What's this thing worth?

Dottore · 10-12-2011, 07:49 PM

Me old mum has finally turned in her license and moved into an old age home. She wants me to sell her car for her. It's a 1992 Lexus ES300. She bought it new and drove it to church, shopping and bowling—less than 60K miles in 20 years. It was always serviced by the Lexus dealer, and looks tip top except for a couple of scratches on the bumper.

I think this was essentially a rebadged Camry back in 1992, but it rides like a magic carpet.

Anyone have an idea of what this car might be worth? Ballpark?

LakeCleElum · 10-12-2011, 08:14 PM

My wife has the same thing in the '99 model....More miles, but the '99 was worth only about $3K a year ago....We kept it as a "road trip car"....Best of luck........

LeeH · 10-12-2011, 09:16 PM

A dealer on Ebay was trying to get $8000 for the same car with same miles:

Lexus : ES | eBay
Listing was canceled so he might have sold it locally.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I bet you don't have to cut the carpet out to change the battery on that.

livi · 10-12-2011, 10:06 PM

Its a keeper, Dottore. The perfect cruiser.

Scuba Steve · 10-13-2011, 03:29 AM

We kept my grandma's car around so we could drive her around in it after she moved on to a home due to dementia. She seemed to enjoy it over going somewhere in someone else's car. Just an idea anyway.

redstrosekNic · redstrosekNic's Garage

They're not worth too much. Id say a realistic $2500-3000 to the right buyer.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

$2500 unless the climate panel is out, then it's about $1000.

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 07:55 AM

I'd buy it for more than $2500..... you guys are way low

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

I'd buy it for more than $2500..... you guys are way low

$2700 Private sale value, how much more do you want to pay?

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 08:05 AM

It will bring $4000 or more privately

BOOKS DON'T WRITE CHECKS
They are "guides", that's all

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 08:11 AM

Ha!! You're right.... $2500 to a Pelican sounds like a fair deal. You can park your car at my house and I'll drop you off at MSP.

HardDrive · 10-13-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

It will bring $4000 or more privately

BOOKS DON'T WRITE CHECKS
They are "guides", that's all

+1

In the Seattle market that would easily bring $6-7k. Perhaps a bit more because of condition.

pwd72s · 10-13-2011, 08:12 AM

With only 60K? Lot of life left...definitely will make a good grocery hauler for somebody.

HardDrive · 10-13-2011, 08:13 AM

Check craigslist for 'Lexus es300' in Seattle.

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

Perfect, I'll drop the 190 and, um, 'forget' to pick it back up again.

Sounds like a plan.... I'm literally 4-5 minutes north of MSP..... Cedar and Lake Nokomis

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott R

$2700 Private sale value, how much more do you want to pay?

Books make adjustments compared to average
If the average 1992 has 180,000 miles (12-15K miles per year is average) then that's the baseline for values. Usually the baseline values are pretty close to accurate (not always) But when you input 60,000 miles the 'guide' adds $1400.

Wouldn't you gladly pay $1400 more for a vehicle with 120,000 fewer miles!!???

Same is true of high miles. That same 180K mile baseline..... plug in 300,000 miles (same 120K swing) and it deducts $50!!! Don't believe me? Try it. I'd pay $50 more for a car with 180K vs 300K..... wouldn't you??

In the marketplace, cars like this are "what's the best car I can buy my kid for $x,xxx". $5,000 buys you a 2003 Toyota Corolla with crank windows and 120K miles (check for yourself). So if you're kid is in the market for a car and you saw a nearly flawless Lexus with half the miles and more equipment for the same money, you'd vote with your checkbook.... damn what the 'book' says.

Around here, nice 1992-1996 Toyota Camry XLE V6 (basically a Lexus ES300) bring $2500-4500 with more than double the miles and a bit of rust. Crappy ones with >200K still bring $2000.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

Books make adjustments compared to average
If the average 1992 has 180,000 miles (12-15K miles per year is average) then that's the baseline for values. Usually the baseline values are pretty close to accurate (not always) But when you input 60,000 miles the 'guide' adds $1400.

Wouldn't you gladly pay $1400 more for a vehicle with 120,000 fewer miles!!???

Same is true of high miles. That same 180K mile baseline..... plug in 300,000 miles (same 120K swing) and it deducts $50!!! Don't believe me? Try it. I'd pay $50 more for a car with 180K vs 300K..... wouldn't you??

In the marketplace, cars like this are "what's the best car I can buy my kid for $x,xxx". $5,000 buys you a 2003 Toyota Corolla with crank windows and 120K miles (check for yourself). So if you're kid is in the market for a car and you saw a nearly flawless Lexus with half the miles and more equipment for the same money, you'd vote with your checkbook.... damn what the 'book' says.

Around here, nice 1992-1996 Toyota Camry XLE V6 (basically a Lexus ES300) bring $2500-4500 with more than double the miles and a bit of rust. Crappy ones with >200K still bring $2000.

100k miles, which will not mean too much to a Toyota buyer are available $2900 online all day. I'm not personally spending almost double that for one with 60k that's been sitting. And since this is not a collectors car, or anything special like that, you would want to buy the cheapest one that you liked, even if it's out of
state. This is for groceries after all.

I'll spot you two years newer and 122k, which is nothing to anyone buying a Toyota. $3500 DEALER price. There are many more with closer to 100k for less between 92-94. You must be selling in a lot different market than what we have here.

1994 Lexus ES 300

kaisen · 10-13-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott R

I'll spot you two years newer and 122k, which is nothing to anyone buying a Toyota. $3500 DEALER price. There are many more with closer to 100k for less between 92-94. You must be selling in a lot different market than what we have here.

1994 Lexus ES 300

This makes my point

Would you pay more or less for the same car from a dealer? To MOST people, it doesn't matter. They see pros and cons either way. Dottore's car is a ONE OWNER car known since the day it was new. So if a dumpy dealer can get $3500 for an un-known used car with MORE THAN TWICE THE MILES, I think Dottore can get more than $4000 for his mum's. Which is exactly what I said.

Still a lot more than the $2500 you said, or the $2700 private party...... isn't it??

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen

This makes my point

Would you pay more or less for the same car from a dealer? To MOST people, it doesn't matter. They see pros and cons either way. Dottore's car is a ONE OWNER car known since the day it was new. So if a dumpy dealer can get $3500 for an un-known used car with MORE THAN TWICE THE MILES, I think Dottore can get more than $4000 for his mum's. Which is exactly what I said.

Still a lot more than the $2500 you said, or the $2700 private party...... isn't it??

There are sub 2k Es 300's out there, with of course the issues that you just mentioned, miles, owners etc. But for running errands I'm guessing that the average buyer is not looking for a 1992 "garage queen."

I'm guessing you're talking about a buyer with 4k in his pocket that's got his heart dead set on a 92' ES 300, for some sort of sentimental value or something? It's a high price to pay for a car that's listed for less, and certainly nothing unique.

But I see your point, I just wouldn't pay 4k for one, personally.