TMaxxTim

YEah, I've checked cars.com, autotrader, all of them. I found an SC 400 for $4900, hopefully will check that out today or tomorrow and call the LS 400 person that wanted $3900 for it. It said $3900 yesterday and today says $3900 OBO. I figure I'll look at it at least, but sounds like it might have some problems. I also found a 92 ES for $7k at the local lexus dealership, going to look at that one too although its about $2000 out of my price range, but I want to see what a nice and detailed one will look like. The thing that draws me in on the Lexus over other cars is that its a nice car, has all the features and saftey features of current cars and on top of that, it has power that it looks like it doesn't have sometimes. Like my accord...it doesn't look like it has power...and it doesn't. A SC400 or LS 400 they don't necessarily look like sports cars (the sc a bit more), but the 0-60 times are close to both my my friends 0-60 on their 3000gt and 300zx. I'm not going to race this car but I really like the idea of having a car that doesn't look fast but can really get up there when you need to. I know some people think 17 year olds don't need these kinds of cars, but I've never had a speeding ticket or wreck (knock on wood) and some of my friends have been in an accident AND have had 2 or more speeding tickets!!

Good list, I searched autotrader.com and found a couple more cars to look at. Particulary an SC...They are in Nashville so I'm going to try and check all of em out tomorrow. Doubt they'll let me test one without a parent around but at least I can look and get the history on em. I'll probably bring my digicam and take some pics for comparison when I get home.

Thanks for all the suggestions/help. I think I'm going to go and look at the LS tomorrow, just to see what condition it might be... I'm at a strict $4000-$5000 spending limit and really can't go over that which is my problem. I've been looking at older BMW 3, 5, and 7 series, all seem to be about the same price, but they don't seem to hold up as well as even the LS, and my guess is they are expensive to fix also. I don't like the camry, because there are SO many on the road nowadays and the interior is well...dull and old looking to me. I know you say don't be picky when you're young and getting a car, but if I have $4g to spend, I'd like to find something I'll really enjoy for the next couple years. I don't really like the ES250's, too boxy. I wish I could find an older GS300, SC300/400 or ES for $4g!!! But it just doesn't seem to be realistic!! I'll just keep looking and hopefully come across a car I like...hopefully a lexus!

Well, I was thinking if I got one with low enough miles that it would last for at least awhile. My whole thing is I only really ahve about $4k-$5k to spend right now on a car. I'll have more later...but my accord will not make it to later, it already burns oil unlike anything else and theres a whole laundry list of problems. I've been driving for a year and a half, have had the accord for 4 months, and I already know that I don't want a 4-cyl car ever again...never never never...while good on gas, they have no pickup whatsoever. The ES 300 is another car I've looked at, but most that are $4k-$5.5k are not in the best condition. I also like the SC's but they are again up there a little more in price.

Alright, I'll take that into consideration. My dad thinks the taurus is a good car, he's had one early 90's one (company car), then leased a 96, then bought a 98, now has a 2002 escape. The escape is by far better than the others, but I don't think he remembers that he only had the cars until a little over 50k before he got another!! If I do get this car, I am going to plan on getting a service manual because if I don't know whats wrong or how to fix it...I will probably be learning whats wrong and learning how to fix it!! Accords are good cars, mine's a 92 and only cost $500, but it has its share of problems not worth fixing! Its also kinda loud when compared to newer cars, and its completely stock. Hopefully I can get my parents to go look at this one this weekend. BTW is the A/C Display turning black just a big annoyance problem, or are there functionality problems with it too?

Did you look on the phone itself? Its usually under the battery in the back of the phone. Edit: Jeez...I did it again, looking at posts from a year ago...just browsing, and made a reply... I hope you found it by now lol.

Also, do All year LS's have keyless entry, or was that optional too?

Hey, I've been doing a lot of browsing lately and I really like the LS 400 sedans. I'd like to have a 95-97 body style but they are just out of my price range. In my paper there is a $3900 LS 400 with 174k miles on it. Thats right in the price range and I know there are others around here for that price. I'm coming from a 92 accord 4cyl, so I know anything is better than what I have. I have driven my uncle's 96 LS before, he has 188k on it and its had its problems but he does drive it ALL over the place and it is still in good condition. I need to convince my parents that this is a better car than say a 96-99 Ford Taurus which is the other reasonable option. BTW, I'm 17 and would be putting about $3k of my own money into this. Their biggest thing is the fact that if anything DOES go wrong, it will cost an arm an a leg to fix. Now I've fixed a lot of things on my Accord, and I would probably be doing most of the maintainance myself on this car, but that doesn't rule out big problems that I coulnd't fix myself. Just using the car in the paper as an example, with 174k, its not that much less than the 186k on my accord, I know that it will last a lot longer than my accord will/would have, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to explain this to my parents other than just saying "Lexus is the best..." I've read all the things I need to look for in an older Lexus, like checking for vibrations, bad shocks, leaky P/S pump, checking for timing belt intervals (I've read that the ls400 is a non-interference engine which is good because if it ever does break, I just put a new one on...no bent valves!) Just anything else you can add that would help, or other suggestions to look for would be great. I hope to become a frequent visitor in this forum. One question, do all LS's have moonroof's, is it standard or optional, they seem to be pretty popular but I just wanted to be sure.