Did I Pay The Fair Price?

[falciott]

Hi everyone, great site! I learned more about my car in here then anywhere else. But I have some questions ! I just bought a 90 LS 400 with 38,000 original miles on it " checked carfax history and all" the whole car seems like it;s right out of the showroom, infact when I saw it.. it seemed like no one ever sat in those leather seats. Anyway.. getting back on track, the high book value says it;s worth $6,500 and I bought it for $7000. Did I get a great deal.. or did I just get what I paid for?

[CanadaCraig]

Hi falciott!! :)

Congratulations on what sounds like a beautiful car!!

I think you got more than your money's worth. Besides - it's yours now - isn't it? Why try to upset yourself by trying to prove you got 'took'. And if you got what you paid for - wow - lucky you. Not everyone can say that!!

Do yourself a favour [if you haven't already - OR IF there is no evidence of such things being done - recently] change ALL fluids and consider replacing the timing belt. [some of the other member's can tell you better than I can if replacing the timing belt is absolutely necessary] Sometimes [believe me - I know] a super low mileage used car can have unique problems. So ignore MILEAGE when it comes to appropriate services and focus on TIME. In other words - if something should be done at 40,000 miles OR 2 years - only consider the YEARS. [or months or whatever the case may be] When I bought my 1993 LS [about 1 1/2 years ago] it only had about 50,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt and a few other things - just to be safe. [then again - I'm a bit of a safety freak!!]

So... tell us more. What colour is it? What options does it have? Have you taken any photo's? I for one would love to see your new car.

And welcome to the Lexus family!!

Craig!! :)

[falciott]

Hi falciott!! :)

Congratulations on what sounds like a beautiful car!!

I think you got more than your money's worth. Besides - it's yours now - isn't it? Why try to upset yourself by trying to prove you got 'took'. And if you got what you paid for - wow - lucky you. Not everyone can say that!!

Do yourself a favour [if you haven't already - OR IF there is no evidence of such things being done - recently] change ALL fluids and consider replacing the timing belt. [some of the other member's can tell you better than I can if replacing the timing belt is absolutely necessary] Sometimes [believe me - I know] a super low mileage used car can have unique problems. So ignore MILEAGE when it comes to appropriate services and focus on TIME. In other words - if something should be done at 40,000 miles OR 2 years - only consider the YEARS. [or months or whatever the case may be] When I bought my 1993 LS [about 1 1/2 years ago] it only had about 50,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt and a few other things - just to be safe. [then again - I'm a bit of a safety freak!!]

So...  tell us more. What colour is it? What options does it have? Have you taken any photo's? I for one would love to see your new car.

And welcome to the Lexus family!!

Craig!! :)

←

Hi Craig, thanx for the reassurance, at first I couldnt; believe the low mileage and then I was like" wait a sec! I paid more then the book value" but it was not a regretful decision since I bought the car for my wife and I know I wont; have to worry about her getting stranded somewhere. So Craig U think I should replace the timing belt>!? your argument makes sense, I was looking it more in terms of mileage then years, infact I was gonna wait till the scheduled maintenance for that, but you're right I should get it changed. How much did you pay for that and was it at a Lexus dealer, I've read enough forums in here to know that they enjoy" taking people for rides". But the car is pearl white , the paint is flawless but the the bottom , the other tone seems like it's been run thru a car wash, seems a bit scratched, as far as options I assume it;s pretty loaded, no air ride tho. I just installed some reverse sensors myself, since my wife tought that visibility in the back wasnt; the greatestest. They look like stock sensors and it only cost me $75.00, got them on ebay :D

I am also adding on the "LS 400" emblem since it;s missing, and the one thing that has to go, are those hideous chrome fenderwell moldings, I took one off but the paint has been discouloured by it, so I have no idea what to do now. I shall ask as paint shop, but I will definetly take pics this weekend and post them on here. Thanx again for the advise Craig, timing belt will be on my list as well now.

[flash213]

$7000 seems a little bit high to me. At any rate it should be a great car for you. Do you a search on the forum for timing belt change and you will find a slew of information on what all needs to be replaced with the timing belt. For OEM parts

http://www.discounttoyotaparts.com/ seems to have the best prices. Good luck and enjoy the car.

[falciott]

$7000 seems a little bit high to me.  At any rate it should be a great car for you. Do you a search on the forum for timing belt change and you will find a slew of information on what all needs to be replaced with the timing belt. For OEM parts

http://www.discounttoyotaparts.com/ seems to have the best prices. Good luck and enjoy the car.

←

Hi Flash, thanx for the website, I am sorta of a hobbyst mechanic so I'll definetly be purchasing alot of parts online, well. probably not the timing belt since I don;t want to screw it up, but other tune up parts.Well at this point I am thinking as long as the lex doesn;t give me problems it'll be well worth it, i've had my share of unreliable cars, new or not.

[Lexusfreak]

Hi falciott!! :)

Congratulations on what sounds like a beautiful car!!

I think you got more than your money's worth. Besides - it's yours now - isn't it? Why try to upset yourself by trying to prove you got 'took'. And if you got what you paid for - wow - lucky you. Not everyone can say that!!

Do yourself a favour [if you haven't already - OR IF there is no evidence of such things being done - recently] change ALL fluids and consider replacing the timing belt. [some of the other member's can tell you better than I can if replacing the timing belt is absolutely necessary] Sometimes [believe me - I know] a super low mileage used car can have unique problems. So ignore MILEAGE when it comes to appropriate services and focus on TIME. In other words - if something should be done at 40,000 miles OR 2 years - only consider the YEARS. [or months or whatever the case may be] When I bought my 1993 LS [about 1 1/2 years ago] it only had about 50,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt and a few other things - just to be safe. [then again - I'm a bit of a safety freak!!]

So...  tell us more. What colour is it? What options does it have? Have you taken any photo's? I for one would love to see your new car.

And welcome to the Lexus family!!

Craig!! :)

←

I concur with Craig! Post pics when you get a chance! Welcome to the club! B)

[VBdenny]

I'd call your buy a great deal. You can't buy a 3 year old Malibu for 7 grand. Mine is the same year and color and I noticed that they grey paint on the bottom seems to wear out faster.

[Shadow]

I am very weary of extreme low mileage and 38K for 15 years old is extreme. It is possible to tinker with the odometer and not leave any trace even in Carfax.

[vyhanh]

Hi,

If it's true, you may have got the best deal so far for this gen. Where did you get the emblem and the reverse sensors? Easy to install them ?

Thanks

VH

91 LS400

[falciott]

Thanx guys, ok I definetly dont; feel like I bummed on my deal, as far as the low mileage, I bought the car from an older gentleman and he used it as a weekend car, besides when I look at the interior it;s amazing how new it is, that is why I am not suspicious. It is possible, after all even my father in law has a '97 BMW M3 with only 15,000 miles on it, here in Hawaii those weekend cars don;t see much sun. The emblem I bought on ebay from"lexmaniac" that's his ID , and the sensors I bought from"HK-PLUS" he's located in Honk Kong, but i got the sensors in less then a week and I've bought from him before, so the sensors have been trouble free, here is a link to the ones I bought" http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=7973773890 " do no mind the car names.. all sensors are the same for any car. Let me know If interested, I could give u guys step by step of my installation process, it took me about 6 hours, but that's only because I was trying to figure out how to route the wires for that clean look.