Possible next car...hopefully.

Possible next car...hopefully.

Hey everyone,

I don't come around the forums alot as I used 2. No im not getting rid of my AE101 corolla or parting out cause I like my car and its my 1st ride. I found a 92 Lexus ES300 4dr w/ a 3.0L 3VZFE and RARE E53 5 speed manual. Fully loaded with 212,xxx miles and needs plenty of work. Body is in great shape. Heres a pic from a local craiglist posting.



Hoping I'll take it home as my second car on the cheap because the kbb value states that its in poor condition and says "N/A" on pricing cause of repairs needed. It's runs ok but it got issues like low clutch pedal (makes it hard to shift), broken interior pieces, worn shifter + bezel trim, torn front leather seats, faulty master window switch, terrible exhaust leaks, oil leaks, missing fog lamps, and other details needed to cover.

I'm a Toyota technician and I can source the parts and fix most of the things needed. Would make it like a restoration project along with tasteful mods (VIP Windom anyone). Comments and suggestions are welcome.

ES300 is definitely a VIP car. GL!

dude you're going to spend more money fixing the car than when you buy it. thats a lot of work. My friend has a 95 that needs about $2000 worth of work on it and has about the same amount of mileage.

ahhh.. a lexus camry

I'd rather get a Cressida. Now those things are built solid.

possibly my next car




working on getting it financed

Spend more money and not counting labor actually. But sometimes thats the fun part

Are you a lube tech or the other techs?

Ares: Not ofiicially, I started as lube tech but now doing some minor maintenace work like 15k services, coolant flushes, navigation system installs on scions, most TRD items (not allowed 2 do s/c's or clutches) and soon state inspections. Not allowed to do major repairs and will get sent out for training pretty soon. I do most of my labor.

MovieStar: ahh the U.S.S Enterprise must be a 2999 model, 0% finacing available until March 3009. Go get it.

DrunkSaru: Yes, I know it needs work, it will make a great VIP car that i envisioned. I messed up on some things on the first post, its not missing the fogs and the faulty master switch was actually a broken trim bezel causing the buttons to sink in. I got good sources in my area so the parts won't be so costly, discounts from Lexus as well.

RollaTuner110: Cressidas are nice but hard to find the last gen body style too which i would like to own and throw a 1jz or 2jz on that whip.

whats the price?if its dirty cheap i would go for it and 5spd is very rare to find.

That car's even older than your Corolla.

Most the auto-junkies i know start that way and move on up. Actually, alot of the techs at my toyota come in with little knowledge and just learn over the years. GL with build and keep us posted.

get the 2 door v8!!!

the 2 dr / V8 is the ES400 if im not mistaken

wtf is an ES400?

Someone was selling one here in Houston for 2500 with a pretty OK body and someone beat me to it. Sad.

You are. It's the SC400.

^ Yup thats it. Definitely should have gotten that deal. like 200k with ok body for 2.5k pif.

I already offered him $1,500 but he wanted $1,700 and told me thats how low I can go. The original price he wanted 4 was $3,500, not bad. Still i told him that it needs alot of work but its a clean carfax record too (no accidents). Hope fully he'll give me the answer so I can pay him my $1,500 hooker money and have him hand me over the keys, title, temp. tag, and the sweet car...and have him dancing around like a monkey beggin 4 bananas, lol.

Good luck with buying the car! Make sure you go over there with $1,500.00 cash. You'd be suprised the reaction when people see the cash how fast they jump at it. Like fishing with a firecracker

Did I mention this car is in a small dealer lot in Kansas City, Mo? I wonder if I have to pay taxes after paying cash, not to sure if i do.. Fuck it I'll show them the $1,500 cash.

$1500 is a steal but yeah i think you have to pay taxes to every car dealer unless he a good guy and let it go for $1500

Be careful with the 3vz as they are known to have headgasket problems. We had a 92 ES300 back in they, was all good until kabloom, headgasket went and wasn't worth fixing it. If you can find one with a 1mz, then get that. The 1mz is nearly bulletproof. We had a 96 ES300 with a 1mz and it took one hell of a beating and still ran like a champ. And when I mean beating, I mean a pure beating. Like not changing the oil for 12,000 miles, and letting it overheat and still keep driving. Then overheating problem got much worse and trans blew. Regardless it was solid, I loved that car.

You wouldnt believe all the 1mz toyotas that come in my work that the oil is completely black and stinks running on 300k miles. Then you go to fill up the oil and can barely fit the gun in there because its so sludged up. But they still run like they have 10k miles on them The oil filters absolutely suck on them though IMO

Update-03/11/08

Purchased the car and I took it home, ended up paying for $1,700:signW00t2. They washed it 4 me and clean up the interior. Really happy to have a rare 5 speed Windom.

Mayur: I'm aware of the 3VZ engines on the headgasket issues. The engine will be overhauled with all new genuine Toyota gaskets, especially the transaxle. 1MZ models did not offer 5 speeds on the 94-01 ES', only 92-93 (I wish it did unless i swap it off a Camry or Solara and install a TRD s/c ).

GL with the car! Post up pictures when you got a chance

definitely a must for a before and after. also dont forget to keep us posted with everything its always nice to see others' progress.