Hi
A sad tale of woe that started years ago with an industrial injury that left my back looking like this..



Yes that is six, three inch titanium screws and a lot of wire holding my back together. I have pretty bad nerve damage in my back, partial loss of feeling in my legs, and a withered calf muscle. Anyway to cut a long story short I now qualify for Mobility Allowance.
As some of you may know you can swap your allowance for a car under the Motability Scheme and the deal they offer is too good to turn down….
So today I have had a two hour test drive in one of these…..



A Toyota Verso 2.2 D4D SR. And what a nice car it is. Getting in and out is much easier for my back and the seat is surprisingly very comfortable.
It’s not got the speed and refinement of the Lexus but you can tell it comes from the same family. So I have ordered one and it will be here in three to four weeks….
Now much as I would like to I can’t keep two cars so the Lexus will have to go….. I have thought long and hard about this but it doesn’t make sense in keeping the Lexus, I am finding it harder and harder to get in and out of it which means I don’t enjoy driving it as much as I should….
I will advertise it when I get a chance to give it a clean and take some current pictures, but in the meantime if anyone on here wants it then let me know

It’s a 2001 Lexus LS430 with Premium Pack. Canterbury Blue, Cream Leather, 79,000 miles Full Lexus service History. Prins VSI LPG system (with certificate) Recent new battery and 4 tyres. Lexus reconditioned wheels (better than new with NO curbing) Bodywork is totally immaculate, as is the inside. There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with this car. It has an Ipod interface that charges your Ipod and gives you full control through the touch screen. It has a top of the range fully integrated Parrot Bluetooth phone system with voice control. I also have an interface to enable you to fit a DVD player so it will play through the cars screen (this is currently en-route from the USA but will be included with the car)



I have asked several people in the trade what this is worth and they came up with anywhere from £9995 to £12000…. Well I think £12000 is well over the top, having had a good look around at what’s available on various web sites I think a car in this condition, virtually new, with all the extras and the equivalent of 40+mpg on a run has to be worth near £10000….
So if anyone wants it let me know, I’m in no great rush to get rid of it as I like it too much!!!!
Thanks
Pete

Sorry to hear your sad tale Pete. My uncle has a Mobility car (although against my advice he got an Astra),
and wished he bought a different make

At least if your new car isn't as luxurious, it will be just as reliable

That is a truly sad tale, I'm so sorry to hear it. Good luck with the new car, having read your threads someone is going to get an extremely well looked after LS430.........

I hope you will still check in with us once in a while. Your knowledge base would be missed.
I hope the new cars works out for you as you hope.

Thanks Wozza



Thanks, yes it does look very nice...



I'll still be around, I am thinking of getting a Soarer for the weekend, I know they are real low I'll have to go and try one, it wouldn't be so bad now and again, it's just the constant in and out on a daily basis that is getting to me....

Anyone want to part ex a Soarer??????

Pete

Pete

Good luck with the new car. Sorry to hear the Lex has to go.
Hopefully I can still hit you up for advice as it has always been very helpfull.
If I had room, I would give your lex a good home.
Thanks again mate.

Jim.

Hi Pete

Sorry to hear about your back - sounds very painful! Hope you continue to pop into LOC as Ive found you very knowledgeable and helpful. By the way, good choice of car. I like the look of Versos

Hiya Pete, so sorry u will be lettin your Lex go iv been told u can get a Lexus on mobilty but u have 2 pay the extra

Glad your still guna stick around

x

Shame to see your giving the lex up Pete as its a great motor, and i bet the one thing you miss will be the Fridge Glad your sticking around mate and good luck with the sale and new car

This guy's a true gent, I hope you still come to the Doncaster meetings and remain on the forum. Having seen Pete's car in the metal so to speak I can confirm it is absolutely immaculate in every respect and well worth his asking price.
If I could afford it I would have it myself but alas I can't. I would however consider the rear fridge on it's own if you're selling it separately BTW has the new car got a rear fridge?
Best wishes Pete,
Steve

Perhaps Maneesh will buy it?

What the fridge?

Yes, and the four-wheeled thing the fridge sits in.

Hi

Thank you all for your kind words, I will still be around when she's gone, my brother is on his way to stay for a few days in this



So we are having a meet here if anyone else wants to come.....

Pete

Who bought their LS first? Did your 430 encourage your bro to buy a 400, or vice-versa?

WOW pete that looks absolutley mint!!!! very very nice - i spend more time polishing mine than driving (when weather allows) but that looks a million dollars beter than mine!

My brother has had his several years, I was going to get one but then saw a 430 and fell in love with that... he does look after it well, it's done just over 100,000 so far....

M.IQBAL, Here are a few more pics for you



Note the repair to the rear light... it's had new ones since so looks better...







It's also had the lcd temp gauge replaced now so everything is fine, including the original dash and needles...



Pete

Sorry to hear your selling yours Pete,if I had the cash I'd have it in a heart beat as it's a beauty,and my god I'm in love with your brothers LS just stunning as I still prefer the look of the MK1,but like the advances in my MK3.

That 400 looks factory fresh, was it being kept in the fridge? Wish mine still looked that good ..........and I had a spare £10K kicking around. Your 430 is superb Pete, I will be most envious of whoever gets it.

Cheers Mate!

Good news Marcus I have just been told that there is £15,000 waiting for you in my Nigerian bank account!
All you have to do is send me £25,000 ( bankers draft only) and I will send you the £15,000 waiting for you.
( Pete I may be able to buy your car soon!!!)

Hi

Just found out that the Toyota Verso 2.2D4D uses the same engine as the IS220D..... so at least I'll still have a bit of Lexus.... alright I know it's actually that the Lexus has a bit of Toyota but I can still dream........

Been looking at chipping it.... there seem to be a few things available to get that horsepower up a bit......

Pete

Hi Pete sorry about your situation, you could always get some pimp my ride flash hydraulic suspension to make it easier to get in & out of. If not sorry to see you go & thanks for all your invaluable advice. ( asked my mate in Liverpool about buying your car unfortunately he's just been laid off work ) Mark

Hi Pete, how's the new motor suiting you?

Keep the 430! Mobility deals are not that brilliant. You will qualify for free road tax on the 430, plus £258 into your bank account every 4 weeks.....i.e. 13 times per year, = £3,354 x 3 years = £10,057.
My wife was going to go down the Mobility lease scheme but wanted to be free to change her car whenever she felt like it, she loves her current car so much that she still has it some 11.5 years after buying it new...... I even offered to buy her the GS 430 that was for sale on here last month.

Where do those figures come from? Full mobility allowance is £46.75 per week. Therefore £187 every four weeks. I think your wife must be getting some care component with her money.

Hi, had it a week now, done 800 miles in it and it is very good, it's got lots of torques... over 300 so it is relaxing to drive, it is very good for my back, the seat is very supportive and I've finally got it in the right position with lots of trial and error. It's done 50.6mpg but it is still very tight, they say to run it in for 1200miles so I have been taking it very carefully...



Hi. I know what you are saying, as RedDog says I don't get £258 a month it's £187, thats £6700 in three years, I thought long and hard about it but getting a car that costs nearly £20000 for that and one that suits my needs with no possibility of unexpected costs (not that I had any with the 430... one bulb was all that went in over a year) was too good a deal for me to pass up....



Hi, RedDog you are right, there are various different levels and it's all in with other allowances as well......

Still haven't advertised the 430 yet, I keep waiting for a nice day to clean it up and take some pictures, still, it hasn't been out in the salt this year so that's one good thing, I will have to get on with it but just before Christmas probably isn't a good time to try to sell it, so if anyones interested..... make me an offer. I want it to go to a good home and I am very willing to haggle if you promise to keep it nice....

Pete

Yes, you are both correct. I checked with my wife and it does include a care component which I thought was paid separately. Out of interest though, your figure of £6700 is still incorrect. The payment is made every 4 weeks, not monthly, so you get 13 payments per year. This equates to £7293 over the 3 year period ( £46.75 x 156 weeks = £7293. )
Hope you continue to enjoy your new drive and sorry to hear of your back problem.
Kind Regards
Dave

Hi Pete.

Looking at your MRI/X-Rays made me swallow very hard indeed, I know what back pain is, I live with it 24/7. I really do know exactly where you are coming from and later this morning will hopefully be picking up my LS460 to add a little creature comfort in my life. I too have a very second hand spine with T11/T12 & L1 looking like three consecutive pieces of edam cheese after an RTA in 2005 for the pleasure of being a rear seat passenger. All things being equal the LS will allow me to drive for more than 30 minutes without being crippled the next day. Ive tried to drive as many cars as possible over the last few weeks and can only describe the demonstrator I had as a magic carpet ride. It's too late now to go back as it's all paid for and this one will have to last a good few years. I really do wish you all the best and hope you find the comfort you are looking for. (me too)

Hi

I think you will find the 460 will be fine, I find the seat in the 430 very good, it's just getting in and out that do me, probably something to do with being 6"5'!!!!!!

It took a while to adjust the seat to the right position because it has so many adjustments...... you will get there in the end though.... and don't forget to memorize the positions as you go or some helpful soul will press the buttons for a laugh and you'll end up at stage one again......

You will love the car...

Pete