gb1600e

If I remember previous comments from others its OK. Although didn't @Big Rat have Lexus Cheltenham fit his ?

23 hours ago, Charliecloud said:

I remember this car being up for sale. 😁 

There is a 2008 ISF being broken for spares. email - japanesecarparts@outlook.com

I'm not sure there is much left of the written off car at Japanese Car Parts but the Borla exhaust, although crush damaged by the forklift it was moved around with was sold to a member on here some while ago. 

And I have both exhaust tips in case I ever need them as they are £418 each side from Lexus if I remember rightly.  Worth contacting Wayne @northern isf if he's selling.

On ‎9‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 6:29 PM, ctrsam said:

Yes I’m in Alvaston and work in Ascot Drive 

Well I'm just up the road in Chellaston Samir. 2 ISF's within a couple of postcode areas, bet that's not common. How lucky the people of Derby are if they are F spotting. We shall have to meet up.

On ‎9‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 9:03 AM, PRT68 said:

Killysprint, yes, I understand what you say. 

My point is that if a shared component on a Toyota RAV4 fails after 4 years it's covered under warranty, but you'd have to pay with a Lexus.

On a further point raised earlier about the servicing on new vehicles where they can be serviced according to manufacturers schedule by a vat registered non Lexus garage to maintain the warranty.

I'm sure a Toyota garage could service a Lexus better than a specialist in Lexus's eyes. So how about going to Toyota for 3 years at possibly reduced cost....

Interesting point.  My local Lexus dealer, who stamp my service book and do a very nice Latte with an L shaped logo of chocolate fairy dust, is a shared franchise with Toyota who occupy the same site........ and they share the same workshop and same mechanics!   I'm aware the hourly rate is much less than some others quote for Lexus dealers so is this a good thing or a bad thing?  I took the trouble to speak to the mechanic who did the last work I had done and he was thrilled to work on such a rare car and I warmed to the view that he was proud to do a fastidious job so is this better or worse than an independent ?  Who knows ? Pays ya money takes ya choice.

Without doubt a tasteful improvement the likes of which you might see on a car 2, 3 or 4 times the price so well done, an inspired improvement.

So is it new leather inserted (now that must be expensive) or painted / dyed (very carefully).  Looks great either way. 

Are you from Derby @ctrsam If so that makes 2 of us. Obviously a great choice of car. Might see you about.

5 hours ago, B1RMA said:

I'm lucky I have a 'rent a ramp service' 2 minutes from my home, it's dead cheap and if I ever want to do any little fettling (which is about my pay grade) i use them. Used it to fit the Quicksilver exhaust to my RCF and have fiddled about with my Mini on it too. If like me you feel the main dealer may not be quite so anal about mechanical things it gives you piece of mind.

Similar with me. It it bolts together its within my skill range to un bolt it and sort it out and I enjoy doing it as well, or probably better, than anyone else can. I'm the sort of guy who cleans everything and paints nuts bolts and brackets before putting them back. When changing all my brake pads I spent hours cleaning the inside of wheel arches and everything within reach. Sad I know.

As for FLSH and warranty then potentially it gets more important as a buyer and a seller the older the car gets. When buying my 9 year old ISF privately a FLSH was essential and the extended warranty was transferred to me.  I have both a service plan and warranty paid monthly for less than good night out would cost.  In a year or so it might get sold and will still have a FLSH and warranty to transfer and I expect the first serious buy to snap it up.   Well that's the plan anyway.   

The lesson here is buyer beware and do loads of research but as long as any buyer has eyes wide open it might still be a good car for someone. That said I would think about a few more things before handing over hard earned cash or backing out:

1. Ask the dealer for the contact details of the previous owner and try talking to them. Judge if the dealer wont play that game (maybe that's why the reg doc is "missing". Original owner might just be a **** but ask why they didn't trade into a Lexus dealer?  Maybe they tried? but make a judgement.
2. Take the car to a Lexus dealer for an inspection, they will or should be able to confirm any body repairs done and if they will offer a warranty. I understand its based on service history OR inspection. Or get an RAC inspection. Again if the dealer wont play its yet more suspicious.
3. It might not be the best car but is it actually a bad car?  Maybe buy at a significant discount below others without such questions. There will be others without questions as has been said but possibly for thousands ££££ more

Hopefully it sells to a buyer who's fully aware of everything they can be and the price reflects the issues as it will sell eventually Im sure.

2 hours ago, Flytvr said:

Personally I’d stick with an ISF and save your pennies 👍

@Flytvr makes a good point. For what must be near double the money is it near double the car or double the fun. It's a tricky one. On the other hand money in the bank is doing nothing. 

Beautiful car. Enjoy 

Nice one Dan. Exciting for sure and impressed with your on going investments. Looking forward to seeing the results.

On ‎8‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 10:13 PM, hockeyedwards said:

Nice nuts 😛 where did you order from? Currently rocking cheap black slip on caps to decide if i want to swap out for black permanently or not...

It took quite a search on eBay but here they are from BW Auto Parts California.  Price + tax + shipping was about £35. Cheaper than a new chrome set from Lexus.

20PCs TOYOTA-LEXUS OEM BLACK MAG LUG NUTS WITH WASHER 12X1.5MM

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20PCs-TOYOTA-LEXUS-OEM-BLACK-MAG-LUG-NUTS-WITH-WASHER-12X1-5MM/252818665672?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Welcome back into the fold Dave, glad you're back into F ownership and glad you miss what's now my ISF.  No hard feelings about the brake pipes as its all part of the fun of buying a near 10 year old car, how would either of us know. Still an excellent car in excellent condition as far as I'm concerned and a privilege to own.  I had the wheels refurbed and painted Bronze with some OEM speck Black wheel nuts from the USA. Pleased with them but might go back to stock next year.

An RCF in USB then, what colour interior? USB with Grey Leather would be on my list in the future. But you will be sad to see the TVR go.  Time moves on and only time for so many toys. Lets see some photo's of the RCF when you have them.

8 hours ago, Crimson Red said:

I PM’d you but not sure if it’s gone through... but yes... please give me any knowledge you have... Thanks !!  👍

PM'd you with what I remember.  To be fair the car drove very well and with a quality respray of the bottom half and a decent wheel refurb I think it would be a good deal for someone. After all how many cars have has a corner or a panel painted and a new buyer doesn't know so why not buy knowing its all been pained?  But it has to be a bargain or you might as well buy one that didn't need the work in the first place.  Pays your money takes your choice.

As for warranty, Lexus told me they would offer an extended warranty on this car given they knew the service history ( subject to inspection).

Hi @Crimson Red I had a test drive in this some while ago and chose not to buy it. It's been moved around the trade a number of times since but PM me if you want and I will share with you what I found. 

On ‎8‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 8:38 AM, Flytvr said:

Thanks.

I took me a while to photograph the F. I should take some pics of the Merc! I'll update the thread once I have.

Yes, I remember the moody photo's of your RCF, professional quality I seem to recall. I also remember a touch of garage envy as well   

Just thinking how our old TVR's stack up in "wins on list"  

For my Chimaera

1.    Build quality – ummm next question
2.    Reliability….. .not bad on reflection, only came home on a tow truck once.
3.    Warranty – Errr Nope.
4.    Induction noise. Well it burbled nicely, very nicely in fact.
5.    Rareness- Somewhere between an ISF and an RCF depending on the colour (of either) But very recognisable.
6.    Handling – treat with care. Only lost it coming off a roundabout once.  Nobody about, nobody noticed, got away with it as if it didn't happen. 

7.    Standard kit - From a Ford parts bin or made by a man in a shed but a secret door open button under the door mirror. Years ahead of its time surely.
8.    Made in Britain. Ah, refer back to item 1

Loved it then as much as I love my ISF now though.

Must say I struggle to like the orange but am persuaded to defer final judgment until I see it in real life. If noticeable counts as stunning its certainly that. 

Great write up @Flytvrand interesting to read such an objective point of view.  All its missing is some photo's as Im sure any F owner appreciates pics of a good looking car of a similar ilk. I certainly like to smile and nod in appreciation when I hear a C63 coming, or very quickly going...................... Totally agree with you though to buy one, experience it yourself and move on all the better for it.   Come on though, lets see some photo's.

Nis car Johnathan well bought. Its looking like some good cars sub 30k coming into my price bracket now. Another 6 months and I could be trading up.

1 hour ago, C.B said:

Hmm I am already covered untill its 12th birthday, but since I have now paid that warranty off and its not 10 for a few months I wonder if I could add another 2 years to that taking it to 14 years?!

Absolutely got to be worth a phone call hasn't it. But here's another question Would it expire when the car reaches 140000 miles?  They might just take your £795 anyway ?

29 minutes ago, V1J4Y (VJ) said:

Few from a cloudy day at Pendeen Watch Lighthouse in Cornwall and some sunny day pics too 😉

 

My second favourite colour (for the time being Im biased ) and love the later wheel design.

Undoubtedly a beautiful looking car though.   

18 hours ago, BUG4LIFE said:

Would you not be confident enough not to bother with a warranty and just put some money away for a rainy day?

Everyone on here says how reliable they are and although stuff can of course go wrong, I wonder what the average per-year spend on repair work for an ISF is with owners on here?

Its a fair point @BUG4LIFE and in life I generally don't bother with extended warranties for washing machines, printers and the like, (I was even offered one on a £20 iron) and I put that money in the physiological pot that pays to buy a new one if needed. I think overall Im in profit on that front.

However despite the bullet proof reputation of Lexus I want at least the piece of mind to know my expensive and old second had car is covered for less that £400 per year.  As @giorgoXXI says likely repairs don't come cheap when they are needed.

As for average cost per year: Well I also have a 2 year service plan with Lexus and pay both monthly, interest free, for less than £100 over 18 months for both. I expect to put a new set of tyres on sometime at £750 ? I replaced the pads all round myself with brembo for around £100 (which could cost you upward of £500 at Lexus I guess) and I had an expensive bill for £1300 for new rear brake lines (which the warranty didn't cover). New disks at some point in the near future, again if I buy smart and do it myself a few hundred quid. Over 2 years I'm hoping to be all in for less than £5k.  A better deal for me than a company car and a better car than my work colleague who pays £4.5k a year for an Audi. A nice Audi but is no ISF.  

I live in hope the warranty covers some, but maybe not all, the costs of running a circa 10 year old car.  Fingers crossed. 

@nickisokay is correct in that it has to be purchased before 10 years old. Not sure the service history has to be exclusively done by Lexus so as long its full and complete or in fact if Lexus conduct an inspection to verify the condition.

However there is a trick which worked for me. My ISF was over 9 years old when purchased and had a warranty in place taking it to nearly 11 years old. It was transferred to me by the previous owner. Happy Days.  I then purchased a further 2 years from Lexus (it still being under 10 years old) which starts when the existing runs out taking it to nearly 13 years old. Well worth the extra £795 for my piece of mind and that of a new owner if I sell before its 13 years old.

3 hours ago, B1RMA said:

I used to go in my CL65, the only car that didn't have enough space for grass cuttings was my Lotus Esprit. I did get a permit to use one of my vans but at the tip the Tip Gestapo are on me like flies on **** and I'm told the new permits are £15 and you have to use the 12 visits in a year. Greedy councils, mind you it's trickle down from the Government i suppose.

agree with @Texas .......the tip in your F   For such trips everyone should have an IS300 Sportcross I say. Current cost of ownership per year for that I recon is running at less than a new set of tyres for my ISF. 

On ‎6‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 5:32 PM, Mattmech said:

Was the red one not mentioned on here a little while ago? If so it’s been knocking around a few dealers.

might be a nice low mileage black one up for sale soon 😳 !!

No, that red one from a while ago is YT12MJY and has been moved in the trade again and on sale with yet another dealer in Halesowen Birmingham. (on motors.co.uk) The fact that one ISF sells in one day and this one has been roaming round the trade for about a year now tells its own story.