bigegg

In all honesty, that looks like a proper shed... lol.

I would walk really, if they have been driving it around on trade plates, why would they not MOT it, if it comes without, I would assume some costly issues to resolve to get an MOT (as I can't believe they wouldn't have tried to MOT it). Plus it just generally looks battered and tatty.

That's basically my thoughts - it doesn't look quite the shed in person, but the seller isn't exactly forthcoming with details! I visited his yard, and was given a test drive by the helper, who told me to phone "the boss" for extra information - who was probably busy, but not at all helpful

There's no apparent rust any where

It's obviously had a bang on the front end, but only damage is to bumper.

The brakes, steering, suspension all feel "right"

Engine sounds quiet and smooth

Gearbox changes almost imperceptibly

There's no warning lights on

A few little car park dings, but no major scrapes, except the front bumper, and all the panels line up.

Seller reckons he drove it from Birmingham before it ran out of tax and test, and was intended for his own use.

Interior is in good nick

It *could* be a bargain, but WHY NOT MOT?

On further consideration, and based on what you've said above,

I'm not going to walk away. I'm going to run

I'm currently looking at this

Which is very local to me.

Seems in good enough condition for the price, and seems OK on the test drive.

BUT...

It has no headlight washers, and I guess that they are difficult/expensive to get hold of - and are an MOT failure if missing on a car with HID.

so...

options?

Fit halogen lamps?

Make some spray fittings? - Not neccessarily as difficult as it sounds if the pumps are there or are the pumps built into the spray?

retrofit washers from some other vehicle?

or pass and find another?

did you try to get a new quote at your new address, as I suggested above?

That may give you grounds to complain to the ombudsman.

Is the difference really worth the aggro tho?

ta very much.

do the rear seats split/fold down in the gs300?

I can't seem to find a spec sheet for the GS300.

What are the main differences between the GS300 and IS300 (sport cross) - apart from the boot!

In terms of toys and driveability - economy isn't really an issue.

I'm torn between the two - I've got a budget of about £1500, so looking at a yr 2000(ish) spec.

Hi Bigegg

Rose tinted glasses unfortunatly do not come with a Lexus LS400

Rust does affect the range unless the previous owners have protection treated the subframe and chassis.

Wheel bearings do go but thats more to do with our lousey roads in the UK.

Upper control arms front fail after 100k miles rear suspension bushes fail after 120k miles and niether are cheap fixes if done properly.

engine problems are very rare, cambelt 60k intervals.

Your outgoings on your prospective model will depend on the love and tlc it as had in its lifetime but don't expect it not to cost .

lol.

I don't expect it not to cost - do I come across as a bit naive?

cos I'd like to think I'm not.

It's a 2nd hand car, and obviously 3/4 of the battle is not picking a wrong'un to start with

But that list of things in the omega is stuff to worry about *every year*, not after every 100,000 miles

<duplicate post>

lol. theres more than that.

things I don't have to worry about *every year* if I get a lexus:

rust
headlamp adjuster failure
crankshaft sensor failure
powersounder conflagration
HBV failure
ABS ecu failure
rocker gasket failure
Wheel bearing failure
Wishbone bush failure
Changing cambelts+tensioners+waterpump every two years/20,000 miles

Welcome I understand that as long as you follow the guides DIY is fine. Also if you do need to use a garage only use one recommended by another Lexus owner cos some garages will claim they know all about the Lexus & it may turn out they know nowt costing you money to correct their mistakes

"Ain't that the truth" :)

I have a couple of local garages which I trust to tell me if they can't do the job.

If you wish to establish evidence as to whether or not your premium is being "loaded" for changing address -

give them a ring (or do they do online quotes?) and ask for a new quote at your new address.

Give them your real name, but don't mention the fact you are already a customer.

Then compare that price to the one you were quoted originally.

If the quote is the same, or very similar, then you have grounds for a formal complaint.

If it's not resolved to your satisfaction, then asking the insurance ombudsman to investigate will cost the insurance company £800 (? - I think it's now £800, it used to be £450 a couple of years ago) -

*whether the ombudsman upholds the complaint or not*

They *may* make a goodwill gesture rather than having to fork out for that

Hello everybody.

I joined a couple of days ago, and have been browsing the forum since.

I'm based in Leeds, semi retired at 41.

I owned a 2nd hand book business and sold it last summer due to my wife's health.

I'd just like to say that I've become a total convert to Lexus - despite never actually driven, or even been inside one - the combination of price, reliability, economy(!) and level of refinement makes the choice a "no-brainer" in the 2nd hand executive car market.

In the next couple of months I'm going to be looking at buying a sportcross (probably IS300) for my wife to drive, and then myself a LS400.

My wife is taking lessons as an auto-only driver, and I am planning on getting the sportcross when she passes her test, then the LS400 3-4 months later (maybe January/Feruary - it's a good time to buy stuff, terrible time to sell)

I always promised myself a big executive car when I no longer needed a load-lugger for work - planned on either a big Merc, 7-series BMW or a Jag XJ#.

I've not been able to justify the expensive upkeep that these cars seem to need tho, whereas the Lexus seems to be much more reliable, and the parts seem cheaper (relatively!).

Labour charges aren't neccesarily an issue -

I've always had Vauxhall Carlton (then Omega) estates, plus I run a 15 y/o transit - so I am quite familiar with both ends of a spanner. I've quite happily changed timing belts, head gaskets, wheel bearings suspension parts, alternators etc.

How DIY friendly are the Lexa?

I noticed a significant proportion of people on here talk about using garages.

Is that because Lexus require a lot of specialist tools? or that they are a driver's car, rather than a tinkerers?

The maintenance guides lead me to believe most things are relatively straightforward - although the starter motor change seems a long job, although no worse than changing the oil filter on a smart car :.)

I'm sure that I will have LOTS more questions, but this seems like a nice friendly forum and am looking forward to a long happy relationship with it, and Lexa in general.

I will be signing up for the gold membership once I start seriously shopping for the cars.

how much (roughly) is a gas conversion?

Someone said it would pay for itself in 9000 miles, so I'm estimating £1500?

Hello Greg and welcome to The LOC. We are always gentle with newbies so dont worry. I have a Mk4 and mine dont fold down and I think that goes for all of them but somone with far more knowledge than me will pop along and let you know fairly quickly.

You havent said much about the car your buying but one of the big issues is has the timing belt been changed? If not thats £600/800 approx and you want to see a proper receipt for the work.

Good luck Mike

Thanks Mike.

Haven't found one, but pouint taken about the belt - the omega is the same. cambelt cambelt cambelt. :.)

Looking at one on the bay which finished this morning - had three changes at about 60K mile intervals.

Hello - first post, so please be gentle :.))

Looking to buy my first Lexus - probably going to be a 1997 ish (mark 2/3?), after having seen one in a local 2nd hand dealers and falling in love...

However, I have what will probably seem to be a silly question.

Do the rear seats fold down to allow long luggage to be passed through from the boot?

I sometimes have a need to carry some awkward loads - I'm upgrading from a Vauxhall omega, and sort of got used to the convenience of a humongous boot space.

ta.