Hello all.
Registered yesterday & my first post here, just started researching Lexus as our next 'second car' & am very pleased to have found this site - it's all very friendly, supportive & knowledgeable. I don't want to repeat all the stock 'newbie' questions you've seen before, so are they pinned anywhere? I've had a good read through, but they mostly are about:
- How good is an early/cheap LS400?
- What UK mpg to expect? (Looks like 15mpg in town & 30mpg on the motorway)
- Honest John mentions the exhaust as an expensive replacement - is there a pattern part?
- 'Common faults to look for when viewing'
Mostly it seems quite straightforward, and you guys seem to love yours. The common minor problems seem to be minor around:
- CD player lights
- Instrument / dash lights
- Alloys going bad
- Paint lacquer
- Cat replacement (saw a link to cheap spares)
- Cambelt replacement at 60K miles? the only real biggie?
- Worn suspension bushes
I've had a string of bigger cars (BMW 7, BMW X5, Audi Allroad etc), but we're having a bit of a cutback on expenses now so have sold our private X5 & taken a company Honda for the wife to bob about in (brand new, all-in, no need to think/worry). I often use my motorcycle for commuting, but would love a big LS400 luxo-barge for longer trips (we go London / York quite often) so am looking at the cheaper end of the scale around £2-£3,000 - there seem to be some real early 90's 'bargains' around, but I don't want to buy into a nightmare...
I'm an enthusiastic amateur & don't mind some hands-on work, with Father & Father-in-law much more handy - I think we'd have a punt at most things outside engine/gearbox. I'd rather buy a high miler that's lived on the motorway with lots of stamps than a retired Bank Manager car - if it has the history, is 100K miles too far?
Any and all comments & advice gratefully accepted!
