concho

All done, the drivers side front calliper had ceased really badly so they were both changed, car is running beautifully now, my Dad even says it feels quieter. Cheers for all your help folks.

Went for a cruise in it today and at around 70 mph the steering wheel goes mental and you can feel it a little through the brake pedal it carried on doing it for about 2 miles. Pulled over into sainsburys petrol station about 5 minutes later and felt that the front drivers side alloy was really hot and a slight burning smell, the others were all fine. SO I have booked it in to a local garage that we have always used and the mechanic there is going to replace both front callipers for £310 all in and it's getting an oil and filter change while its there as well for an extra £40. So £350. Sounds like a good price, what do you think? He also said that when he takes the wheel off if its not the callipers he wont change them.

Cant be the discs they were only fitted about 3 weeks ago with new pads as well by previous owner.

My Dad just bought (privately) a 2003 is200 automatic about 2 weeks ago. 51000 miles on the clock and had a brand new MOT before he bought it and new discs and pads. He has noticed that a couple of times when on the motorway, possibly after a bit of braking his steering wheel starts to judder like mad and he has had to grip it hard to stop it from going everywhere, then after about 10 seconds of doing that it is ok again, its only done it about 4 times. Is this the brake calipers everyone keeps talking about on here? sounds expensive to get fixed. Feel a bit bad because I was the one who told him to get a Lexus as they are bullet proof! now this happens straight away!

The car I am looking at has done 59000 miles has a stack of receipts and has 8 stamps in the book, looks like it needs a service in around 2000 odd miles. I have been told that it has a scratch down one of the passenger doors, but its up at £6450 which I could still get a few quid off, so let's say he let's me have it for £6000 I could have a decent car with money to spend on a decent full service and get the scratch done. It's the SE model with the full sat nav etc and leather. Your thoughts please experts?

Hello all We are thinking of buying my wife an RX300 they seem to be (so I have heard) very good on reliabiliy and comfort which is a priority for us as we are fed up with crappy unreliable diesel cars! We dont mind paying for the fuel as long as they are reliable. Have recently had an 2008 3 series diesel where the cam chain snapped costing £3000 for a recon engine! and then a honda civic diesel where the clutch and flywheel went at 47000 miles costing £1000. So we have had it with diesel motors! Are looking to spend upto about £7500 on an RX300 and it seems you can get a late 2004 one for any where between £6500 and £7500. Any advice on what to look for when test driving it and looking over it? I am going to look at one tomorrow morning at a local dealer. Also are they as bullet proof as I have been led to believe. Cheers Steve

I have had quite a few cars in my life and have never owned a Lexus. My freind has owned one for about 6 years and has never had a problem ever so on that I think that they must be reliable. I have a Saab 9-5 Aero at the moment which is very nice and super fast but I just don't trust it as it is after all just a Vauxhall in disquise. So what should I look out for when buying or looking at one? Do they have variable servicing? I want an automatic, is there anything different with these? Also I want one that was registered prior to March 2001 (so I don't get clobered next march with the £415 road tax) Is the 2.0 better than the 3.0 and what is more economical? I drive 500 miles a week all motorway and at the moment in my 2.3 Hot 250bhp Saab I am getting around 34/36 mpg? Also would I get a decent late one (xreg) for around £5000) All advice is greatly appreciated.