Lexus IS300 - Ex-Police Lexus IS300 - how value for ex-Police

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Sun 2 Jan 2011 03:06
Lexus IS300 - Ex-Police Lexus IS300 - how value for ex-Police - tt600Man

All other things equal, how much do you knock off Parkers when pricing an ex-Police car?

I've been offered a Lexus IS300 2004 85k that is supposedly ex-CID, private sale by the 2nd owner who claims to have bought at auction then realised he couldn't afford the insurance. From the pics there's no obvious sign of mis-use or holes in bodywork.

I can look after myself as far as checking the car out goes (I've not seen it yet) so need no advice on that, but I'm flummoxed on how to price the car (Parkers gives around £5,250 good 60k, so I think about £4,500 with that mileage).

I can say "well, it's about the same as saying it's a repaired Cat D, and they are going on eBay for 2/3 of Parkers guide price" but I suspect that won't get me far with the seller. I'm having a look on eBay and can get something from that, and would appreciate some help from anyone with a good handle on this.

Cheers,

Ian

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Sun 2 Jan 2011 08:22
Lexus IS300 - Ex-Police Lexus IS300 - how value for ex-Police - gordonbennet

I've owned ex police before, ex driving school make good cars, the rest of them i wouldn't unless can't resist cheap.

Very difficult to sell regardless of previous use (proof?), i'd agree with 2/3rds or less of normal value.

Just make an offer factoring in the real reason for the sale, which could be anything from a serious dealer only fix fault to the seller being an undeclared trader.

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Mon 3 Jan 2011 11:14
Lexus IS300 - Ex-Police Lexus IS300 - how value for ex-Police - k9dan

Hi Ian,

CID don't run about in such fancy motors. It's probably an ex traffic motor, or more likely one of the specialist undercover squads. If it is, it will have been driven to the max, while following bad geezers. It would need to be really cheap to take a chance as repairs could be very expensive. Unless you know someone who knows about the car, and how it was used I wouldn't risk it. On the flip side it could have been a chauffeur driven senior offficers car, but the odds are against it, most forces only run 1 or 2 such motors. There was a study which showed the police were the hardest users of cars only second to professional rally drivers. Because of this it is not unusual for manufacturers to send Police specials for test to see how they hold up. Remember seeing a rover 800 with a BMW engine, was really nice, but went to the crusher after 6 months as it didn't have any Vin numbers as it was a development special.

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Mon 3 Jan 2011 20:42
Lexus IS300 - Ex-Police Lexus IS300 - how value for ex-Police - tt600Man

Guys, thanks.

On digging a bit more, it was overdue a service and cambelt change and needed tax and a £200 audio repair. Taking only half the service and tax costs I valued the car at around £2000-£2800 depending on what proportion of Parkers I took, but the owner wanted at least £4000, the value if non-Police, recent service & tax, so we were too far apart.

The info will come in useful later.

Cheers & a Happy New Year,

Ian

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