tmm9d Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 My father is a salesman at Charles Barker Lexus located in the Hampton Roads area and about two month ago a customer came in with a very unique car. It was a 1998 LS 400 that had been sitting still for nearly the life of the car. She said it belonged to a relative of hers that had recently passed away and the car was left to her in the will. She did not have any keys to car and could not tell if it still ran so she had it towed into the dealership to find out how much it would cost her to get it in driving shape. The estimate the shop gave her ended up being outside of her budget and she agreed to sell it to my father as is. So i gave it away in the tittle but the car only had 600 miles on it when he bought it. I have been driving it now for about three weeks and have got it up to 900 miles. It was covered in leaves, the paint had stains, the tires were rotted, and everyone associated with the dealership seemed apprehensive to take it on. After a couple weeks in the shop, new tires, new fuel pump, new timing belt, flushed fluids, and basically a 100K service job done it is in showroom condition. Nobody at the dealership or anyone that sees the car can believe that it is actually 12 years old. This is the first Lexus we own as a family and we have already fallen in love with it. So the point behind me telling the story is to just give you guys a story about the background of the car and to ask exactly how rare is a 1998 LS 400 with 900 miles on it? It certainly feels like we found a diamond in the rough. http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08883.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08884.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08885.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08886.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990LS400 Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 I think we could all just read about it in your long thread on ClubLexus: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/501168-1998-ls-400-with-900mi.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landar Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 I think we could all just read about it in your long thread on ClubLexus: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/501168-1998-ls-400-with-900mi.html Amen :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW03ES Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Thats an incredible find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landar Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Great find and for only $3k, amazing. BTW, Welcome to LOC, tmm9d! (PS: this is where you come to find the real answers ;) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derod033 Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 That's a nice story! What a great deal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98lscrazylove Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 My father is a salesman at Charles Barker Lexus located in the Hampton Roads area and about two month ago a customer came in with a very unique car. It was a 1998 LS 400 that had been sitting still for nearly the life of the car. She said it belonged to a relative of hers that had recently passed away and the car was left to her in the will. She did not have any keys to car and could not tell if it still ran so she had it towed into the dealership to find out how much it would cost her to get it in driving shape. The estimate the shop gave her ended up being outside of her budget and she agreed to sell it to my father as is. So i gave it away in the tittle but the car only had 600 miles on it when he bought it. I have been driving it now for about three weeks and have got it up to 900 miles. It was covered in leaves, the paint had stains, the tires were rotted, and everyone associated with the dealership seemed apprehensive to take it on. After a couple weeks in the shop, new tires, new fuel pump, new timing belt, flushed fluids, and basically a 100K service job done it is in showroom condition. Nobody at the dealership or anyone that sees the car can believe that it is actually 12 years old. This is the first Lexus we own as a family and we have already fallen in love with it. So the point behind me telling the story is to just give you guys a story about the background of the car and to ask exactly how rare is a 1998 LS 400 with 900 miles on it? It certainly feels like we found a diamond in the rough. http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08883.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08884.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08885.jpg http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/tmm9d/DSC08886.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98lscrazylove Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 congratulations on the find I have the identical vehicle with no wood on the steering wheel, i found a wood shift knob, best car i have every owned, bought it for 10 k with 66 k on it and up to159k. I almost drooled at your leather in your interior. My car is in showroom condition except for the front drivers seat even though i use pinnacle leather conditioner bi monthly the leather from age and wear is showing. Safe driving and know that you have a vehicle that will last 300k or more if you stay up on the maintainence. safe driving and in my opinion the motor and tranny in our vehicles is probably the best ever produced for a balance of perfromance, strength and economy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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