Ribbler
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Posts posted by Ribbler
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The hood is obviously unlatched!
I spoke to the seller and asked him to walk to the car and make sure it was latched. He said it was. I asked him about the gap and he also noticed it. He said he thought that it was something that could be adjusted. I suspect the car has been wrecked and that he just doesn't know it or that he knows and is trying to sell it to some unsuspecting buyer. I'm leaning towards the latter - somebody who's been in the car sales for much time should probably become familiar with these types of things.
Anyway, I've decided to look elsewhere.
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Hi all
I'm considering purchasing this car but I'm wondering if there something wrong with this picture or is the hood just not closed? The autocheck shows no wrecks/damage but something doesn't look right here. What do you think?
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car fax has twice as many sources. They now collect bodyshop data. So there is a chance there was no police report but they will find a bodyshop report .
Wow!! I thought Carfax and Autocheck were the same. Where do you get your information? I'd like to confirm this before I change my subscription. Thanks.
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Hi, I just purchased a 2001 GS 300, white/tan with 10k miles. :) Completely stock for now.
Completely stock looks pretty damn good on a GS.
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15.95%???!!! OUCH!!! I suspect that you have some credit issues because that's a very high rate for an automobile loan. I can get 3.5% at my credit union. You might want to watch for lower rates and refinance if you can.
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How much are you willing to pay for a 1998 GS300 w/ 90,000 miles on it in excellent condition.
Please be resonable from your own experience.
I've been watching GS400s very closely for the past four months. Ones with between 80 - 90K are going from 14K to 17K. I would guess that a GS300 would perhaps be a little less - that's assuming that the 4.0 litre engine is more desirable. That may not be a reasonable assumption.
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No worries anymore. I have gotten rid of the car!
You sold it? Too bad - I'm in the market. Mind if I ask the price you sold it for?
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if you look around here you can find some info on the Gs's and the changes throught the years. you can only go back to 2000 though on Lexus.com I't better than nothing..
If you want more power, go gs400. If you want less, go 300..
I'd stick Ls though if i were you
Thanks for the link LexKid. Why would you stay with the LS?
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Hi all, I'm still trying to decide between the LS and the GS. Of the GSs which should I consider - the 400 or the 300? What are the differences? Does anyone know of a link or site that compares the two? Are there any links that talk about the differences between years such as the differences between the 1998 GS400 and the 1996 GS 400? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
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Thanks guys for the advice. Why do you suggest to get a 98 other than the engine? I don't see many difference when I look at them side by side. I do notice that the head lights are different. What are the other differences?
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Thanks everybody!! I appreciate your help. I'm glad to know that the smoke smell can be overcome.
Lexusfreak, I hope you didn't take offense (I don't think you did). None was intended. The smoke just gets my allergies going. I actually enjoy the smell of cigar smoke even though I've never smoked!
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I thought I'd found the deal of the century today. Perhaps I did. You tell me. Its a 1996 LS400 with 54K miles on it for $12,000. One owner, pearl white in beautiful shape. I get to the owner's place and after two seconds inside I realize this thing has been smoked in - not just a few cancer sticks (no offense to any smokers here - it just messes with my allergies in a bad way) here or there but heavy chain smoking. Its been cleaned up but wow!!
How do the rest of you look on a vehicle that's been smoked it? Doesn't it generally decrease its value? Perhaps there's an effective way I can get the smoke smell out without having to replace the seats etc. What do you think?
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LexusLooker.....don't forget the beer, when you're all done and can sit back with a bottle of the suds and admire the machine. 14k miles on a 98? Man, I'd have to say that's a real find! I'm jealous. I though my 95 with 84k miles was a steal last year. Yours blows mine out of the water! Wanna trade? ;)
Have fun this weekend. I too am doing some work on mine. Going to change all the control arms and shocks. She's ready for some new parts. I can't wait to drive her with the new bushings and such.
What did you pay for such a deal? I'm currently (still) in the market. Haven't yet found "the deal."
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The car in Miami is a decent deal. Depending on how much time you can afford it seems you could do better.I didnt know there was a rust issue. But if there is rust I wouldnt get that car. The inspectors will look for rust issues if you hire one. The other resources are look at the big metropolitan areas on craigslist.org and look in the classifieds in those same cities newspapers. This is more time consuming but worth it if you find the "deal". Good luck.
I don't know that there is a rust issue. I'm trying to find out if cars that are on the coasts have rust trouble. I don't know of any rust on this vehicle and the seller tells me that there is none. I wonder if a garaged vehicle that has been driven so seldom could have much of a rust issue. I just don't know. I'll check out craiglist.org. Thanks!!
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The company is Pro Auto Inspectors and there web site is the same with .com. I think the owner's name is Joel and he used to work at a Lexus dealership. He's a great resource for info. Seriously though I think you could do a better than the deal in Florida. Although a visit to Miami could be nice. In my experience used cars from southern Cali. typically have the best prices in the nation. I got a 95 with 56k for $10. I see deals like this all the time on the net. Just dont be in a rush about it if you can.What are your resources for finding these cars?Good luck.
Thanks Flash. Do you think the Florida deal isn't that great because of a rust issue? My resources include E-Bay, auto-trader and cars.com. What resources should I use? Thanks for your help.
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Well, it looks as if the decision has been made for me. The 93 was sold about two hours after my friend looked at it. The other car, the one in Florida, is indeed in Florida. I'm in Vegas. Would any of you consider a car from Florida, specifically, Miami? Even if it only had 42K miles on it?
Flash123 I'd be very interested in knowing the company you used. Thanks.
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I can't decide which Lexus to buy. My options are as follows:
Dark green 1994 LS400
- 42K
- No CD changer
- Excellent shape- well maintained
- Price - $8,200 (hard to believe but Autocheck confirms mileage and no salvage/wercks/major damage, etc.)
- I'll have to have it delivered from 2,500 miles away or fly there and drive it back. I'd prefer the latter.
- Unless I can find somebody where this car is located to check it out I'll have to buy sight unseen (other than e-mailed pictures).
Black on black 1993 LS400
- 103K
- All services performed at Lexus dealer including dash lights, water pump, alternator, timing belt and on and on. Only thing that hasn't been done is the control arms (I think I'm saying that right).
- Auto check checks out as well
- I'll have delivered or fly there and drive it back 1,700 miles
Price $8,500
- A friend who knows a little about cars ( and I clued him in to the things to look for on this year) lives where this car is located and was able to test drive it for me. He also looked over the complete set of service records confirming the services performed. He highly reccomends the car.
Both cars are beeeaaauuuuutiful!! The major differences are the miles and the 1993 has the Nak soundsystem and CD changer while the 1994 has only the Lexus sound system with no CD.
How would you guys decide between the two? Would you ever buy one sight unseen?
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Absolutely, with out a doubt. Is the seller savvy enough to know about Jim's services? If not, play the angle that it will cost at least $1,200 to fix it, since it's a dealer fix item.
I would have played that angle but another buyer got the car before I could. Not sure it would have made any difference though. The owner wasn't aware of or didn't think the dash lights were an issue. The car sold for $200 over asking price - somebody was very pleased with the cars condition. The new owner will now have to deal with the dash lights gradually going out. I won't.
I'm looking at another that has had everything done to it with only 103K on it for $8,500. Its in perfect shape. A friend of mine who lives in the city where the car is is on his way to test drive it for me. I'm about to call Lexus with the VIN number to confirm the services that have been performed. I'll let you know how it goes.
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Hi all, I'm trying to decide between buying a late model LS400 or GS300.
I just got off of the phone with a guy selling a 1994 GS300. Here were the details he gave me about the car.
149K miles
Gold package
Second owner - first owner sold at 90K
Timing belt and water pump replaced at 120K
All seals in the engine have been replaced
Shocks, brakes, rotars and tires were all replaced about 6K miles ago - Tires are Michelin
At the recent tune up the egr valve was replaced and fuel injection gaskets were changed. Also the fuel injector was taken to a specialist who gave it a thorough cleaning.
Always has used synthetic oil and highest available quality fuel.
Alloy wheels with no scratches.
Upgraded stereo with 10 CD changer (not Nakamichi)
Gas and air filters were changed at recent tune-up
AC was recently serviced and all seals were replaced.
New radiator 2 years ago.
Washed, waxed and detailed weekly
Lower and upper control arms and bushings have all been replaced.
Engine mounts replaced
most rubber parts have been replaced (he claims 80%)
Tinted windows
Car has always been garaged.
Asking price: $8,000 firm
This sounds too good to be true.
Here's the kicker - this guy has done most of the work himself. When I asked for receipts he said he wasn't able to keep them because a mechanic friend of his helped him get the parts and he needed to keep the receipts. He also said he wasn't worried about keeping records because he never intended to sell the car.
It seems to me that someone who so meticuluously maintains his vehicle would also make copies of receipts to document work done to the car. No?
Should I take the trip to look at this car? As a fraud examiner perhaps I'm just too suspicious. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Just learned that the car is beginning to have the flickering dash light troubles. On this site or on clublexus.com I learned about Jim Walker who can fix this but I think a price reduction for this would be appropriate. Yes?
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Hey Texas, I also live in Henderson. I think the best thing for you to do is to store your Lexus in my garage. I'll see to it that it is well preserved!! ;)
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And Ribbler, be nice to armyofone, he's that "guy who knows that guy". He's the one who hooked me up on the control arms for my 95, not to mention several other great pieces of advice. cheers to ya' bubba!
I've been reading a lot of the older posts on the site. Armyofone has an amazing amount of knowledge and experience with these cars (and apparently a few others)!! I'll be very very nice!!
This is a great site!!
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Hi all, I've been very impressed with this site. If all goes well I may become a fellow Lexus owner within a week or so. I'm currently looking at a 1994 LS400. Details:
Miles: 115K
all the regular stuff and:
Nakamichi Sound System
Heated front seats
Memory Driver's seat
Traction control
Asking price $8,500
I asked the owner about the items that a few others pointed out to me in another thread. Here was the response concerning the vehicle:
The following repairs were done:
Dec 2004 Smog check
Oct 2004 Wheel alignment
May 2004 Tire rotation
March 2003 90K service
Timing belt
Water pump and seals
Radiator hoses (upper and lower)
Thermostat
Brake fluid flush
Brake inspection
May 2002 Battery
Sept 2001 Upper control arms
Rear carrier bushings
Heater control valve
Brake pads
July 2000 Antenna repair
What else should I consider before I test drive? Is the ECU a problem with the 1994 model? Should the rotars have been changed? Anything else that I should consider?
After seeing the tutorial on replacing the water pump I'm not disappointed to see that that has been replace!! Thanks in advance.
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Here's a good "how to" water pump replacement tutorial: http://www.lexls.com/timingbelt.html
Call me crazy but that actually looks like fun!! I even have a lot of those tools!!
If anybody has to do this let me know - Maybe I'll come help.
Need Opinion On Which Iforged Wheel For 98 Gs400
in 93 - 05 Lexus GS300 / GS400 / GS430
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I'd go with the Marquis - Looks the classiest.