How to find the right VIP car?

I've been looking for an LS for a week now and didn't find much UCF-10s.

I have tested a 1990 LS400 in silver, 189K miles and is owned by a hippy and it's in good condition and the only problem is the brakes feel mushy, as if your bike has brakes made of gum... he is selling it for a good $2,495. (can the brakes be fixed?)

I also tested my aunt's 257K miles mostly highway mileage, 1991 white metallic LS400 which she has since it has 3miles on ODO, it is in pristine condition and has nice brakes, powerful V8, very comfortable ride and is well maintained by Lexus of Las Vegas along with their black RX400h. I love that LS400! The problem is, she wouldn't sell it because it has many sentimental values.:sad:  :slap: (slaps aunt!~)

I also tried a 93 which is black owned by a Baptist minister,  It has 143K miles mostly city, Is riding on 16" steelies and ghetto spinners:biggthumpup:, exterior is swirled and has dings, interior is clean but smells funky (like when your ex-GF had hot sex in the janitor's closet with a guy named Trent and you got it after a few seconds!) The brakes are well and engine is still strong. He is selling it for 3grand firm! 

I just didn't buy it because it smells like a banging PIMP car and it's from a minister! WTF???


 What's the best way to get a clean 1stgen LS400 and what should I always check for that makes an excellent starter car? Thanks!

LoL at the description of the smell... I would leave that one be... you dont want to have to explain to people why the car smells all the time. 

Mushy brakes could be anything, bubbles in the brake lines, bad pads, brake booster. Anything can be fixed, but price will vary from $5 (new brake fluid) to $xxxx (new brake booster)

Does anyone have tips on where and what to look for, for a nice VIP car starter?

Looking for "a week" is pretty impatient.  I looked for a few months before deciding on my Q. It did happen to be the first one I looked at from the local Infiniti dealer, but I still took my time and looked at several across L.A.  Gotta learn patience and wait till you find the "right" one.

Brake fluid should be replaced every 2 years minimum, odds are since most people NEVER change it, it's full of water and air.

Yos, I hope like I don't sound like a jerk, but, dude! You gotta do some research. Platforms are limited, just choose one and go for it. If later you decide you would have rather done something else, then switch it up.

whats your budget?

My budget? It's originally 17Grand, but I figured that why not make a nice VIP car for under the price of an Accent or Aveo... Besides, I called my Insurance and they wouldn't insure a 15 year old car to an 18 yr old kid for 17Grand just because it's a Lexus LS400 and has VIP parts and high end electronics. And that they could only insure me up to 9grand (or whatever KBB value it has.) even with all the fizzle in the car! (That really pissed me off when the old lady on the phone said that!)

Does anyone here got their old car insured to the price they want it to be insured? Please tell me what company... Thanks!

for 17k,
id go for any of the older style VIP cars. Q45s Ls400, Even the GS300 those are super nice too. Id just keep looking online for good deals on used cars. Craigslist or autotrader. For your budget, id get a cheaper base and use the rest of the money on maintinence and VIP stuff, cuz in the end you'll have a rockin car, that will get just as much respect as if you were driving a newer LS or whatever.

Keyword: Search*

Whatever car you feel is right for you. If you want to go VIP, look at the list of VIP platforms and look at those vehicles to see which one would fit you the most as in Style. Price, etc.

Make sure when you do find a vehicle that you're in the prospect of buying that all the services have been done to it and that the vehicle has been well maintained. Any service records will do just great.

Goodluck on your search.

keep looking man! I've been searching since the beginning of January. Now, i've narrowed my choices to a Q45 (f50) and lexus GS300/400s. Now I just gotta wait to get my check to have cash to slap people with. However, I won't be purchasing the first vehicle I go to see, unless it's an amazing deal.

[QUOTE=forpinks;125938]My budget? It's originally 17Grand, but I figured that why not make a nice VIP car for under the price of an Accent or Aveo... Besides, I called my Insurance and they wouldn't insure a 15 year old car to an 18 yr old kid for 17Grand just because it's a Lexus LS400 and has VIP parts and high end electronics. And that they could only insure me up to 9grand (or whatever KBB value it has.) even with all the fizzle in the car! (That really pissed me off when the old lady on the phone said that!)

Does anyone here got their old car insured to the price they want it to be insured? Please tell me what company... Thanks![/QUOTE]


That is the risk taken. If your car gets stripped thats it. I've heard some people paying for supplemental insurance on top to cover some of their parts. I believe state farm has it. Why don't you go with something slightly newer and skip the maintenance headaches?

don't buy on impulse either man. If you don't know much about cars take it to get diagnosed to see how much the repairs are gonna cost you. this can cost you about 60-75 depending if you have a relationship with your mechanic. IE your dad/mom or someone you know have a reliable mechanic they take to every time?

^^^ I know how to do maintenance and stuff in 4 cylinders engines and I myself did turbocharged a 2AZ-FE and S/C'd a 1ZZ-FE, I did it because it is very simple and easy to work on. But, when I saw the JDM V8s, damn! those are pretty complicated engines and needs a shop manual every time you mess with it specially the Nissan V8s . (also a lot of money and waiting time for the parts when you fix something.)

I'm stuck to getting an LS or GS (whichever gets a better comfort) and if I can't find any that will be a clean VIP starter, I'm going with a Q45 from around 97 since most of em are clean and the interior looks Grade-A!

BTW: I'm the mechanic hobbyist in the family, and I could do maintenance, detailing, engine mods, suspension mods, and oh I could also do electronics and basic sub boxes... ( Almost anything that isn't as complicated as the V8 belt job and gasket swap on the Q.)

[quote=forpinks;125631]Does anyone have tips on where and what to look for, for a nice VIP car starter?[/quote]

ok i tried to get your attention on Clublexus but apparently  that didn't work so i'm gonna make one more attempt because i think i have what your looking for and i'll cut you a killer deal :giggity: if your interested??? if so pm me!

[IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/kobk/Picture001.jpg[/IMG]

I'd honestly look at other modified LS400's out there.  You might find something you really like, and with $17k you could easily purchase one.  

For insurance look into getting supplemental insurance.