What Mileage/Price Equates to a Good Deal (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpmwv
- Start date
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check out the classifieds/this forum where most recent purchase prices are posted. You'll get an idea of what fair market value is on closed transactions.
- Thread starter
- #3
Great idea! Thank you!
Pay attention to the area, unless you are willing to shop cross-country. The same vehicle might be 25k in one region and sub 20k in another.
The three main factors are:
Mileage
Age
Condition
Along with Age, the 2016+ Cruisers are still commanding a premium over the earlier models beyond just the added age of the earlier models.
With condition, #1 is rust. Far and away, heavy rust will make your life miserable if you plan to keep long term. I won't even consider a vehicle that has ever lived in a heavy snow/salt area without lots of pictures. Beware of vehicles on southern lots that seem to have recently transferred from New England or the Upper Midwest. I've seen some dealers in the South buy rusty vehicles cheap at auction and bring them south where the average buyer doesn't even know to look for rust.
The 200 has a vast range of price ranges available, from high mileage early models in the Mid Teens to like new 2021s selling for $90k+, so set your budget and buy the newest, lowest mileage you can afford, especially if you plan to keep long term.
Mileage
Age
Condition
Along with Age, the 2016+ Cruisers are still commanding a premium over the earlier models beyond just the added age of the earlier models.
With condition, #1 is rust. Far and away, heavy rust will make your life miserable if you plan to keep long term. I won't even consider a vehicle that has ever lived in a heavy snow/salt area without lots of pictures. Beware of vehicles on southern lots that seem to have recently transferred from New England or the Upper Midwest. I've seen some dealers in the South buy rusty vehicles cheap at auction and bring them south where the average buyer doesn't even know to look for rust.
The 200 has a vast range of price ranges available, from high mileage early models in the Mid Teens to like new 2021s selling for $90k+, so set your budget and buy the newest, lowest mileage you can afford, especially if you plan to keep long term.
Now that it’s the start of the 2026 model year for vehicles, used 200s are anywhere from 5 to 18 years old. So there are no formulas for pricing. That means your “good deal” is the youngest one in the best condition, with the best history, and the lowest miles that fits your budget.
This is a big dynamic right now. In NC, it seems some dealers are finding margin by buying Northeast/Midwest trucks at auction and selling them here. We may be "the south" but we're also relatively close to salted winter areas. Always get a VIN report with prior owner locations, and check for rust even at a Southern dealer.
Solid advice here. Especially for unscrupulous dealers.
2 pieces of advice:
1. Bookmark Toyota Owners Portal or Lexus' one. That allows you to check details of service history performed at the dealer. This saved me some heartache down the road for sure
2. Know your product. In the category of unscruptulous or just plain unaware Ive seen a few base LC's "reimagined" as Heritage editions. Slap on some bronze wheels, couple badges and the rack and POOF, youve bumped price thousands. One of the offenders was even at a toyota dealer who should know better.
1. Bookmark Toyota Owners Portal or Lexus' one. That allows you to check details of service history performed at the dealer. This saved me some heartache down the road for sure
2. Know your product. In the category of unscruptulous or just plain unaware Ive seen a few base LC's "reimagined" as Heritage editions. Slap on some bronze wheels, couple badges and the rack and POOF, youve bumped price thousands. One of the offenders was even at a toyota dealer who should know better.
