mikeyv

5 hours ago, John Walker said:

 

You're right about the current prices John, fortunately I bought my current Autocruise Accent new, in 2014, for less than half the current list price, also delivery times are currently pretty bad, I believe.

I've had coachbuilt vans previously, as well as caravans, and I used to tow my caravan with my current van for a while, which I found ideal in the UK.

I think the trick is to pick your outfit according to your main use, hence I only have the Accent now, as we have a permanently pitched caravan with extension in Spain, and don't really do much camping at home anymore.

You probably know, but be careful how you tow your car, especially if you plan on going to Spain, where you'll need a proper trailer, or risk the wrath of Spanish plod.

By the way, the LS was brilliant for towing, power to spare, if a tad thirsty!

15 minutes ago, John Walker said:

LPG is really popular in a lot of European countries so yeah such a shame it s not a big trend in UK. 
 

So still thinking to get an LX? Didn’t realise the post was so old 😅

No, we do two three month stints in Spain these days, so we drive down in our motor home, complete with all facilities, and use an old Polo at home for short trips.

Will always remember our LS though......wonderful cars.

8 hours ago, John Walker said:

Also in regards to the tremendous fuel consumption, you can always have it converted to LPG, a very environmentally friendly fuel alternative. 

Can't believe it's nearly six years since I posted on this thread.

Anyway, yeah, I had an LS on LPG and it was great, but it was getting difficult to find gas pumps in my area, when I sold the car a couple of years ago.,,,,, even worse now.

Never understood why gas conversions have never really taken off in the UK, they are selling loads of LPG Dacias in Spain, and plenty of garages to fill up at.

2 hours ago, The-Acre said:

I've got a V70 D5 and although it's a great car in many ways it must surely have the worst turning circle ever.

Aye, that's what he had.

I had a Civic TypeR (EP3), that ran it close, but it was so much fun, I didn't care.

Rwd v Fwd, is the answer to the lock question, along with wider tyres.

My mate changed his beloved K reg, rwd, Volvo estate, for a fwd D5 estate.

He had it for six years, and never stopped moaning about it being a royal pain in the arse to park at Tesco, compared to his old one.

Don't know if you got your door fixed, but this one just dropped in my inbox,  described as burgundy in listing, LS400 being broken.

Link HERE

1 hour ago, mrdoofa said:

The main issue to me is even if you change the radiator, how do you know the damage isn’t already done? If it’s already been done how easy is it to tell? Are there any telltale signs by looking at the fluids?

I think the only way to be 100% safe, is to buy with a warranty, though it would need to be a good one.

Failing that, as Phil said, a really thorough test drive, with a check of fluid levels and condition, before and after.

48 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

I think you're being over cautious, a good drive will reveal any issues.

In fairness though, he has already had one 430 go down the pan, due to transmission failure, so he's entitled to be a bit careful.

Realistically, gearbox failure would write most of these cars off, unless you are able to do your own repair work.

4 hours ago, dendonc said:

The very high probability is that the water was not from the rad but a leaking water pump, which is why the water pump is best changed when the cambelt is changed along with tensioners etc & why a water pump is always part of a cambelt 'kit', (water pump is accessible from there) & why many folks buy & use 'cambelt kits' & not just the cambelt alone. Of course it may well be that it was just a rad leak or combination of water pump & rad, nevertheless, that info is worth bearing in mind at next cambelt change.

I think you are way off with this post, I can see no connection between the water pump and the autobox failure, whereas the rad problem is well known, on the 430 and other Toyota group vehicles.

deleted

28 minutes ago, Jamesf1 said:

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts, advice, experience. Thinking about purchasing a 2009 low mileage example. Ne reason really, my kids are grown up, I dont tow or need off road capability - just fancy one.

I was considering one a few years back, in fact I think I started a thread like yours.

In the end, the prices for anything half decent, put me off, particularly as, like you, I don't really need many of it's considerable abilities.

Edited to add the link to my old thread HERE

1 minute ago, NemesisUK said:

Any issues with it (screen or residual water) refreezing?

Do you use the warm water on side and rear screen?

Wipers on to clear water, as soon as ice has thawed, rear screen as well, if fitted.

Side windows I just pour it on, but I suppose you could squeegee them dry if required.

Warm water for me too, environmentally friendly, doesn't harm paint or rubber, warms the screen, so no misting inside and, it's free.

I was always afraid of cracking the screen, but in the 80s, a mate of mine had contracts with main dealers, in Harrogate Yorkshire, dewaxing new cars on delivery.

He used an industrial strength steam cleaner, and voiced concerns about using it on very cold Yorkshire winter mornings, the dealers told him to carry on, and they'd sort any breakages.

He did hundreds of vehicles without a problem, and I've been using warm water ever since.

I agree with the above post, transmission failure would probably write the car off, for me.

Suspension would make my eyes water a bit, but I'd bite the bullet and replace the lot with conventional struts, which should be a one off solution.

Fixing one corner wouldn't work for me, I'd just be waiting for the next one to go pop.

I'd also replace the radiator immediately after buying a 430, again, for peace of mind.

One s/h, looks to be for the earlier models and one (or more?) new one for the later cars, links below.

Link1

Link2

4 hours ago, cruisermark said:

Too late - this was bought by a trader - the price has now gone upto £1500?

I'll bet it's a fine drive, and residing in Dudley?

Forgot to mention, some of these corrosion advisories are BS.

Mine had an advisory a few years back, not been mentioned since.

If you're looking at a car with advisory for surface corrosion, get it in the air and look for yourself, would be my advice.

Going back to the Irish car, mentioned at the top of the thread as having no mot.

The seller says it has got mot, and the mot check, using regisearch, gives expiry as march 2018, though oddly, doesn't show the actual mot below.

Looks the best buy of all the above bunch, to me.

What a clever ploy, fit a stupid gear stick, and nobody will notice the illuminated EML, genius!!

49 minutes ago, 200h said:

your correct infinity are part of nissan who in turn are owned by renault

  so thats 2 reasons why not to buy one and the 3rd reason would you spend £40k+ on a renault

 

Nope, especially when you're dropping 400 quid a week, at least, in depreciation, assuming the figures I linked to are representative.

Looking at Infinity for sale at Motorpoint, LINK HERE, they seem to be selling for under half the new price, at a year old.

Bearing in mind that is Motorpoints retail price, just imagine what you'd be offered as a trade in.

Also, aren't these Nissan, by another name, who are, in turn, now owned by Renault?

Considering these things are chock full of complicated electrics, any connection to Renault would put me off.

On 13/09/2017 at 11:57 AM, mikeyv said:

We went right up as far as Loch Ewe, last August, to see where my father in law set off from, as part of the Atlantic convoy.

Beautiful area, and they had a little museum there and a monument to those who lost their lives, very moving, and even more so for my wife and her brother.

We set off, in two motorhomes, from Yorkshire, early evening, so by 11.00 pm, we were ready for sleeping.

We pulled in to a garage, filled up with diesel and asked the woman on the till, if there was anywhere near that was suitable for stopping overnight.

We were pleasantly surprised, when she pointed to a quiet spot behind the garage, and gave us permission to park there.

What a difference to the rest of the UK, where motorhomes are actively discouraged.

Anyway, we had a great week on fantastic roads, with breathtaking scenery, excellent campsites, right alongside the lochs and a lovely welcome wherever we went, thoroughly recommend the place.

Sorry, senior moment, it wasn't Atlantic convoy, but Arctic convoy.

We went right up as far as Loch Ewe, last August, to see where my father in law set off from, as part of the Atlantic convoy.

Beautiful area, and they had a little museum there and a monument to those who lost their lives, very moving, and even more so for my wife and her brother.

We set off, in two motorhomes, from Yorkshire, early evening, so by 11.00 pm, we were ready for sleeping.

We pulled in to a garage, filled up with diesel and asked the woman on the till, if there was anywhere near that was suitable for stopping overnight.

We were pleasantly surprised, when she pointed to a quiet spot behind the garage, and gave us permission to park there.

What a difference to the rest of the UK, where motorhomes are actively discouraged.

Anyway, we had a great week on fantastic roads, with breathtaking scenery, excellent campsites, right alongside the lochs and a lovely welcome wherever we went, thoroughly recommend the place.