Car Advice

I dont have a ton of money - but can afford somethig between 15-20 K
Have an Audi A4 right now - loved the car, but it hit 100K and has been going to shit, so I need a new one.

Like the Lexus IS 300 - but its rear wheel drive and I live in the Midwest.

Anybody got advice for a nice stylish type car for this range - or has anyone had a Lexus IS 300 and have good/bad opinions?

A Lexus for 15-20K???

go get a WRX or STI :toast:

D2bets said:

A Lexus for 15-20K???

Click to expand...

maybe an '03 with 60k on it

acura TL or type S will run you 40 with tax.

buy a motorcycle !! good on gas !!!:toast:

The new Camry's look pretty nice and would be around $20k for a new one.

theDude24 said:

I dont have a ton of money - but can afford somethig between 15-20 K
Have an Audi A4 right now - loved the car, but it hit 100K and has been going to shit, so I need a new one.

Like the Lexus IS 300 - but its rear wheel drive and I live in the Midwest.

Anybody got advice for a nice stylish type car for this range - or has anyone had a Lexus IS 300 and have good/bad opinions?

Click to expand...

are u looking for brand new or something with low miles? brand new u will be driving some sorta hyundai or civic if thats what u are looking to spend, but for 20k, u can look around online and find a decent car for 20k with low miles

definitely dont want something brand new - b/c obviously thatd be much.

but ya, have been looking at the lexus IS300 - 2003-2004 with 40-60K mile for around 18-22 thousand.

theDude24 said:

I dont have a ton of money - but can afford somethig between 15-20 K
Have an Audi A4 right now - loved the car, but it hit 100K and has been going to shit, so I need a new one.

Like the Lexus IS 300 - but its rear wheel drive and I live in the Midwest.

Anybody got advice for a nice stylish type car for this range - or has anyone had a Lexus IS 300 and have good/bad opinions?

Click to expand...

I have for FS: 2004 Nissan Pathfinder LE Platinum Edition. 1 owner/non-smoker, excellent condition, only 29,441 miles! The price is well within your range!


I had to plug my own vehicle I am selling!

:lol:

Lexi are great cars, so don't take me wrong. But basically they are Camry's with $10-20K sitting on the dash. They are pretty much the same cars. For that much you should be able to come up with a late model, low mileage, power everything, leather everything Camry. In other words a Lexus that just says Camry on it only for half the price.
You should also take a long look at the Mercury Grand Marquis. Basically, its a Lincoln Town Car that costs $15K
less. Truly a great American highway cruiser.
Go to Edmunds.com and look around you will be able to find several cars to fit your bill. Also, with as much as you are spending you may want to consider buying a Certified
used car to protect your investment. That will probably add $1000 to the price, but will probably be worth it.

theDude24 said:

definitely dont want something brand new - b/c obviously thatd be much.

but ya, have been looking at the lexus IS300 - 2003-2004 with 40-60K mile for around 18-22 thousand.

Click to expand...

You can get what you want, but you need to find a small dealer who will get you one at a dealer auction and mark it up a nickel or 700. If you were in California, I could hook you up.

Here are some recent results/prices of the 2003 Lexus IS 300's sold in the most recent 30 days.

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width=559 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/18/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>BAY CITI</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,800</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>75,908</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>WHITE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/26/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>MISS</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,700</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>58,924</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>BLACK</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/03/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>LAUD/MIA</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,600</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>59,439</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>SILVER</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>5</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/31/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>FAAO</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Lease</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,600</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>51,274</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>GRAY</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/31/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>RIVRSIDE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,500</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>53,109</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>BLACK</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/07/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>RIVRSIDE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,400</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>72,866</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>SILVER</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>M</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/09/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>NEVADA</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Lease</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$15,250</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>42,617</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>TAN</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>5</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/18/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>SEATTLE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,900</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>76,051</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>WHITE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/08/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>SEATTLE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,800</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>76,102</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>WHITE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/31/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>IMPERIAL</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,800</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>67,981</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>BLACK</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/18/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>W PALM</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,600</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>29,685</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>BLACK</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/01/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>NEWBRGH</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,300</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>47,276</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>WHITE</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32></TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/17/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>HOBBY</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Lease</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,100</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>73,075</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>SILVER</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>08/09/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>NEVADA</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Lease</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,000</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>80,994</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>BLACK</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>A</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD><!-- <td class="textCenter" width="41px"></td> --></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD class=text width=50>07/27/07</TD><TD class=text width=70>PENSCOLA</TD><TD class=textCenter width=55>Regular</TD><TD class=textRight width=42>$14,000</TD><TD class=textRight width=45>61,981</TD><TD class=textCenter width=36>Avg</TD><TD class=text width=45>GRAY</TD><TD class=textCenter width=24>6G</TD><TD class=textCenter width=32>5</TD><TD class=textCenter width=57>Yes</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Date, location, off-lease or open sale, price, miles, condition, color, 6G means 6 cyl. gas, A= automatic 5= 5speed manual. Note, "AVERAGE" condition is a nice,clean car without prior paintwork or repair. Ones that say "Above average" are 100% spotless gems.

I would like to say this in a nice way, but you do not want an auction car. In general, auction cars are those that auto dealers don't want. They keep the good ones to sell themselves and auction off the others.
You should be looking at an established name brand auto dealership or from a respectable individual. A good tip an auto salesman gave me years ago is if you buy from an individual, look at their other stuff --- lawn mowers, house,
barbeque,children, or whatever. If they take care of them, then they probably take car of their cars, too.
Get your hands on Consumer Reports used car guide or sub-
scribe to their website. Go back to Edmunds and read everything twice.
You have enough money together to get a very good used car that will last at least 150,000 to 200,000 miles if you do your homework.

slapshot said:

go get a WRX or STI :toast:

Click to expand...

If you have that much buy new, don't finance and don't buy any of the extra warranties or other garbage they try to sell you. If you buy the non-turbo model (mine's a 2002 Impreza RS - don't know what they call it now) 20k should be enough.

Hitch hike and gamble the $20k 'till you have enough money to buy a decent new car. Start by betting NY Jets ML on Week 1. You can thank me later.

ChalksR4Kids said:

I would like to say this in a nice way, but you do not want an auction car. In general, auction cars are those that auto dealers don't want. They keep the good ones to sell themselves and auction off the others.
You should be looking at an established name brand auto dealership or from a respectable individual. A good tip an auto salesman gave me years ago is if you buy from an individual, look at their other stuff --- lawn mowers, house,
barbeque,children, or whatever. If they take care of them, then they probably take car of their cars, too.
Get your hands on Consumer Reports used car guide or sub-
scribe to their website. Go back to Edmunds and read everything twice.
You have enough money together to get a very good used car that will last at least 150,000 to 200,000 miles if you do your homework.

Click to expand...

Cars being sold at auction range from VERY bad to mint condition. When I bought for new car stores I would typically look at 4500 to 5200 cars a week to buy 3 or 5. Each auction in Los Angeles runs about 2000 a week thru them. Many are trash, but there are a few select gems. You have to be patient, and selective. Out of thousands of nice cars, you will of course see a few dozen standouts.

Many states, like California are "equity states", meaning if a lender reposesses a car, either voluntarily or involuntarily, that car must go to an auction to sell in the open wholesale market. Then the equity, if any by law must be mailed back to the borrower. This method of sale insures fairness to the borrower. I bought many cars with less than 15,000 miles on them with factory warranty, and in perfect condition.

Yet another reason some of these cars are at auction is this. Lets say you have 3 2005 Honda Accords on your lot already, and a 4th comes in trade. That 4th one may end up going to the auction. Does this make it a bad car, or just a victim of circumstances?

My point is this. Judge the car itself, not what pavement it is parked on.

And I am reasonably sure no one on this board has more experience in used cars than I do. Good luck

You can get a very nice, low miles, loaded 4 Runner Limited for 20-24. I'm talking about a $45k new truck that just came off a 3 year lease with 30-35k miles on it. You can't beat it.

Just do it-you'll never look back.

It will only cost you $100.....



to get on the waiting list.