1997 Es300 Pricing

[akiraxtc]

Hi,

1st time poster here :)

i am buying a Lexus ES300, particularly 1997 ES300, with 78k miles on it. The car looks pampered by the previous owner because interior is practically in new condition and exterior is flawless even without reconditioning involved. Tires about 50% worn. Car has heated seats, cd changer and traction control along with the moonroof/sunroof, keyless entry and alarm also included. I don't know if these are standard or optional installation by dealer. I would say it's almost perfect if not for the worn tires.

Is $11,000 drive out price a good deal? What do i need to do 1st on my car once i get it? Timing belt or something else?

Also, does anyone know what kind of speakers does 1997 es300 have for their premium sound?

Thanks

[steviej]

run the car through www.vehix.com or www.kbb.com to find numbers for your zip code.

run the VIN through www.carfax.com to see if there were any reported accidents.

If it is a Lexus CPO, see if they will print up a maint. report on the VIN.

Timing belt is a 90k service and is pricey. You may get it cheaper from a Lexus certified Toyota service shop.

Assuming the maint records are unavailable from Lexus or previous owner then definately look into total fluid flushes so you are starting out on the same foot with oil, coolant, tranny and differential. However, the 90k service is just around the corner and that will all be done then.

Cheap items to consider would be oil and filter, spark plugs, air filter, PCV valve, fuel injection cleaning and a new air conditioner filter for the cabin. All of these are DIY if you are mechanically inclined and could save you money from the 90k.

Welcome to Lexus Owners Club. It's a wicked cool place.

good luck.

steviej

[akiraxtc]

I took the plunge and bought it :)

I checked kbb and edmunds TMV; for that with options installed, kbb estimates 15,240 and edmunds TMV estimated 17,160.

VIN check reveals that the car was company vehicle, then leased, then sold to the dealer.

The dealer is doing all the fluid changes. However, the maintenance record included only shows maintenance up to 43k, and the rest i speculated that it was maintained at an independent mechanic since it looked like it's maintained but no clear records.

I'm not exactly mechanically inclined... computers: yes, cars: NO :P

The only think i would dare to change is probably just the air filter. I could probably buy a service manual for it and try it out. However i will go with your suggestion and have Plugs, PCV valve, air con filter checked out at a mechanic.

[ProZac]

Hey! i bought my 1997 ES 300 about 2~3 months ago, it had about 68000 miles on it and i got it for 15k. It wasn't my first choice of car, but The opportunity came about and It was "!Removed! or Get off The Pot" I am happy to have it though, and its a nice ride :D It doesn't have that traction controle option on it, which i hear is kinda cool, and it doesn't have heated seats, and the outside has a few dings, BUT its black, so at night it Looks bitchen anyway :P 11k sounds nice, just make sure it hasn't been in a HUGE !Removed! accident, and also make sure u get all the papers on matanence if possible. With the right care these carse can get into the 250,000 mile range and still keep going.

ProZac

(To HID or not to HID, that is the question)

[ProZac]

LOL you bought it just now... Sweet dude, the world can use another es300 owner. Congrats! See you in the posting boards :)

ProZac

[akiraxtc]

Thanks ProZac.

I checked carfax report and there were no accidents on report. Also did that magnet-on-body test and looks good, body is straight no signs of touch up or paint job anywhere.

Unfortunately it only have a maintenance record up to 43k from the 78k, and as i said before it might have been maintained at an independent dealer.

I bargained on it for about 30mins and brought the price down from 15k to 11k. The person i talked to is the one who supposed to own the independent broker and do not have any sales pitch at all. I'm still thinking of what the real salesman would say when he get back (on vacation, the owner says) since i brought it down so much so easily :D

I'll try to post pics when i get it next week

[ProZac]

lol, what a deal dude! i wish i could have knocked 4k of the price! Good Barganing! i know what will happen to the independant broker when the salesman gets back --> :chairshot: lol Great buy, also, any future modifications????? :) Like i also said i am only a few months into owning my 97 es 300. :) Maybe we can share ideas? :P

[Nabeel]

$11K is a really good deal for a '97 ES300. Congrats on the purchase! In regard to the question in your initial post about the sound system- the '97 ES300 had no real 'premium' system. It is written on the head unit, but all '97 cars came with the same system. It was developed and made with Pioneer components. Starting in '98, a Nakamichi system was made available, with a slightly higher power output (230 watts vs. 195) and clearer sound. The base system is still very good though. Audio has always been a Lexus strong point, compared to other cars.

[akiraxtc]

ProZac, i probably won't do any mods to my lexus. I used to have an MX-6 and never done any mods to it. I guess i was never interested in modding cars :)

Nabeel, thanks for clearing up the manufacturer information on the lexus sound system. Good to hear that at least it's made by Pioneer? However, do you know if es300 has any amplifier anywhere installed in the car?

[steviej]

look under the passenger's seat.

steviej

[FLiP Sp33d]

Thanks ProZac.

I checked carfax report and there were no accidents on report. Also did that magnet-on-body test and looks good, body is straight no signs of touch up or paint job anywhere.

Unfortunately it only have a maintenance record up to 43k from the 78k, and as i said before it might have been maintained at an independent dealer.

I bargained on it for about 30mins and brought the price down from 15k to 11k. The person i talked to is the one who supposed to own the independent broker and do not have any sales pitch at all. I'm still thinking of what the real salesman would say when he get back (on vacation, the owner says) since i brought it down so much so easily :D

I'll try to post pics when i get it next week

wow! thats one hell of a deal! i have a 1998 ES300 that i got from the lexus dealership last year for $17,000. its bare to the bone with no leather, cd changer, moonroof, or even traction control. the car had 37900 miles which made me get the car! :snoooorrrtttt:

[akiraxtc]

So as promised, i already take photos and here they are :)

Front

Back

Interior

So tell me what you think ;)

I will be changing my tires soon and do some brake job since i felt my pedal pulsing when i step on my brakes, big deal it's probably just the rotor :)

[ProZac]

WOW, It Looks Great! Wish mine looked so cherry, but black seems to attrackt scuff marks, dings and dirt... :( But, its nothing that can't be cleaned and buffed out (as for the dings, im gonna try that 'ding king' where u superglue a suction cup to the dent and pull it out: anybody use one before???? :P ) akiraxtc that was a GREAT deal! By the way. im due for new brakes and tires in a few months too, what are you gonna get???

ProZac

[akiraxtc]

I believe i'm going with either Bridgestone Turanza LS-V or LS-H. People say that the original oem Michelin MX4V Plus cannot hold the road really well especially in the wet, even though they soak bumps really well. I felt that too when i exit a highway ramp (more like an 180 degree turn) at 45, my tires start squealing! My Mazda Mx6 with firestone tires didn't even squeal making that turn at 60mph!

People were saying that the turanza is still comfy and not noisy but it handles much better than the stock michelins.. anyone here have any experience with these tires on their es300??

If all else fails i can still probably get the oem michelins again :P it's not exactly a performance tires but it sure was quiet. I usually stick with oem tires whenever possible but when i hear people complaining about it being prone to hydroplaning, time to change :)

Hey i wish i had a black car! I was looking at a 1996 es300 Black color before i see this one that i bought. Sure it needs more meticulous cleaning than other colors but hey it looks cool as long as you're not too lazy to clean it :)

By the way, i need to get my car checked out just in case, because i need to know everything about this car as far as if thing needs to be replaced soon or whatnot. Right now i did not feel anything wrong with my car except for the brake pulsing, but other than that no weird sounds, but hey something can go wrong without making any noise or you noticing it.

Have you ever have your car checked out? where did you go? toyota?

[ProZac]

Hey akiraxtc,

I have the Bridgestone Turanza H Revo (p205/65r15 they were on the car when i bought it) They TOO break at 45 mph on about a 180 deg turn. They work fine in wet conditions, light and heavy. i didn't notice much or any loss of traction, however i wasn't driving crayz too, just 80+mph in semi straight highway and streets. BUT, sometimes when i am stoped and its dry, then floor it i get a little loss in traction, and if i am stoped then start to turn with a heavier peddle, then it really looses traction (but of course the car has less traction turned than when its straight)

Im looking at the Bridgestone PotenzaRE950, they seem to be $20 less than the Turanza... Hrm.. the Potenza are rated 400AA, and the Turanza 400AA A.... lol I just noticed. Maybe i should stick to the Turanza's... However there is some pretty good cracking on some of the tires, but there is a good amount of tread left. The previous owner kept it in the gradge and only parked outside at work. it has been with me for about 3 months now and lives outside :P I am going to get my car detaild tomorrow and have them Armorall the tires and see if they look better. then I will let ya know.

Oh Ak. This car was recomended to us by our machanic, who is SUPER trustworty. they have done ALL the matanance on the car (except for the ones lexus gives you free for the first year or two). so they already knew the car when I bought it from the private party. Plus they do all the matanance on my dad's 99 4-Runner and our 92 Previa, we haven't had a problem yet!

Of course, i recomend going to a machanic who specialzes in Toyota and Lexus only. not those guys who "We Service All Cars!" because they may not know specific things about your car that a 'specialist' would.

Enough typing for me,

ProZac

[mitchel68]

Reading these posts, you guys made me feel great. A month ago, I bought a 97 with a few more miles, 94k but with all service performed at the dealership. Interior is great. Back seats don't look ever used. Clean as a whistle except for a few rock nicks on the hood and in the windshield.

Total price was $8,750 plus TTL.

[mitchel68]

Here is the interior!!

[SpeedRacer959]

Got my 1997 ES for $8100...fully loaded w/ the options below plus new tires on it when I bought it and tinted windows.

Sweet condition too for a car that's 6 years old. It only has 3 tiny dings in the drivers side door that are hardly noticable.

When I pulled up to look at it I knew I was going to buy it right away. It was hard keeping my composure while I negotiated a deal. If he could read my mine he would have up'ed the price. :D

[olezip]

Awesome photos! You have a great camera as well as a great car! Pulsing brakes usually mean that you need brake lining.

My 2000 ES300 has Bridgestone tires, too, only 16 inch. I've only had the car for a few weeks. According to the maintenance records that came with the car, the tires were replaced at 24,500 miles; it now has 56,000 miles. The tires seem to have a lot of tread left. I am going to look for tires that are not made by Firestone because of their poor consumer record. I do not like Michelin anymore because they are made in France. So I am looking at Pirelli, Goodyear, etc. It looks like I will not need tires for another 10,000 miles. That could be a year from now at the rate I drive.

[SW03ES]

Shame to discount such a great tiremaker because they're made in France Michelin makes a great, but expensive, tire.

I'm going to get into a set of Continental ContiExtremeContacts. Great reviews, and cheap as hell. I have Michelin Energy MXV4s on mine now, good tires but not the best, and really expensive to replace.

[blake918]

olezip, I'm guessing you don't like the french because of their lack of cooperation with us Americans??? It's good to hear how very patriotic you are :D :D :D !!!

[blake918]

ohh, akiraxtc you bought a very beautiful car :D . I'm jealous!!!

[H8R Proof]

Verrry nice!

Although I'm not a fan of tan "peanut butter" interior it ;) (Had that in my 92 ES) yours looks extremely clean and very nice in contrast to the green exterior.

Congrats! :magic:

[SpeedRacer959]

H8R Proof,

ah-hhhem, you mean "ivory" interior. :P Mine has it too and I don't tell people it's P.B. Just looses its aura of luxury when you call it that.

Unless you call your black interior "tar" colored. :) Then by all means…proceed.

HA!

j/k

[H8R Proof]

ah-hhhem, you mean "ivory" interior.  :P  Mine has it too and I don't tell people it's P.B.  Just looses its aura of luxury when you call it that.

Unless you call your black interior "tar" colored. :)  Then by all means…proceed.

LOL - SpeedRacer, I stand corrected! ;)

(Shame on me) :whistles: