Valuing used cars is a minefield and as we all know, a god deal is where both party's are reasonably happy, ie a compromise. But brand snobbery plays a huge part. Before buying my ls400 I went to a local auction who was having a collectors sale. Listed was a one owner 1996 mercedes s280 with 50k miles. It was poverty spec, wheel trims, no radio fitted at the request of it's only owner and was, to all intents and purposes a new mercedes...not a sought after 500 or 600, a beautifully kept, unmarked 280. The car was advertised as estimated 3-4k which I thought strong even with the condition and I took 3k to auction thinking 'only I will pay this kind of money for a Jewish racing gold poverty spec Merc'....wrong...it made....6k! Really, I know the auction owner and it sold!!
I would put the ls400 I bought at about 80% the condition of the old Merc! and having driven both! twice the car to drive. Same age, same colour, virtually same miles...i bought the ls for a fraction of the mercs price....does that mean the Merc was 'worth' several times the money....I don't think so. I am unfortunately having to advertise my ls and it is for sale for less than 2k....but here is the kicker...I don't think I could buy a significantly better car regardless of budget....certainly a newer 10k car would be nice, shiny, newer...but better?...offer the blend of attributes, serenity, un flustered competence the big lexus does...no thanks, il save my money in future....now, don't tell anyone about this, and for gods sake keep this forum secret....we don't want the prices going up now do,we?....I might want another next summer!!
Joking aside, and I rarely do this with my 'summer treat' car...if I don't get what I want for the lexus I will mothball it and have another Ls next summer...the same one....these cars GET UNDER YOUR SKIN