[capnjim]

So I am in the market for a new used car. Budget 5000-6000$.
The single most important thing is comfort. I'm tired of all the old shitboxes I drive with wind noise, clunky, bump rides. I want smooth and quiet. I also want something a litttle unique and different.
I am currently driving a '99 Toyota Solara, which is a great car. But its getting a bit tired.
This one caught my eye, but its a bit high priced.
One owner, BTW..this model, in 2000 was 14k more than the base model ES-300.
It also meets my criteria for a used car....one owner, under 200,000k.
Whaddya think???

Lexus ES 300 Berline Special Very Limited Millenium edition | autos et camions | Ouest de l’Île | Kijiji

 

[Guest]

Very clean engine bay.

 

[Scotty]

The kms are low, especially for the year, but it is 17 years old. It looks mint. (and professionally detailed) I'd do a compression test for sure and check for rust. But be wary, parts for this car could be very scarce and forget used. Everyone crushes nowadays, doubt there's many in the yards. To me its a $3500 car, and that's if its a non Quebec car (Because of the fact Odo roll backs are allowed
in Quebec, or used to be...could be 400k on this car). .
And don't forget, all rubber has a shelf life. I just sold a project vehicle that sat indoor for 12 years with zero miles on the replaced parts which by the time I sold it had rubber parts falling off due to dry rot

 

[Sid_V]

When you buy an old luxury car, you end up with an old car, not a luxury car.

I ignored someone who told me that, and learned a tough, expensive lesson.

I would consider a car like this one as a cool hobby car to drive in the summer, and walk away from if something expensive goes on it. Not as a daily driver though.

 

[fredyfreeloader]

200,000Km low, holy shit, our Jeep was 15 years old and had 63,000 Km when I considered it to old and got rid of it. 4 wheel drive vehicles have far to many seals and gaskets that simply deteriorate with age and cost to much to replace. Replacing all the hoses at onetime can be a real ball breaker and when they are all 15 years old they are going to start leaking. Most modern cars have far to many things that ordinary people can't fix by themselves. Shop time in todays world is a little on the high side but then so is the price of a new vehicle. AAAAHHHhhhhhhhhh give me a 57 Chev Convert with a 307 and 4 speed, those I could still fix myself.

 

[Scotty]

200,000Km low, holy shit, our Jeep was 15 years old and had 63,000 Km when I considered it to old and got rid of it.

I put that on in less than 2 years. average k is something around 20-25 i think

 

[Guest]

AAAAHHHhhhhhhhhh give me a 57 Chev Convert with a 307 and 4 speed, those I could still fix myself.

I'd prefer a hardtop with an 292 inline six and a powerglide.
'55 or '56 would be nice too.

 

[LanceT]

Short answer would be no, it's too old no matter the condition. It depends though, on how long you intend on keeping it an how much driving you will be doing.
If you were only going to keep it maybe 5 years max and drive 10 k max a year then maybe.
Personally, I would go for something newer and spend a bit more dough. As mentioned parts will be an issue but I think that is true with any make.
I'd posted this before and it's still relevant:
Toughest part of owning 2009 Ford F-150 truck is finding replacement part

 

[Diablo]

....
I am currently driving a '99 Toyota Solara, which is a great car. But its getting a bit tired.

Lexus ES 300 Berline Special Very Limited Millenium edition | autos et camions | Ouest de l’Île | Kijiji

So, you're looking at getting a '00?
Lol

 

[Budda]

Fairly sure $6K nets you a 2007 something, or a 2009 GM sedan. That's off the top of my head, having a *rough* guestimate of what my 2010 matrix would be worth if it had lower milage.

 

[Mooh]

Too old for my tastes, and I'm not sure about local service. I draw the line at about ten years old, give or take, depending on service and mileage.

My wife recently bought a 9 year old Matrix with 70 thou on it, awesome condition, full service disclosure, runs great, great mileage, and comfortable enough for a second household car. Such a vehicle might not be the next person's idea of "smooth and quiet", but it's more than adequate for us. I guess it depends on use.

 

[Guitar101]

Trouble with older cars is when they start to go, they keep going and going and going and not in a good way.

 

[Diablo]

Too old for my tastes, and I'm not sure about local service. I draw the line at about ten years old, give or take, depending on service and mileage.

My wife recently bought a 9 year old Matrix with 70 thou on it, awesome condition, full service disclosure, runs great, great mileage, and comfortable enough for a second household car. Such a vehicle might not be the next person's idea of "smooth and quiet", but it's more than adequate for us. I guess it depends on use.

Aside from collector cars, my arbitrary line for "built in obsolescence " is at about the 10 yr mark as well. Cars can go beyond that, but the unexpected services and unreliability make them not worth the headache for me, as I rely on a car for work and regularly travel long distances. If I was retired and just puttering around for errands, or lived in an urban centre, I might be less particular.
As per Scotty above, an average year of driving for me is about 20-23k kms.

Hasn't been mentioned yet, but with cars of this age , I'd strongly recommend some sort of roadside assistance plan.

 

[marcos]

Nice ride buddy but a bit too much money for the year. Plus, older luxury cars have more upkeep and cost more. I am sure you can find something newer with less km's. Best of luck

 

[Diablo]

I'm not a Lexus/Toyota guy, but is this one of the Lexus models that's essentially a Camry that gets dolled up by Lexus? If so, that may be a consideration...possibly cheaper parts for cross referencing, Camry -like lifespan/reliability etc.
But dont get caught up in the alleged "rareness" of the car. It means nothing.

 

[capnjim]

Its exactly a Carmy thats dolled up. My '99 Solara is also a Camry thats kind of souped up. But, the Solara is kind of a sporty car with stiffer suspension. I only drive 10k a year and its mostly city driving. Shlepping the kids around.
My car is bumpy, and noisy.
The "Dolling up" is more soundproofing, softer suspension, and fancier interior.
Pretty much what I want. '
Its still basically a Camry so I don't think there is an issue with parts or reliability.
I will only buy Toyota. Nothing else.
My dream car is a Toyota Tacoma, but I will never be able to afford one.
Anyways, I might just go and look at it.
I can only buy it if I sell a few guitars, and the market is really soft so I doubt I will be able to come up with the cash.

 

[Diablo]

Well good luck to you. I know the feeling, I bought a summer/weekend car as a Xmas present to myself this year, that is a completely unwise purchase and probably not the best time in my life to do it, but YOLO so do what makes you happy, even if it just means crossing something off your bucket list and realizing it wasn't that big of a deal anyways.

I think we've given you lots of ammo to use to haggle the price

 

[Budda]

Let me see what I owe on my car and maybe you can step into a much newer Toyota

 

[dmc69]

Can't go wrong with a Camry or any of its variants.

Speaking of reliable, what about an LS model? Apparently those things are tanks. Ever hear of the million mile Lexus?

Whenever I hear someone say a car is past its prime and is no longer reliable at 10 years, I just think, if only you all drove Honda CR-V's... You guys would know the true meaning of reliable. I gave up my '97 CR-V a few months ago that was running fine and passed safety and emissions at 336,000 km for my RDX - a dolled up CR-V pretty much. My dad's '99 CR-V is still running strong at nearly 400,000 km.

 

[Budda]

Call me old fashioned, but I thought 350k was a reasonable mileage to replace at, depending on other factors.