dr_rick

Indeed. But given online transfers kill the tax at the time of change of responsibility..... I'm going to have a chat with current owner to see if he'll take payment, and loan me the car on Saturday and sort out 'loose ends' on Sunday.

The other half has 'helpfully' suggested we sort everything out on Saturday. I'm thinking Sunday would be better. Might just get the guy to SORN it Saturday, I pick up Sunday. I can pay him Saturday at the bank. Tax, change of ownership and insurance takes 1/2 hour tops on Sunday. Jobs a goodun.

I'll have another look at it when I finally pick it up. As you can imagine, I'm trying to avoid picking it up this close to the end of the month as it'll make for an expensive contribution in car tax for only a couple of days driving (for those not in the know, we pay tax by the month irrespective of the number of days left in that month).

See, this is my only concern. I'm about to collect an ISF in black with a cat-back valved exhaust (one side with last silencer, one side straight past the silencer), and typically I store my car rear first into a single garage. While the neighbours one side aren't there very much and are nearest the garage, the other side (an opposite I imagine) are probably not going to appreciate the cold start.

That was on a trial day. Current owner uses it as a daily steed. Has since had a valet give it a once over. Looks much nicer now. Not sure about the grille. Assuming you're referring to the bright trim, it looks painted when I zoom in.

Cheers, kind of figured this is where I'd end up. Now, is the Gold Membership worth it?

Quite excited really, after a few weeks / months of faffing, I've offloaded the S4 and have decided to head to V8 country. I'm taking on a private car that has been used, but looked after. Sure there are a couple of scuffs on the seats, but nothing I can't deal with. And a couple of chips on the front, but again, I'm sure they can be rectified. Full LSH, no warranty in place but I'll probably get one put on, 55k miles on the clock with the 60k service done. Summer tyres went on last year, winters in storage from 2 seasons ago and an active valved cat-back exhaust. Nice. Just need to sort his private plate off, original plate on, and timing so I don't spend a full months tax on a week of motoring. So some photos I suppose:

Dan, thanks for the offer, I'm only just into my latest term with the previous cars insurer, so it may be worth a jump, especially as it has a nodded exhaust.

I've sent them an enquiry.

The one in the firing line had its supercharger done in 2014, and has a BMW Extended Warranty in place. (The ISF is currently running with no warranty)

Slight, slight modification. I had a look at an XFR and just couldn't get excited about it. What I'm left with is the B5S and the ISF. The Alpina is a dealer car with full history, an extended BMW Warranty but so far unseen as its so far from me. There's something about it that just appeals, if you know what I mean. My wife thinks it'll get stolen, even in Edinburgh. My only concerns are reliability and a lack of occasion. The ISF is a private sale, full service history, no warranty but could have the Lexus one rebooted. It has a cat back valved exhaust, winter and summer tyres, interior is best described as 'used' (no rips or tears, but its a family car so the odd scuff from kids car seats). This has the reliability for 15k a year on the roads, and certainly has the sense of occasion. I know they're different classes of car, but given the two cars could be as much as £2k apart, I'm not sure so far. Plus the ISF is twice as much on insurance. Also, I'm not planning on heading to a track, but who knows. I know posting this on the Lexus forum is likely to lead to an expected conclusion, but I'm interested in WHY. So tell me why ISF?

It does.

It's 'mates rates' as our daughters are in the same class at school / he's a fellow PH-er / that's what he's been offered as PX. The exhaust is a custom one rather than off the shelf (active valve with remote). Given I'm Central Belt Scotland, the winters will be good and have had 2 seasons, the summers were last summer's addition. This or an Alpina B5S.....

It has a blue band at the bottom of the steering wheel.

I've got an option on a 2010 car with 54.5k for £20k (private), new summer tyres last year, winters too, plus a valved cat-back exhaust. Will need rear pads in couple of thousand miles, and possibly some wheel refurb. Drove really nice too. Only sticking point is getting a sensible sale for my current S4.

So, next element. Assuming you find, say, a 2010+ car with good history, a Lexus Warranty, and were OK with fuel/consumables. Is Lexus reliability OK to make this a 15k a year car?

Didn't think you could do remaps on these. Do tell.

What do you mean that financially it doesn't add up on a Lexus? Do you mean the warranty isn't worth it, or the opposite?

So with the above in mind, what factors are king when looking at these cars. 1) full service history (FLSH or is indie OK / feasible). 2) visible condition 3) 'feel' when driving 4) known weak spots to look for? 5) mileage (what is too much, what is telltale)

So, in advance of my finding local cars to try, is the post 2010 vehicle worth it over the pre-update? I'm coming from a Lotus Elise S and a non adaptive dynamic suspension S4.

I have no problem walking from any car really. Its more a case of getting into the mindset of knowledgeable owners as to what affects sales / purchases more

Does that not put it in the same category as something like a CatD; price affected by history? People live with them every day. Same deal as people nervous with 'high mileage'

Which does beg the question hownhe can say its gt FSH if everyone else disagrees. And while being a press car doesn't endear it to everyone I'm sure it will have been through a workshop or two to keep it ticking over. If it was just the 60k missing, I'd work with that and get them to service it before sale. I wonder what other services its missed. Front brakes I can change, they're just consumables. Rears would depend on how the rear brakes and the parking brake work together (I've had electronic ones that need computers to sort). What colour should the wheels be? And the elephant in the room being: does press car mean ragged to death or just higher mileage than normal. If it could shift to a Lexus warranty then surely it doesn't matter (subject to parts coverage). Not saying I'm going where others haven't, its just that someone will buy it I'm sure, but at what price/cost

So, looking to leave my Audi S4 behind, and am thinking an ISF might be an option. I'm a Pistonheader normally, but I'm sure I'm not the only one here that visits multiple fora. i was initially interested in this one: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501080018031 But it it was pointed out to me by GibletPH, it had been on sale for a while, several people had walked away, and that there was a question about the history (despite it being listed as FSH). Can anyone here shed any light?