1995 Lexus ES300 purchased at the local lexus dealer for $8500 in Jan 2003. had 83,000 miles then. Now it has 121,000 miles.
It was a one owner car and everything was working.. I had 3 months warranty.
Most of the work on my car is done by a mechanic I know (he does this as an evening job). He works for a garage during the daytime.
So ofcourse the labor is way cheaper than the dealer 'hourly' charges. I don't think even a physician's hourly charges are not so much to repair a human body!
I have changed both CV joints, brake pads, rotors, master cylinder, A/C evaporator valve, replaced all the belts including timing belt and water pump, rear shocks, valve cover gasket (thanks to the oil change place that put extra oil), spark plugs, oxygen sensors, engine mounts, ABS speed sensor.
Most of this work was done as preventative except the A/C valve and the valve cover gasket.
I am planning to keep the car for another 2 years.
It seems like it will easily last..
-A