Should I pull or should I run?

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S

saxon22

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 16, 2010
Threads
4
Messages
26
In my never ending quest to obtain my iron horse I stumbled upon this little gem. It is everything I ever wanted (except perhaps for the color of the interior). It has:
1. the right millage - 139K which from what I see on this forum, equals another 139K of relatively trouble free wheeling.
2. year 2003 - the cabin is updated and the interior looks to be in a very good condition which will make wifey more hospitable toward purchasing it.
3. 12K of good old American dollars is a fair to good price for a vehicle from '03 which seem to be in good cosmetic condition.
4. This being a Lexus and not a TLC - more chances that the car saw more parking lots than mud trials and thus will have more umppff left for yours truly to enjoy/utilize.
5. AHC - a 2K penalty that might make me regret going Lexus instead of TLC route.

So guys, what do you think of this rig? I know there are many souls here who could dissect this baby like an honor student would a dead frog back in high school. So without further adue here comes Jonny:

Cars.com
 
Looks great in the pics. I like the color combo too. If you can take it to a mechanic to look it over that would be good. Have you seen it or is this a long distance buy? Get as many undercarriage pica as you can. I asked for video of mine when i purchased it site unseen. If you feel comfortable do it.
 
This truck looks familiar, I think someone else may have posted it in the past and the undercarriage didn't look so hot. It may just be the pictures, but the seats look impeccably clean, especially compared to the filthy seat belts.

Are you local to it?

Edit: I was wrong, this is the truck i was thinking of
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/to-buy-or-not-to-buy-2003-lx470.915197/
 
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I wouldn't necessarily sweat over the AHC. Although it's not my first choice, my 1999's AHC worked flawlessly until I got rid of the truck last fall...but I didn't have much added weight. If the truck is clean (especially with regard to rust), that is a very attractive price in my opinion.
 
Nice looking truck. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but in my old car dealer life in Houston, Texas, our first rule of car buying was never buy cars from New York. Too much rust. Maybe this is an exception to the rule, but the only way to find out is via a thorough undercarriage inspection.

bpe3
 
The body looks really clean. If the hitch is factory.....that would usually give an indication of what the undercarriage could look like. In the pics, the hitch looks really clean. There doesn't appear to be any indication of rust on the rear hatch either which would be a clue to excessive rust under the truck as well. Undercarriage shots from the dealer will be paramount! The AHC is awesome IMO, but I'm a fanboy of it. I came from a Tacoma and it's really nice to finally drive something that doesn't beat the crap out of you on back roads.... Smooth as butter on the highway too.
If it all checks out, it looks like a solid buy. Make sure you run the VIN through the Lexus owners app to get service history not shown by the carfax.
 
1. Run the VIN through Lexus Drivers, and you will see the complete service history, if done at a Toyota/Lexus dealer. It will show you more detail than the Carfax report.

2. The Carfax shows 5 previous owners. That would concern me, especially the 3 owners in the first 7 years. Often, multiple owners in quick succession means skipped service or maintenance, but the Lexus service history should confirm that for you.

3. As others have pointed out, vehicles from NY/NJ are highly prone to rust, so you need to check out the undercarriage really well, or get lots of pix underneath if you're not local. Since the history shows it spent its whole life in NY/NJ, I would be suspicious of a "clean" looking undercarriage. Check to make sure someone didn't just spray paint over existing rust!
 
bucfl said:
Looks great in the pics. I like the color combo too. If you can take it to a mechanic to look it over that would be good. Have you seen it or is this a long distance buy? Get as many undercarriage pica as you can. I asked for video of mine when i purchased it site unseen. If you feel comfortable do it.
Click to expand...

It is local to where I reside and having it checked would not be all that hard. I love how it looks on the pictures but I am a little scared of finding out what is under the skirt. I have been busy this week (roof replacement), but will surely visit the place over the weekend to further investigate.
 
camino70 said:
This truck looks familiar, I think someone else may have posted it in the past and the undercarriage didn't look so hot. It may just be the pictures, but the seats look impeccably clean, especially compared to the filthy seat belts.

Are you local to it?

Edit: I was wrong, this is the truck i was thinking of
To Buy or NOT to Buy... 2003 LX470
Click to expand...

Those seat belts do look like they do not belong in the same truck. I am puzzled as to how a cabin could be so clean and the seat belt so dirty. I hope they can be washed or chemically treated, or replaced since they clearly do not go with the rest of this machine.
 
bpe3 said:
Nice looking truck. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but in my old car dealer life in Houston, Texas, our first rule of car buying was never buy cars from New York. Too much rust. Maybe this is an exception to the rule, but the only way to find out is via a thorough undercarriage inspection.

bpe3
Click to expand...

Well, it all depends where the car was stored when not in use. Those lucky enough to have garages in NYC and who are disciplined enough to have their cars washed after snow/salt affairs that the city puts our roadways through during winter months, generally can keep their cars/trucks relatively rust free. However, you do make a valid point. There are rust buckets out there and I am certainly not the one who would want that lipsticked pig in my possession.
 
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taco47001 said:
The body looks really clean. If the hitch is factory.....that would usually give an indication of what the undercarriage could look like. In the pics, the hitch looks really clean. There doesn't appear to be any indication of rust on the rear hatch either which would be a clue to excessive rust under the truck as well. Undercarriage shots from the dealer will be paramount! The AHC is awesome IMO, but I'm a fanboy of it. I came from a Tacoma and it's really nice to finally drive something that doesn't beat the crap out of you on back roads.... Smooth as butter on the highway too.
If it all checks out, it looks like a solid buy. Make sure you run the VIN through the Lexus owners app to get service history not shown by the carfax.
Click to expand...

Oh I like AHC and would surely enjoy it. However, if and/or when it fails I'd rather have TLC and not have the expense of plunking 2K + labor to have the rig back to working condition. Buying a rig with about 140K, I have to take into consideration that the weak point of 470 might give me some extra trouble. As for the rust comment, you give ne hope that this might not be a rust full heap of junk but a decent truck. Thanks for the info.
 
JACA said:
1. Run the VIN through Lexus Drivers, and you will see the complete service history, if done at a Toyota/Lexus dealer. It will show you more detail than the Carfax report.

2. The Carfax shows 5 previous owners. That would concern me, especially the 3 owners in the first 7 years. Often, multiple owners in quick succession means skipped service or maintenance, but the Lexus service history should confirm that for you.

3. As others have pointed out, vehicles from NY/NJ are highly prone to rust, so you need to check out the undercarriage really well, or get lots of pix underneath if you're not local. Since the history shows it spent its whole life in NY/NJ, I would be suspicious of a "clean" looking undercarriage. Check to make sure someone didn't just spray paint over existing rust!
Click to expand...


All your points are valid. Even though cars are not like wives, 5 previous owners is not something one would consider a positive aspect of this rig. I am not familiar with Lexus Drivers. Is it a site or an app?
 
Without seeing for myself that is a very good starting price. The seller may not budge, but at that price it doesn't matter. Still run the vin through the Lexus website if and Carfax.
 
I checked Lexus site: this is what I got:

Service Type Date Service Provider Mileage Repair # Description
Dealer Reported 07/15/2015 139663 0816682 ENGINE MINOR C/S PLEASE CHECK OVER ENTIRE VEHICLE FOR CUSTOMER TO PURCHASE - CUSTOMER THINKS TAC DOES NOT WORK PLEASE CHECK - ALSO CHECK A/C DOESN'T SEEM TO BLOW COLD - FOUND CODE C1340 OPEN CIRCUT IN CENTER DIFF - FOUND A/C NO WORKING - LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN CHARGED AND LEAKED OUT - BOTH FRONT AXLES LEAKING - COOLANT LOW POSSIBLE WATER PUMP LEAK - TIMING BELT/DRIVE BELT DUE EBRAKE FROZEN - SHOCKS VERY RUSTED - NEE
Dealer Reported 07/15/2015 139663 0816682 *TOYOTA QUALITY INSP CUSTOMER REQUESTS TOYOTA QUALITY INSPECTION C/S PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF NEW TIMING BELT STICKER WAS PUT ON - DOES NOT KNOW IF BELT WAS DONE - PERFORMED INSPECTION AS PER REQUEST
 
Should you stay or run??

I'd be putting on the Adidas right about now. :worms: :eek:

Steve
 
saxon22 said:
LOL Too bad, I really had my eyes set on this one. It looks good in the pictures but the rest needs a lot of TLC. Not worth the hassle.
Click to expand...
All I can say is be patient. There's also the universal law that says once you get one, you'll see half a dozen within a week with half the mileage and at half the price. ;)

Steve
 
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