Searching for a car, Part 157: Strike out and did I find one?

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11) 05/26/2016 at 23:41 • Filed to: None

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Yeah, that one ruled itself out. Took it for a test drive, seemed pretty decent. But (and it’s a big but), it died on the way back to the dealer. At least my dad and I got a nice leisurely stroll in that day. So I went back out shopping today and I looked at the car at least 6 of you recommended to me: a 1998 Lexus GS300.

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How is it only $3k, you may ask? It has 261k on the odo. Interior is a little worn (mostly the center armrest), but not bad. But she don’t drive like she’s 18 years old and has 261K. That’s one of the smoothest, nicest cars I’ve driven to date (It’s also the 2nd oldest and 2nd highest mileage car I’ve driven, behind my driver’s ed, which was a 1997 Sentra with over 300K on it. But that’s another story for another day). The 2JZ was silky smooth and the 5 speed auto was unnoticeable. Downsides are the mileage and age, as well as the ABS, VSC, and VSC OFF lights being on (a little research shows they are all related, most likely a sensor of some kind). Also the rear seats are a little tight if the fronts are all the way back and the trunk can only fit 2-2.5 bodies, so pretty small. I’ve got it scheduled to take to a mechanic on Tuesday, so fingers crossed it doesn’t sell and that the mechanic doesn’t find anything major.

fintail > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/26/2016 at 23:55

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Steering wheel held up well, earlier Lexus wheels seem to have a bad habit of peeling.

I bet they’d jump at 25 C-notes, maybe even less. If it passes a vigorous test drive and isn’t puking up fluids, maybe not the worst thing in the world.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/26/2016 at 23:57

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The I6 in these is hummingbird-smooth and with 261k that’s highway at speed and temperature, a better life than 110k of stop and go.

GS are sweet, and if the engine goes, it’s a great excuse to get a turbo mill like they offered in the JDM.

Delusion77 > fintail 05/26/2016 at 23:57

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woops wrong place T_T how embarrassing

Delusion77 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/26/2016 at 23:58

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I like these :)

Klaus Schmoll > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 05:28

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It always irks me when they list the wrong specs in an ad. No, it’s not a 4 cyl.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 06:50

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I scored a 2000 Millenium Edition GS300 with 90,000miles from a Gov’t surplus / seizure auction for the equivalent of $1300usd up here in Canada. It’s my wife’s car. We just change the oil/filter, and have done the timing belt in the driveway. They are easy to work on and just don’t stop going.

I’ve got the 430 version as well. Usually gets about 3mpg better economy in the same situation as the 300.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 08:21

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My 220,000 mile ‘97 LS400 drives like a brand new car. If I wouldn’t have bought a LS, the GS would have been my next choice. Lexus had thier shit together in the late 90s. Go for it.

Land_Yacht_225 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 08:35

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Is the related sensor covered under the 30 day warranty?

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > fintail 05/27/2016 at 11:09

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Guy said lowest he can go is $2850, which seems pretty fair. It’d be hard to find a GS for less.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Klaus Schmoll 05/27/2016 at 11:10

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It really bothers me as well.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Land_Yacht_225 05/27/2016 at 11:11

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Good question. Unlikely but possible.

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 18:36

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those lights on the dash are going to be kinda costly to fix, and thus validated price...

fight it down and start the negotiations at like 2200 or 2300, and see what he counters with, try not to pay more than 2700 for this....

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/27/2016 at 18:37

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get him to go 2700