davisr_77

Nice thought, however have you tried looking for one of these for $12k (or less...) Sorry but 12K is the TOP, not the bottom of my price range. Thanks for all the thoughts, please keep them coming....

Hello, I am considering an older Lexus and have taken time to read the "pinned" posting on the ES as to FAQ's. I am aware of the possibly of oil gelling with the ES engine in '97 and newer models. I would like this car to be my primary car. I will keep the Dodge truck mentioned in my profile, which was purchased years ago only for work needs and "winter beater.' If I have budgeted around 12k for this purchase, is a '99-00 front-drive ES, or a '98 GS 300 rear-drive the better overall buy? Which one tends to be the more reliable? Which one is simply better to drive in general? Now I am open to a third option, that of a '95 to '96 LS with a few more miles. They are out there as well - looking mostly around Chicago, but are they a smart choice overall, and if so, why? I'm sure you may get a lot of these questions, so forgive my ignorance. Perhaps it will help someone else out down the road as well. Thanks in advance...

That's a BIG jump to make - but overall, if you're 21 (wish you could see what I drove at 21...) It's probably a smart move. As for BMW's, Having owned a few older ones, I recommend the smaller models overall and especially to younger drivers. Generally speaking, the model # tends to indicate the relative "hit" of parts and service costs. The 7's of this generation were reliable - if you mean the 4.4L V-8 and the GM-supplied 5-speed auto. Everything else fails with amazing regularity, in fact the electrical and cooling systems are the two biggest reasons people walk away from one. Look at a '99 328i as a possible alternative (nearly the same price - the 7's really depreciate) or even an E-36 M3, but remember that they will be expensive to look after. I do relate here - I have really liked the E-38 chassis 7'er and really despise the newer model. My "dream 7" is a 740d, which we did not have the privledge of recieving. Check out www.unofficialbmw.com for tons more info on any of thier models. One factor you may not have considered with the Tiburon, while Hyundai has done a great job of building themsleves and their cars up in the past five years, they still depreciate rapidly. Perhaps if you can find a Honda Prelude, or even just a newer ES, you may be happier with it overall. Good luck!