FIRST FREE car - thanks to PIMPM3

Well this has been a year of many challenges for many of us. I have got my fleet down from 11 to 5 (thanks BAT!). It has been nice to have lower maintenance, storage space etc. 

Due to Covid, etc, my mom who is elderly, we had to move her to a nursing home (long story). She was supposed to move in with me on the west coast, but we haven't been able to do it currently. As a result of the move (and her not driving), we are selling her house etc. Well not to make a long sad story. 

My mom's last car is 17 years old. Literally church old lady.  My mom paid $38,345 (35800 + options 2545) in 2003 for it + TTL

• 2003 Lexus RX 300 AWD
• 151,000 miles
• Every car wash + service at Lexus dealer since new (Johnson Lexus - Raleigh)
• Last timing belt change 107K miles with belts etc. 
• 6 new Michelin Premier M+S tires from Costco 

I don't need another car. But wife and kids seem attached to the car. We offered it to our gardener, who DIDN'T WANT A FREE CAR! 

I called Jeremy (PIMP M3), to help me with the transport. True to form, and as an amazing gentleman he is:

• 9/1/20 (TUES) he gave me a shipping quote - I know he isn't in shipping business - but it was a favor
• 9/2/20 (WED) he had driver pick up car at my moms house. Often, for my BAT cars, I am using Intercity/Horeseless carriage, but this car wasn't that! 
• 9/6/20 (SUN) - driver dropped off car here on the west coast. 

Smoothest shipping ever. Having dealth with 4-5 truck drivers a year, they are always late, don't meet deadline etc. Man this guy was TOPS!

Big thanks to Jeremy - Mr. PimpM3 - for helping me and my families situation out. 

Car stats:

• 3.0L V6
• AWD
• Automatic
• 220 HP @5800 RPM
• 222 lb-ft@4400 RPM
• 19.8 gallon fuel tank
• ABS
• Front and side Airbags
• 7.8 inch ground clearance
•  

As far as what to do with the car - I am not sure. Mabe make it DD, maybe do some offroad with it, etc. 

Well car arrived. I haven't seen or driven the car in about 4 years, neither has my mom. It has been essentially sitting in a garage this whole time.

Here is when the car showed up here on Sunday

Wow, how nice -  Good looking out Jeremy - Mr. PimpM3

The overland thing is pretty trendy but this looks pretty cool!

I mean, i would have taken a free lexus

OjaiM5 said:

Wow, how nice -  Good looking out Jeremy - Mr. PimpM3

The overland thing is pretty trendy but this looks pretty cool!

 

I have a Red Trail Team FJC for my "hipster overland" mobile 

Edit - the pic you posted - bunch of my friends sent me that exact pic hehe 

Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:

I mean, i would have taken a free lexus

Sure. I love my SC300, LS400/430/600hL, RC- F (wife's), and LX570 (200 series), sure. But a CUV RX300 wasn't on my radar. 

But you are right, its FREE!!

Well once the vehicle got here.... as you see, nobody has ever used the seats. Heck my wife's 2 year old RC-F, has more wear than this 17 year old car. 
 

I printed out all the records from Lexus drivers at the dealership. 

Their last recommended service was spark plugs. 

Car just had oil change. 

I did a 80 mile test drive. Everything works. Both power seats. All windows auto up/down. Cold A/C, hot heat. Seat heaters. 

Would love to throw some BFG K02 on it, but with brand new michelins, lets see if I can resist the urge 

• Car needs hood struts (ordered that. Dealer wanted $350). 
• Took off the roof rack - to clean it . Look at the dirt underneath it. 
• Full leather interior detailed today. 
• Gave it a full wash. 
• Not a single mark on any of the 4 wheels

Next I redid the headlights.  New headlights on Ebay (aftermarket) are $105. But wanted to see what I could do with some elbow grease. I think its fine for now:

Before and after

To do list next day:

• Full clay bar tonight
• Compound
• Polish
• 2 layers of sealant 12 hours apart

Then Wed/Thurs:

• Fun tranverse motor spark plugs
• air and cabin filters
• Diff Fluid/Transfer Case/Trans fluid change
• Radiator fluid change. 
• Touch up hood paint rock chips
• install front hood struts

Weekend:

• Emissions Smog Test
• Insure it
• Title it at AAA
• Highway Patrol VIN Verification

One thing I want to order is the rear OEM spoiler. The car design is very round, very Previa like. It is a feminine car of course. However, with the rear spoiler, I think the rear looks bettter. 

sample :

Six tires?

OHSCrifle said:

Six tires?

Sigh. Old lady story. 

Car had 1 flat tire. She took it into lexus. They said, she should change both front. She agreed. Even though there was no reason. So lexus dealer patched one tire. Other good tire, they put in trunk. So she came home with 2 new tires front, and 2 extra tires in trunk (that were hers and were new). 

2 years later (2017) she went to costco. They said she needs new rear tires, but due to AWD she should get 4 tires. However she had good front tires from lexus. So they gave her those tires in trunk, and added 4. 

Really she had 8 extra tires, but 6 fit in the car, that driver brought over. 

Service records wil make your eyes water - how she got charged. I try not looking at them, that way. Car kept my mom safe and sound (thats my self justification)

Looks minty!

That thing is nice! I have driven way worse cars basically most of my life. 

spacecadet (Forum Supporter) said:

Looks minty!

Haha thanks !!! 
 

OjaiM5 said:

That thing is nice! I have driven way worse cars basically most of my life. 

my neighbor said to flip it 

my wife literally scowled at him 

I haven't had a white car since 2012. My other 3 white cars in life were (93 SC300 5MT, 2013 CT200h, 00 SC400) .

GREAT CAR

AAA may be able to the the VIN check at the office  , 

at least before COVID they could ...

And CHP wants you to make an appointment way in the future ( again before Covid)

californiamilleghia said:

GREAT CAR

AAA may be able to the the VIN check at the office  , 

at least before COVID they could ...

And CHP wants you to make an appointment way in the future ( again before Covid)

Thanks 

will try 

local aaa doesn't do vin check 

I have a private guy who does in my driveway for $50 

chp and DMV free is long ways away 

might have to call other AAA around as you suggested 

thanks !!!! 

• Clay and compounding done 

of course on white csr you can never tell. 
 

I would put a tankful of fresh fuel and run it thru before the smog check , 

My smog guy said I had to put 100 plus miles on my van that had been sitting with a dead battery to reset the cars computer , 

californiamilleghia said:

I would put a tankful of fresh fuel and run it thru before the smog check , 

My smog guy said I had to put 100 plus miles on my van that had been sitting with a dead battery to reset the cars computer , 

 

Yes I put a tank of premium in it.
 

I will run it through as you suggested. range I think is  450 miles or so 
 

thanks . It got a new battery from dealer last Tuesday before getting on transport truck 

COST TALLY:

• $900 shipping
• $35 two color touch up paint
• $24 for two hood struts

Total spent so far: $959.00

Great first car for someone's kid.  I may try and find one this February/March for my daughter.  She gets her license in early May.

docwyte said:

Great first car for someone's kid.  I may try and find one this February/March for my daughter.  She gets her license in early May.

Yup, definitely great for someone's kid. My 1 kid wants a Prius Prime, other wants a Hellcat. Oh well.