I saw this LS from the road as I was driving past a used car dealer. The dealer had a shack of sorts, a barrack for office and some car display areas with a tin roof over the cars but no walls. It was a typical Malaysian used car dealership.
I went in and parked my Camry next to a barely used, current model Mercedes E-class. The place was packed with 2nd hand luxury cars imported from abroad. Some other customers were looking at an Audi A6.
A salesman approached me. He was in his forties and simply dressed. His face was rugged and his front teeth could use some work. He was a native. Behind him, staring at me from the barrack, was the Chinese boss. The boss gave me the vibe of a godfather evaluating a victim, trying to estimate my gullibility. He did not speak to me.
I explained my interest in the LS to the salesman. I had not gone over to where it was, as the maze of buildings and cars made me unsure if the car belonged to the shop I was in or the competitor next door. It was ours, the salesman said.
Then I was face to face with the Lexus. It was a 2008 Lexus LS 460L from the UK, imported 2nd hand and sent by ship to Malaysia.
Rust, was my first thought. Cars in Malaysia don't rust. There is no road salt here. But a UK car can be salted enough after five years to be keep rusting after it comes to the tropics.
The car was in silver metallic, with blue leather interior.
Mileage: 27 000 miles.
Tires were a cheap oriental brand, unevenly worn. Brake disks were rusted from lack of use.
I found dry grass around door openings and the boot opening. I wonder where that came from. The seller had no explanation.
The man with the tooth deficit got the key from the boss. I entered the LS and pressed the start button.
The master warning light (red triangle) was permanently lit on the instrument panel. Seller said he would reset it.
The carpet under the seats was damp, front and in the rear.
The headliner was an uneven dirty grey from hands touching it. The seller said he would foam-clean it.
They buttons on the centre console were worn, with the markings coming off.
The air suspension would not go to HIGH. The ventilated seats did not work. The seller said he would fix these things if I bought the car.
There was no service book or any other documents in the car. The seller said I would get them after buying.
When standing still and the engine idling with the bonnet open, I noticed abnormal ticking from the vents. The seller said the engine needed to be serviced.
The seller offered a test drive. I let him drive first. After finding a quiet side road, I took over.
A "clunk" from the front brakes was evident when braking at low speed. It did not bother me. My Camry has the same sound.
The tires were way too loud, especially on the driver side. The car pulled to the left. The seller said the alignment needed to be adjusted. Apparently, the noisy wheels were from tires getting worn out by the faulty front suspension and then put on the rear wheels, while the process repeated itself on the front wheels.
Braking made the ABS system hammer constantly, even at low speed. Another sign of the alignment and tire problem, I guessed.
I drove up a steep hill. The engine sounded harsh and loud when driving. A 4.6 should not be like this. The seller said it would be smooth again when he changed the oil for me - again, after I handed over the money.
The seller wanted 380,000 ringgit (75,000 GB pounds) for the car. An LS is 840,000 ringgit new here, or 165,000 pounds, thanks to taxes. The seller dropped the price to 340,000 without me asking, saying I should negotiate further with the boss. I believe the plan was to make me feel I made a great deal by allowing me to bargain the car down to to 280,000, only 50,000 above other 2008s on the market.
I told the seller I would think about it.
What I really was thinking was: What a poor, abused LS. 27,000 miles? I don't think so. More like 150,000, the odometer rolled back. An unloving owner. This car could not have been maintained for years. I am sure the salesman and his boss has my best interest at heart, good honest people as they undoubtedly are. But really.....
Would you buy it?