Lexus LS400; dumb idea?

Alright, I figure I'll just post the pics I got from the seller for you all. Let me know your thoughts. I'm going to go check it out Saturday and will look it over thoroughly for sure:

In reply to Japanspec :

Buy it. At, worst it will make the worlds most comfortable beater daily driver.

Looks better than I'd suspect.  If the price is right, and you feel you can fix what's wrong with it, make it yours.

My thoughts? This got me looking at what might be for sale locally. 

Thanks guys! Yeah, the condition is why I was surprised about the salvage title status. I'll have to of course talk to the guy and find out some info when I go there, lets see what happens!

In reply to Japanspec :

Words matter but to a lot of people, one thing means the same as another...

You are telling us that the car has a Salvage Title.  Is it possible that the car has No Title and the seller has bungled the use of the words?  

Salvage Title typically happens when insurance company has been involved and the expense to fix the car is greater than the worth of the car.  I'm not seeing that here.  Another time Salvage Title is uses is theft recovery.  If your car is stolen you typically will get an insurance settlement in 4 weeks.  When your car is found in the 6th week; and even possibly found in fine working condition, the Insurance Co retains the ownership of the car (since they already paid you) and the Insurance Co auctions off the car with a Salvage Title.  The real question is how did this car arrive at a Salvage Title?  (if it really is a Salvage Title.)

Will the seller send you a photo of the title? 
Is the name on the title the same name as the seller? 
Is the title clearly marked as Salvage?

Another possibility is that the car is a Rebuilt Salvage Title.  If that is the case, the car was once "totaled" by Insurance but was previously repaired to state standards. Has the seller omitted the very important word of Rebuilt?  The answer lies in seeing the actual title.

It is not common for Salvage Title cars to have license plates on them since they have not yet been deemed road worthy.  

I bought one of those in very similar condition and price it was the most expensive car I've ever owned. It broke and broke and broke and broke and finally after I had pushing $3,000 into it I scrapped it. I've always heard wonderful things about them and I'll tell you what when it works ,it worked really well

Japanspec said:

This is EXACTLY what I see around me for $3k+ and it hurts my heart. The drift crowd has come onto these cars so they're starting to enter "drift tax" territory.

I wouldn't ruin a nice car but an uncorked 1UZ does sound pretty sweet.

John Welsh said:

In reply to Japanspec :

Words matter but to a lot of people, one thing means the same as another...

You are telling us that the car has a Salvage Title.  Is it possible that the car has No Title and the seller has bungled the use of the words?  

 

Salvage Title typically happens when insurance company has been involved and the expense to fix the car is greater than the worth of the car.  I'm not seeing that here.  Another time Salvage Title is uses is theft recovery.  If your car is stolen you typically will get an insurance settlement in 4 weeks.  When your car is found in the 6th week; and even possibly found in fine working condition, the Insurance Co retains the ownership of the car (since they already paid you) and the Insurance Co auctions off the car with a Salvage Title.  The real question is how did this car arrive at a Salvage Title?  (if it really is a Salvage Title.)

Will the seller send you a photo of the title? 
Is the name on the title the same name as the seller? 
Is the title clearly marked as Salvage?

 

Another possibility is that the car is a Rebuilt Salvage Title.  If that is the case, the car was once "totaled" by Insurance but was previously repaired to state standards. Has the seller omitted the very important word of Rebuilt?  The answer lies in seeing the actual title.

 

It is not common for Salvage Title cars to have license plates on them since they have not yet been deemed road worthy.  

This is all stuff I'll have to find out from the seller. I know his name so can definitely match that up. Luckily the car isn't too far from us (less than an hour) so not too much of a time sink if it turns out to be a complete dud. The seller did mention he put some work into it but never got around to getting it trailered for a salvage inspection and then didn't want to be bothered anymore. Not sure if thats a red flag.

In reply to j_tso :

That does sound sweet!

pilotbraden said:

I bought one of those in very similar condition and price it was the most expensive car I've ever owned. It broke and broke and broke and broke and finally after I had pushing $3,000 into it I scrapped it. I've always heard wonderful things about them and I'll tell you what when it works ,it worked really well

What types of issues did you run into with yours?

Ball joints brakes ignition timing it's a long damn story and none of it was cheap also I put brand new snow tires on it as the tires were crap and I bought it in December. shame on me for buying an $800 car and expecting it to be a gem. I imagine if I had spent a couple more thousand dollars on it it would have been reliable

Japanspec said:

The seller did mention he put some work into it but never got around to getting it trailered for a salvage inspection and then didn't want to be bothered anymore. Not sure if thats a red flag.

Bright red.

This car needs way fewer unknowns for $1000. This is a low-three-digit transaction at best.

JG Pasterjak said:

Japanspec said:

The seller did mention he put some work into it but never got around to getting it trailered for a salvage inspection and then didn't want to be bothered anymore. Not sure if thats a red flag.

Bright red.

This car needs way fewer unknowns for $1000. This is a low-three-digit transaction at best.

I have a running driving car with a salvage title that I bought like 6yrs ago and I still haven't taken it in to get inspected by the state, because on the day that I was scheduled to bring it in, the front passenger door lock failed and would not open. I finally ended up getting the door open in like 2023. I just need to wire up the power door lock and window motor and it should be fine. So yeah, a red flag that it's still sitting, but sometimes it's just lack of time and motivation, not a serious issue.

90BuickCentury said:

JG Pasterjak said:

Japanspec said:

The seller did mention he put some work into it but never got around to getting it trailered for a salvage inspection and then didn't want to be bothered anymore. Not sure if thats a red flag.

Bright red.

This car needs way fewer unknowns for $1000. This is a low-three-digit transaction at best.

I have a running driving car with a salvage title that I bought like 6yrs ago and I still haven't taken it in to get inspected by the state, because on the day that I was scheduled to bring it in, the front passenger door lock failed and would not open. I finally ended up getting the door open in like 2023. I just need to wire up the power door lock and window motor and it should be fine. So yeah, a red flag that it's still sitting, but sometimes it's just lack of time and motivation, not a serious issue.

My personal lack of time and motivation is not a mystery to me. Someone else's lack of time and motivation is a forbidden closet of mystery with no sides or bottom, though. There would have to be awfully special extenuating circumstances for me to explore those depths.

pilotbraden said:

I imagine if I had spent a couple more thousand dollars on it it would have been reliable

Yes this. These cars are very reliable when well maintained, but its a big car and if neglected, will need a lot of things to make it drive well and reliably. It is a luxury car. It may not be an S-class or 7 series expensive but under $1000 they all start looking the same.

"My personal lack of time and motivation is not a mystery to me. Someone else's lack of time and motivation is a forbidden closet of mystery with no sides or bottom, though. There would have to be awfully special extenuating circumstances for me to explore those depths."

That's hilarious! And wise words as well.

A bit of tangent since I'm not in the market, but curious. Do the LS430 and LS460's fall into the same "pretty damn reliable" category when taken care of? 

Seems like one might be the absolute perfect road trip car. Big, comfortable, powerful and can be had with great stereo options.