twolexii

Hello all, fun reading this thread. Congratulations, Kevin and Steve, on your new V8 convertibles. My local dealer is Hedge End, they expect a demonstrator LC500 convertible in Spring, but unclear if it’s theirs or a Lexus press / pool car. They tell me that the UK launch specials have all been sold, in Blue & White Leather, the colours of my ‘03 SC430, with Bird’s Eye Maple. I drive it whenever possible at down to 8 degrees, metal folding top down, with the heater at up to 30d maximum and the seat heater on, windows up once at 70mph. I’m very lucky that my wife enjoys fresh air and isn’t fussed about her hair, but then she was an Ariel Leader biker in the 60’s. And I was a Mod, with a humungous Maicoletta large-wheeled 250cc two-stroke scooter with the then very rare oscillating 6v electric starter. Now a £5k collectible. At 8 degrees, I don’t miss the airscarf I had - and needed - on an ‘05 M-B SLK280 for 5 years and 30k miles. The SLK was more a sports car than the grand touring SC but the latter’s V8 very quiet steam-engine is like nothing I’ve driven before (bought the SC Jan2018 at 69k, now 81k, for a silly £6k given a full service history and an OCD owner). The only major repair since then: a frozen front calliper & so also had both new front discs & pads, 2020, all-in £1000, Lexus-supplied parts, fitted by my local engineer; else a replacement n/s door bass speaker (Huets in Shoreham) and a single TPMS sensor; only addition: a Nextbase dashcam; I have the original saucepan wheels though the car’s fitted with modern classic alloys and new-in-2018 very quiet Goodyears; all MoT’s with no advisories. Only fault: top up, clicking noises behind and above my right shoulder. I shall get that tintop issue dealt with when I find the right independent specialist. Until then, all the more reason to drive, silently, top-down, a modern classic. As I also care for my wife’s VW ‘13 245bhp diesel auto Touareg, a VW ‘09 Scirocco 158bhp 6speed GTi-clone, my ‘07 GS450h 5.9secs to 60 Q-car, I shall, unless that BIG Premium Bond prize arrives, wait, all else being equal, for a ‘21 pre-owned Blue/White LC500 Sport+ V8 soft-top. Though I could be convinced to buy a Sport+ soft-top demonstrator sooner if a Dark Blue / White appears. When normal times return later this year, how about an SC / LC convertibles meet-up somewhere in SE UK?

Thank you Alistair, very useful, I shall do the same as my Lexus dealer wants £144 to diagnose then c.£100 per required and fitted sensor, and £72 to recalibrate the system. I’m told today by my local test centre that, if fitted with TPMS, a pre-2012 car will pass its MoT inspection with NO related advisory, despite the TPMS warning light being on.

Thank you Steve. It’s far too good a car to worry about it, and amazing value for £4-5k.

My otherwise faultless 96k 07 GS450h is due for its MoT by 14 Feb. The tyres’ Check System message has recently appeared as well as the triangle and flashing light. My engineer’s going to spend time on solving the problem and believes that the MoT inspection won’t be affected given the car’s age, whether or not he solves it. The car’s previous owner had the same problem, that only Lexus could, EXPENSIVELY, solve. With two visits as they first failed to correctly reset ALL the car’s systems. My instinct: TPMS is a pain in the proverbial, as it was an issue I had to get fixed on a previous, otherwise fine, GS450h that I owned. I carry a digital tyre pressure monitor (I’m told by my tyre specialist, with his own GS450h, that’s the most accurate measure AND that only Lexus can help with fixing TPMS). I’m fine checking the 4 pressures every 2 top-ups. Yes I know TPMS will warn me if, say, there’s a slow air leak. But I’ve been driving since 1963 and can feel when a car’s ride’s compromised. Also, TPMS relies on an eventually dying mercury battery in each tyre’s sensor/transmitter. SO, does anyone know how to dispense with TPMS altogether, as it makes an otherwise fine touring vehicle cum-muscle-car bothersome. And is a ready source of easy profit to the dealerships. Many thanks.

Yesterday I over-inflated the tyres on my SC430, from 33 to 35 psi: the ride’s slightly harder but that seems to have solved the top-up noise by my right shoulder. Too good for such a simple change to be true? No noise top-down.

Twizy HPI showed a scam. Well-worth the £10. Still looking for that LS600h L RSR.

Sublime to the Minimalist. Subject to HPI & viewing/test-drive, a Twizy being delivered (charges in 3.5hours from its built-in 13Amp socket, for 60 miles range). AND keep the elegant SC430 and the stupendous GS450h. AND the ever-so-sensible Touareg.

Funny! Sorry you missed out on moving to Monacco! I'm sure I'm a snob, I never look at ebay for cars. Autotrader's fine. pistonheads' sellers think their steeds are worth too much - or don't really want want to sell and are reacting to domestic pressure, as in "why do you need 2 cars, you can only drive one at a time?".

Hello, Please contact me if you have that model for sale, or know of one for sale, with RADAR (active) cruise control, NOT the spindle-front. Thank you

The good news, Neil, is that they had plenty of work when I took the SC430 for my booked appointment. Peter's an enthusiast. Will go back when safer for the '07 GS450h to add an iPod cable, music Bluetooth, DAB, remote control and a front dashcam. BTW, the '07 LS600h L RSR I was negotiating on fell through as the dealer was too ambitious. If someone has that specific model (year less important) to sell with 80k miles or less, in a DARK colour with cream, white or grey interior (and radar cruise control), please let me know. Thank you.

BTW, I'd like to recommend Peter Huets Audio in Shoreham for their excellent service in fitting replacement speakers to the doors of my '03 SC430, at the price originally quoted despite the extra time it took - the speakers they hoped to fit would not - and fitting my supplied front-dashcam for a reasonable additional fee. The old speakers' rubber surround between their metal frame and the paper cone had perished.

Thanks Thomas, is it your videos of your blue SC430 on YouTube? I'll go see my tyre specialist-cum-mechanic next week. My instinct, affirmed by my engineer, as the intermittent clacking noise is from above my right shoulder, is that the tintop needs adjusting: the ride is excellent and quiet, when top-down. What a unique piece of reliable engineering this car is, for £6k. If I'm right, does anybody know of a competent independent who I could entrust the tintop to, in London or UK South East? Thanks, and a Happy New Year to All. BTW am negotiating for a 3rd Lexus, an LS600h... Keeping the '07 GS450h 96k, a fabulous driver's Q-car (a discreet muscle car) limousine, averaging 28mpg. Again, what value for £5k.

Hi Thomas, my bodywork craftsman got rid of the noise (that only occurred when the top was up) by applying a light smear of silicon grease to the moving parts of the folding mechanism. Then the ride (on our awful Sussex back roads) deteriorated. Some of the tyre pressures were low - upping them to correct level of 33psi got rid of the poor ride. To be fair, my benchmark is an ‘07 96k GS450h with brand new Goodyear SportMaxx, very quiet tyres. Now clacking noises (not squeaks) behind me at my right shoulder have just reappeared. Three thoughts: 1. over-inflate the tyres slightly, 2. ask my tyre fitter for his advice, it could simply be that the SC’s tyres are old and hard, despite having plenty of tread. 3. are the original shock absorbers tired? But the recent MoT had no advisories. Overall, like me, the SC needs a holiday in the sun. It’s a clean machine...

Neil: your badly-treated 150+k miles SC430 that’s gained a little power reminds me. After a once every couple of months long run of a return 70 miles, at a steady 80mph when safe, accelerating effortlessly and silently for short spurts as necessary, my 80k ‘03 car sounds different on arrival. If it was a horse, I’d say it’s enjoyed the ride and looks forward to fresh hay in a warm stable. The next day, it’s a bit noisier on start-up, but then settles to its normal even beat. Could be that the exhaust system is showing its age...Or simply that I don’t use the car enough (11k in 34 months) which is back to your point about low usage meaning faster degradation. But I have to share my miles with my discreet GS450h muscle car. Still looking for a GS430.

There’s just one Blue/black leather, expensive at £11,445 86k for an ‘06/85k, on Autotrader. Check MoT history to see if it’s been cared for and ask to be sent bills for work done, before driving over to Biggleswade for a test drive

Interesting article today in the Sunday Telegraph about a jounalist impulse-buying a £15k TVR during Spring lockdown, much against his colleagues’ and friends’ advice. This would have been my comment in response: sorry about the mismatched font sizes... The 2001 TVR £15k? How about a 2003 80k miles £6k Lexus SC430? A quiet, renowned, V8, 32valves vvt-i, with 282bhp and Torque of 282. Rear-wheel-drive, imperceptible slush-box or sequential changes, with wishbones all-round. 0-60 in 6.2secs + 155mph. 24mpg. Coupe OR metal unfolding Convertible. Superb Audio and voice/music Bluetooth. Creamy heated/cooled leather armchairs for two, plus two (for young children) or soft luggage. THE unique Continental tourer. That quietly leaves others standing in its rear view mirror. After driving 60 years, when safe, faultless, fun and comfort are now uppermost, THE best ever.

Still too lazy to learn how to cut & paste prior posts... Roy of the Rovers: Last week, my ‘07 GS450h, 95K, [ bought privately Oct20 at £4.5k (Neimann Marcus Edition L8T lilac-blue-silver / grey hot&cold interior leather / black wood) ] had its Hybrid check/warranty; replaced 8-yrs-old cracked cheapies with Dunlop Sports Maxx 69db; full service with the aircon glovebox filter (got rid of a strange smell) and headlamps / fog lights polished. Total spend: £789 to-date. And 1200 smooth, muscle-car accelerative, miles. Love the Adaptive Cruise Control, had it before on an ‘08 GS450h I made the mistake of selling when I got an ‘07 102k LS600h L RSR (sold after 7 months, it felt like a chauffeur’s limo about to cost me a fortune). Music next GS project: I prefer the wide bandwidths of Radio3 & Classic FM, with sometime Radio4 & Smooth FM. Next, use a tape-cassette cleaner. The CD player’s excellent, as are the Mark Levinson amp/speakers. I’ll look at Grom as I have a big 60’s/70’s collection on an iPod. And DAB mildly-useful for LBC when I drive to the smoke. One slight fault, in what is an otherwise superb machine: if the shade over the closed sunroof is left open for more light, there’s an intermittent slight creak on all roads. The body/paint craftsman of 60 years’ experience will know how to make that vamoose. Lexus last week thought there was a slight leak from the aircon condenser; and possibly a tiny oil leak from a seal. My independent engineer didn’t think either needed attention and there’s a marine metal-works that can braze aluminium if necessary. I enjoy working with craftsmen that repair rather than replace - and have the experience to know when to leave well alone. But I’m conscious that shock absorbers and exhaust are eventually wear items. I share my 10k miles a year with my ‘03 SC430 - most of those miles are Roy’s “going to the Orkneys’ sweet-shop”. Am researching Toyota’s luxurious Mirai - hydrogen fuel cells are next. Won’t touch Tesla’s expensive unreliable junk. If I want an Apple, I buy the cheap, powerful, iPhone SE with O2. But Tesla’s competitors, Kia E-Niro the best with 7yrs’ / 100k warranty, are coming up on the inside.

Hi Ian, it would be valuable to members to know the solution to your GS430 transmission issue. Thanks, Manuel

Hi Ian, An ‘05 LS430 with up to 100k miles is c. £5k from a dealer. The SC430 is rarer and less gargantuan. So that implies a private sale value for your GS430 of c. £4.5K, dependent on its MoT and service histories, exterior and interior condition, and life left in the tyres. The transmission issue: my instinct, as you’ve checked that there’s no coolant in the transmission, is premature wear to a ‘box that’s probably designed for more than 1/4 million miles. Could an earlier owner have been too eager with the sequential shifter? A local transmission specialist is worth talking to next, ask Honest John to suggest a credible firm. Try also the Lexus independent mechanics near Southampton. Best wishes for the car’s sale. Manuel

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I’ll talk to the Master-craftsman who looks after our cars, for his instinctive & experienced diagnosis. Can you PM me & we can discuss offline...Thanks.

Hello Ian, what is your sale price as-is, for collection post 2Dec20 and payment by bank transfer? Thank you, Manuel

Strange, the Autumn weather has dealt with the SC430's squeaky noises. I've deferred Peter Huets' SC430 replacement speakers until after 2 December. Full service and Hybrid check for the GS450h are next week. Am in addition looking for a well-looked-after GS430 as a lazy classic Q-car.

Peter Huets’ come back with a very reasonable replacement of the two doors’ quality oval bass speakers, all-in at £250, including about 2 hours installation. Will get back, Neil, with the outcome, mid-November.

Slightly left-of-field for this SC430 forum, I'm on my third Lexus hybrid, '08 GS450h (sold by mistake) LS600h L RSR (great fun for the grandkids but un-necessary) now '07 95k GS450h. I've liked all 3, excellent long-life engineering. Yes my local Lexus dealer is very helpful, with its low-cost £59 annual Hybrid Certificate & accompanying 12 months battery warranty. They do not divulge voltage & capacity readings, let alone individual cell condition. I assume they plug-in a multi-function display-scanner into the car's OEBD socket, the latter that even my '03 has, and is useful for plugging in a solar panel for days away from base. My point: is there a reliable, affordable, scanner that the enthusiast can buy? Must be a lot less messy than changing oils. My concern, the bars on the '07 GS450H hybrid capacity screen vary considerably, though steady-state after 2 or so miles is 2 bars below the top, whilst mpg averages just below 35. My Hondas '09 3.5L V6 petrol Legend averaged 26mpg, so the hybrid system saves considerable fuel. Any thoughts? Thank you.