This a Good Deal on LS??

[chrisf695]

Sup, i'm looking to buy a LS, and i saw a 2000 LS sport with 48k for $11900. This a good deal? I herd that the 2000 is the worst year and i dont want to get myself into a money pit. Please help. Thanks.

-Chris

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

The price will depend a lot on the condition of the car, what kind of maintenance they can prove was performed on the car (don't just take their word for it), what options it has, color combination, whether it's private party or dealer, and where the car is physically located. A car's value does vary somewhat by region. There are good sites for learning what you should expect to pay for the car such as www.nada.com, www.kbb.com, and www.edmunds.com.

When you first get in the car, turn the key to the run position and make sure the airbag light illuminates for a few seconds, then goes out. If it never comes on, the bulb may have been removed to mask an issue with the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). If this is the case, the car should also have a chime that will sound after awhile to indicate the bulb is bad.

When driving the car, make sure to drive it long enough to get it up to operating temperature. During the drive, pay attention to the way the transmission shifts. Also, drive with the radio off so you can hear any strange noises. Along the drive, turn on the air conditioning (assuming the ambient temperature is above 32 degrees F) and make sure it works. Switch between cold and hot temperatures and make sure the temperature changes. Also, switch between climate control modes and make sure when floor is selected, the air is coming out of the floor, and when panel is selected, the air comes out the panel, etc.

After the car is up to temperature, stop the car, open the hood, and check for any smoking or burning smells under the hood. Common issues with these cars are leaky valve cover gaskets which, after a short time of leaking, will cause coils to fail.

Keep in mind that you can also make an appointment with a local shop to have them evaluate the car for potential purchase. There will be varying degrees of charges depending on how detailed of an examination you want, but it may help you avoid some of the "normal" expenses.

You may also want to search this forum for "common" or "typical" issues as many such concerns have been addressed in the past.

-Rod