When purchasing a used vehicle, whether it's a used Lexus GS 350 or other model, you are going to want to make sure that the vehicle fits your needs. You are going to want to make sure that the vehicle has been well taken care of. You are going to want to make sure that the vehicle is within a reasonable mileage point for your needs and your budget. Finally, you are going to want to make sure that you can afford all the costs associated with the vehicle.

Care Record of the Vehicle

The first thing that you are going to want to do is check out the care record for the vehicle. You are going to want to ask to see the record for all the maintenance that has been done on the vehicle.

First, you are going to want to make sure that the vehicle has gotten regular normal maintenance, such as oil changes and transmission fluid changes. Next, you are going to want to check the maintenance records for bigger maintenance tasks. For example, were the brakes changed on time? Were other necessary maintenance tasks performed when the vehicle hit certain mileage points such as 50,000 miles and 75,000 miles. You want to make sure that all the scheduled maintenance was done on the vehicle.

Then, you are going to want to look for unexpected maintenance on the vehicle. Was any part of the vehicle fixed that shouldn't have needed repaired? This can help you spot a vehicle that is either really well taken care of or a dud.

Vehicle Mileage

Second, you need to look at the mileage on the vehicle. What is a reasonable mileage on the vehicle depends upon your needs and your budget. If you are looking to purchase a vehicle that you only drive around occasionally, a vehicle that is in good condition but is high mileage may be an okay buy, since you are only looking for a vehicle to use occasionally.

If you are looking to purchase a daily commuter that you can put 2,000 miles on a month for the next five years, you are going to want to be more careful about the mileage that is already on the car. You are going to want to purchase a vehicle that can put on 120,000 miles over five years without needing extensive repairs.

Affordable

Finally, you are going to want to make sure that the vehicle is going to be affordable for you. First, you need to make sure that you are able to afford the monthly payments that come with the car loan that you take out.

Next, you need to make sure that can afford necessary maintenance on the vehicle. Will you be able to afford the repairs that the vehicle need over time? If it is expensive to repair the vehicle, and you have a small repair budget, you may want to purchase a vehicle that is easier and cheaper to fix up.

Finally, look at the cost of insuring and registering the car. Insurance and registration can vary greatly from one car model to the next. Make sure that you can afford the whole scope of owning the car, not just the monthly loan payments.