Glyn C

best place for it!  ;)

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Best place for Merc!! :P :D

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no comment

best place for it! ;)

It's all down to NCD. Insurance normally costs 1500-2500 but most people get 50-75% off

It's more down to where you live i think. I've just got fully comp for my wife and i on my LS400 for £480 with Admiral. Neither of us had any no claims as we've been overseas for 5 years. I'm 32 and my wife is 26, but we live in South Derbyshire.

Can you register a car at someone elses house? (eg. family member in the country) not sure if thats legal but the wife got a BIG rebate when she changed addresses from Blacon, Cheshire to Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Just move

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You only live down the road from me mate!

I had a right game with my Merc

It's spec'd up to AMG standard with Wheels Bodywork etc. They wanted to classify it as an AMG even though it's a 320 CDI

They even rated it for the Panoramic roof the active cruise, the TV DVD, parking sensors front and back. Basically I was informed by Norwich Union and all the other firms I spoke to that you have to declare any factory fitted extras not listed on the standard car.

You chaps with the Lexus's are Ok for stuff like the Sat Nav where I was having to state this. You do need to be careful with Tesco's and a few others as they have a clause which will only cover Sat Nav and Audi gear to £1,000 thats wether it was fitted at the factory or not... I checked!

Frightened me to death.. ended up insuring with NU through Mercedes £700 a year.. but thats' with business usage too and I do clock a fair few miles, although full NCD.

There's a discussion over on the Mercedes forums about which is better, the Merc E-class or the new GS. As this is something my family has been currently looking into, I thought I'd add my 2p's worth.

Anyway, as soon as I started talking about bulletproof reliability, and that Mercedes has lost it over the last few years, I got shot down saying that the current GS300 has been very unreliable, with numerous engine failures, and that there's no reason to say the new one won't suffer the same problems.

I just wanted to ask on here, whether that is actually the case?

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I think your misrepresenting the topic on the Merc site which I have been taking part in. It wasn't a Lexus Bashing session at all, in fact some owners were crtitical of their pride and Joy so lets not start a war between makes!.

One chap pointed to a web site in the states, who I may have have had far more experience with GS's and their problems that we have.

http://calemons.com/toyota.htm which was about V6 engines anyway

When mind played up I quoted many of the issues raised on the USA sites to get the situation resolved... Having said that I hadn't heard of engine failiures either and my understanding was the Supra engine could take a good pounding.

We all love our cars and only the very honest of us will admit to their failings after we have written a huge cheque.

Both Mercedes and Lexus offer a quality product .. quite often let down by the poor after sales service. Which was my issues and the terrible depreciation I suffered!

I'd rather focus on the driving standards of B*W owners than start slagging off other cars.

I hope the new GS is a good car and a well sorted car as many people will be investing their hard earned cash into it!

When I bought my first Lexus this and the USA site was a huge help in understanding certain issues with my GS. Since then I have moved on and had two other makes of car, but I still rate this as the best of the sites around. The helpfulness of the members and the sheer fact that they are willing to share experiences and be honest with each other makes it that way. That's why I still check in and see what's going on. Both the Audi and Merc sites I have tried aren't a patch on this, so I say don't change...... the strength is in the members attitude!

Off mysoap box now!

I had terrible stone chipping on the front of my GS430 sport and the spoiler lost virually all it's paint.

They said they would only do the spoiler as"ther chips n the bonnet were normal" they eventually agreed ( after contacting Lexus GB and threatening them with another wriet up in Autocar) to get the stone chip man in to do it but I sold the car before he was involved! The dealer even said "They are all like that" and "it's the way your driving it" which made me more angry.

My Merc has done a similar mileage and only has a few marks from this last stretch of winter and the large pebbles they call gritting on the M1.

Hi There

Went through similar dilema, although I left Lexus after terrible service and a number of problems with two GS models.

Bought an Audi A4 sport Cab. which I didn't use much, so late last year I bought an E class which I had wanted before but couldn't afford the model I really wanted!

Anyway.. a few months on and the dealers have been first class so far.. telephoned and wrote to me to ensure I was happy.. and when I went into to buy some bits the service people were very friendly and helpful.

So far the car hasn't missed a beat and drives and looks like the puppies bits!

Hope you enjoy yours as mush as I am enjoying mine.

Like you I still have a fondness for the Lexus.. just the dealers that let them down for me.

Bought the Origin B2 a couple of weeks ago, after looking around at all the various options..... have to rate it first class.

Never misses a camera and has saved me a couple of flashes (oher missus). Didn't want sat nav as I have it in the car.

One of the neater features is the fact it sits in it's own cradle so only one wire from that which leads to the loom for the various feeds. I managed to get this fitted inside the area for the ashtray in my Merc so it's all oit of sight and covered when leaving the car. No wires in sight and used the live feed from the ciggie ighter. Some of the others had far too much spaggetti for me and were larger units which I couldn't hide away neatly.... Also the people at orgin are very helpful and the database seems spot on and I travel the UK a lot. Downloading is easy from the pc link although it uses a com connector not USB which meant I had to use the kids pc for this as my latest one doesn't have this socket now.

Hope this helps

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Spot On!!!!!

Found this on a web site today and loved it!!!

With the launch of the acclaimed new 3-series, BMW has also revealed details of a sophisticated new electronics package that is aimed straight at the new car's core market. Dubbed Bellendtronic, the new system is fully integrated into the car's control systems and allows a range of functions including full disablement of the indicators, perilously late activation of the brakes and an adapted radar cruise control that allows the driver to sit 4mm from your back bumper in the outside lane of the M6.

Amongst other neat touches, Bellendtronic can also apply light brake pressure at all times, covering the wheels in dust, something that will be a particular benefit if your fleet manager wouldn't let you specify alloy wheels and you want to disguise ugly plastic rim covers or the fact that if you weren't such an aspirational little tw*t you'd have gone for a rather better equipped Honda Accord. Initially Bellendtronic will be available on the forthcoming 316i and 318i models only, but the system is expected to become standard fitment for all models in the smaller 1-series range within a year.

Audi is poised to make certain versions of the A4 available with a rival system dubbed 'Pushytw*t Plus'.

How the Bellendtronic button might look, yesterday

Nutter she might be but that day she got my vote

He needed showing up!

Hi Haven't been on the site for ages and was having a nose round this afternoon, blimey I didn't know so many people thoght Clakson was such a complete p*llock!

I thought the best one was when the German lass took the Jaguar S type Diesel keys off him and blew his lap time away!!!!

Now that proved he was a complete t*sser!!!!

Hi Claire

You have my sympathy

My GS430 Sport needed wheel bearings after only 10 months and about 14K, although the Lexus dealership tried hard to argue it was the tyres.

So far no troubles with the Audi and I have a Rover 75 diesel with 67K on the clock that saves me fuel wear on the Audi and hasn't missed a beat yet! Lexus are lovely cars and I do miss the performance of the 430, but when they go wrong they cost a fortune to fix.

Hope you get it sorted without breaking the bank! :D

That's why I sold my GS in the end

At one point the book value was dropping a grand a month

Even three Lexus dealers said we don't want it.

One even said it a shame they announced the new model so early as it is crippling the used values of the current model!

You have my sympathy.

Only reason for defecting to AUDI was the appalling dealer service. They do not listen to the owner and are so damn sure of themselves!

So far I give AUDI their credit they have been extremely good.

But there are good and bad for all of them and Lexus don't have that bad all to themselves!

Just did a round trip of 180 miles today and got 32.6 to the gallon

Never had that from a Lexus though!!!!!

Hi I used Meguiars on my GS and now on a black Audi and it's the Muts Nuts

I tend do do one panel at a time with the cleaner, but have found you can go all the way round with the Wax.

Having used this on a Silver motor and now on a Black one, I can say it really works on the darker colours better.

I bought mine via the WWW just wack in www.meguiars.co.uk

They do some sets which give you all you need, also send me a regualr newsletter and offers etc.

Try it you won't be dull ever again!

Sounds like you two have had a s**t day!

Colin, out of interest - I currently have a 03 GS430se on loan from Lexus while they sort my car at their HQ. This car vibrates around motorway speeds just like my old GS300 did - interesting eh - doesn't seem like wheel balance as it transmits through the floor more than the steering wheel.

By the way the chaps that pisked it up agreed he could hear the noise - the brakes juddered the paint wasn't up to standard and the wind noise was worse than in the car he gave me???

It should be covered on your home insurance!

Better think of a good stopry though

Dropping a wheel sounds suspect!! :D

I did buy a used ( 1 year old) GS300 originally and it suffered from a severe vibration - Lexus had it at their technical centre for 6 months. Eventually after writing to their MD they offered me a deal on a new GS (I opted for the 430) which I couldn't really refuse. Otherwise I would never buy new as I totally agreed they are complete money pits! You chaps who pick up the well looked after cars do the right thing in my oppinion, but rest assured most of my cash is heavily in property or working well in the markets! I just like cars! It's my only real vice I'm affraid!!

Trade in values are appalling and I have even had two dealers say they don't want it against an RX! That's a nice warm feeling, I can tell you.

Still mine is now at the technical centre, having been taken away yesterday after demonstrating it's ability to do a fair impression of a failing wheel bearing!!

Anyone looking at a nice deal on a GS430 should contact me cause once they have sorted it it will be the puppies bits again, but I am seriously thinking of selling and moving on. Two and a half years of appalling service is enough for me.

It is the dealers, Lexus are trying to put it right, perhaps they should "own" some of the centres as do Audi etc.

I do agree about BM* dealers

I shall never darken their door!

And I don't fancy one of those caps that you have to wear to drive the M3

and when I sat in an X5 I was waiting for someone to take my ticket!

One of the reasons I bought a Lexus was to avoid following the crowd especially as they only sell the GS in hundreds here - not hundreds of thousands

Yes the picture is of my car

I think it looks pretty good too

Just doesn't behave like it should

:duh:

I had a rare 5 speed gear job in a lilac colour

Had great fun on that

My brother had a tomahawk

*** how long ago was that?

Back on the soap box !!!

Just back from an afternoon trying an A4 Cab

What a nice motor and seemed extremely well put together

Sales poeple were helpful, took time out to arrange for the kids to be watched why the good lady and I went posing with the top down!

Amazing thing is that they offered me a good £5K over what the tw*ts at Lexus have mentioned so far. The 3 litre engine had a decent turn of speed for an Auto, it had this Multitronic setup which effectively has no gears, very impressed. That roof I find amazing having owned a Mazda MX5 for some years! Must say this motor is looking like a definate maybe.

I will miss the GS - I love the way she goes and the way she looks ( when the paint was still attached) - The ride is appalling when compared with similar motors. B*W managed to do a sport set up that blends well and doesn't leave you feeling like Ozzie Osbourne on a bad day! Even the Jaguar R was smooth to drive with it's CATS stuff and low profile tyres. But the GS is not sorted and should have been. There is stacks of moans on the USA club where owners are complaining about vibration and tyre wear. A car of this quality should have had plenty of testing and this would never be an issue.

Now where that glass of red wine? B)

Appreciate the thought, but a 200 mile trip shouldn't be necessary to get a straight forward bunch of problems sorted. I have someone from Lexus UK visiting me tomorrow - he's driving up from Epsom to look at the car and hopefully take it away and get it sorted.

I appreciate the Jag isn't everyones cup of tea. I had one four years ago (not an R) and did over 40K in ten months and the thing never missed a beat. But what also made it a pleasure to own was the way the dealers were keen to build a relationship and look after me as the owner. Even visiting their showroom yesterday was enjoyable and they even went to the trouble of getting my 9 year old sorted with a playstation why I blasted a couple of their cars around for nearly three hours! The one I was looking at was the 4.2 litre (non R) that seems quick enough for me. But that supercharger makes a cracking noise, it would probably cost me a few tankfulls of juice to get it out of my system, the sales girl who came for the run with me was encouraging me to push this B*W M3 that was in front and wouldn't move! And why not!! :D

While I have the soap box, I would also point out the appalling values that Lexus dealers offer you for your car. In fact two of them have said they didn't want it when I went to look at an RX!! Instills you with confidence that does. My car is is A1 condition apart from the missing paint, I, like many of the members on here spend every weekend lovingly cleaning it and making sure it's kept in first rate order. Only to visit a dealer who 1: doesn't give a damn about your car 2: Doesn't listen to what you tell them 3: Looks at you as if you dropped in from outer space when you appear to have any knowledge of cars 4: Failes to rectify minor problems 5:Tells you "they all do that mate" - Then cleans the car with a nice oily rag, so your hours spent waxing the paintwork are rendered a waste of a weekend.

As a total change I also went to look at an A4 convertible, not convinced it's for me yet but what a well put together car, and that roof is an amazing piece of engineering!

It could be a good compromise as I could sell the Mx5 I keep for fun and combine two cars in one. Does anyone have any experience of them and what are they like to live with. I took one out for a couple of hours and couldn't really tell it was a soft top apart from a few squeaks. I was looking at the 3 litre with the Multi box with (not quattro).

I'll get off my soap box now!

No, I haven't tried them. There's also the new one at Leicester which I was going to try if I keep the car.

But I tried a R type Jag today and was blown away by the 400 hp

So I'm waiting for some figures to see what I do!

I just feel Lexus need to know their agents, in the main, let down a good product with s*** service and poor attitude, so I'll probably vote with me feet.

I'm hoping a visit from one of the Lexus head office staff on Monday will restore my confidence in them.

The one near Coventry airport

Trying to be subtle!