Phil Walker Ls430

Colin Roberts GS · November 10, 2015

Is the owner of the stunning LS430 sold by Phil Walker of Sheffield earlier in the year a member on here.

SH20 · November 11, 2015

Colin,

The car in question was sold by Lexus Carlisle to Phil Walker. I bought my LS460 4 weeks ago from Lexus Carlisle and was speaking in general terms about LS models with the salesman and I mentioned that I had seen a 22,000 mile 430 on a website called Phil Walker of Sheffield but it had already been sold. As soon as I mentioned the car the salesman said he sold the car to Phil Walker. Whilst I was not after a 430 in particular, I did say I probably would have gone to see it as I live in Leeds more out of a sense of curiosity to see what an older 430 with 22K on the clock looked like as the photos were quite impressive.

The salesman at Carlisle said that while it was a good example they could not retail it as in order to fulfil Lexus's criteria of a retail car it would have taken a little too much money for them so they sold it on as a trade sale into the motor trade.

Any car that never used the spare wheel or tools in the boot and with such low mileage was bound to sell quickly. Good luck to whoever ended up with it.

Steve

cruisermark · November 11, 2015

how much was this car at phil walker?

A dealer local to us had one with 29k miles priced at £12950 - but took 4-5 months to sell?

cruisermark · November 11, 2015

sorry found it priced at £12995

looks like it was only serviced 4 times throughout its life?

wonder if the cambelt had been changed?

Colin Roberts GS · November 11, 2015

According to the dealer details full history and cam belt change. I called about it but it was sold. It's still on his site absolutely stunning pictures. Initially thought it was expensive but looking round at others it was probably about right. Seems strange looking at it that they couldn't retail it. But as we all know Lexus have very high standards.

SH20 · November 11, 2015

I agree about the retailing comment because the 430 looked every bit a retail car. My 2007 460 had £1700 spent on it by the service department of Lexus Carlisle at the expense of the sales department before I bought it at £14,000. The salesman said they had to stop at £1700 because the profit was drying up quickly but always knew it was to be retailed. I spent all my working life in the motor trade and believe me there is no love lost between departments as they all have to meet their own targets in service, sales and parts departments. My car had it's 60K service incl plugs, 3 new tyres and front and rear discs incl pads as part of the preparation to meet the Lexus used car criteria. I've spent about £1000 in 4 weeks so far to get this car to my definition of a retail car but am doing so gladly because at £14000 it was a great find. There are only 15 LS460's currently on the Lexus website nationally. Type in Lexus LS460 on Autotrader and there are around 20 including some of the cars on Lexus's website. I've learnt very quickly you have to grab these cars because they don't hang around when priced below £15K.

Colin Roberts GS · November 11, 2015

Steve, sounds like you got a great deal. The 430 at 13k looks massively over priced against a dealer prepped 460 with their warranty. I know what I would be driving if I had that type of money. But my 430 with 53k on the clock for 7k will do for now. A1k detail must have made it a dream. If it was mine I would be living in the garage with it. 😆😆😆

SH20 · November 11, 2015

The £1K spent so far Colin wasn't having it detailed but was for a host of stuff that so far has included removing both sill panels for repaint, rear bumper removal for repaint, new exhaust trim finishers, front and rear mud flaps, alloy wheel refurbishment, fitting special jacking plates to the sill flanges. The Upper Inner B post upper trims were replaced, I've recovered the lower B post inner trims in soft leather rather than buying new ones (£600) which only have a vinyl covering then colour matching them, the previous owner destroyed all 4 B post trims either side believe it or not entering and exiting the car. You just wouldn't believe the state they were in and was an area Lexus Carlisle couldn't include as the parts alone were £850 retail and to them would have been at least £600. I accepted this because I wanted the car and just simply added this issue to my to do list. I have a large double garage so dismantling the car isn't a problem. I really do like a challenge and turning something good into something great. I have about 5 things left to sort out including removing the front bumper for repaint, having a friend of mine who details cars for a living detail the remaining paintwork. The last car he detailed for me took 3 full days but the paintwork was like glass when he finished. I'm not wealthy but I know how to transform a car and it costs what it costs, a bit like that Wheeler Dealer program where there are no labour charges just the parts and specialists costs. I just wish I had bought a 460 2 or 3 years back.

Spacewagon52 · November 12, 2015

According to the dealer details full history and cam belt change. I called about it but it was sold. It's still on his site absolutely stunning pictures. Initially thought it was expensive but looking round at others it was probably about right. Seems strange looking at it that they couldn't retail it. But as we all know Lexus have very high standards.

I tried to trade-in an immaculate Galant with 30,000 miles on the clock. Because the car was 4 years old the Dealer could not retail it, so the price they offered was derisory.

Colin Roberts GS · November 12, 2015

Steve, sounds like it's going to be stunning before during and after pictures would be awesome.

Spacewagon52, did you try and part ex with Phil walker? As far as I'm aware he took in a GS from a previous customer.

SH20 · November 14, 2015

You're right Colin, Phil Walker advised me when I rang up about that 430, that he took in a Lexus against his 430, can't recall what model of Lexus but noticed he wasn't selling the traded in car on his website, probably too old for PW to retail.

Steve

Spacewagon52 · November 15, 2015

Steve, sounds like it's going to be stunning before during and after pictures would be awesome.

Spacewagon52, did you try and part ex with Phil walker? As far as I'm aware he took in a GS from a previous customer.

No, this was at the main Mitsubishi Dealer in Cheltenham a few years back. He said he had never seen a Galant as good as mine...... but it was too old to retail. Their policy was not based solely on mileage and condition but also age. I did eventually get a good price for it at my local dealer - as he had a customer who was desparate for a low mleage example.