect.)New Michelns(man those 18" wheels are big)
The only thing that bugged us other than the price was the dvd screen was all taped up with white velcro tape.One of the guys kids knocked it good and it won't stay folded up.He said it works though.It was cracked where I could see it.

I think we are going to let it pass,I might go back to a 2000 or 2002 and save some bucks.Plus I just can not see getting such a nice truck dirty.The wife would freak to get it near any wheeling!!
 
Stay patient - I had several sell out from under me during my six months of serious looking. More will come along.
 
I guess this thread does not see a lot of replys!
Here it goes anyway,the 03 w/54k sold fast it's gone!!So I test drove a real nice 04 today.Man it drove like a dream!My First time driving a 100. But the guy is holding FIRM on $28K.Truck has 70k miles and really silver.All options(Nav.,dvd.,ect.)New Michelns(man those 18" wheels are big)
The only thing that bugged us other than the price was the dvd screen was all taped up with white velcro tape.One of the guys kids knocked it good and it won't stay folded up.He said it works though.It was cracked where I could see it.

I think we are going to let it pass,I might go back to a 2000 or 2002 and save some bucks.Plus I just can not see getting such a nice truck dirty.The wife would freak to get it near any wheeling!!

That is not a bad price. Offer him $27-27.5 because of the DVD. 2004 is the sweet spot, last year that the oldtimers built the 100 series. Toyota had a early retirement the first of 2005 where most of the oldtimers on the 100 series line retired.
 
Well I still have the deal going on the 04.The guy is holding it for us till tomorrow.Yea Utah I guess it's a good price and I will put in an offer for 27 or 27.5.We are supposed to meet and do the deal tomorrow.I told him we want the truck,but we have got to get him to go down on the price.Blue book says $26,505 in excellent condition and it is,it's just that damm DVD!
John
 
Well I still have the deal going on the 04.The guy is holding it for us till tomorrow.Yea Utah I guess it's a good price and I will put in an offer for 27 or 27.5.We are supposed to meet and do the deal tomorrow.I told him we want the truck,but we have got to get him to go down on the price.Blue book says $26,505 in excellent condition and it is,it's just that damm DVD!
John

I've owned a lot of vehicles, 1995 FZJ80, 1999 100 series, several 4runners, 2004,2007. All model Porsches, 5 Mercedes, the last a 2008 CLS63 AMG. Acura NSX, Aston Martin Vantage. I can say that I like my 2004 LX470 more then any of these other vehicles, it is built like a bank vault and it is of the highest quality and more dependable then any vehicle I've ever owned. You can't go wrong with the 100 series and you can drive it for the next ten years and several hundred thousand miles for just the cost of maintance. Don't worry about a few dollars now if it is a well kept 2004 it will pay you back for many years to come.
 
Thanks for all the good info. SWUtah and wish us luck today with our purchase.It should go smooth,hopefully as smooth as that truck drives!
John
 
Just FYI, I overpaid a bit last December for an '02 LX470 ($23,200) that was a one owner Nevada rig with just under 68k miles. It had all the service records from day one, all done by Lexus except the final oil change which was done by Toyota and included a new Toyota battery. It was a freeway cruiser that went back and forth between Vegas and Jackson, WY. Normal wear and tear but clean and solid. With gas prices heading up again I expect prices will drop.

I figured I overpaid $1-2k for this one but the one-owner, all records history was worth it to me in the long run. I saw a lot of crap during my search with multiple owners and negative Carfax hits. A clean vehicle with all service done on time and one-owner is worth a little more. I also paid a little more because it was being sold at a Lexus dealer where the owners traded it in on a new one. I'm sure the dealer did quite well but they actually drove it up from Utah for me to inspect without asking for anything other than a credit check.

Point is, when you find the right one, buy it even if it costs a little extra.
 
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Well it seems they are selling like hotcakes out here cause I missed out on another one.I trusted the guy with teeth as silver as the LC,I showed up today to buy the 04 and the guy is nowhere to be seen.I had all the $$ in order,and this guy is nowhere!!! No calls,can't get a hold of the guy.
I might be done with sketchy Craig's Lists ad's.His was put out on thurs.the 6th. See SF Bay Area; 2004 San Bruno $28K.It said he takes trade ins and he is not even a dealer! Instead of call it says "cole".It was still up today as I checked.
 
Well it seems they are selling like hotcakes out here cause I missed out on another one.I trusted the guy with teeth as silver as the LC,I showed up today to buy the 04 and the guy is nowhere to be seen.I had all the $$ in order,and this guy is nowhere!!! No calls,can't get a hold of the guy.
I might be done with sketchy Craig's Lists ad's.His was put out on thurs.the 6th. See SF Bay Area; 2004 San Bruno $28K.It said he takes trade ins and he is not even a dealer! Instead of call it says "cole".It was still up today as I checked.

Sounds like you are luck this guy did not showup. Sounds like a scam artist.
 
2003 LC: Edmunds or NADA Value?

Okay, I am looking at a gold 2003 LC with a VERY low 46k miles on it. It is a one owner in VERY good shape (I have seen pics, and a tech has looked it over). It has every option, but rear entertainment. The Mercedes dealer has offered it to me for $25,400 (original asking price was $26,800).

Which "book" do you guys prefer when evaluating fair price? NADA on this vehicle is about $3k higher than Edmunds. I offered the dealer $24k and they refused saying they had already refused that offer from someone else.

Thoughts?
 
I use all of the books to get a feel for prices before a purchase or sale, but why does it matter in this case? If you want to use a quote as an argument, use the lowest one. NADA, KBB, Edmunds are all widely used, I think, maybe the first 2 more by dealers? Needless to say, the truck is worth to you only and exactly what you and him can agree on. You're only $1400 apart so seems like the book is largely irrelevant. Plus if the guy is a dealer he has a better idea of what that thing is truly worth to him than you do. In the grand scheme of things, as in owning that truck 20 years, seems like $1400 or hopefully less is a drop in the bucket, if it's cherry, no? Unless you want to flip it quick, of course. Bottom line, if you want it, offer more or take a chance and wait. If it's not worth more than $24K to you, drop it. Life is simple sometime, right? :)
 
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