gsnoles

10 days is the standard wait time after most title releases, not just toyota credit. You can get them overnight but it takes coordination of the two institutions involved and a bunch of faxes. I had to do it once but was able to get a title released overnight with confirmed electronic payment and a conference call between my bank and the bank holding the title. Whenever you buy a used car, it is helpful to know if the seller "has title in hand". It takes time when your payment to the seller is needed by the seller to pay off their note and then get title. steviej Maybe it is diff at a credit union? I asked if there was anything that could be done and they never said they could take a fax...maybe this is a bank rule only? I will call my banker tomo...we are both getting super impatient and nervous that one or the other will become frustrated and walk..im not gonna walk but I guess he could sell his car to a dealer if he really wanted it gone and simply return my deposit...thats not what i want!! I need my G this weekend!!! arghh. thanks for help steviej!

So im still waiting to get my car..this is BS..toyota says it takes ten days AFTER payment to release a lien holder so I cant get the car until then. Im really bummed. Anyone have any similar encounters with TOY Financial or recently pay a title off? Is this standard? I need my car for a road trip Friday!

I got it too. From what I've been reading, CIBA is ok insurance. They try to stiff you though if the cost is too high, but just take them to court. Keep good records of all maintenance. If you go to your local Lexus dealer, they can print you out a form that shows regular service, if the car had it. My car was a lease car before, so it had pretty regular maintenance. 32k for a Lexus dealer certified GS430 is an awesome deal - the highest end Honda Accord costs just as much and doesn't have the backup camera, the mark levinson, and all that jazz. If you suspect anything wrong with the car that warranty would cover, don't even attempt to fix it. Take to a dealership and use warranty. If they try to welch on you, raise hell - I had to. Question for you guys-Im shopping for a warranty right now and the lexus dealer is telling me its a lexus warranty just like a CPO...the "Platnium" 3 yr 100k total mile deal...Mine was bought from a private owner so its not a cpo...I want to essentialy buy the same level of a "CPO" warranty.. Is the insurance through "CIBA" or TOYOTA? Dealer is not saying anything about CIBA. He said lexus/toyota everytime...Just dont want to get screwed here..

Well now I wouldn't say that at all. That car with those options plugged into www.kbb.com with my zip code fetches a retail price of $31,785 assuming excellent condition. I would think that because I am in the northeast (little harsher on cars) that a zip code near the south coast will bring a slightly higher retail. If gsnoles paid $27.5 then I would say he got a good deal. steviej THANKS STEVIEJ still havent got the car yet since the owner paid the car off through toy himself and even with a fedex request they have not sent it yet. C.Union wont give me a check without the title of course..But I came to the conclusion that after looking for so long no car was the perfect used car, or price or color etc. Its about compromise at some levels. I got the options, color, and a clean no wrecks, FL one owner GS..with more miles that I wanted but compared to the $37,xxx 350 i walked on 3 mo's ago..saving 10k seemed like a good deal for a 430. Captainbly-I saw a thread from the FI guy from shreveport, Lex on here..called him and he quoted very strong on a 3yr plat. 100k bumper to bumper no deduc "LEXUS" warr. I asked him 3 times if I could take it to my local lex dealer and if I would get lexus new parts and not spend a dime and he said yes to all..I just cant own a used car with no insurance for the first few years..we can do all the inspections we want but no telling if a nav is just gonna crap out one day...I just cant have that happen and ruin my first lexus expierance.

Hey all, Just wanted to say thanks to all who shared their input over the summer with me. I started looking and asking you guys Q's 4 months ago! This really is a great informative forum..I started out wanting the GS300, and hardly saw any 430's so I then drove the 350, fell in love but just decided it was outta my range..and I was was adamant about finding a one owner-private pty non leased FL car with the goods...It wasent easy..SO I found a local 06 430 this week, had it inspected friday at my local Lex dealer and pulled all service records, no paint work etc, everything worked out. I gave a deposit and I am currently waiting for the title to be fedex'd to the owner to seal the deal monday or tuesday. It has a bit more miles than I wanted (47k). But compared to most that I drove with 30k+ mi. it was far cleaner than all..I may have paid a premium vs some ive seen on ebay, but felt like it was just the one for me, and I wasent seeing that many 430's fully loaded, that were close to me in the southeast. She's matador red on black...ML+NAV etc, and a color that I rarely see here in FL.. :D I loved the way the V8 felt vs the 350 with the added torque, and can accept the milage for the smoothness. Paid 27.5k... I have the sticker that says $58,xxx...so I think I did OK. I called the guy over in Shreveport about getting a Ext. Platinum warr. His quote was WAY below what my local dealer qouted.. Anyone have past dealings with him? He was very polite and quick so I will go for it if that is the extended of choice on the board? I will post pics just soon as I can get some zaino on her! Just wanted to share my excitement and say thanks to all. -GS

Hey ivanz, Do you still have access to carfax by any chance?

UPDATE- Ok so its tough to find a 350 I can afford ive decided..However..I really want the power..The compromise I think I have found may be a 2006 430 V8..wr do you guys stand on the old v8 vs. the 350? any downside to the 430 of MAJOR concern? I found one with 19,000 mi. in the color I want with most of the options I want..Its not a certified car however, but I suppose I can buy a warr. like gman suggested if i need it down the road. With that being said..if you had to peg a fair price on a 430 with 19k mi and nav, sport susp, ML, what do you guys think is a good price? Its coming from a benz dealer where my family has purchased 3 cars from the same guy in last 4 yrs..SO I want to work him a bit.. Is 34-34.5k fair? Can I do better? Is it worth saving the 2-3 grand on a one yr older "top of the line" car in the 430 w/5k less miles than a 07 350 with the nav as the ONLY real option that was driven 24k in 9 mo's?? Understand that Im really at my MAX at 34k on a car...Thoughts are appreciated by all as always..Im going to have to make a decision within a week or so since my lease is about over. I Dont want to start a 430 vs. 350 war on the board but I really want to know all your opinions good or bad..Thanks fellas.

update-SO with mixed emotions and about an hour of dealer time...I walked away today on the car... The 350 did NOT have the M.Lev/DVD. Gman was correct it WAS almost too good to be true. The dealer told me there was no room for nego any further. I thought it had it all except the radar and park assist...I starred at the order form with the check from my credit union in my hand for 34k for about 5 mins straight without even looking up at the dealer... knowing I had to pay the balance 6k in cash...I then tried to nego. the sale w/ the CPO for 36,500...based on the fact that the only options I was actually getting was the nav (approx. $1800) on the window sticker and the 18' wheels (900)? and vent seats at 200 roughly...Xm and sunshade. I fell in love with the M.lev in the other 300 I drove..I love music and I drive alot...Otherwise the car was clean, a few paint chips and touch ups but no signs of body work, and the wheels were not curbed or anything like that. It was about perfect for a car with 24k mi.. the guy did drive it 24k in 9 months and traded it in..which I founf odd...But I do drive a bit myself and take road trips so I basically couldnt take not getting the the extra miles via cpo. With the CPO out the door it was going to run 40k total.. Which I simply felt was out of my price range. I originally wanted to spend about 32k-33k and I was hoping to get a cpo 300 for that. But the 350 was awesome. Now I dont know that i can NOT have it. It was very responsive and had a ton of torque. I took the car up to 90 on I75 an it was so effortless...and responsive in mid range too. The 300 is so refined that it feels like its not nearly as fast although I know I will probably never use all the power in the 350 its just so nice to have that grunt.. 0-60 at 6.8 isnt bad for the 300 at all, but compared to the 5.7 in the 350 it felt big today..I dont know what to do..maybe I'll broaden my search and hope to find a private party sale and even travel if I must to get the 350 I want, for what I can afford.. but 39k out the door for a used car with about a year of warr. was just too much for me w/o the Lev..Gman was right now that I drove the 350 im smitten. Im coming out of a 300 hp car right now..so the 300 as great a car as it is, just didnt light my fire like like the 350 did today..I will continue my seach on Tuesday when I get back to the states..and give you guys a shout. Thanks for all your help guys...the LOC is a great community, and I look forward to trading insights soon when I can proudly call myself a 350 owner. -GS

Thanks Gman! Im heading down there in about 30 mins.. I'll post back to let you know what happens. The 350 is loaded sans the radar, and park assist but has the nav/ML, shade, spoiler,XM,18'....its going to run me 36,900 for Cpo OR 35,900 + tax,title and dealer fee or course..IF he takes the cpo "off".. He said its already cpo'd and recon'd with new tires, brakes, etc so no real price break just and extra yr of the warranty and up to 100k mi's total. but its still just a 3 yr warranty..DO i even need it? The the car is only 11 months old and has 24k mi's!? SO in 26k im outta of factory bumper to bumper...I just wasent planning on spending 37k on a GS. I started at 32 as my cap.. now im really far from that with the 350 but I know when i drive it im going to HAVE to have it and was just trying to control my costs. Am i crazy to pass on the cpo for only one more grand?? Do you think 37k is fair for a 11 month old cpo loaded 350? I was just thinking I could have the 300 for 31.500 CPO and get the 18's and exaust or something but nothing will ever make up that torque I know....I couldnt sleep debating this last night!

almost went for a 430 05 3 months ago but.. I love the new body style..I found a RED 06'300/tan for 32k with 36mi. ML/nav/Xm/sunshade, vent seats, no radar, but otherwise loaded. I balked because the bumper had been resprayed by them to get it to "certified condition" haha..why do they do this it looks like ther'y hiding something..i saw several cars like this on the lot... But It had a clear carfax and didnt look bad but i just was hesitant about it possibly not matching even worse in the sun in the next two years come sell time...also ITS a leased car that had its brakes done 3?! times..Is this still a great deal based on the prices u guys have seen this aug at month end? Its the RWD....am i crazy to walk on it?? I was looking at and it thinking "will i regret not getting a 07 350 loaded w/10k less mi. for 5k more"? its not a lease back it was private owned, traded, an bought there serviced there etc.Its black, which i couldnt care less about color. Im going back tomo and have to make a decis. by friday am latest via deposit, so any input would be greatly appreciated guys. I really thank YOU GUYS ALOT if you care to add your 2cents.. I value this board way more than any other mags/sites ive read the last 9 months in looking...also any pros or cons on the 300 vs 350 other than HP of course...maybe? you think the 300 will not hold its value as well as the 350 is my only fear...or that theyr both newer motors either way..THanks guys

Nice! Ok im feeling better about the buy thanks!...Its a loaded 2004, actually still under factory warr... for a few months. Im gonna bring it to lexus here in tpa to see if they will look at it for me. TIRES-Ive had pretty good luck with the pair of Kumho's I have on my G35 6MT....they were cheap and came highly reco's from my best friend who is a parts manager for ten yrs. toyota/lex, and now mitsu...Ive owned conti's when I had my bimmer and oem goodyrs on my G35 prior to the kumho's. They are at the very least equal, if not beter that the oems that were more than twice the price of the kumho ecstas...Mich's are awesome just expensive! Yea I def want coilovers and rims first...intake headers,exhaust after...How much does that jet super chrgr cost?! :D Thats the dream add-on for me...Oh and what bike do you have? My boy just got an 08 CBRR 1000...that thing is sick!!

KC Any ACC fan is a friend of mine! I rarely see 01-02's available. I did see one with issues months ago...I want 1 or 2 owner car thats clean. Im willing to pay a lil extra for that I guess. Im getting tired of looking though..The 2000 I saw fit the 1owner/no wrecks condition, but from Lex dealer..I suspected it was overvalued by a few G's. starting to sell myself on spending the extra $ on the 04..There were something like less than 1500 produced that year I heard yesterday...so I guess Im just not going to have a ton to compare it too around here, if I want a FL car. Good luck to you in your search as well KC. I wish I could find an 02 in the teens around here! The 02 I found is 23.5k... hardly worth saving a few K at that point. For an extra 2k I can get an 04 with 2 yrs less milage..I haven seen ANY 01's yet!

sorry for ignorance but is a top optima an intake? Did it make any diff in performance in your opinion? Id like to do some bolts ons as soon as can.. nothing crazy, but a lil something..Are the chips a waste of $? also what did the 90k maint cost you? The car has the bridgestone oems on it with like 75% life left. so I think I'll wait till they wear out to get 18 or 19' wheels..what kind of tires are you looking at btw?

sorry for ignorance but is a top optima an intake? Did it make any diff in performance in your opinion? Id like to do some bolts ons as soon as can.. nothing crazy, but a lil something..Are the chips a waste of $? also what did the 90k maint cost you? The car has the bridgestone oems on it with like 75% life left. so I think I'll wait till they wear out to get 18 or 19' wheels..what kind of tires are you looking at btw?

Good to hear that you have had a trouble free exp. AND that you drive alot. I HAVE to be comfortable as I commute a bit and have a messed up back...and didnt want a car thats too much lux though with no sport..drove just about every car (under 30k used) and keep coming back to the GS. I looked at the LS too but think its just too conservative and pricey (for me) So im going to make a final offer on a silver/tan 04 with Navi/MLev, spoiler with the 17's...has all options offered in 04 :D about 37k mi and still under warranty for a few months. FL car, 2 owner, clean carfax and hasent been hit far as I can tell. Im going to get a mechanic to look at it sat. He's firm on price.. He wants 24.5k...He has came down from 26k. Do you think its a fair deal Brian??

Thanks for reply Brian! Ive been debating for a long time and I started looking at the 430's originally. I just love the car...I agree its a great value for a 50k car.. Its just that there are very few of them local by me that im seeing at under 25k w/Nav. I drive a good bit so I really do want the Nav. I have had some second thoughts about the older ones with hard drives and I read that they can only be updated to 04. I thought about getting one wout and putting a custom one in but read there some drawbacks. Im also a little afraid of 03's with 3 owners that have over 100k. Seem hard to come by private owners in the south with low miles one owner...Seems people dont sell these great cars if they are not wrecked. And after driving it-I know why! Thats an outstanding deal on your car congrats! Send me the link if you still have it pls. Thanks noles2g@gmail.com

Hey all. Im looking for some seasoned GS owners' insight...after about 4 months of research Ive decided im going to buy a GS...Only problem is deciding on a 2000 that looks good one owner no wrecks far as I can tell...with almost 79k mi. for about 14k.. or spending the ten grand additional on a 430 around 03 or 04. I know opinions vary on the two but Im looking for major downsides if any and just some 2 cents from informed owners. SO if you guys can warn me of any MAJOR drawbacks of going older its very much appreciated. Also is 14k a fair price for a 00 with nav, one owner with no known paintwork or wrecks? Or am I overpaying??? I plan on doing the 90k maint, but not till then of course. Its from a non-lex dealer...I also was considering one from a lex dealer that is about the same milage but its a base car, no nav..similar on price one owner, no wrecks...the 430's seem to run around 25k which is a lot for me for a used car with 50k in mi's. thanks in advance fellas.