Nick W858

Great purchase - welcome - you will never regret buying an LS400

Hi Konstantinos We purchased our 2011 RX 450h at three years old with 70k miles on the clock, four years and 45k miles later, other than regular servicing and consumables it has been as good as gold. My wife intends to keep the car until it dies so will be interesting to see how we get on with it but given what we have seen so far, I do not have any doubt it will be a reliable long term car.

Yes my wife had a Boxster way back in 2001 - lucky enough to have it as a company car and also with a fuel card and we did 130k miles in it over four years and it never missed a beat, it was the 2.7 tip which all the journos slag off but it was just fine, very basis spec to keep the monthly contributionabove the co car allowance down but was a lovely steer and I do like a convertible and have toyed with perhaps a Boxster next although some seem to view it as a step down from the 911 and not a proper Porsche etc but for me the Boxster was more fun and easier to drive quickly than the 911- perhaps that's more of a reflection of my driving skills than the ability of the cars. Anyhow if I am going for another cabriolet next time and want to stick with Lexus it's going to have to be an SC430!

Agree thanks both, I suspect the perceived or otherwise desirability of both Porsche and JLR products tends to outweigh the ownership issues that some (not all) owners will face, each individual I guess will have their own tolerance levels of what they will or not put up with which will dictate the length of ownership and repeat purchase of the marque. Big Rat I suspected you knew this after your first Porsche purchase but the 'pull' was enough to lure you back on five more occasions which perhaps explains the desirability factor. I knew what I was going into when I purchased the 911 and have read enough horror stories to know what could happen and the costs involved, hence why the warranty was so important to me. As you say DAW, I also just feel it's wrong/unacceptable that they cannot sort out the common faults but it's their business so not much I can do. Once I have had my fun/experience it will be F number three for me and on the positive side the pull of the marque means that there will be plenty of other people out there wanting to experience the 911 and the demand for the right cars also means that the depreciation will be extremely minimal, not unlike the F cars so it is not all bad news in terms of the 911 ownership experience.

Agree, they have a lot of qualities but when you dig under the surface there are some very significant issues that Porsche seem quite keen to suppress for obvious reasons and the general motoring press will rarely pick up on as they are usually just testing brand new models and are more interested in how the car performs at speed and so on rather than the longer term ownership proposition. I guess if you are wealthy enough to buy a new one every couple of years then these issues don't impact you or if they do, the everything is done under warranty and you get a lovely courtesy car while your car is getting fixed. This seems to be quite similar to what I read about Landrovers, I really like the FF Range Rovers but running one out of warranty would be a nerve wracking and a potentially financially ruinous experience and that doesn't seem to be the case with Japanese cars and of course we know from our own experience of the F performance cars that generally speaking you are on very sold ground in terms of the ownership experience, and when you combine this with strong dealer service then for many it will make for more of a satisfying ownership experience even though you may feel that initially you are 'compromising' on the choice of car you purchase.

Yes I know they all do it, Lexus included and they do have a business to run, just wish they would be a bit more subtle with it given it was only inspected by them 500 miles ago. I expect the avalanche of jobs will come at the next service/warranty renewal in November so will start saving now!

Thanks Big Rat - fortunately all under warranty - seems it can cost between £7 and £14k so the warranty is definitely worthwhile and does take away the paranoia. They did make me laugh when they were were inspecting the car as the technician filmed it and sent me the video, they mentioned perhaps looking at the wheel alignment and rear discs yet this was on a car that only 500 miles ago passed a Porsche 111 point inspection with flying colours and no mention of any issues whatsoever. I do understand why people put up with the niggles, took it out for a rapid countryside run yesterday in the sunshine and it does have some fantastic qualities but obviously they can be a a bit high maintenance.

Seems like they are not quite as robust as you would expect. My 911 may need a new PDK gearbox - mind you it has done a ‘massive’ 38k miles!

Oh yes that was always in the plan unless Porsche wowed me which so far they have not, I haven't really left Lexus anyway other than losing the ISF, still have the trusty old LS400 and the Rx450h, was always planning to come back with another ISF although it looks like it might have to be RCF looking at all the other members that have made the switch!

No point in being the richest guy in the cemetery. That said you do need to keep enough back to eat and pay your bills!

Ha, thanks, does look like one of those things you can get as much pleasure from either polishing it or riding it

Thanks guys, obviously there are bigger problems in the world to worry about but I am just a bit sad to find what I was expecting really, from previous forums I have read info on it does seem like there are very few dealers that are really rated and non are near me, as its under warranty I have to use the OPC. I was never really planning to keep the car long term and I have even less desire to now although that Cayenne was seriously tempting. The other thing I am reflecting on is that outside of usual service, my Lexus cars have not required any additional visits to the garage, at the next check up the 911 will have been in three times in 5 months although that's partly down to the ineptness of the dealer. I have been lucky with Lexus Hull and it's obviously a better feeling when you have established a relationship. To put a film/tv analogy on the experience, if walking into Lexus Hull is like stepping into Cheers bar, the Porsche dealership was more like the scene in American Werewolf in London when the guys walk into the pub in the middle of Dartmoor! I'm sure once they sort the car out and the sun is shining I will probably feel a bit different.

I'm more of a sports bike fan but it does look lovely - don't your arms ache after a bit though?

By coincidence, bumped into the colleague in London today who lent me her 911 last summer for two weeks. She purchased and uses (or used to use) the Leicester OPC but after a ton of issues with the car and the dealer she’s given up on them. My nearest dealer is Nottingham but I have only heard bad things about them too. Nearest Indy is Zentrum who I have heard good things about but while under warranty I have to use OPC and I don’t really want to run the car outside of the warranty.

First chance to compare the two brands after taking the 911 in for a check on an oil leak that was identified at the warranty inspection Dec 2017 before I bought the car. Idea was to wait three months /500 miles after the test in Dec then they would know what it was and would fix it (under warranty). The booking process felt like a bit of an interrogation, insinuating that the warranty may not have been transferable if I hadpurchased from a trader - this was not the case as to was private sale and I registered everything with Porsche correctly. Then there was the matter of the £10 cost to cover insurance on the courtesy car plus 15p per mile fuel charge. - no big deal but I have never paid anything at Lexus. Then I was told there would be a full inspectionof the bodywork of my car and the courtesy car to check for damage etc before the swap - again no big deal but have never felt the need to do is at Lexus but I understand it's probably best thing to do. Staff at dealership were ok but not overly friendly, again perhaps because I'm new at the dealers it wil feel different to Lexus Hul whom I have used for years, what I notice in Lexus dealers is that all staff happy to smile, acknowledge you etc, in Porsche nobody did! Then I was told that they would not review and repair the 911 this time but again they needed to coat the engine and gearbox in some special liquid and then I would have to return again in three months /500 miles - I was annoyed this would involve more inconvenience to me. On the plus side the 67 plate Cayenne v8 4.2 diesel was epic, almost 400bhp and 627lb of torque, amazing performance, handling, noise and economy. End of day one 515 I missed call from the dealer but the voicemail said here till 6pm and I dialled 545 but service manager was not available to take the call. I was working today (day two) in meetings until 1pm with no ability to take calls. At 1pm I had 5 voicemails from the service manager all saying call me urgently etc, also had emails and texts too, I thought my car must have exploded or been stolen! I called the dealer but despite the urgency he was not available, I rang again until I got hold of him and asked what the urgency was and explained that if he had taken or returned my call last night then we could have discussed whatever the issue was. Turns out my 911 is fine other than I need to take it back in 500 miles but they really needed my loan car back ASAP as they had mistakenly given me a car that another dealer needed to show a customer. Bit of an issue as I was up in Newcastle and the car was at the train station in Nottinghamshire - they said they would meet me at the station on car park to swap then later that changed to they would come to my house which they did at 730pm. To top it all, when I got the torch out to look round my car (it was dark)I found four or five new clusters of small scratches on various parts of the bodywork that were not there when I left the car, the service manager said the technicians are not allowed zips on their overalls but the marks look like they are from finger nails or jewellery/tools etc and again I have never felt the need to check round my car at Lexus and I am not OCD about my cars generally but the 911 is black, I clean it every week and it was immaculate three months ago when I bought it and I know every mark on the bodywork and when the service manager checked it over when I took it in, he admitted it was spotless. The service manager took some photos and said they would machine polish the car when it goes in next but the whole experience has left me a little disillusioned to say the least. As I said perhaps I am biased or perhaps it is because I have been spoilt at Lexus but I am really not impressed. Sad as it sounds, despite the brilliant courtesy car, I would take the Ct200 along with the great service every day of the week!

That's a healthy budget. I think you also have a sensible approach with the colour, I had no preference and fell 'lucky' with first one which was white and didn't really want a silver one which I got next but I bought on condition and to be honest they look great in all colours and the silver grew on me really quickly. I too would have preferred a newer one as my first was 09 and my second 08 but again I wouldn't get too hung up on the year either. I will be back for third time lucky at some point in the not too distant future and I know it's easy to say but knowing what I know now, I am confident I will find the right one regardless of age/colour/mileage. For me, it's probably the vibe I get from the owner that's most important, both mine were private buys and both previous owners were great - very trustworthy and had integrity, hopefully the people that subsequently bought them from me would say the same.

I agree with the point that Rayaans makes, I have bought and sold two ISFs privately, both were high mileage but both were in very good condition and with full service history, under my ownership the mileage increased but the service history was maintained and in one case the warranty was added, the average purchase price I paid for the two cars was around the £15k mark and the average selling price was around the £14k mark so over about three years I lost about £2k. During the same period I have a friend who has owned a RR Sport and an S class Merc. - both second hand and both obviously newer than the ISF but in the same period I lost £2k he has lost £30k. You will know when you find the right car at the right price, until then, patience is your friend.

Beautiful, I love the colour. Looking forward to your thoughts.

Agree it could be done for less, as I said the company car allowance and tax savings make it more tenable. Once the warranty expires and as the car gets even older with even higher mileage then it will make more financial sense to look for independent servicing, I have a very good local mechanic on my doorstep who looks after my LS400 who will probably take over the maintenance. He doesn't make nice coffee or leave a tin of Lexus mints in the glovebox but the cost savings will be worth it.

Congratulations, beautiful car, you will love it.

Yes I have used Hull for 15 years as it’s my hometown and I take the opportunity to visit family and friends and I have had really great service from the team and got to know them very well. It’s always a pleasure to visit them, so much so that I don’t even mind paying the bill! Was talking to them yesterday about borrowing their LC500 next time I’m over there which they seemed ok with.

Took my wife's 2011 RX 450H into Lexus Hull yesterday for its 100 K service the car has done 110 K although I can't quite remember why we didn't do the 100K service last time. Anyway got a nice surprise when I went to swap some gear over from her car to the courtesy car, there was a white CT 200 parked outside and I'd picked up a key fob assuming the CT would open up, however nothing happened but I did notice further down the line a white RX 450 F sport on a 67 plate opening up which was a nice start to my day. It seems from a dealer there's been a few high mileage RXs in this week none of them with any real issues. The service was a little pricey at £645, some additional expense at the 100k service is with the change of the coolant I believe. Looking back now over the four years we have had a car I can see we have spent around £3600 on maintenance this includes new tyres, brakes and so on. There has also an additional spend of £1000 on a two year warranty I guess given that our period of ownership has now covered 40,000 miles that that's probably a period when you can expect some significant bills in terms of things going wrong or needing replacing on the car so for me that's not an amount I am unhappy with. When I factor in my wife's car allowance she receives from work plus the benefit in kind saving coupled with the fact that the vehicle is so nice to drive we are pretty happy and I guess for anyone looking to purchase one of these cars secondhand this might give you a decent indication of what the running costs are likely to be. My wife's intention is to keep the car for as long as possible I guess the next decision at the end of the warranty will be to whether we remain within the dealer network or get servicing done more locally at somewhere independent. Naturally I was impressed with the courtesy car and some colleagues from work who I met met up with were particularly impressed with the looks. It did drive and ride a bit better than my wife's car but then you expect that for an almost new vehicle. However, I'm not really sure but I'd be willing to stump up for the difference between the value of her car and the new model.

The 180 FXR has passed me by, but looks like a lot of fun, really miss the two stroke thing after growing up on LC125, LC350s etc. Would be a fun commuter by the look of it😀

Ooh that looks very clean, I did look at a low mileage one in your colour, before I got my first white one, I do like the Mesa red, quite rare, but looks really classy, I was blown away by how it looked when I saw it in the flesh

Yes spot on, got it Feb 2017 to replace a series of fantastic Fireblades thinking it would be better for my aging and aching knees and hips. It's a lovely bike but I still get aches riding it and it's obviously not quite as exciting as the Blade, so the plan is to go back to the Blade and just take a couple of paracetamol when I go out for a ride!