Bye Bye Lexie

thatfatbloke · January 8, 2016

She's now gone to a guy that's going to transplant the engine and box into a Toyota Hilux. Insurance company dragging their heels with another offer. Still have hire car 'til sorted. I'm afraid I won't be getting another LS,too many dodgy ones in my price range. I'll pop by now and then and keep an eye on things. Thanks to all that have replied to my questions. Ta ta.

runsgrateasanut · January 8, 2016

Personally, I completely understand where you are coming from. I spent probably three times what I paid for the car to get things sorted to my liking and still have rear wishbones and Springs in the Dining Room. yet to be fitted.

I've never spent so much time trying to source expensive parts (£77 quoted for two small rubber hoses to radiator from Auto box - criminal) and worrying over the Car.

OK Its lovely to drive but ...

I don't think I'd have gone for the car if I'd known what to expect. It has to some extent I feel almost taken over my daily life. It should be just a Car.

Resigned to enjoying it with perhaps a week a year when I won't be worrying over something or other.

Verbout · January 8, 2016

Brings tears to my eyes to see this sort of damage, caused by other idiots who's insurance companies pay out, leaving them unaccountable, and the victim out of pocket.

Rant over.

The-Acre · January 8, 2016

All the best John

And IF you decide to go for an S Type, there's a specialist who runs a business where my workshop is in West Sussex. So if you decide to go down that route let me know and I'll put you in touch with him.

Phil

Malc · January 8, 2016

..... John " too many dodgy ones " Well, with a 20 year old ( or even older ) car there isn't going to be one that's perfect unless you're amazingly lucky ................... the alternatives, well, any car of that age, unless it's a collectable, won't be in any better condition either ............. LOC Members problems could be that we expect such brilliance with our, now ageing, cars and quite frankly, in my simple view, there just isn't anything comparable out there for the quality, durability and comfort that we experience with our Lss' ............. and at such silly low money too.

Almost any other car, if not all other cars, of our " vintages " will require inordinate and unwarranted monies to keep them on the road and in good nick !

Just find another Ls eh ! you'll be happy when you do

Malc

Bluesman · January 8, 2016

Will the insurance company mind you getting rid of the car before its been sorted out? Mike.

thatfatbloke · January 8, 2016

Will the insurance company mind you getting rid of the car before its been sorted out? Mike.

I've now agreed the valuation so am able to do what I want with it. The reason it was low was because it had been a Cat D total loss in 2003. The estimate to repair her this time is £9316.80!!. I got £250 for the salvage today,plus the £570 I'll get from the insurance so I suppose it's not too bad (she only cost me £500 15 months ago). But I still can't get another for that price,certainly not with only 136,000 on her.

Bluesman · January 8, 2016

Will the insurance company mind you getting rid of the car before its been sorted out? Mike.

I've now agreed the valuation so am able to do what I want with it. The reason it was low was because it had been a Cat D total loss in 2003. The estimate to repair her this time is £9316.80!!. I got £250 for the salvage today,plus the £570 I'll get from the insurance so I suppose it's not too bad (she only cost me £500 15 months ago). But I still can't get another for that price,certainly not with only 136,000 on her.

I do feel for you and all those who have their pride and joys damaged so badly. Looking for another one is not going to be easy and no matter how long it takes to get her replaced no one gives you the money for all the work and traveling you have to do to get another one which is what I always think is way out of order. Good luck anyway. Mike.

Spacewagon52 · January 8, 2016

Personally, I completely understand where you are coming from. I spent probably three times what I paid for the car to get things sorted to my liking and still have rear wishbones and Springs in the Dining Room. yet to be fitted.

I've never spent so much time trying to source expensive parts (£77 quoted for two small rubber hoses to radiator from Auto box - criminal) and worrying over the Car.

OK Its lovely to drive but ...

I don't think I'd have gone for the car if I'd known what to expect. It has to some extent I feel almost taken over my daily life. It should be just a Car.

Resigned to enjoying it with perhaps a week a year when I won't be worrying over something or other.

I can fully understand where you are coming from! My main concern owning an older Lexus LS, is the possibilty of NOT being able to get it fixed. I, personally, would not try an equate repair costs with the value of your Lexus - yes you may have spent more than you paid for the vehicle but when you consider all the qualities the LS has, then the total amount must be weighed against what you could get for the same money - a reliable Focus?

The real downside is when a car is damaged and you can't recoup any of the money you have put into it. (as unfortunately your is your position). I must be honest, running an older car, with a few dents/scrapes and that you are not too enamoured about, is less stressful. I am now seriously considering for the future (whden I have to replace the family car) going over to Bangernomics.

I know it depends on your financial situation, but I would find it very hard to justify a new purchase, no matter what money I had. I have had only one new car, after inheriting some money, and yes it was wondeful at first ........... but watching the depreciation fall like pine needles off a Christmas tree would be too much for me now.

You can pick-up some cracking 10 - 12 year old cars that have been cosseted by their owners but getting the balance between age and reliability is a very difficult. I will probably change my mind when the time comes to replace my Mitsubishi and will fall back on past decisions and spend the maximum I can afford at the time.

My problem is that I "love" my Lexus and find it very hard just to drive it without worrying if something will go wrong - silly because at the end of the day it is ONLY a car................... oh but what a car!

Chasdad · January 8, 2016

Space wagon 52 I agree with you entirely. I've only ever had one new car and all I did was worry about how much it depreciated.

I often find the cars that have cost me the least I'm more fond of . I've got a ltd edition mk1 mx5 that's my weekend toy ,but I've decided to sell it and use the cash to buy cars that I like ,use it then go again . Being a car nut I get to try cars I like.

My current choice is the pearl white ls400 that was on gumtree last week

Spacewagon52 · January 9, 2016

I think many of us would like the financial resources of Chris Evans and some of his collection!

cleverdick · January 9, 2016

Same thing happened to me years ago with a Cortina 2000E - except I was in it at the time! (It was a 1975 model: I was so glad that I'd fitted seats with head restraints from one from a later year!)

Might be a bit late in your case, but now that the book value of our cars is so low, the best course of action would be to strip as many parts off as you can and retain as spares for the next LS - or flog them on eBay. Seems to be the path of least loss.

You say you got £250 - well surely those original alloys alone are worth more than that! Then there's the audio system, various trim items, the headlights of course - you get my drift.

I still have two cratesful of stuff off my old 1990 LS - which is worth the space they take up just for the reassurance. Also, the good parts which I'd had fitted (such as PAS pump and alternator) I got transplanted onto the new car before scrapping the old. Stuff that wasn't compatible (such as roadwheels and refurbished climate panel) I sold on.

Take your time in looking for a replacement - good ones are out there.

Colin M · January 9, 2016

Good luck, John, with whatever you decide to do.

I hope you find something good as a replacement for your LS400 and, who knows, another LS400 may come your way in due course.

All the best.

Colin

Angel123 · January 10, 2016

Hi, really sorry to read about your misfortune. Some of the above makes for some really interesting reading. When I bought mine, it was to enjoy her to the max. Its the 2nd one I have had. This one far better then the first. It does not bother me about the value, so long as I get as much time possible out of the LS. That's value for money to me. Others will think differently. The LS is used everyday, in all weathers, and is plastered in mud most of the time. Someone on here once said these cars are very much working cars and hate to be left stood. I have been very fortunate to have done a lot of miles and just a few hundred pounds spent on tyres, oil changes, etc. The time will come when I will have to cough up serious dough. If mine was to meet with the same fate as yours, I would be gutted. I have toyed with the idea of selling before anything goes wrong, but whats the point. The mechanic who does the maintenance for me, says just keep enjoying her. As others have said, keep looking, frustrating as it is. They are out there.

Tom

Scribe · January 11, 2016

Yes, all the best, John. Please stay in touch on here - I'm sure you'll find another Lexus.

thatfatbloke · January 16, 2016

Sorry to say that I have had to purchase another car so I can get to work. Please realise that it will only be a stop gap car until another LS comes along!. I've gone for a 2 owner 53 plate VW Passat 2.5 V6 tdi estate. It was cheap because of the high mileage for the year (233,000) but I believe these engines last. She is in sexy black with unmarked bodywork and with sexy black leather! Apparently been chipped to get 190 bhp from the standard 150,I quite believe it as she does fly. Current owner has recently renewed engine oil and all filters,had the autobox serviced,repainted both front wings as they were getting scabby,all tyres are less than a year old and she's MOT'd 'til January next year with just a couple of small advisories.

As for my insurance claim for Lexie,the assessors aren't budging on the £600 offer,as she was a total loss in 2003 and had a bit of pre - accident damage which affects the value quite dramatically. Fair enough,so I've accepted it,and with the £250 I sold her for that adds up to exactly what I'll be paying for the VW. Result - I suppose.

The Passat will be my 64th car,and the first VW since about 1987 when I had a VW camper.

thatfatbloke · January 16, 2016

Same thing happened to me years ago with a Cortina 2000E - except I was in it at the time! (It was a 1975 model: I was so glad that I'd fitted seats with head restraints from one from a later year!)

Might be a bit late in your case, but now that the book value of our cars is so low, the best course of action would be to strip as many parts off as you can and retain as spares for the next LS - or flog them on eBay. Seems to be the path of least loss.

You say you got £250 - well surely those original alloys alone are worth more than that! Then there's the audio system, various trim items, the headlights of course - you get my drift.

I still have two cratesful of stuff off my old 1990 LS - which is worth the space they take up just for the reassurance. Also, the good parts which I'd had fitted (such as PAS pump and alternator) I got transplanted onto the new car before scrapping the old. Stuff that wasn't compatible (such as roadwheels and refurbished climate panel) I sold on.

Take your time in looking for a replacement - good ones are out there.

Financially this would have been the best option,but unfortunately I just don't have the space to do this. We have to squeeze both my old woman's Merc E320 and my car onto a very small drive - and that's it.