GMB

I have been pleasantly surprised at how "nice" the dealers are when taking the car for a service. Only minor niggles but they are a bit expensive and like to advise replacement of, what I consider, only part-worn items such as tyres with 5 mm left on them. Compared with going to a Ford dealership recently I got the impression that I was in their ( Ford service staff ) way and was taking up their valuable time. One unpleasant result from a visit to Ford years ago was when I took the car to a specialist after visiting Ford for the last time after warranty and the very professional chap - The great Peter West of Westune asked who was the last person to touch the car as four of the six spark plugs were cross threaded. It must have been the apprentice at the Ford garage. One nice thing from Lexus is the follow-up phone call to check that everything is OK, which it usually is.

Going back to reliable v8s. Scotty's video shows one still OK at 700,000 miles! Hers a clip from a post on the forum by Nigel: he American Scotty Kilmer does some entertaining, funny and informative YouTube videos. He also owns Lexus cars himself. Below is a link to a scary but yet at the same time somewhat reassuring video on an extremely high mileage SC430 confirming the importance - as we all know - of a regular timing belt and water pump change ultimately resulting in a Lexus SC430 (albeit very tatty) still running at 698,760 miles (see 2.19 in video). See Nigel's clip for the video.

It was not whingeing. It was an intelligent conversation. I came to the conclusion that the dealers are doing an "ostrich" tactic and just won't get it until it hits their pockets.

I agree. The new beatles song is just more boring old claptrap and John Lennon's voice is not very well done. The stones return to their cockney roots does not work either. If you want that then the brilliant Ian Dury fits the bill. The only artist that I can think of that never got boring is Frank Zappa. If you can get past the vulgar lyrics his musical talent is astonishing. Blooody Mues was always commercial and shmaltzy apart from their first few records. Peter Hamill from VDG has an interesting follow up career but it still sounds like VDG classic style. Re-visited diesel and dust/midnight oil/ beds are burning. Very apt lyrics and music from a talented band.

While waiting for my car to be serviced I mentioned the Insurance price rises and asked them if sales had been affected by the problem and the canbus fears. The response I got was quite dismissal and that they don't really see any issues and no they are not really affected. I must admit that I found their response puzzling.

This blue one looks genuine on first impressions. Mileage a bit high but still 100,000/13 is still only 7500 miles per yr. MOT history shows the usual minor things but nothing stands out as odd. If the service history checks out and it gets a clean bill of health from the lexus garage check then it might be a good one for £17-18K provided no consumables need replacing e.g. tyres, brakes, bushes. Needs the usual checks on the radiator, leaks suspension, manifold, bushes etc but Lexus should advise that on their health check. Scotty whatshisname reckons the Toyota/Lexus V8 and auto gearbox/diff is good for 240K miles without serious wear and tear, but it all depends on how it has been treated. Lexus IS F 5.0 V8 Auto Euro 4 4dr 2010 (10 reg) £18,950

I can understand a 15 yr old being able to drive a Lexus, especially with the auto gearbox and a few cushions, but 4 yr old I can't see it myself.🤔

To me that says "FLEE"

It's funny isn't it when you look at something and speculate on the background. If I were looking at the car I get the impression that the last owner was a boy racer. Other things that put me off - The English flag on the number plate, the bits of carbon extra trim, the unequal mileage history in the MOT records. I checked my car and the centre console looks the same OEM to me. Someone has changed or stuck a carbon plastic sticker over the start button. Carbon sticker over door sill. They do not show the engine bay - What is wrong there? My gut reaction would be to walk away, but who knows, it may have been loved and the last owner just had bad taste? I would invest in a Lexus expert to have a proper look at it first. If you go and look at it please let us know what your impressions are. Call the last Lexus dealer service record and ask about the service history.

My two pennys worth: It looks like the right one BUT It's too cheap - why? One side of the car does not match the other side - have a look. Mileage check and MOT check shows the last owner used it a lot and maybe not too nicely? FLSH ? F sport carbon trim on the door - does not compute. Tread carefully.

That's a very good point, plus, maybe some cars are easier to convert to UK spec than others. Just be aware of the potential problems and check it out. I think the issue is made worse when that particular Japanese model is not exported to the UK. Even if he could get the UK parts for the Subaru which is very unlikely, they will be very expensive as the dashboard elements are integrated into the computer system. He just enjoys it as it is even though it is limited to 100 mph or thereabouts. The acceleration is not affected up to the limited max speed. and Yes the massive drainpipe exhausts are standard!

Wait for a 2011/12 with proper LSD and the single rev counter arrangement plus a few other improvements that I am not sure of. The single rev/speedo is a big giveaway clue. Mine is now SORNed and I would like to sell it and get some dosh but I just can't bear to part with it. It will probably be back on the road by May 2024. BEWARE...........There are a few so called "facelift" models out there but in my opinion they are not true later facelift cars. I also have doubts about imports. My son has a fantastic Subaru Legacy with the right engine in it but the problems with the Japanese setup/displays/limiters/ pollution control etc cannot be overcome. Best of luck! BTW bought mine 3 yrs ago £21K Value now possibly £27??? 62K miles and absolutely spot on perfect according to the lexus garage. This is correct

I had a Rover P6 V8 which had Ziebart rust prevention. The great bit was that when all the metal had rusted away the black ziebart stuff held the car together. The final death throes of the car were when the "de dion" rear axle parted company with the body as the mounting bolts had rusted away. Now that was an interesting drive. As the axle was departing, at first, I thought " it seems icy, the car is skidding a bit" then all hell broke loose. Sold it to a mate for £500, he just wanted the engine for a project.

I would not have an EV anyway. The confrontations in the supermarket car park at charging stations put me off. Insurance bad news. Lack of spares, emerging new battery technologies mean your old one is worthless, second hand values, risks of setting your house on fire and so on... Finally no character.

All I can say is that I have got two Lexus cars - see how I avoided the plural - and they are the best cars I have ever had. No problems whatsoever. 100% perfect, even the 11 yr old ISF. Dealer has been great. Just had one serviced and MOT'd. As usual absolutely no problems. It is truly a lottery buying a second hand car - any car - and most of the issues depend on how the car has been treated in the past.

reminds me of an old Yiddish joke, which as usual is a bit long in setting the scene, but the essence of it is about the bigheaded arab chappie who rides around town on his camel wearing his best outfit. BTW the male camel is very well endowed. The crowds see him every day and he hears them complement his beautiful camel and he is so proud to be the owner, until one day a friend advises him that when they are saying look at the d*ck on that camel they actually mean him.

Hah! That's nothing. Here's a picture of me 150 years ago. 4 foot 7 and 300Kg. I recommend pies.

Calling the Forum Moderator. Pleas censor the above as it is putting horrible images in my mind and I am starting to have a nervous fit.

Hey Stephen I hope you are joking. We don't want to lose you. Meths contains 10% methanol ( and other nasties such as acetone ) which will kill you or blind you. The best illegal solution is absolute alcohol which is 99% pure ethanol. Better and cheaper and safer than Vodka. Only sold to industry. Tried it once and it needs diluting otherwise it will remove any skin on contact. A nice accompaniment is a solvol autosol butty with a few prawns. Much nicer than Philadelphia cheese. If you want to be safe just use the above nasties for cleaning things.🤪 BTW I remember the scandal years ago when some Austrian winemakers were prosecuted for putting anti-freeze in their wines ( ethylene glycol ) to improve the "body" of the acidic wines. They do not do it now and Austrian wines can be very good if a bit expensive.

It looks like a harley shovelhead engine that someone has stuck an extra cylinder on. | Harley-Davidson Triple Shovelhead: Tracking Down a Long-Lost Treasure (ironandair.com) Here's another: Brian Keating: It is an oddity for sure, and one that doesn’t jump out at you right away. It sneaks up on you. At first, it looks like a crusty FX Shovelhead. It’s like a queen or king in a peasant’s clothing perhaps. It started out as a 1982 Harley-Davidson FXE model. But with the additional cylinder, the machine work that needed to be done, and removal of the original serial and VIN number, it is considered a custom – a creation by the late, great Bobby Labrie. Alan Millyard is the expert in adding cylinders. Kawa 3 turned into a 5 Kawa 900 turned into a 6

New engine! BTW I have a lexus ISF with a VERY loud exhaust. Two neighbours think it sounds beautiful. The others hate me. Now that I have a harley we are down to one appreciative neighbour ( obviously a man of taste ) likes the sound. The others don't speak to me anymore????

I 've seen the adverts. It's angry lawyers.com. I like the W naval symbol T shirt. I'm sure my wife got me one of those just after we got married?. The bad news is that now it is cats on boats. DOH!

BTW Rant number two: The only transport that is suited to three cylinder engines are motorbikes. Kawasaki KH, BSA Rocket and Triumph Trident etc. The only reason for that is that they take up less space and cost less to make than a four cylinder. But they do sound nice at full belt. Otherwise they are overstressed in a car, especially a heavyweight object. They won't last.

Just been to a lexus showroom today. Most of the new models look like they would be more at home in a tarts bedroom than on the road. Not that I would know what a tarts bedroom looks like.🙄

Many years ago I used to commute to Manchester and park all day in the car park near Salford station until one day the attendant who was there full time warned me that some "people" had been "inspecting" my car and would probably be a good idea not to park here anymore. I kept the Audi 200turbo at home and bought an old green polo for commuting from then on. I think the VW green colour was called exorcist vomit green. Anyway, no-one went near it and even I could not stand the thing, but it was unbreakable.