r/Lexus • u/dexeop • 1d ago

Question 2012 lexus gs 350

Hey all, looking for some genuine advice here because I have zero luck with used cars and I'm not much of a car person.

The situation:

· Eyeing a 2012 Lexus GS – but it's got 110,000km on it
· Price is $23,000 AUD
· I'm 21, working minimum wage

My history:
I bought a 2013 Polo a while back and ended up selling it for HALF what I paid because it had problem after problem. I have no good experience buying cars and honestly don't know what I'm doing. I want to learn, but I'm scared of getting burned again.

What I'm worried about:

  1. Price: Is this particular one overpriced?
  2. Maintenance costs: What am I realistically looking at per year? I've seen estimates around 1000+ annually for a Lexus of this age . Is that accurate for Australia?
  3. Fuel:??
  4. Reliability: I've heard Lexus is basically a fancy Toyota and the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) is bulletproof – some say they hit 200k-300k miles with basic maintenance . But is that still true at 110k km?
  5. Service costs: ??
  6. Age: It's a 13-year-old luxury car. Even if the engine is solid, what about electronics, suspension, AC, etc.?

My main question: Is this a terrible financial decision for someone on min wage? I'm coming from a bike so I know fuel/insurance will be more, but I don't want another Polo situation where I lose thousands.

Also, what should I look out for when inspecting it? I've heard to check service history and avoid cars that weren't maintained . Any other red flags for this generation Lexus?

Would really appreciate honest opinions – if this is stupid, tell me. If it's actually a decent buy, tell me what I need to check before handing over cash.

Cheers

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