chef Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 So i went to check out the 2000 ls400...and i must say the car is in mint condition...there wasn't a speck of rust on it ...anywhere....the interior was in good shape too...he had a huge pile of all the paperwork done to it since the time he got it, he was quite organized. Here are some pics of it..so as mentioned he's asking $12 500 canadian....let me know whatcha think..the other thing is that i don't think he's had the "timing belt" interval done yet, so i can get it checked out from the lexus dealer and use that in the price nego. My brother-in-law still thinks that a rx330 is a better deal...with the family and canadian winters...you think the rx is a better bet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern_NJ Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 How many miles are on it? It's a shame you are not in the philadelphia area or you could buy my 2000 LS 400. Here is a link for my car. http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1245955898.html It has 157,000 miles on it. GDF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Southern NJ it has around 102K Miles on it... It seems to be in really good shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitz Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I recently paid $13k CDN incl. taxes etc.. for a 2000 LS with 64k miles on it. Timing belt, water pump etc... cost me $1200 CDN at a local shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Schnitz...i am in canada...in montreal...the car is from here and if your roads (especially in winter) are anything like ours (and for your sake i hope not), between the pot-holes and super salty roads, if a car can make it in 10 years, you're lucky! this car looked super immaculate! not a speck of rust anywhere and was clean underneith... As for the repairs, i think the T-belt and W-pump might need to get done..$1200....sounds about right... i will see with lexus today on how much that would cost...thanks fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Chef, the 2000 LS400 you are considering appears to be a Millenium Edition since it has the same wheels that were standard on the 2001-2 LS430. The Canadian Millenium Edition is similar to the U.S. 2000 LS400 Platinum Series. I'm assuming the car you are looking at has the textured leather and maple wood ... and hopefully seat heaters! There were three versions of the U.S. Platinum Series 00 LS: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2000/2000LSspecs.pdf A Montreal Lexus dealer "should" be able to tell you if there was more than one version of the Millenium Edition and the content of each. The 00 LS Platinum Series is fairly rare in the U.S. -- I've had mine almost six years and have seen only a few others. Which audio system does that Millenium LS have? If Nakamichi, you should know that repair part supply is drying up down here in the U.S. I know lots of people like the RX but it ain't no 00 LS. I've driven RX330 loaner cars provided by the Lexus dealer several time and it has always been a huge relief to get back into my 00 LS. Drive an RX and that 00 LS back-to-back and see what I mean. The 98-00 LS400 is a great snow car as long as you have four real (mountain/snowflake logo on the sidewall) snow tires. The "snow mode" transmission setting and VSC make the car actually fun to drive in snow. A friend of mine doesn't use snow tires on his 99 LS and can barely get around in it in winter snow -- but he also has an RX400h. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 1990..hey there...yes indeed is is the Millenium edition, which the gentleman told me that it was a rare model...it is really nice inside it is silver outside and darker grey leather inside with wood accents. I don't know if the seats have heaters but would be surprised if it didn't... Yes the radio is the one you mentioned and it sounded realllly nice! i like the sound in my volvo but this was much nicer and crisper! As for the winter driving, as long as it at least have something like a Posi-trac (GM) then i should be okay..a good thing that it's a heavy car! and yes i would buy good snow tires, i would even get some nokian studded tires (we can have them in our province!!! woohoo!!) hahaha thanks fabs oh ya..as far as doing the timing water pump..what can i look for in repair costs? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 As for the winter driving, as long as it at least have something like a Posi-trac (GM) then i should be okay..a good thing that it's a heavy car! chef, Lexus VSC goes far beyond GM's Posi-traction. VSC intervenes when a skid is detected and takes over the electronic "drive by wire" throttle and selectively applies the brake at each wheel independently. I once tried to lose control and make the car to into a spin by driving in a circle as fast as I could in an empty snow covered parking lot -- VSC made it impossible to spin the car or lose control. I doubt if many people where I live appreciate what VSC can do in snow because we don't get all that much snow and few people buy and use snow tires. VSC can't work its "magic" in snow unless a car has snow tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 1990..thanks for the input..much appreciated...I will swing by the lexus dealer today, they are having an "under the tent" sale on used cars..might find something interesting.. As for the RX models...they look nice and might be a bit more practical (also cause i have a baby now), but i was also reading some reviews and they didn't seem all that great, not horrible but not that great....on the other hand, i've been one 3 different sights where people give their reviews and the 2000 model LS400 score with 5 stars on all 3 sites!!! that says alot!!! How does your car do on the gas milage front? i'm sure that for a V8 it does well??? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 How does your car do on the gas milage front? i'm sure that for a V8 it does well???thanks fabs Fuel economy on my 00 LS is highly variable depending on the mix of city and highway driving and how heavily the car is loaded. On the last five fill-ups, the trip computer has given the following "MILES SINCE REFUEL / TANK MPG" figures: 226 miles/20.2 mpg; 274 miles/23.0 mpg; 226 miles/25.2 mpg; 274 miles / 20.6 mpg; 181 miles / 25.6 mpg. I will leave it to you to convert to L/100 km! I doubt if your results would be much different than mine unless you have more of a "lead foot" than I do -- and I sometimes really "nail" the throttle. I've driven in Montreal and the traffic volume and congestion level there did not seem noticeably different that here in the Kansas City area where we have a similar boulevard street system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 1990...naahhh our roadds are something special!!! we are know, of all the provinces of having the owrst drivers and even worst roads!!!! As for milage that's actaullly not that bad...probably better then the caprice i had before and that was a V8 too! Does the ls take regular or premium gas? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 1990...naahhh our roadds are something special!!! we are know, of all the provinces of having the owrst drivers and even worst roads!!!! As for milage that's actaullly not that bad...probably better then the caprice i had before and that was a V8 too! Does the ls take regular or premium gas? thanks fabs Well, maybe my opinion is valid because Kansas City, Missouri was recently rated as having some of the most poorly maintained streets in the U.S. and having the highest average damage to vehicles due to rough roads. Heck, a car fell into a huge hole in a downtown Kansas City, Missouri street last year -- only then did the city put barriers around the hole to keep others from driving into it. Funny how everyone likes to think that their city/state/province has the worst drivers. OK, maybe Quebec is in the running. At least now every Quebec farmer doesn't seem to be crawling along on a main road in a barely running Skoda like back the 1980s. Yes, the LS requires premium fuel -- I think most (all?) Lexus vehicles do. Attached are specs for the Canadian 2000 LS400 -- no mention of the Millenium Edition. Canadian_spec_2000_LS400_french.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitz Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 My car is a Millenium Edition as well originally from Spinelli Lexus in Pointe Claire. I didn't think it had any rust when I first bought it as well. Much to my dismay, when I took off the plastic wheel well edge protectors to roll the fender lips I found some surface rust. Bad design from Lexus. Either way, this is what It looked like the day I bought it: And this is what it looks like today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Shnitz...wow!!!! nice car!!!!!ya that dealership is 2 minutes away from my house! cool! i was just there today..the girl that works there was really nice and ran a vin check for me..so the only thing she noticed was : no records of timing belt done... the odometer is off but the owner informed us of that.. and there was a "check engine" light that had come on to change the catalytic and was just reset not changed (the cat) at that time the owner changed out the spark plugs..maybe that's what threw the code???? don't know but can make some sense (unburned fuel, bad 02 reading and fouled cat)???? anywho ofther than that the car seems to have been well maintained... once again,compliments on your car...BTW what mags you got on? look sharp! ciao fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amcdonal86 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 The RX isn't going to be nearly as refined as the LS400. It's probably not even that great in the snow, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcbted Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Schnitz, that hardly looks like the same LS. Very nice. I remember when you picked up your car at John Harris auto sales. Any issues since you've owned it? As I recall, it was a lot of car for the money, and the dealership treated you well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitz Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 The wheels are 20" Work Eurolines (step lipped). The car has treated me well other than the starter going. $650 US later and I was back on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW03ES Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 $650 is a steal to replace that starter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hi guys... UPDATE***** So i got the info from the dealership (vin check) and it seems a little off.... The milage is not very accurate and it doesn't coincide as to when the owner said he changed the odometer, plus the catalytic has to maybe be changed out ad the timing belp/pump needs to be done...and i have the feeling that this owner won't budge on the price.... There is still a 2002 lexus LS430 for sale...a bit more expensive but looks to be in good shape too...i will check it out this week...is this just as good as the 2000 ls400??? any thoughts / Comments? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Sure, the 02 LS430 is a great car and has a huge number of improvements over the 00 LS400 including more interior space and especially rear seat legroom and a far larger trunk. Attached are the specs for the Canadian 02 LS430. 2002_Canadian_LS430_brochure.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 1990..thanks for the info..where the heck do you find this stuff? hahaha thanks again... ya the 2002 looks cool...personally, i prefer the look of the 2000 model...(i find it looks more like the older mercedes). But yes my bro-in-law has talked good things about the 2002 model..more room, more improvements...bigger trunk..ect. They're asking $17500 canadian and it has around 170 000k km on it...sounds good? i'm sure it's negotiable..it is, however, being sold on consignment through the dealer..i'll keep you posted..ciao fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 Hi guys, UPDATE**** So i spoke to the guy of the 2002 430LS ...so he said everything is in check and i spoke to the lexus dealer and got the VIN number of the car. I then contacted the Lexus dealer near my house and they ran a check for me (i'm still amazed that they did it!) and the car checked out well...all the repairs where done on the major intervals. The car has 172 000km right now and the timing belt (but not the water pump...) was done at 150 000km...there was a list of repairs that where done but it seems to be in good shape. I still have to see it in person and drive it...but i'm happy that the work was done on the car. He's asking $17 000 cdn...i can make an offer of $15k but i will deffinitly get it check out at the lexus near my house... any thoughts? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curiousB Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 shoot the puck Eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnitz Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 $650 is a steal to replace that starter... I thought so too. My local mechanic had replaced the starter on his own '91 & a customers '93 in the past. It took hime 4 hours from start to finish. So they really just charged me the actual labor cost and the part. Chef: What package does the LS430 come with? That will definitely have an effect on the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 Shnitz...it's the premium package....I don't think he's budge that much on the price put i will have it inspected and we can go from there.. Que: on the report on this car it showed that the battery was replaced a few times...are they known for using up batteries? find it kinda odd... Also is it normal that they would just change the timing belt and not the waater pump? or do they do a visual to see if it's leaking and if not they keep it in?? thanks fabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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