Teeonethousand

Thanks Phil.

Will get some when the weather stops trying to drown us all.

I went for some petrol yesterday with the roof down - got lots of looks from others at the garage and a 'thats a nice car' from the bloke on the till

Does seem to turn heads

Hi - just posted in SC430 section but probably should have been here.

Just bought 2003 Pearl White for use by my wife

- love it so far.

Hi all - just bought an SC and it looks like a very exclusive club :-).

It is Pearl White which i think is also a bit rare - 2003 with only 17255 on the clock so like a new car. We have added around 300 miles in last few days and all seems well.

I had an IS in 2007 so joined the forum then - i never thought i would be back in this section :-)

Ex Lexus owner lurking here....when i handed mine back the finance company were great - they sent me a booklet with what is considered fair wear and what is not - it was quite generous. My suggestion before you spend anything is to ring them and ask for a copy of the booklet and take that as the guide. When the person came to collect he inspected it - they tell you any issues and once the paperwork is signed by you and him that is it - no more comeback.

They send them to auction so will incur pick up and sale fees - if you want to keep it i would suggest making them a reasonable offer - say the residual less 500 and see what they say

Good luck

Thanks for the help. This is very useful info. Particularly about the lower mileage not making any difference.

Right I'll stick a couple of front tyres on and go on a few trips to eat some miles up before I hand it back (or trade it in).

I think Lexus are a bit sly. When I rang up the dealership they said the finance is nothing to do with them - it's all to do with finance company. All very well but they don't act like this when they are selling you the car - it's all one big happy Lexus family. They treated it like it was some joe bloggs finance company that are nothing to do with Lexus at all. DJP's stopry about Merc trying to get as much money as they can and threatening legal action just stinks.

Ex IS250 owner here just browsing the site now and then. I terminated my finance early and they send a booklet with what is ok and what is not - they were very fair. Search for my old post as I think I detailed the process in it.

The outside one (ie left front if you have right hand side down) 'skids' about 1/2" outwards and it is that skid that makes the clunk. The tyre is a bit too wide for the angle of lock and weight on it and it slips.

Does anyone know what may be causing this and whether it's anything to worry about?

Ex Lexus owner here and forum member who pops back occasionally out of interest - my IS250 did that when reversing and it was the tyre stepping out ie shifting about 1/2" sideways - something to do with the tyre width, tread pattern, angle of wheel on full lock. It was a loud clunk and a judder through the wheel.

I did a thread on it and several others had same effect.

My tyres we good at 30 when it went so no problem.

Yes, that sounds like it. But how do you mean "tyre stepping out"?

If you get someone to watch the front wheel as you reverse in full lock with cold tyres you will see that the wheel/tyre 'skids' about 1/2" at a certain point and this is the bang and judder - mine was more often on the front left tyre.

Does anyone know what may be causing this and whether it's anything to worry about?

Ex Lexus owner here and forum member who pops back occasionally out of interest - my IS250 did that when reversing and it was the tyre stepping out ie shifting about 1/2" sideways - something to do with the tyre width, tread pattern, angle of wheel on full lock. It was a loud clunk and a judder through the wheel.

I did a thread on it and several others had same effect.

My tyres we good at 30 when it went so no problem.

It has gone.

Lexus FS send Mannaheim guys round, checked the car over - no issues and drove it away.

I keep the car tax and claim a refund since it is my rent money.

Bye all and thanks again - I wont be checking back so PM me if any specifics re this process if you need more.

mine goes back in 30 days, can you let me no how keen they are when they collect the car, such as any kerb damage to wheels ect, i am having mine done in the next few days so shouldnt have a problem but would be interested to no how they inspect the car

I can only speak of Mercedes, but when they collected mine the inspection was pretty much ok, he pointed out a couple of minor points. It's when it has a "proper" inspection back at base that the problems start. Looking back at it, I think the guys collecting are looking for a farily easy life and don't want a huge arguement on the doorstep. Merc wrote to me demanding £800 for "outside wear and tear" damage. Three month and lots of letters later they settled on £125. If you are in any doubt I would take loads of photos to prove the car is as good as you think it is!

Good luck, and I'd be interested to hear how it goes.

I am terminating early because i am in negative equity but have paid half so the logic is - go on with the lease and be in even more neg or bail out if you can - i have paid half so bailed. As I said I would have thought my local salesman would have tried harder to get me into another Lexus - as I think back I have enquired 3 times about a 450 and still never got a drive, a call back or some numbers.

You ring LexFS and they checkout you are eligable then send a form - once you send the form it is a done deal. with the form they sent me a booklet outlining the industry fair wear and tear standard approved by the AA and RAC. It looks reasonablew to me and shows photographs of what is ok and what is not. My understanding is that once the driver has inspected and signed that is the end of the responsibility. I think my car is fine and well within all of the acceptable stuff so do not anticipate a problem but will let you know for completness after it has gone.

Another thing - my understanding was that early termination was regardless of mileage but in fact they need the mileage to be in line. Also - they asked on the form when the tax runs out - in my opinion the tax is mine and it is mine to claim refund on so that one has to play out yet.

As for my next car - I decided to buy used and have someone else take the major depreciation hit but at the same time - and for the same sort of money - have a car that would really light my lights. So I have bought a 2 year old fully loaded 6 series for 40% of its original cost :=) As far as we know, you only live once....................

Hi All - I have decided to early-terminate my lease deal so will be handing the car back in the next few days. I have had many weeks umming and ahhing about whether to keep or bail out and finally decided to bail out. I have to say the local dealer has been fantastic for service but not so good on coming up with much effort to sell me a new vehicle (its usually the other way around isnt it) so the next one is not a lexus - back to BMW.

this forum is brill and i used it before buying to learn and after buying to learn more and share when I could - many thanks to everyone and good luck.

I checked this with mine both on the contract and with Lexus finance. Check out your contract - the early terminaton is in every one regardless of finance co and you can hand it back and walk - regardless of mileage and regardless of mileage commitment on your contract. It does however have to be in acceptable condition.

I assume it is in negative equity?

One BMW dealer told me that the best way to get a car these days is to pay lowest deposit possible, commit to lowest mileage possible and walk at the halfway point. He did the numbers for me on a 3 series and it would have been after about 2.5 years. It is pretty much like renting. I am still not sure it is a good idea for the next car but I do know that loads of people are considering it with the depreciation we have had in the recent 18 months.

Personally i am still struggling with the idea of blowing 15k every two years just to have a brand new car - on the other hand - your only here once......as far as we know. Also - I keep looking at my car and thinking....that's a nice car!

what would you get next?

Afternoon,

Just been ringing round for quotes for my 2007 IS 250 Petrol Auto for its 2 year/ 20,000 miles service - been quoted some wildly differing prices though;-

Lexus Dealers -

Hull - £328

Newcastle £385

Staffordshire £335

Tried Toyota in Durham, who confidently informed me that their labour costs were half that of Lexus - and they came back at £370??

So with this information, onto the prefferred option - Lexus Teesside where the car was purchased from - £318, with an extra 10% discount making £285. Booked in.

Have to say that Teesside have always been spot on with any dealings and offer a first class service.

Just goes to show how much you can save if you shop around!

Stormstorr - did you ask them what they actualy do - the reason I ask is that they have a little matrix on the screen and they put your Reg and mileage in and it comes up with a price based on time and miles. From the 20k onwards on mine - the car was only 12 months old - their matrix suggested a brake fluid swap. Each time I told them no - I think brake fluid is perfectly good for at least two years and so i did not want it. It took a further 80 squids or so off the price. worth checking :=)

if that was with synthetic oil then it's a great price.

Dunno - it was 63 lites of L08880-80729 whatever that is. Frankly I don't really care - it goes fine and never uses any in between services.

It is pretty much a 'swap the oil and kick the tyres' type of service and so is not worth much more than that but neither is it worth chasing around for somewhere cheaper given that it is still in warranty.

Plus they give great service.

Hello pleased to hear that

but how much was it ?

£162 including LOC discount.

Had it done today - great service, good price and very happy to deal with them.

My is250 does this too - only when cold - sounds and feels lie the wheel is falling off. On mine it is left front and it may be a coincidence but i had to replace that tyre after a puncture. The tyre supplied by the aftermarket tyre place is same brand/make as oem but obviously a different compound. I do not think it is anything to worry about but i understand your concern. I posted a thread on the 250 section (saw this one becuase thinking of 450h and just seeing what the gossip is) and others have it too.

Haf - what a great problem to have and you sound just like me (and probably the rest of us) when forced into a sweet shop and told to choose just one :=)

For my money the 520d is the captain sensible choice - they have a high level of everything on the tick list...BUT...to me anyway - just not very exciting - especially inside - and is the sort of car you buy with your logical hat on.

The A5 has nearly everything on the tick list but has a more more 'mmmmm nice ' to it (with the right colour and wheels) and to compromise over the practicality of the B5 you would need your emotional hat on. I would choose the A5 every time.

Either way you can not make a wrong decision - it is just that one would be more right than the other.

Good luck

The guy at Lexus finance that I talked to was great - he explained clearly what the process was and that once I had set it off by returning the forms it was a done deal and the car would go back - his advice was that you can get the forms anytime but dont send the forms back until you are certain. He also said that they send a third party to examine and pick up the car leaving a copy of their report with you. The use of third party is partly to be fair to both sides. Bonnet chips are no problem, scratches an scuffed alloys are a problem and his advice was to get them fixed first rather than have lexus bill it. Seems fair and resonable to me.

In my case I decided to keep the car - it is only worth its trade in value to sell but it is worth more than that to me and I am still wincing from taking the early year depreciation hit and dont want to do it again. Besides - I have looked around still think IS is the best.

Surely though wouldn't they be looking to charge you for the excess mileage at the time you hand back the car as they would if you reached the logical end? I have never bought a car on these PCP Finance packages in all honesty so I must profess to being a little unawares.

I thought exactly the same but apparently the mileage only related to the guaranteed value. The walk at 50% is part of the consumer credit act/rights. I can understand a finance company getting hacked off - I would too. I also feel that I am in a position that is unique to the economy/doom and gloom of the last 18 months where the usual depreciation on cars seems to have got a lot worse and peoplel ike me look to these clauses whereas previously we would have part exed for another one.

On a side note - BMW quoted me 12.5% finance and tried to convince me that was competitive even thought interest and libor are less than 2 - somebody is making a good margin methinks.

Sep07 and mine had the dash top rattle after a couple of months - fixed with rattle kit from dealer and no problem since.

I would suggest you think about the dealer experience as part of buying the car - I have had brilliant dealer experience with Teesside on this car and yet have had complete nightmare with other 'prestige' marks - this is a big issue for me.

On an earlier topic I mentioned that my car has reached the 50% stage of my PCP and so i can walk. The PX value and O/S finance are about the same at 15.5. An interesting dilema because I could not buy the same as it for that (dealer adds profit) but that is all i can sell it for. Do I go on or do I bale out andI have been looking at the options trying to figure out the captain sensible approach .

I have been looking at new cars and discovered something about the finance clause that I did not realise. To be fair I have never really thought about it before and it is the Credit Crunch times and the impact on the car market that focuses your attention.

The Early Termination (ET) clause can be invoked after 50% has been paid - you walk on the car and have no equity. This applies regardless of the mileage and regardless of the mileage relative to any PCP agreement you have. The car has to in good condition for age and miles but the miles can be anything.

So - consider someone who puts down a high deposit, predicts 20k per year mileage, makes payments and gets to halfway point at about 16 months - like me. The finance company has had half the total cost of the finance and gets the car back at more or less same value.

Fred next door puts a low deposit down and pays a low monthly amount based on 6K mileage over as long a period as they will allow and gets to the halfway point on a 4 year deal at around 2 years 10 months with 60k( or anything - could even be 200K) on the clock. The finance company gets a car back that is older and has higher mileage for half the total finance cost and loses on the profit in the balance and in the value of the car. The total finance cost is higher because of the time period and low deposit but from Freds point of view the car has depreciated to a point that it is worth nowhere near the outstanding finance and so he walks - when he divides the total months by the depreciation and cost of finance he is a winner.

It seems the mileage consideration is only important if you go full term and want the guaranteed future value.

Also - the finance examples i have got today assume a much more pessimistic, ultra safe, guaranteed value that they used to.

Have I missed something and if not, why doesnt everybody do the Fred option and arrange the finance expecting to ET?

I would not consider 50k as high mileage -it is how the mileage has been done and if it has been well serviced that matters. Mine has 30k and no problems, i know of someone who put 200k on a GS and (other than service) only had to change a lightbulb in all that time. Of course mileage is a great reason to haggle :=) When I had company cars I took one up to 158k and the person who bought it took it to over 200 and still no bother (that was a BM)

Mine is a 57 SEL that the dealer says is worth 15.5 in PX so haggle well.

I wondered whether they would try to nit pick - the contrac says in good condition for it's age and miles - so the odd bonnet chip and kerbed alloy is ok by my interpretation.

The big thing for me is whether i am losing out by it - half the finance is still 20% less than the price of a simlar car at the dealer - assuming you can get a good bargain at a dealer for effectively no part ex then I could stand still for about the same. If I get another new one I will have to put another deposit down and have another high depreciation asset and **** another load of money away.

Since i have been thinking about it though - i do like the 3 series convertable :=)

Hi All

We live in interesting times - I read something about folks being in negative equity with their car contracts and that it would be the owners problem - not the finance house and so I read the small print on my finance deal.

It turns out i can hand my car back at the end (Sept 09) and walk away which might be good but I also calculate that I could walk away now if I have paid half - which i almost have.

I would be interested in opinions on what value the outstanding balance would have to be to make walking away a good option for 57 plate 250 SEL Auto (without SatNav) that has 28k miles on it. (so a service and some tyres are due)

Another way would be to ask what it is worth but the fact that i have had it since new and know it well has some additional value.

Common sense says keep it for 5 years but I cannot see the point if the car is in neg equity right now.

It is worth adding that having lost a ton on this car I would probably not buy a new vehicle but a 1 or 2 year old something.