mrdoofa

On 21/01/2018 at 10:56 AM, The-Acre said:

Here's another question for you.  Mine is an SE, so what's the difference between that and an SE-L?  And is it right that the non hybrid don't have CVT?

The SE-L has a sunroof, radar assisted cruise control and possibly the Mark Levinson sound system. Only the hybrid has CVT.

Another delusional seller thinking their LS400 is worth a fortune. £10,500!!! Even with the ultra low mileage which is too low in my opinion.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201801263121965?advertising-location=at_cars&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=ls211dg&model=LS 400&page=1&make=LEXUS&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New

I think the speedo was replaced at 40 odd thousand miles, the rest is on new speedo meaning car has a total of 55k miles assuming it’s all legit.

I’d like to know more about the service history too and also the cambelt should’ve been done at the astronomical price being charged.

It seems that it’s disappeared from autotrader now, make of that what you will!!!

Let’s also not forget the MOT history is only half the story too, it doesn’t tell you the true mechanical condition. I wonder why it needed a new speedo at such a low mileage?

There is absolutely no way that car is worth £8,500. I’d say £3,000 at the top end if it’s mint. Very little info in the ad except it apparently “Drives as it should”. There is only one exterior pic of the car. For a car as expensive as this you’d think the dealer would put a bit more effort into the ad.

Does anybody know if this stuff is any good?

My first car was a 1988 Yugo 45!!! That really was a bad car. I bought it in 1994 so was only 6 years old and it had only done 45k miles and it was falling to pieces, the engine was so rough and noisy, you had to hear it to believe just how bad it was!!! My first “proper” car was a 1986 Volvo 340GLE which was a very solid dependable car and never let me down

1 hour ago, The-Acre said:

I was helping someone out today picking up an 09 Jag X type, that was far from tight, everything, and I mean everything felt so baggy and loose after just 68k!

I’ve had a couple of X-types, they are nice enough cars, comfortable and good to drive (especially the 4x4 petrol V6’s) but nowhere near as well made as a Lexus!!! I’ve found very few cars, if any that can withstand the test of time like a Lexus can.

10 hours ago, nickd said:

Recently in Sheffield on a small roundabout on Sharrow Vale Rd at 9.15 in the morning,  was my LS and also two LS400 and for a second all on the roundabout at the same time!!! Either they didn't notice or give a monkeys as I flashed my headlights at them.

Anyway.....  had my LS since April and I agree with you Martin.  Find the best you can for your budget and it will look after you.  Everything on mine works as it should and with 92k it still feels and drives like a new car.  I love it.  To me it feels incredibly solid and well made.  I shall though take up the issue with the radiator with Dave at Lex Tek, he did it check it and say it was fine, but the comments on here do worry me a little.

Mine is a 2001 model on 125k miles and everything still feels tight and like new. I’d certainly get the radiator done purely for peace of mind and as Phil says you can change the coolant whilst you’re at it.

11 hours ago, ste42 said:

martin now you ve owned the 400 and the 430 how would you rate the 430 in comparison to the 400 ? with the 400 s becoming very scarce these do seem the next best option

I do prefer the LS430 over the LS400, that’s not to say I don’t like the LS400, it’s still a great car. The LS430 feels a lot more modern and feels that bit more refined to me. The LS430 has a lot more leg and headroom than the LS400 and it has more toys which I like!!! Some people question the styling of the LS430, particularly the front end saying it looks too ostentatious with the big chrome grille and big headlights but I like that!!!

I certainly don’t buy into this notion that the LS430 isn’t as well made as the LS400, its true the LS430 is a more complex car but that doesn’t mean it isn’t well made and the LS400 is by no means invincible, they can have their fair share of foibles too like any car can. My current LS430 feels very solid with no squeaks, rattles, knocks or bangs anywhere, it also feels less plasticky than the LS400 probably due to the increased wood, brushed aluminium and velour covered pillars rather than plastic.

LS400s are becoming increasingly scarce but I see absolutely no reason why anybody should see the LS430 as second best. The key with the LS430 is to find one that’s been well looked after with good service history and cambelt changed, change the radiator if it hasn’t already been done to prevent the water in the gearbox issue, check everything works (like you would any car) and that’s it!!! I got it wrong with my first LS430 from Old Baz and ended up with a bad one and admittedly that put me off them for a while but I didn’t know exactly what to check for then and that’s where this forum has proved invaluable.

13 hours ago, Initial P said:

In real terms its £5 extra a week

I think the screen is meant to be higher rez from 2007 I looked at a few older models on Autotrader like this LE on the (top picture) vs mine (bottom picture).

My 56 plate GS450h had the higher res screen, possibly because all the hybrid info needed the high res screen!!!

11 hours ago, The-Acre said:

My Volvo is silver, doesn't get washed that often but always looks fairly clean

 

I’ve always found silver cars don’t show dirt as much as deeper colours.

I had a mk2 GS430 which was a great car, fast, comfortable, all the toys and in the same great colour as my current LS430. I’ve also had a mk3 GS450h, although my ownership was short lived due to hybrid problems and the dealer taking it back and giving me a refund I loved that car, it was silver with cream leather and it was indecently quick!!! There really isn’t much out there that can keep up with one, with the instant torque of the electric motor and CVT transmission acceleration from a standing start was relentless and seamless. It’s also novel when you stand at traffic lights in complete silence as the engine shuts down then as soon as it’s time to go it leaps to life in an instant. I found it very comfortable too with a just about perfect driving position and it really does feel solid and inspires confidence. It averaged around 30mpg day to day and around 40mpg on a run. The ride on mine was quite firm possibly because of the 18” wheels and also the shocks on the 450h are different and are a common fault which are extremely expensive if they need replacing. I would have another but I’m a bit once bitten twice shy about the hybrid system which is absolutely brilliant whilst it’s working but can very quickly become a very expensive nightmare if it goes wrong.

Having said all that I’m perfectly smitten with my current LS430 I bought from Phil. What I feel the LS has which the GS lacks is more road presence, sense of occasion and the car just feels a bit more special to me. Also I just love the softer ride with that V8 motor which delivers its power so effortlessly, I could drive it all day long!!! It’s certainly a car where you know you’ll feel better at the end of your journey than you did before you started it.

What was this thread about again?? 😂😂😂

Looks very tired doesn’t it? Check out the state of the steering wheel leather!!! I wonder how many things either don’t work or don’t work properly on it. I wouldn’t pay that for a car with that mileage in that condition.

7 hours ago, runsgrateasanut said:

That a lovely looking Car and to my eyes very modern in its design (well I'm not keen on the latest Grilles on Lexus).  Very envious.

Someone said to have a Sunroof would be the icing, but head room i suspect is even lower than an LS400.  I have to have an anti-static bag velcro'd to the headliner to stop my little amount of hair rising and creating a spark when I get out of the Car to fill with Petrol. Sunroofs or Moonroofs get very little use in the UK I would think? I rarely  open mine and as a Car gets older the drains start to break up, etc, etc.

Also, good  they ditched those seperated lights on the boot which personally I thought as weird. But Beauty as they say...

My GS450h was the SE-L model which gives you the sunroof, I’m over 6 ft tall and occasionally my hair would brush the roof, same for the LS400. The LS430 I have now is different though, loads of headroom, even with the sunroof, in fact the whole car is just cavernous!!!

Congratulations Phil!!! Looks like a really nice example and hope that it is a suitable replacement for the LS430 and that it gives you many miles of trouble free motoring.

I got 33mpg driving from Brighton to Leeds last week at 70-75mph. Not bad for a 4.3 V8!!!

Looks good and it certainly looks like it’s been really well looked after. Could be a good buy.

I still prefer mine though. I still feel lucky that I’ve got one this good!!! I’m going to take some more photos of it soon but the weather has been rubbish, keeps trying to snow today. I’m not a fan of blacked out windows. If somebody on the forum is looking for an LS430 and don’t live too far from it then it might be worth going to check it out.

Just spotted this on eBay, looks in very nice condition, full Lexus history, cambelt done, new radiator, everything works etc. I can just see some wear and slight cracking to the drivers seat and I’m not sure I like the blacked out rear windows but anybody looking for an LS430 may want to consider it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS-430-4-3-AUTO-2002-02-reg-112-000-MILES-FULL-LEXUS-SERVICE-HISTORY/253362928882?hash=item3afd9b7cf2:g:KI0AAOSwPypaWDLQ

You’ll like this, I’ve had our good friend Old Baz write to me wanting to buy my new car after he saw it on Facebook!!! He’s even offered to do a deal on his facelift LS430. All I can say is absolutely no chance!!! This LS430 is staying firmly with me!!!

I still feel extremely lucky that I’ve found an LS430 as good and genuine as this in possibly the best colour combination and the service history is impeccable with 16 service stamps with all invoices still in their card wallets from Lexus, cambelt done, new radiator as well as all old MOTs. Also, everything works on the car. I’d better be careful otherwise I’ll have Phil wanting to buy it back lol!!! 😂😂

Just spotted this on gumtree, 2004 LS430, 250,000 miles. £3,450 seems a bit steep for that mileage doesn’t it? The guy hasn’t even bothered to take photos in daylight or show any interior pics!!!

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/lexus-ls430-4.3litre-petrol/1282818605

4 hours ago, GibletPH said:

[Offtopic]The law change is daft. Like you say, JustEat have introduced a flat rate 50p “service charge” across the board for both cash and card payments. Other companies will be doing the same. I work in the same industry and know what the card charges actually cost. It would have made more sense to either force the banks to process the payments for a cheaper flat rate or get companies to publish their exact rates and only allow them to charge that exact rate to customers. 

As it stands it’s the consumer who will lose out more. The banks always win. [/offtopic]

Nothing new there then!!!

It looks like the steering wheel might not go in and out, you can see it looks high but not retracted.

Looks a bit rough in places but at that price, could be a bargain!!!

Here is a couple of pics I quickly took alongside my nephews Cadillac STS which needs a good clean at the moment, excuse the knocked over wheelie bin, I didn’t do it with the car lol!!! I’ll take some better pics soon it was starting to rain and I was starting to lose daylight.