Advice pls

Pushu · June 30, 2021

Hello! Looking into buying an RX for a while now but it's hard to find a decent one.

I recently got my eye on one WV58FXJ plate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106294418950

My worry is the corrosion stated in the Mot history.

What are your thoughts on this car / corrosion issue?

Any help appreciated

Spacewagon52 · July 1, 2021

The corrosion issue with the fuel pipe would worry me. Others with more knowledge might have a different opinion. The MOT is due to run out, so it would be interesting to see what is mentioned on the next MOT. My concern would be that it will PASS with no advisories!

Pushu · July 1, 2021

3 minutes ago, Spacewagon52 said:

The corrosion issue with the fuel pipe would worry me. Others with more knowledge might have a different opinion. The MOT is due to run out, so it would be interesting to see what is mentioned on the next MOT. My concern would be that it will PASS with no advisories!

Would passing with no advisories worry you in the sense that it was done a dodgy MOT?

Spacewagon52 · July 1, 2021

1 hour ago, Pushu said:

Would passing with no advisories worry you in the sense that it was done a dodgy MOT?

Let's say that they might conveniently miss some advisories, if they have a tame tester?

Spacewagon52 · July 1, 2021

To be fair the car does look in good condition for the money. Possibly I am being over cautious. The problem being I had an old 2004 RX300 that was immaculate underneath. It just depends where and how the vehicle has been kept.

Spacewagon52 · July 1, 2021

3 minutes ago, Spacewagon52 said:

To be fair the car does look in good condition for the money. Possibly I am being over cautious. The problem being I had an old 2004 RX300 that was immaculate underneath. It just depends where and how the vehicle has been kept.

It was registered in the West of England - Bristol.

Pushu · July 1, 2021

@Spacewagon52thanks so much for your help!

How did you find out where it was registered?

Should I look for something else if it was close by the sea?

Sorry if my questions are dumb. Not very good with cars.

Malc · July 1, 2021

6 minutes ago, Pushu said:

Should I look for something else if it was close by the sea?

often living by the sea is not an issue with many modern cares ... even those less so .... mine's 26 years young and the underside is pretty sound .... at 233k miles too and having lived next the sea all it's days :yes:

don't over worry about seaside living with a Lexus

Malc

Pushu · July 1, 2021

Just now, Malc said:

often living by the sea is not an issue with many modern cares ... even those less so .... mine's 26 years young and the underside is pretty sound .... at 233k miles too and having lived next the sea all it's days

don't over worry about seaside living with a Lexus

Malc

Thanks @Malc.

My worry was that if there is corrosion mentioned in the Mot history, there might be more underneath and personally I wouldn't know what to look for when I go see the car.

Beamish · July 1, 2021

22 minutes ago, Pushu said:

How did you find out where it was registered?

Putting the reg number into motorscan.co.uk/free-car-check will give the information.

Dec.

Pushu · July 1, 2021

3 minutes ago, Beamish said:

Putting the reg number into motorscan.co.uk/free-car-check will give the information.

Dec.

@Beamish that's a nice tool. Thank you!

steve2006 · July 1, 2021

As it is a motor dealer selling the car you immediately have consumer law protection under the Consumer Rights Act.

The car will have a new MOT as it runs out mid July, getting a “dodgy” test these days is not easy, you can then check any advisories again before purchase.

Motoring organisations offer vehicle purchase checks starting around £100.00 if you don’t have someone experienced to take with you.

To be fair the car looks good for its age, mileage is consistent on the MOT and just 2 previous owners.

You could also take the car to Lexus immediately after purchase for a “Health Check.” Not sure what the hybrid warranty is these days but worth having the system checked.

plastic orange · July 1, 2021

We got rid of ours last year as the underside looked like it had been parked in the sea, plus the undertrays had to be attached by tie wraps as the mountings had all disintegrated. Our daughter in law sold hers at the same time and it's underside was similar. For a quality car I wasn't best impressed, and coupled with water ingress would make buying another a big decision. They are nice cars though, but check very carefully,

Pete

Pushu · July 1, 2021

31 minutes ago, steve2006 said:

As it is a motor dealer selling the car you immediately have consumer law protection under the Consumer Rights Act.

The car will have a new MOT as it runs out mid July, getting a “dodgy” test these days is not easy, you can then check any advisories again before purchase.

Motoring organisations offer vehicle purchase checks starting around £100.00 if you don’t have someone experienced to take with you.

To be fair the car looks good for its age, mileage is consistent on the MOT and just 2 previous owners.

You could also take the car to Lexus immediately after purchase for a “Health Check.” Not sure what the hybrid warranty is these days but worth having the system checked.

That's very helpful. Thanks @steve2006

Pushu · July 1, 2021

1 hour ago, plastic orange said:

We got rid of ours last year as the underside looked like it had been parked in the sea, plus the undertrays had to be attached by tie wraps as the mountings had all disintegrated. Our daughter in law sold hers at the same time and it's underside was similar. For a quality car I wasn't best impressed, and coupled with water ingress would make buying another a big decision. They are nice cars though, but check very carefully,

Pete

Oh dear. This worries me

Spacewagon52 · July 1, 2021

As Malc says living by the sea is not an issue. It is how the car has been treated / used that is important. Very rusty cars underneath might suggest it has been in deep water / flooded at some point. Or possibly kept on long grass. It is very hard to know what a used car has been through. As Steve says, it will come with consumer rights and these cars are now starting to get long in the tooth. I am possibly being over cautious. I like the wood steering wheel and gear knob.

Malc · July 1, 2021

2 hours ago, plastic orange said:

looked like it had been parked in the sea,

there's always the possibility that it might have actually got caught in some sea flooding whatever too ........

Malc

plastic orange · July 1, 2021

22 minutes ago, Malc said:

there's always the possibility that it might have actually got caught in some sea flooding whatever too ........

Malc

No, most of the ones i've looked at of a similar age are roughly similar. When looking I discarded quite a few that were really bad, and the one we bought was the best we could find - 6 years ago though. I did attempt refurbing, but when I discovered every single fastening for the undertrays being U/S I gave up, especially when one support had actually broken through rust. Strangely, My LS 400 is vastly better for corrosion protection despite being 6 years older. The water ingress was really what made us move it on - think swimming pool.

Pete

Pushu · July 1, 2021

Thanks so much guys. Really appreciate your feedback.

As an update, I've rang Lexus Bristol to ask for some details. They've said they have seen the car there regularly and last time they've gave the owner a quote of £2500 for:

Shock absorbers
Tires
Front lower arm bushes - £1653

They haven't seen the car since. I'm guessing the owner probably was not looking forward to having it fixed so he sold it.

He mentioned you could leave the exhaust as an advisory if it's not corroded much, but if it is you'd have to change the whole system which will cost around £1000.

The Lexus guys recommended to take the car for a health check, but surely the dealer not going to be happy with that unless I actually buy it first.

Not sure what to do. Really looking forward to buying one of these ...