breezeblock

Just as an aside, if you ever want to listen to the full-flung bull of a car salesmen then look no further than a certain Jaguar dealer on the north side of Manchester. Two of them spent an hour telling me they didn't have to match the deal I wanted because they were doing so well despite it being a buyer's market....but after I walked out of the showroom have made no fewer than 14 calls to my mobile and office and the voicemails say they have good news because they have managed to match the figure. They're not salesmen, they're just liars.

Just when I thought I was going to trade in my old GS300 Mk2 for something sensible and cheaper to run like some dull Golf or Focus, I end up being lulled back by a 55 plate GS300. I test drove a lovely S-Type Jaguar with all the toys on it and even though it's a fine car with good performance it still isn't as smooth, as roomy, as comfortable as the GS300. I'm hooked for life...all other cars are now just metal boxes by comparison. Sorry, I'm gushing...

Just collected the car....£1800 for the repairs. What a shame, my beloved Lexus is now going to be traded in for peanuts and I'm having to swap a gorgeous car for some horrible Golf Diesel or something equally dull. Not sure what happened to Lexus being the most reliable car on the planet - I've had mine 8 months and had more problems with it than I had with a Rover 75...and that's saying something.

Wow. For a T reg car with 92k on the clock I can't see the justification for forking out over £1500. Makes you wonder how a car with a FSH and that was checked by lexus just a few months ago and had a resounding seal of approval now has £1500 worth of repairs!

Just had a call from Lexus to say my T reg GS300 has got a slight wobble on the rear wheels and it needs new hubs and bearings, a total of 8 hours labour plus parts. They haven't worked out the cost yet (or wouldn't tell me over the phone). Anyone fancy taking a guess in advance? £?

I can only assume the previous owner added it but it definitely had one - you can't imagine these things and then have your wife confirm she saw it there too! I think we're talking around £150 for a new one. The money isn't the issue - it's the frustration of having to explain it to the garage and knowing I'll never be able to prove it!

This is getting very strange: the second image from the later model is exactly what I had on the car - large plastic cover. The car went into my local Lexus garage for an MOT and a wheel alignment a short while back and beforehand had the cover. After I got the car back (sameday) I drove it for a few weeks and only noticed the cover was missing when I filled up the screenwash. No-one else, either me or a garage has been under the bonnet since the MOT. What's stranger is that there is no reason to remove the cover for an MOT which is the excuse the garage is sticking to and it basically means it is my word against theirs. I know I didn't imagine an engine cover because my wife commented on it when I first bought the car and it was definitely there before it went in for its MOT. Looks like I'm going to have to stump up for a new one...and also change Lexus garage to another one.

Bit of a strange one but has anyone got any pics of a 1999 GS300 under the bonnet? Before I took mine into the local Lexus garage I could have sworn there was a cover of some sort that went over the engine (sort of a soundproofing thing). Picked up the car and drove it for a couple of weeks, then topped up the screenwash and it's not there. Now I'm not saying it's been taken but I really thought there was a cover so I could do with a picture to refresh my memory and also explain to the garage exactly what I think 'may' be missing. (I have contacted the garage already and they deny everything by the way but no-one else has been under the bonnet.) Thanks in advance.

My 1999 GS300 went in for its MOT today (my first with the car since I bought it in August). Took it to Lexus, Stockport and it breezed through without a single snag and no advisory notes. Also had the full wheel alignment done...cost me £139 which I thought was pretty good. The service was excellent and the car drives like a dream, so much so that I reckon it's a better drive than the IS250 courtesy car they gave me. Ain't life sweet.

Not that I don't believe you but can anyone else confirm that?

T-reg GS300: recently had the front passenger side shock replaced under warranty. The ride seems fine - certainly better than before - but I've noticed the car 'leaning' slightly towards the drivers side...nothing more than a few mm but it's certainly not exactly level. Would this pose a problem and should it be looked at?

Ok, hardly a major fault but I've just noticed my T reg GS300 has a fault with the headlamp washers. Whenever the button is pressed the water leaks out from underneath the passenge side headlight unit. I can't see exactly where but neither washers (driver and passenger side) work. I'm assuming there is a loose hose somewhere but where do I start to find it (without dismantling something I can't put back together)?

UPDATE: collected the car this afternoon and it is fixed. It now drives smoothly with no judder or vibration (so far). And the best news of all - I can give them back that awful IS200d - so no more breaking my kneecaps getting in and out of the car. Hurray!

Update: car went into the dealer today and they called to say they problem is with one of the shocks. The new one is due to be delivered tomorrow moning and fitted straight away (under warranty). In the meantime I've got a brand new IS200d courtesy car which is horrible by comparison - I'd rather have my T reg GS300 anyday. How sad is that?

Thanks for the advice Mark. The car is still under dealer warranty (but they are a bit of a drive away) but I think I'll just call them and ask for one of their mechanics to take it for a drive to get his opinions. I'm worried I'm being too picky and maybe the car is just not as smooth as I expected...but I'd rather find out before the warranty runs out! Many thanks.

Had the tracking done and it was 4 degrees outs but that was according to a kid at Kwik Fit no older than a primary school kid with a spanner. It does drive better but the judder is still obvious to me. Whenever I go over a small bump it seems very exaggerated and the steering wheel does rattle...compared to my Rover 75 this is a smoother die but only on a smoth road! Is there anything else it could be? I take on board the rear ball joint issue but is there anything else at the front it could be other than track rod ends? Cheers

It's covered by the Lexus dealer and also by a third-party 3 month warranty. However this would be an issue for the dealer and they have already told me only their guys can do the work because they don't have any agreements with other dealers.

The car is still under warranty (direct from the Lexus dealer) so it's not a problem having the work done but I'd just rather know in advance what I was asking about before I drive to Bradford and ask them to fix a just a 'judder', especially when they didn't spot the ball joints when they sold it. The dealer also told me they had the wheels balanced. Do you think it's worth calling by Charlesworth in Glossop for a check over?

I've had my T reg GS300 for a couple of weeks now and the dealer has already replaced the ball joints which were causing a slight judder. I've had it back two days and the main judder throughout the front of the car appears to have gone - however the judder has continued in the steering wheel (it rattles and shakes 25mph and upwards). I'm going to take it back for them to check but it's a bit of a drive and I want to go there with some pre-emptive knowledge. What could the cause be? Track rod ends? Any help anyone? Thanks in advance.

Dave, took it in today. Problem solved. However I had noticed a slight judder not only through the wheel but generally throughout the front of the car. When I test drove it the salesman said it was tracking and that would be fixed during the service...when I drove it from Stockport to Bradford today I seemed to notice it again so I mentioned about the ball joints (having only just read about them on this forum!) - they put the car on the ramp and, lo and behold, both front ball joints need replacing. It's booked in for next Wednesday/Thursday and they are providing a courtesy car. I'm going to Birmingham in the morning and the up to Newcastle on Saturday - I just hope my limbs can take the juddering.

Chris, I meant it as a joke...I honestly didn't need anyone to copy and paste a definition from the internet. We can all use Google. Dave, Lexus Bradford sub-contract the warranty. Simple as that really. The new six month rule I think only applies if the fault can be proven to exist at the time of sale...the warranty however can cover other issues that develop during that period (in this case three months). So if I tested the lock before accepting the car and it was working fine Lexus could argue it developed after the sale and therefore the warranty would be invoked...

Congrats....GS is a great car. Which warranty folk must you contact? The company is called TWG Services - I've never heard of them before. Called them today and they said the Lexus dealer should sort this one because it was obviously like that when I picked it up. Problem is that means I have to spend half a day in Bradford tomorrow while they fix it.

My first Lexus is now sat proudly on my driveway (in the rain). Picked her up today - she looks spik and span (although I don't really know what that means). Only problem seems to be the passenger door release which isn't working at all. I think there was an issue with the window mechanism so I'm guessing when they took off the door card they perhaps didn't fit everything back together because it worked Ok during the test drive. I need to contact the warranty folk tomorrow but it's no big deal - also gives me a chance to see the fellas at Lexus Stockport and mither them stupid about every single part of the car! Oh, nearly forgot...the other thing was reversing sensors. For some reason I didin't even spot this car didn't have them. Maybe I was too excited when I test drove it? Not fond of the Halfords ones - is it possible to retro fit them (actual Lexus ones)? Cheers

Thanks for the link - I was going to ask the same question. Just had a look on that website though and I honestly don't understand a single word. Seriously, it may as well be written in Amazon Tribal Tongues because none of it made sense. I want a cable or a slot fitted to a MK2 GS300 so that an Ipod or Iphone can be plugged in to the existing audio system. a) is that possible? B) how much is it? c) who will do it? d) what is the capital of Macedonia? Please ignore d)

I do like a fat armrest. My Rover 75 had a decent one which was full black leather but the GS one is twice the size. I'm just online now looking for accessories and add ons but I can't find any (other than performance mods).