Hello I love your board. I'm in the market for a new car and my wife and I narrowed it down between a 2002 Max SE or a 2002 Lex IS300 but we're leaning towards the Max. What should I pay for a loaded 6spd with less than 30K I'm seeing anywhere between 21k to 24k. I did search and did not find this anywhere. Thanks Guys.

 

go to edmunds.com , you can input the cars specific options and miles and they will give you a true market value for your zip code.

 

watch out for the IS300 in winter, RWD. IS300 has a much better resale value, so you are less likely to find them for cheap. maxima's depriciate rapidly in the first 2 years and then kinda level off. i think a used maxima is the best value on the road. or a new acura TL, but the '04s are like 32-35 grand now. your call but i would go with the maxima for a daily driver. IS300 for show and sport. both do well in all catagories though

 

Wow goes to show what a newb I am at this I THOUGHT THE IS300 was FWD so its definatley going to be the Max, besides I really like the look of them better. If only someone would make a STS for it thow those stock shifters are horrible looking. Thanks for the heads up!

 

your not alone. I also thought the IS300 was FWD. Hmmm

 

I never liked the IS. The guages looked too swatch watch for me and for a Lexus, the interior was uninspired. The Max is also bigger, and more fun to drive.

 

check out KBB.com and autobytel.com for info and pricing.

the lex is a nice car, but i wouldnt trade my max for it. i've it for 2 years and i'm in love with it.

 

thats exactly what I was thinking

 

you're either going to love or hate the the IS300's chronograph-style gauges. BOTH of these cars come with tires that need to replaced around 30K miles so look out for that.

also, Lexus is releasing new models for all of their cars next year. Something to think about.

 

I don't know anything about the Lexus so I don't know the answer to that, but I have a 2k2 6-speed with 29k miles and I could sell it PRIVATE sale today for about $18k. DO NOT pay $21k-$24k... I paid $25k for mine new in 2002 and it's loaded -NAV.

Dealers suck. Offer them $17k and see what they say.

edit: I was on the high side... here...every option but NAV.

 

I never liked the IS either, but I have to say that it actually is more fun to drive since its RWD and handles 20 times better STOCK than our cars ever will... I also think its hard (expensive) getting it past 225 rwhp without going FI (I read about one that is SCed with 404 rwhp), but they do have a many mods available.... (all I know I found by skimming through the IS forums, so don't quote me on any of this) in saying that, its a smaller, lighter, flashier car vs our bigger, more spacious, more practical Maximas... so it depends on what you want... I love my 02 and wouldn't trade it for anything else... well, except for maybe a SCed 01...

Also, its likely that Lexus customer service is better....

 

Thanks for all the great advise I'm trading in a 04 Ford Ranger and I really dont want to spend more than $19,000 if I dont have to. I'm going to look at a couple tommorow. 1 is an 02 BLK/BLK 6Spd with 19K miles and every option except for A/T(obviously) and Nav system the window sticker is $20,665. I'm hopeing if I like it with my trade in I can have it OTD for 18,500 including tax and everything. I'll let you know how I make out

 

Go to kbb.com and print out the list and bring it. By looking at kbb, they pretty much used book value to price the car, and there's no way you should pay book.

 

Already printed baby

 

You should buy a mazda 6

 

Sell the Ranger private party and then go to www.autotrader.com and find what you're looking for in your area.

 

I would but I still owe on the Ranger therefore makeing the sale process a PITA however I less than trade in value so I should be alright.

 

"owe less"

 

Either way, the dealer screws you.

My .02 is to try selling it on your own(why PITA?) and buy private party. If that's not an option, just use an autobroker. They take your car/trade-in, find your "new" car, and charge you a couple hundred, which is a lot less then what the dealer will screw you for in the end.

No way would I pay over $18K-$19K:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...or=&cardist=80

 

baby?

 

Dont buy a max from a dealer if hes giving it to you a lil les than what its worth
...I gotta 2000 max fully loaded bose heated seats 17"nissan Chrome rims ..the car is gorgous wit 63k on it....the value of the car was 14,500 and i bought it fromthe dealer for 13,500......i bought the car id idnt relize it but i needed a new air filimator 480$ a new tranny $3,000 those were lucky cover within the 3 months but i needed a new started n i payed 500 for part/installation....so if u think its too good to be true it is and never by a car for the way it looks... go to Kbb.com type in ur info find out the value and compare it to the one the dealer is asking.. if the dealer price is cheaper there is something wrong with it that they wont fix untill u notice it and hopefully ull notice it befor the 3 month warranty is up ...good luck

 

I'm not trying to flame you so if it comes out that way, sorry.

How would the dealer know you the car was going to need a new air "filimator" (and what is that?) and a new tranny? And how could they know you'd need a new starter? I'm guessing you drove the car and got it inspected before you bought it... even if you didn't get it inspected, you surely drove it...did you notice anything wrong with the car? If you didn't, how could they have known?

 

Well I bought one today! I went to look at a 02 SE and did not like a few things (had some cosmetic issues) and ended up driving a 02 GLE with spoiler(to me it looked the same as an SE) Its obviously fully loaded charcoal on black leather with 17,000K miles. Since the car is "Certified" It comes with a 100K mile warranty or Nov 2008 which ever comes first and 24 hr roadside assistance. He also threw in Oil changes too but I'm not sure I'm gonna take him up on that offer. Anyway all said and done I'm paying $20,250.00. Yeah I know I can get one ALOT cheaper private sale but I wouldnt have been able to dump my Ford Ranger for what I owe on it. And the dealer gave me pretty much what I owe. Anyway I'm happy the wife's happy and I guess thats all that really matters.

Now I can start looking at springs and wheels for the Spring


Thanks for all your help guys .I cant wait to pick it up and start the Mod's
By the way they are taking care of all the Recalls.