05/08/2026 7:35 pm
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Honestly im just so fed up with my current car. My old VW has been in the shop literally every other week for the last three months and I cant keep dumping money into it just to get to work. Im totally done with the constant check engine lights and repair bills so im looking to switch over to something reliable like a Lexus. My budget is pretty tight at around 12k max because I had to drain my savings for these last repairs.
I live in Chicago so rust is a massive concern for me and the winters here are brutal. Ive been looking at some ES350s and maybe an older RX with like 150k plus miles on them. My logic is that since they are built like tanks it should be fine but im terrified of buying someone elses headache again. Are there specific red flags I should be checking for during a test drive? Do I need to worry about the timing belt or water pump on these high mileage ones or are there other secret issues? I feel like im flying blind here and really just need this to be a one time purchase for the next few years...
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05/08/2026 8:20 pm
Building on the earlier suggestion, you really gotta check the CV boots for tears. Chicago winters shred those, and once the grease leaks, the axle goes fast. In my experience, even with a bulletproof Lexus, just swap out the factory fluids immediately for Red Line Synthetic 75W90 Gear Oil to protect the differential. It makes a massive difference in how smooth things feel. Dont ignore the transmission fluid either; do a drain and fill, dont flush.
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05/08/2026 7:50 pm
Ugh, jumping from a VW to a high-mileage Lexus is a huge relief, but dont get too comfy yet. Honestly, even a Lexus with 150k miles can be a money pit if it wasnt taken care of. Since you are dealing with that Chicago salt, definitely crawl under there and look for flaking metal on the suspension components. For the ES350, you have to watch out for the water pump leaking; its kinda hidden so look for pink crusty residue near the pulleys.
- Check the power steering rack for leaks, they get crunchy in the cold
- Test the transmission shifts, honestly if it hesitates, just walk away
- Verify the service history for Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 oil changes If you find an RX, just make sure the struts arent blown out. People love to ignore those until the car drives like a boat. Honestly, if you find a clean one, you will be fine, just dont expect perfection.
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05/08/2026 7:35 pm
TL;DR: Rust is your biggest enemy, so check the subframe before anything else. Honestly, I have had issues with older luxury cars in snowy states because the salt just destroys everything underneath. It is unfortunate, but sometimes the electronics get weird too. Just go with any sedan from Toyota, you really cant go wrong. They are way cheaper to keep on the road than those money pits you have been dealing with.