Chappy2121

Sounds like you had a bit of a run around to say the least. I had a similar experience years ago with Seat, never again. I'll stick to old cars. Sometimes they can put dye in to trace a leak, I'd say they didn't pressure it up enough, most of the components are aluminum on cars so you can't braze them up unlike older copper components. Mine still has a sightglass but it's so old you can't see anything. I'm still not sure why the government haven't changed the regs on those re-charge places it's even more worrying anyone can go into a Halfords and bung gas into a leaking A/C system, especially when Greta et al are trying to blame everyone's cars. 🤔. I'd definitely recommend taking it to an A/C or Fridge engineer if you have issues again.

Apologies I didn't make myself very clear, I was trying to say about the experience of Vtec and VVti is different as in the sensation whilst driving. The Vtec engagement in my Ep3 CTR was very smooth but the VVti on my 1jz Crown I have currently is almost like you've taken the handbrake off and gained 100hp, it is very brutal. I understand both the technologies is just a way of getting more flexibility out of an engine by changing the valves operation, be it lift or duration.

Hi just noticed your post, apologies if it seems I'm intruding. Did they not pressure test it initially, as it is actually illegal to add certain refrigerants to a leaking system. Always makes me wonder about those places that offer a re-gas. Getting to the condensers can be a bit of a faff, ideally they want to be replacing the drier, usually built into the condensers these days and giving the system what's known as a triple-vac just to make sure there's no moisture in the system. Might be worth trying a local refrigeration or a/c engineer if there's one about your way? Cheers

No danger, enjoy. They're properly capable despite their large size, and very quick for what they are. The vvti on them is quite a different experience to the Honda vtec I've found. Take it easy 👍. Stick some pictures on when you pick her up

Hi all hope everyone's OK, despite all the madness. Thought I'd just put an update on, as I've had the VX just over a year now and about 7k miles. Had a run down to Cornwall in it a few weeks ago, then across to Skeg then back home 700-800miles and didn't miss a beat. Economy on the run about 35ish mpg which I don't think is too bad usually get about 23mpg. I've had to replace plugs, leads and coil packs as a preventative measure, done myself, cylinder 6 was a stretch to say the least. Also replaced the A/C comp as it was not pumping, refurbed one from a place down south with a years warranty £300, got it fitted during an oil change then I commissioned it myself, (fridge engineer is my day job) ice cold now best vehicle A/C I've ever used. Had a weep on powersteering res hose, flushed it and nipped the clip. Still not seen another one on the road either. Can highly recommend if you can find one. Cheers

Nice. Always surprises me how massive the doors are. Don't they have some sort of cantilever hinge arrangement to open them in tight spaces?

Hi All, lovely cars them Soarers nearly pulled the trigger on a later 1jz vvti one last year, but finding a manual one for decent money is difficult these days. I got a Crown VX instead been faultless in the year I've had it

Hi there just found this, I've recently bought a crown athlete and was wondering how yours has been if you still have it. How've you found getting the radio ect swapped out. Look forward to hearing from you cheers Ash

Just had a scan through this thread regarding grounding the battery. Is that the main battery or the one for the hybrid side of things? I'm in no means an electrical expert but working in the refrigeration industry for the past 10 years we have some very complex electronics on supermarket pack systems. I.e. invertor driven comps, and rule of thumb thinking doesn't always work so to speak. I would do as lexus say then at least you have a fallback if something goes off with it. I've had issues where the slightest wrong voltage has caused major issues with controllers ect that were designed for a specific voltage ect. Do they not do specific hybrid trickle chargers?

This one I understand is the only 1 in the UK, and with it being a VX version is one of only 300 made. There is a crown athlete v in Grimsby now not too far from me. Yeah they do look like that era merc and lexus many people have said. I wouldn't fancy running any german metal from that era to be honest I cant imagine how many issues I'd have. Everything on this works. Drivers folding mirror gets stuck intermittently so I need to look at that. Hard to believe it's done 76k miles

Sorry to here about this sounds like you got misled that's for sure. My mums other half works in vehicle body work and they get cars brand new off the ferry needing major body work and repainting and that's from a number of different manufacturers VAG, BMW, KIA/HYUNDAI ect. I recently bought a 19 years old jap import toyota crown and paid the RAC to inspect it as I take these descriptions people give witha pinch of salt, as perfect to one might be a dog to another. With the inspection you get a very detailed report and also a sort of warranty with regards to some components and it's only about £250 I paid if I remember

There was an athlete v for sale on Ebay recently about 40k kms. Only about 5-6k a lot of car for the money. Mine has loads of kit, satnav and tv japanese and not working think it's the aerial needs upgrading to digital. DVD,minidisk, tapedeck and CD player all standard. Electric seats, auto windows all round, heated folding mirrors, dual climate control. Amazong really for the age, oh and the all important swinging air vents. All cars should have this

He even did behind the arch liners. He mentioned he didn't have to do barely any prep at all due to it being so clean

These are during the underseal that I got done with the valeter

Here you go guys. It really is immaculate, barely wear at all. Minor damage to the door card where it meets the door sill, looks like the seatbelt has been caught at some point. Just got it back last night from valeters and underseal. Even the "japanese blue wood" looks cool. Only mods I've found are the auto turbo timer, and some random Jap thinks on the dash but that's it. Got a marker light on the bonnet coming from Japan as one is dim