inflames

Thanks for the reply, they do look nice in black, it just happens the one i am looking at is black.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERTEX-Toyota-ARISTO-Limited-Edition-2JZ-GTE-VVTI-Twin-Turbo-JDM-VIP-IMPORT/152787900644?hash=item2392de58e4:g:8ZAAAOSwPAxaC5Vk

Hi all, i have been saving for a while to be able to change my car in the new year i currently drive an IS200 (my second IS) what was brought cheap to get me by when my previous got written off thanks to my neighbour.  I have wanted an Aristo for a long time, i wanted one years ago when i had my first IS200 but they where always a little more than i wanted to spend and the cheaper ones always looked a little rough.  I have found one i like the looks of and is currently on route to the UK.  But i have been sitting here for a few days looking at it and pictures of other 2nd gen Aristo's.  Starting to think they look a little dated now but they still look cool when they are lowered plus you have a 2JZ under the bonet.  Just wondering what you guys think?  Plus is there a Aristo forum, i know we have a section what i have been have a look at.

I have been considering a few other cars to, I currently do enough miles to warrant a dirty diesel and at the same time i have no problem paying for petrol to cover those miles.  At the minute cars than i am considering as above an Aristo, 3rd gen GS, Mercedes E320 CDI or a BMW 535D.  Now that i typed that and its in black and white i can see how i think the 2nd Gen Aristo looks dated??

Spotted a nice looking LS400 black i think, it was dark when i drove past with after market alloys, on Riverside Road Norwich?  Anyone on here?

1 hour ago, Malc said:

sat alongside a mini estate the other day .....  I and my Ls400 felt a little intimidated  ......  the mini " countryman "  ( is it ?  ) is HUGE  .  long, tall and anything but mini

Malc

Yep they are a odd looking mini. 

Has anyone seen the new Nissan Mica?  Only ask as i pass my local Nissan garage everyday and its no longer a small hatch back its more mark 1 focus sized now.

On 3/23/2017 at 9:13 PM, mr2lad said:

Not a 460 but my 600hL..... doesnt fit in any car park space ,both cars backed against wall

This picture reminds me of a certain car park where i live, when i use to park my Passat the front end would be hanging out.  This was one of the reasons i wanted to ask about parking in multi-storey car parks, as the LS is a much bigger car.  Specially as the parking spot's seem to getting smaller all the time now, but the average car seem to be increasing in size. 

Hi all, been awhile sense i have posted on here.  Any some people may remember me from about a year ago i considering selling a previous car my Passat and buying a cheaper one at the time i was considering a LS400.  This was all in the aid of me and wife becoming debt free what will nowl happen in a couple of months.... .   This is partly thanks to a neighbour's writing off the Passat and my hand was forced into buying a cheaper car.  I found a half decent IS200 (my 2nd one).  

Any how once the last few payments are made i shall be starting to save again, i will be saving towards a new 2nd hand car and i still got that inch for a LS.  By the time i shall have the funds to buy a car, the LS460’s should have come down that little bit more and do i love the looks of them.  But i have read/watched a few reviews and have stated that the running cost will break the bank?  I get why they have said this if they are referring to the MPG what isn’t to much of a issue for me.  But they are talking about repair bills, this is a Lexus they don’t tend to break.  Yes i can see that if something was to break it could cost a fair bit, but saying that most cars do.  A LS430 running cost shall be on par.  When it comes to servicing i will be doing that myself like i always have.

What are they like to live with on a daily basis?  I mean as a family car, space wise i don’t think will be a issue as the LS specially the 460 are a behemoth of car on the road.  How do you all deal with them in say multi-storey car parks etc or going to the super market?

I see your point, i had my previous written off after a small bump that wasn't my fault and was left out of pocket!   But for me i will always go fully comp, as the legal protection does come in handy if you a not at fault in serous incident like i was many years ago.  Plus the last time i checked the difference its not a huge saving going third party, fire and theft.  I renewed my policy this weekend and the price difference was only £20 between FC and TPFT. 

Not today, but on new years eve i serviced the car, had forgotten how much of a pain it is to replace the oil flitter on the IS200!

I had a similar issue with my 1st IS200, started off with small bits like yours, my head lights kept coming on randomly when the car off, my dash lit up like a sodding christmas tree and it developed into a massive issue!  I had water is getting into the car and was getting into junction box in the driver footwell.  The water was coming in via the window screen, i am  sure you find thread on here some of me and others with similar issues.  If i remember correctly some people had, had the window screen replaced and it hadn't been sealed properly.  Mine was a original screen and started to leak in the bottom corner on the drivers side.

Need to service my car in a 1000 miles going to change my brake pads at this time to.  Got to tidy up a few things on the car at this time one of them being the callipers, but i can’t decide what colour to paint them, not a big fan of painting them red.  If it helps the car colour is silver and i am currently thinking of painting them gold.

I had a similar issue on my 1st is200, done the same as well coil packs etc, the fault was finaly traced back to ECU on mine.

Hi all, i am a old member of the forum and regular visitor of late.  Anyway i recently had my Passat TDi wrote by someone.  I was originally looking at replacing it with a GS300 i didn’t manage to find a decent one that i like, without traveling stupid amount of distance, but i did find a 2003 IS200 Sport at reasonable price and i pick it up next week.  So i will be around on the forum again.

It had cambelt and water pump some at 60k back in 2009.  So iv got a bit of time before it needs doing again.

Hi all, well after traveling around and looking around for a replacement car.  I didn’t buy a GS300 as the couple i looked at weren’t quite right, i ended up buying a IS200 sport with 88k miles for £1500.00 locally in the end.  Two previous owners, full service history, lexus till 60k and the last two both at a local toyota specialist.  

2 hours ago, Boddney said:

I was after that one in Stevenage Aaron. But then I think thgthge whole world was when I spoke to the guy. That really was a cracker but a bit heavy on price. I think I still would have paid it though.

It certainly seemed that way, i spoke to the dealer on the phone for half an hour Friday afternoon and arranged to go look on Saturday morning.  But someone brought it Friday night, glad he let me know before travelling.  The price was not to pay bad if the car was as good as he said it was? Some people are asking much more as you well know from your searching.  

Glad to hear you found one and loving it.  

On 13 August 2016 at 4:35 PM, Boddney said:

Thanks chaps. The funny fact is that Honest John say the good thing about a GS is this forum. Lol.

Nothing really to worry about on there except maybe a VERY expensive master cylinder.

James.

Bloody hell someone else from norwich is looking at buying a GS300 or should i say has in your case.  I am currently in the market for one, missed out on one from Stevenage.  Once i get mine shall have to keep an eye for each other.  Saying that i did pass a nice silver GS on Earlham road on Saturday.

51 minutes ago, IanA2 said:

Commiserations. Good 300's will fly away quick, probably best to get your skates when next one pops up.

Yeah certainly will have to have my skates on, normally i would have taken a day off work, but i was the only person in my department this week due to holidays so that wasn’t an option.

Here is the link to the GS i was going to look at shame i missed it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOW-A-VERY-RARE-UNIQUE-1-LADY-OWNER-DEMO-2001-LUXURY-LEXUS-GS300-SE-AUTO-/152196256949?hash=item236f9a94b5:g:dsgAAOSwqfNXj9rz

Well been to look at few cars today, neither of the above and not having much luck.  The 5 series sold during the week and GS300 sold last night after i had arranged to view 1st thing in the morning.  Thank god the dealer let me know, so i didn’t waste my time who ever got that certainly got a good car from what i could gather after talking to the dealer. 

1 hour ago, Chasdad said:

You not decided yet. For 2k i think youd get a better lexus than a e39. If your after more of a drivers car what about a is300. I had a sportcross and was pretty good

Think i know which one, just going to test drive both this weekend.   But if neither are the one, at least i would have eliminated the choice down to one and then i can concentrate my search then. 

1 hour ago, messi said:

Hi 

If you dont mind me asking, What is yourequired budget? 

Personally I've always liked the 7 series BMW, if never driven a BMW but the shape on the 2005 onwards model is very nice. But the gearbox issue always puts me off.

It currently is 2K, i might be able to get more if the wife lets use some of our savings?????

17 minutes ago, IanA2 said:

Buy the Beemer and regret your inability to live with a nice green/beige colour scheme as your wallet empties.... :)

 

 

 certainly remember my wallet got lighter when i had the 320I.

10 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

I THINK THE SAME AS YOU AARON and as one gets older, the head wins every single time. Game, set and match!

 

Regards

John

Yes the head does tend win arguments the older i get.  At the moment the only thing i can find that may put me off the GS300 is that is green with a beige interior?  Can i life with it?

I am currently looking at car's due to my Passat being written off and i am on a budget after the insurance pay covers my finance and leaves X amount.  I would be looking at 3rd get GS300 if i had the extra cash, but i don't so here we are.  This topic kind of started in a different thread of mine and Chasdad mentioned he has owned both giving pros and cons.  So was wondering any others have?  As i am current comparing a 2 owner 2000 528I auto sport with 130k, full service history and a 1 owner 2000 GS300 SE with 115k and full lexus services history.  The E39 BMW is considered my many as the best Saloon car of it generation and some still consider it to be the best 5 series ever made.

I know most of the common issues regarding the BMW's of this era, as i had a 320I and had to deal with the coolant problem's and then 6 months later the CCV gave me issues so i have dealt with these before.  When the car was running fine and had no issues it was great car to  drive.  The handling was spot on, the power delivery was great and smooth.  The in car entertainment, well was a bit pants.  Now comparing that to my old IS200, was great handling car, but not as good as the BMW, power delivery was good and smooth but always felt under powered for the engine and the fuel consumption (not that it bothered me).  In car entertainment was great, loved it.  The car great and never had any mechanical issues, but had massive electrical problems once the water found its way into the car, spent a year constantly fighting to sort it, but gave in once it started to cause problems with the ECU.  

I know these are very different cars to what i am comparing, but i am using what i know and applying it.  The BMW is the better handling, the better looking car of the two, but not as reliable.  Most likely to the more desirable car of the two.  The Lexus, on the other hand is more reliable, more powerful BHP wise, awesome in car entertainment, i would like to assume more comfy to drive for long periods of time.  So i would say the GS is more left field.  At the minute my heart says 5 series as i have always been a fan of the e39 shape and my head says GS300 as its the safer choice.  I still need to go test drive these, so my opinion may change but for now i am just wondering what others think?

Its now official,l it been written off a category D.  So i am certainly car shopping this weekend.

Well, i still haven't heard from my insurance company about the next stage,  I guess they are deciding what to offer me for my car.  Any how, i have now seen a few cars i would like to go and view.  One of them being 1 owner 2nd gen GS300, looks in great condition I won't be able to go until the weekend anyway, so with my luck recently i doubt that it will still be available.