An Older Lexus?

[1990C4S]

My son is looking for an older luxury car, something semi-sporty (model year 2000-ish).

Maybe an older GS300? Or Infiniti G35? Mercedes AMG36? He will likely spend about $4k, there are decent looking dealer maintained cars with 100,000 miles on them.

I am the mechanic, so maybe this is a bad idea and he should get a newer Subaru or Corolla?

I know zilch about Japanese cars...

[wildthing]

Older Lexuses (Lexi???) seem to hold up well if maintained properly, just like any other Toyota... Should be cheaper to maintain too.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Older Lexuses (Lexi???) seem to hold up well if maintained properly, just like any other Toyota... Should be cheaper to maintain too.

I see a lot for sale with super high mileage (like 400,000) and they say 'still my daily driver'...so I'm thinking they must be pretty durable if they're looked after.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Older Lexuses (Lexi???) seem to hold up well if maintained properly, just like any other Toyota... Should be cheaper to maintain too.

Ditto...plus usually bought by more mature people, more likely to have not been abused.

[Craig T]

Lexus is a great place to focus. My wife put 250K miles on a 1999 SC300 and it ran like it was brand new the day we sold it. Great car. I think they still look cool.

[chapo]

We have a 1999 gs300. Currently has 257,000 and the only replaced items were the heater core, radiator, and drivers window regulator. I drove it from San Diego to San Francisco last year, 26mpg. Great car.

[aigel]

Yes, good choice on the Lexi if he thinks they are cool - forget about the MB. I know of several people that drove their old Lexus into the ground, 250k+ miles, deferred maintenance, ridden hard and put away wet. They seem to hold up well. People still want good money for them, but it will be worth the initial investment IMHO.

G

[wildthing]

Back when I was younger I lusted for an IS300... And then there was this TV show (Rides?) that showed Rod Millen swapping out an engine from a bigger Lexus (GS400?).

I suppose I wouldn't mind owning an IS300 now either, but it's not on top of my list. Though if I needed another 4-door sports sedan, why not?

I'd go look at this one if it wasn't raining: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/5964256454.html

[Scott Douglas]

You may want to have him talk to his insurance agent about it before getting a Lexus.

[stevej37]

No reason to insure an older car like that...just enough to plate it...if whatever state you are in allows that.

[RANDY P]

lots of little, expensive things with a Lexus. Burned out dash needles, bad switches, random leaks, for instance. Drives like a toy, totally overassisted steering and feels like driving in a video game. Seats hard too...

A C36 is solid, assuming you figure the occasional HG failures- about every 100K they start to leak out of the front. MBZ will have lots of stupid little things too- if the CEL isn't on, it means it's broken.

I've owned both. If he can get his hands dirty, give him the MBZ if not, the Lexoid.

[SCadaddle]

Sister from Texas came to town a while back in her 07 Lexus RX350 SUV doo dad. About 120K miles on the clock. Check engine light comes on during the trip. Local Lexus dealer charges her something like $126 just for the "computer diagnosis" to find one of the coil on plug coils is acting up. It's one on the firewall side of the V6 transverse mounted engine.

Dealership suggests replacing all 6 spark plugs and the 3 coil on plug coil packs on the bank towards the firewall since it is a real pain in the ass to do. $1350 (Thirteen hundred and fifty dollars!) and she'll be good as new.

Long story short it made it back to Texas with an intermittent check engine light and she had an Indy do the work for short of $700.

[IROC]

Here's my older Lexus... Absolutely bullet-proof:

[1990C4S]

He drives too much to get a vehicle that big....but it would be nice.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Sister from Texas came to town a while back in her 07 Lexus RX350 SUV doo dad. About 120K miles on the clock. Check engine light comes on during the trip. Local Lexus dealer charges her something like $126 just for the "computer diagnosis" to find one of the coil on plug coils is acting up. It's one on the firewall side of the V6 transverse mounted engine.

Dealership suggests replacing all 6 spark plugs and the 3 coil on plug coil packs on the bank towards the firewall since it is a real pain in the ass to do. $1350 (Thirteen hundred and fifty dollars!) and she'll be good as new.

Long story short it made it back to Texas with an intermittent check engine light and she had an Indy do the work for short of $700.

You can insert any brand and any dealership here. This has nothing to do with Lexus. Dealership fix > Indy fix > DIY. In that example, you could have put a new single coil pack on DIY for $80 and be on your way ...

Edit: a basic OBD reader is under $30 ...

Georg

[87maniac]

Another vote for LEXUS SC400.
a.k.a. Japanese Super-Luxury Camaro
Two-door sports coupe. Porsche-sized seats in back.
Still looks good today.

Owned a '92 SC400 for ten years. The 4.0 Liter V-8 is a great engine!
SUPER Reliable, seriously over-engineered. Also very luxurious.

Lots of super clean low mileage examples on Craigslist ($3500-$4500)
Look for an older owner who took care of it (dealer service records)
and less than 150K and you'll get another 100K no problem.

and that engine!

[aigel]

I like that SC. But one issue I have with Toyota products is the timing belts. Do all these cars we are discussing have them?

I thought it wasn't big deal when I bought a Sequoia. Actually made it cheap because it needed its first belt. But then before you know it, I am doing the damn belt again 100k later. It sure is an annoying job on something that is totally unnecessary.

G

[aschen]

I thought the older LS/SCs are nearly unkillable

[1990C4S]

I would prefer a chain, but every 90,000 miles isn't terrible. One Saturday every few years.

[MikeSid]

I have a 1999 GS 300 that I still drive every day. In it's entire life it has needed only the following:
Oil, filters, fluids, tires, alignment, brake pads and rotors, starter, one wheel lug bolt, radio LCD, front struts, timing belt, battery, brake lamps, wiper blades, keys.
The driver's electronic door lock works off and on, but has not been replaced.

My personal belief is that the GS lexus hit its peak with the longitudinally mounted straight six with rear wheel drive. The car has a better turning radius, maintenance is easier, traction is not as good. The AWD versions are transverse mount and that engine bay is crowed, the turning radius impacted, and the front axel angles create points of additional wear.

Give me a traditional layout with a straight six any day.

Coincidentally, I also have a 2000 LC and the starter went out within a year of the Lexus. it's a bit harder to replace on the 4.7 V8 because it's nested in the V and you have to remove the intake manifold and the hood. Point being, the GS 400 or the SC400 both with the V8 will have the starter replacement issue - which is really not a big deal. All have timing belts and negative clearance valves. Otherwise, the maintenance has been virtually identical between a 2000 LC and a 1999 GS 300 - which is to say, virtually none.

The styling of the GS in that era (to the extent there actually was any) is pretty dated. But from a mechanical standpoint, it is an incredibly well put together car. I'm not sure I could say the same for RX or ES models. GS, SC and LX of that era seem to be indestructible.