chef

1990 thanks for the replies....wow! i didn't think they would eat up batteries that way..maybe due to all the computers/electronics in this car? I was curious..if i get the 2002 ls430 what would i be looking at in terms of maintenace, lets say within a year? i do about 20-25000 km/year....mostly highway with some traffic....i don' mean in terms of fuel cost, insurance...just on repairs/maintenance...thanks My bro is also looking at a new (used) car..it's a 2005 dodge magnum with the 5.7L AWD engine...looks mean! but i think that between the 2 cars, the LS is a bit more reliable and interms of maintenance should be about the same as the dodge..whatcha think? i wonder if the LS can take on the dodge in a race? hmmmmm???? fabs

Shnitz...it's the premium package....I don't think he's budge that much on the price put i will have it inspected and we can go from there.. Que: on the report on this car it showed that the battery was replaced a few times...are they known for using up batteries? find it kinda odd... Also is it normal that they would just change the timing belt and not the waater pump? or do they do a visual to see if it's leaking and if not they keep it in?? thanks fabs

Hi guys, UPDATE**** So i spoke to the guy of the 2002 430LS ...so he said everything is in check and i spoke to the lexus dealer and got the VIN number of the car. I then contacted the Lexus dealer near my house and they ran a check for me (i'm still amazed that they did it!) and the car checked out well...all the repairs where done on the major intervals. The car has 172 000km right now and the timing belt (but not the water pump...) was done at 150 000km...there was a list of repairs that where done but it seems to be in good shape. I still have to see it in person and drive it...but i'm happy that the work was done on the car. He's asking $17 000 cdn...i can make an offer of $15k but i will deffinitly get it check out at the lexus near my house... any thoughts? thanks fabs

1990..thanks for the info..where the heck do you find this stuff? hahaha thanks again... ya the 2002 looks cool...personally, i prefer the look of the 2000 model...(i find it looks more like the older mercedes). But yes my bro-in-law has talked good things about the 2002 model..more room, more improvements...bigger trunk..ect. They're asking $17500 canadian and it has around 170 000k km on it...sounds good? i'm sure it's negotiable..it is, however, being sold on consignment through the dealer..i'll keep you posted..ciao fabs

Hi guys... UPDATE***** So i got the info from the dealership (vin check) and it seems a little off.... The milage is not very accurate and it doesn't coincide as to when the owner said he changed the odometer, plus the catalytic has to maybe be changed out ad the timing belp/pump needs to be done...and i have the feeling that this owner won't budge on the price.... There is still a 2002 lexus LS430 for sale...a bit more expensive but looks to be in good shape too...i will check it out this week...is this just as good as the 2000 ls400??? any thoughts / Comments? thanks fabs

Shnitz...wow!!!! nice car!!!!!ya that dealership is 2 minutes away from my house! cool! i was just there today..the girl that works there was really nice and ran a vin check for me..so the only thing she noticed was : no records of timing belt done... the odometer is off but the owner informed us of that.. and there was a "check engine" light that had come on to change the catalytic and was just reset not changed (the cat) at that time the owner changed out the spark plugs..maybe that's what threw the code???? don't know but can make some sense (unburned fuel, bad 02 reading and fouled cat)???? anywho ofther than that the car seems to have been well maintained... once again,compliments on your car...BTW what mags you got on? look sharp! ciao fabs

1990...naahhh our roadds are something special!!! we are know, of all the provinces of having the owrst drivers and even worst roads!!!! As for milage that's actaullly not that bad...probably better then the caprice i had before and that was a V8 too! Does the ls take regular or premium gas? thanks fabs

1990..thanks for the input..much appreciated...I will swing by the lexus dealer today, they are having an "under the tent" sale on used cars..might find something interesting.. As for the RX models...they look nice and might be a bit more practical (also cause i have a baby now), but i was also reading some reviews and they didn't seem all that great, not horrible but not that great....on the other hand, i've been one 3 different sights where people give their reviews and the 2000 model LS400 score with 5 stars on all 3 sites!!! that says alot!!! How does your car do on the gas milage front? i'm sure that for a V8 it does well??? thanks fabs

1990..hey there...yes indeed is is the Millenium edition, which the gentleman told me that it was a rare model...it is really nice inside it is silver outside and darker grey leather inside with wood accents. I don't know if the seats have heaters but would be surprised if it didn't... Yes the radio is the one you mentioned and it sounded realllly nice! i like the sound in my volvo but this was much nicer and crisper! As for the winter driving, as long as it at least have something like a Posi-trac (GM) then i should be okay..a good thing that it's a heavy car! and yes i would buy good snow tires, i would even get some nokian studded tires (we can have them in our province!!! woohoo!!) hahaha thanks fabs oh ya..as far as doing the timing water pump..what can i look for in repair costs? thanks fabs

Schnitz...i am in canada...in montreal...the car is from here and if your roads (especially in winter) are anything like ours (and for your sake i hope not), between the pot-holes and super salty roads, if a car can make it in 10 years, you're lucky! this car looked super immaculate! not a speck of rust anywhere and was clean underneith... As for the repairs, i think the T-belt and W-pump might need to get done..$1200....sounds about right... i will see with lexus today on how much that would cost...thanks fab

Southern NJ it has around 102K Miles on it... It seems to be in really good shape

So i went to check out the 2000 ls400...and i must say the car is in mint condition...there wasn't a speck of rust on it ...anywhere....the interior was in good shape too...he had a huge pile of all the paperwork done to it since the time he got it, he was quite organized. Here are some pics of it..so as mentioned he's asking $12 500 canadian....let me know whatcha think..the other thing is that i don't think he's had the "timing belt" interval done yet, so i can get it checked out from the lexus dealer and use that in the price nego. My brother-in-law still thinks that a rx330 is a better deal...with the family and canadian winters...you think the rx is a better bet?

Hey 1990 how are you? well my wife's 2007 passat wagon has the anchors for the car seat, but i didn't use them, i actually used the regular seat belt...with the anchors, i was pulling like mad on the belt but i couldn't get it tight enough and the base had a bit too much play in it..so i used the regular seat belt and what's good is that the belt has a locking mechanism...so when i pulled on the bult it would lock up and take away the slack... I just got off the phone with the lexus dealership near my house. They asked for the VIN number of the 2000 model car to give me the details of the work done..which is cool cause not a lot of dealerships do this..they said that the t-belt job is usually done at 152000 k km intereval..which is where the car is at now...so if i hasn't been done yet, i can use this to lower the price... I get the feeling that it may cost a bit more on repairs on these cars, but it's also at a longer interval then a regular car...mind you their hourly rate is $109.00/hour :o anywho..thanks again..ciao fabs

1990..i don't think the volvo is that small..it's just that right now with the child seat i have, i can only put the seat in the center position..which i guess is a good spot for it, but it'll break my back! i know that it'll last for a short time until i have to change car seat, but it sucks that i don't have a bit more room between the back of the drivers' and passangers' seat...would i have this problem in an ls? if you say that a child seat will fit well behind the pass and drivers seat then it'll be okay..plus i think i'll be more comfortable in the LS, not that the volvo is bad, but i'd feel more confident in the LS in terms of reliability...probably more then the volvo... \fabs

hi guys..thanks for the replies.... i know the r12 is bad for the environment but was also colder... another que...i like the ls cause it's also bigger...i have a month old baby and wanted to know.. in the ls..where do you place the car seat in the back? in the middle , pass side or drivers side? the back of my volvo wagon is starting to get tight..thanks fabs