Looking to buy - '03 or '02 LX470

[redheep]

Gents,

I've been searching for a couple months now, but haven't had the chance to travel and look at anything because of a couple work trips to Tokyo. I found 2 LX470s about an hour from my house, so I did the carfax and looked up the service history on lexus.com.

I was hoping some of you experienced LC/LX owners could help me out with some of this lingo that I found in the service history and help me decide if these are worth going to buy or if I should stay away.

The first one is a 2003 here:

Used 2003 Lexus LX 470 Sport Utility for Sale in Farmville NC 27828 Auto Depot Farmville

The service history shows 1 dealer it's whole life (Lexus of Rockville) and pretty regular service even after the warranty was up. A couple things that struck me as odd were:

-RECOMMEND RADIO AMPLIFIER. RADIO NOT WORKING. NO SOUND BUT DISPLAY SHOWS STATION. ALSO NO VOLUME N - ,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER WILL HAVE WORK PERFORMED LATER

-CHECK STEERING WHEEL. LOOSE IN COLUMN. - ,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER WILL HAVE WORK PERFORMED LATER

-RECOMMEND REPLACING BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND SPARK PLUGS. LEAKING OIL. - ,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER WILL HAVE WORK PERFORMED LATER

-RECOMMEND REPLACING RACK AND PINION. BUSHING IS WORN ALLOWING MOVEMENT SIDE TO SIDE. ,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER WILL HAVE WORK PERFORMED LATER

-BUSHING, STABILIZER BAR LINK (FRONT) REPLACE. LINK BUSHINGS ARE BAD LETTING IT RUB. - ,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER WILL HAVE WORK PERFORMED LATER

-ADVISE REPLACE AUDIO AMPLIFIER, ALSO NOTED SUBWOOFER INSTALLED. POSSIBLE WIRING ISSUE. C/S: THE CAR WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND AFTER THE REPAIRS THE AUDIO SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING;

-131354MILES...NEEDS RACK & PIN.,PARK.BRK.SEIZED,SRS CODE B0101,ABS CODE C1364, CODE B1181...DID NO C CAR MSI

Those are the last listings from a Lexus multi-point inspection after it was traded in I'm assuming. Most of these look like small maintenance repairs that I wasn't terribly concerned about. I've read a few rack and pinion bushing threads as well. I'm an aircraft mechanic by trade and I've been working on vehicles for a long time, so I'm not worried about doing the work, but I don't want to spend thousands of dollars either. I didn't see anything in the carfax about an accident, so not sure what that is about either.

Is this still a good vehicle at the price ($14k)? Or should I be concerned about the nick nack issues?

The dealership also has a 2002 LX470 with a few more miles:

Used 2002 Lexus LX 470 Sport Utility for Sale in Farmville NC 27828 Auto Depot Farmville

The service history was at the same dealer it's whole life as well. The only inspection point that talks about maintenance was this one:

C CAR MSI - 160158 WS: WINDSHIELD CRACKED, 3 WIPER BLADES, L HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, RACK LEAKING, ALIGNMENT, RV CV BOOT, L INNER CV BOOT, EXHUAST HEAT SHIELD CLAMPS, F SUSPENSION LEAKING - SINKS, 2 HOOD STRUTS, POWER MIRROR SWITCH INOP, LEAK IN AC CONDENSOR (HOLE LEFT SI

So obviously may be a little more concerning, but also at a much nicer price point ($12k). Is it worth the extra money to get the '03 with the better transmission?

I'll be back in the states saturday night and I'm probably headed up there on Monday to take a look. I appreciate any advice that you guys could give, things I should be looking for. I know it's a 13 year old vehicle and needs the PM, just don't want to step into a lemon.

 

[RyanStl]

This is nice for you that they are at the same spot, so you can really compare. You'll be able to see if one has a TB sticker vs the other. Also, in person you'll see if one has rust worse than the other. The dealer will never mention rust in an add and it can be hard to spot in pictures. Besides the under body you should check the upper windshield for bubbles and check the lift gate. One may ride better than the other or one have more problems with the leather. How is the AHC between the two?

Personally, I believe the '03 looks better. I have a grey interior, but really prefer the tan in the '03. Plus it is 30K miles less and has the 5-speed.

 

[redheep]

That's what I was thinking. I'm willing to spend a little extra to get the '03. It shows a timing belt at 65k, so it probably needs done soon enough.

I've read some not so great reviews about the dealer, so we'll see. I think the cars are solid, but they have a reputation for being difficult to work with. Of course, most of those internet reviews are written by people who want a $14k car for $7k and get mad when the dealer won't negotiate.

 

[Simplespirit]

65k? That's really early. FWIW when I was shopping a friend that has had a lot of Toyotas including fully built 60s, 80s, and 100s told me the 5 spd was easily worth 5k over the earlier 4 spd if you intend to DD it (which I did).

 

[redheep]

I'm not sure why at 65k, that's just what the service history says. It could have been a pushy service writer on an unsuspecting owner.

 

[grando]

I have an 01 that the TB was done at 50, the PO did it then because of the age of the truck. I picked it up 2 yrs ago with 54k on the odometer and now have 94k! I love my 01 but I'd get the nicest newest one if it was in better condition. That said, my 4spd does just fine. Can't go wrong either way. My wife drives a LR3 and my LX is so better engineered. Good luck with your search.

 

[redheep]

Thanks to everyone that replied and tried to help.

I went and looked at the 2003 today. It's a DC car, so there was undercarriage rust. It wasn't horrible, but it would have made maintenance interesting. The car had a front accident on its record and I could tell the front bumper and bumper cover were new. The front marker lights had been replaced, but the headlights were scuffed and original. Everything in the engine compartment looked good, minimal leaks or oil anywhere and the engine started nicely and sounded quiet. Someone had done all the fluids and the air filter.

The outside had bumper scuffs and scratches in the paint. The roof rack looked like someone ran it into the garage. The paint on the wheels was peeling and the paint on the spare was already gone. There were several lug nuts that the chrome covers had fallen off. Shame that 10 bucks worth of lugnuts would have made the car look much better.

The interior was much dirtier and unkept than the pictures show. The door sills weren't connected to anything, the carpet was a mess and the leather needed some serious attention. I checked all the buttons and everything worked. There was something wrong with the power locks and they didn't work with the key fob either.

The big killer was the AHC. I couldn't get it to go up or down. Pretty sure it wasn't me. I had the engine on and hit the switch and just got a green blinking light.

Unfortunately none of that really mattered. The dealer wasn't willing to come off of his price, even after I showed him that it wasn't what the book folks would say was an "excellent" car. I wanted to trade my truck in and he low balled me pretty hard, refused to negotiate his price and didn't really want to talk about the condition of the LX.

So we walked. The wife and I are going to stop looking for a while. I retire next year from the military and we'll take a look at some different offroad options when we're settled wherever we settle.

Again, thanks for the information here. I was/is a much more educated buyer just by reading other's experiences.

 

[Traskew3]

Look in FL. There are lots of nice ones that pop up from time to time esp low mileage "condo cars" like the one I got 1.5 yrs ago with 56k for $14k

 

[NJNeal]

I'd skip both of them. For that money you'll find a nice truck with patience. Mine was in that range with 85k miles. Those service records of declining service on things like the rack would be flags to me.