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Hello all, Can't believe that i've managed to buy a Lexus. Pick up my new toy tomorrow

Hi I read this article in a recent edition of Car Mechanics and found it very interesting. So interesting and relevant that I asked if I could have a copy to share with the forum. Thanks to Car Mechanics, here it is, with their kind permission. Also here is a link to their website: http://www.carmechanicsmag.co.uk/ (I have no association with Car Mechanics or publishing house etc.) Enjoy. Spare Parts.compressed.pdf

I've noticed more recently that there seems to be fewer LS400s being offered for sale on the likes of ebay and Autotrader and those that are there seem to be commanding higher prices. I think the time has come where decent examples with reasonable mileage are now drying up. Perhaps my £850.00 investment in my 134,000 mile 1999 2 previous owner example will pay off once I have replaced the timing belt.

Thanks John, The seller seems a very honest chap and I don't doubt what he says for a second in that it drives like it's done 40,000 miles. There is another that's done slightly less miles, 117,000, that also claims to have FSH but it's at a dealer and I just don't trust second hand car dealers! We'll see, I have asked for proof of FSH and a video walkround of it. If I get no response we'll know if they were being honest ;)

Financially it does make sense as Tesla has a 100% taxable allowance due to being an extremely low emission vehicle. Therefore you practically dont pay tax on the full price of the car. Essentially if its £70k you put down, the car will only cost you £56k after the first year and thats not including any government grants. The problem is that there's also a vehicle costing £65k fully loaded that can benefit from the 100% allowance and thats the Volvo XC90 T8 and its hard to beat one of them IMO.

Brilliant and yet quite straight forward when it's pointed out to you. Thanks for your help.

If you scroll up/down on the right hand buttons while the dial is in the centre you can display a few different items. Range is one of them. Whatever you select is remembered next time you start up.

Mines now at 183k with no issues what-so-ever (apart from this pump). And the repaired pump is still working fine 2 years and 30k later.

Hi, Don't worry about driving your car with the failed transmission pump,it will be fine. I drove mine for about 6000 miles before I resolved the pump issue.The hybrid battery charged just the same, as this is from the alternator, so it will always stay at the same charge. The hybrid system still works, it is just limited in its functionality. After all, as there is no mechanical reverse gear on the car, the hybrid motors still let you reverse your car electrically. The only real difference is that the car can't change to its high ratio, as it needs the pump for this, so you cant go above 80mph. Also, you won't have much power from standstill until the engine revs, as it relies on electric power to give you the low end power (especially when setting off up a hill). Don't worry about it, just order your bearings continue to drive it and then fix it one weekend when you get round to it. Giles.

Excellent idea.....have you looked out of your window recently...there is a long queue of Lexus cars wanting to use your weeks subsciption!

Halloween40 at gsf for 40%off.. i just got some front Brembos for my CLS55 for 40£ lol

Just an update you must have seen this on Haynes post. But the pump bearings are "easily" replaced within a couple of hours the most and the cost is about £12 incl postage. So do not write off your cars as of yet ... just because Lexus say gearbox replacement needed. Now from what I understand if the bearings failed... and the car is driven for a long time (days) then the Hybrid battery might fail as it does not charge properly... also the 12V battery might fail too as it relies on the good operation of the Hybrid system to charge it. So it is like a chain of events in a way

hmm I'm pretty sure it's in the settings in the speedo under driver information 1 or something.

So, new starter motor fitted no problem and has worked ok so far. cranking speed is higher and the sound when cranking is noticeably different, too early to say if that's for better or worse! fingers crossed.

I did that move and if you like the IS300H you will love the GS300H. It is another level up in build quality and refinement. The engine is pretty much inaudible and I am getting a consistent 45 mpg with normal driving and I am not a slow driver. Luxury spec has all the toys as standard. Heated cooled leather electricly adjustable seats, blind spot warning. reverse camera front & rear parking sensors led interior lights, ambient lighting in doors. The standard non ML stereo sounds better to. It doesnt support Album Art from the USB or have Gracenote though. Good Luck. Ed

Some stats to put things in perspective. Toyota produces 10 million cars per year. Toyota is absolute marketleader in hybrid vehicles with 9 million sold until last may. In 2015 the total number of plug in electric vehicles sold in the entire european Union was 50,000. With exception of scandinavia, netherlands and california the share of plug ins per country is less than 1%. in the countries where this is higher it is artificially influenced with fiscal stimulation. Less than 10% of plug ins are purchased by private owners. So, not really a big market is it... There is no way you can build a solid businesscase on those numbers. The main reason why manufacturers are spending millions in R&D is the C02 legislation, hence downsizing etc. The market is not there in spite of the fact that a lot of press coverage goes to manufacturers like Tesla and all developments about electric infrastructure in innercities and highways. With fiscal stimulation plug ins are expensive and if that is taken away they are unsellable. The choice now is not between a Tesla or Range Rover as evenly priced but between Tesla and nothing as fiscal stimulation means free transport for the owner. The positive side about Electric Vehicles is silentness, acceleration and the idea the power is green ( electricity has to come from somewhere). The negative a limited range, especially when driven hard or in winter, excessive weight and an inflated price. Until a breakthrough in batterytechnology is here i prefer a hybrid or diesel

Your second para says it all Anthony. Buy the lowest, high mileage, one owner with impeccable service record vehicle you can find and save yourself four grand !! Regards John

why not just suggest he buys an M3 ?? Because when you drive an M3, other drivers don't like you very much. Trust me on this one! Keith