Found an '04 Lexus IS300 SportCross in Tucson...

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
09/22/2015 at 17:44 • Filed to: None

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Additional pics. It has some minor bumper damage that could be color sanded and clear coated pretty easily. Amazingly the dash looks flawless. Seats are good too. It does have an accident on its Carfax though, which could be a deal breaker.

I’m coordinating with the dealership to have a local shop I found, through an Alfa friend’s recommendation, give it a thorough check. But if they give me a big ol’ thumb up, I might be buying it. Maybe not for $9k, but that’s relatively close to book.

Then it’s just a matter of getting it from Tucson to Austin. I really can’t take two or three days to drive it home.

DISCUSSION (32)

Gamecat235 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:49

Are you in Tucson? Or did a friend check this out for you?

ETA: doesn’t sound like you are, however, if you come down to Tucson, let me know.

LongbowMkII > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:49

Kinja'd!!!

Womp womp.

HammerheadFistpunch > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:49

Kinja'd!!!

I love this IP. I just do.

Gamecat235 > LongbowMkII
09/22/2015 at 17:52

IIRC SportCross’ only came with autos.

Punk_Girl_98 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:52

Kinja'd!!!

This is too cool!

My citroen won't start > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:54

Those are some extremely cool dials. Looks a lot like a Paul Newman Daytona.

Kinja'd!!!

jkm7680 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 17:57

Don’t pay more than $5,000 for that. $7,000 is the Blue Book value, that seller is full of shit saying it’s listed below it.

Chairman Kaga > jkm7680
09/22/2015 at 18:04

Thing is, I can’t find any IS with less than 200k miles and/or a salvage title for less than $6500. And those cars are pretty beat. Most of the ones I’ve been looking at, ‘04 and ‘05 models with around 100k miles, are listed over $10k. I kicked out lowball offers ($7500 to $8k to start) with three different dealers, hoping to at least get a counter offer, and all three said they couldn’t deal with me.

jkm7680 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:05

The price bubble is real.

You can get a better car for less than what they’re asking.

Chairman Kaga > jkm7680
09/22/2015 at 18:10

Not on Autotrader, Craigslist, cars.com or eBay. I’ve been looking for a while.

Edmunds TMV says $7k for average condition and $8600 for clean.

KBB fair market says $9300.

LongbowMkII > Gamecat235
09/22/2015 at 18:11

It did, but still

OPPOsaurus WRX > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:11

Kinja'd!!!

at first i was like shifft lights???? nice!..... o never mind. anyway what are those?

Chairman Kaga > Gamecat235
09/22/2015 at 18:12

I’m in Austin. I found the car on Autotrader. I know an Alfa guy in the area who recommended the shop. But if you’re there and wanna go check it out, just for a third-party opinion, I’ll buy you a beer!

MonkeePuzzle > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:12

is that snow or rain in the pics? if snow, could mean they’ve had it for a LONG time, coudl be a bargaining point in your favour

Chairman Kaga > LongbowMkII
09/22/2015 at 18:13

The autobox is the only stipulation my wife has. She can’t drive manual. And believe me, I’ve tried teaching her.

I still have my Alfa for pure motoring excitement. And smoke and tears and bloody knuckles.

Chairman Kaga > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/22/2015 at 18:13

Temp sensors.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:15

overall doesn;t look bad tho

wiffleballtony > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:16

There appears to be a weird substance all over the exterior that you don’t see on a normal arizona car. CP.

Gamecat235 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:17

If I get the chance in the next day or so I’ll let you know. There are some decent shops here, I’ve been a fan of NiHoTo for Toyota service in the past (they do Nissan, Honda and Toyota, and their luxury counterparts, hence the name). But they can be a bit pricey.

Anything in particular you’re looking out for if I do get the chance?

Chairman Kaga > MonkeePuzzle
09/22/2015 at 18:18

Rain. He sent the pics yesterday while it was pouring buckets.

scoob > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:19

Kinja'd!!!

What do these do? Why are there 2 of them if they do the same thing?

Chairman Kaga > Gamecat235
09/22/2015 at 18:20

Micro Import? It’s actually around the corner from the dealership.

Sure, if you wanna! Curb rash on the wheels, the actual condition of the interior (almost every IS300 has melty dash due to defective paint), just general signs of distress. He did say it was resprayed in OEM black, which is pretty common for AZ cars from what I’ve gathered. But yeah, I mean if you get a chance.

Chairman Kaga > scoob
09/22/2015 at 18:21

It’s just a manual shift button. Down on the front, up on the back. Left and right do the same thing. Confused me badly when I first drove one. Not that I ever intend to use it...

Chairman Kaga > wiffleballtony
09/22/2015 at 18:22

The sales person did say it was resprayed in OEM black. I have a few friends who moved here from the Tempe area. Their cars look like they’ve lived in the sub-Sahara for 100 years.

Gamecat235 > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:24

I’ve heard decent things about Micro, and yeah, they are basically across the street, which could make things really really easy from the perspective of a “remote” inspection.

I won’t promise anything, but there is always the chance I’ll have a bit of time, have to check my schedule and see. And yeah, AZ can be harsh on paint, especially black.

scoob > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:28

Oh. Never knew that was a thing.

wiffleballtony > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:35

I was referring to the mysterious wet substance

Chairman Kaga > wiffleballtony
09/22/2015 at 18:40

Oh right. Water, not paint. Austinites are generally confused by the presence of precipitation as well.

wiffleballtony > Chairman Kaga
09/22/2015 at 18:45

Sounds like sorcery