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With regards to the power loss this is usually the start of dpf saturation even if you do 300 miles a day you need to keep the revs up for a continuous burst,manual boxes allow this much easier than autos,if you hit 80mph in 5th or 6th the engine isnt working the dpf effectivley as it needs heat to work the soot out,The loss of power can feel like a petrol engine misfire causing the car to judder this happens when the ecu decides to regen the dpf but if you come of the gas the exhaust fills with fuel intended for the regen but isnt burnt of properly which creates backpressure and the juddering effect,The dpf egr oil fuel system is a wicked circle if one starts to suffer its downhill unless you take action its no good cleaning the egr and hoping for the best,its blocked for a reason,poor fuel,incorrect oil type,city driving or low rev motorway driving,, A good indicator of it all going wrong is to keep a check on your mpg,if it starts to drop give it a good run 2300/3000 constant for 15/20 mins return to normal driving then re check your mpg it should improve if the ecu has regened the dpf,use good fuel not supermarket Bp ultimate and the like use catalysts which allow your dpf to burn soot at half the normal operating temperature,yes they cost more but they maintain a healthy circuit saving you money in the long run,If not using Lexus for your oil service buy your own oil something good like mobil 1 etc and ask a local garage to change it while you watch it going in!! and every now and then make it perform,give it a bit of pedal..hope this helps!

............ why on earth limit yourself to a Mk4 ? There are probably great value MK 1's, 2's and 3's out there somewhere and £1000 to £1500 is very limiting right now I'd have thought, especially for anything that's going to stop you putting you hand in your pocket for continuing and possibly long overdue maintenance. I think there are probably very many really neglected " basket cases " out there so take great care. Malc

Annoyingly the cheap fix doesn't work on the LS430, I don't think it works on the MK4 either. As mentioned, on the facelift model you have an airbag to protect your knees.

I agree Piers and if it has to be, then fair enough, I'll pay it. It's just that I begrudge paying such a price for what is, after all, half water. They know how to charge better than a wounded rhino does!

Is there any way you could have the car for an extended, 24 hour test drive, and get a AA inspection done? Ultimately, you are buying a 10 year old car. These are extremely reliable cars, but even if the car has been well maintained, there will be some wear and tear. The exended warranty is good advice (I think you can get three years for the price of two) and Lexus offers cheaper servicing for cards over 5 years old. However, if you really are worried about costs, maybe this is not the car for you.

Really useful comments here BigChad - thanks. In my case the EGR valve was replaced fairly early on but seemed to make very little difference really - an expensive experiment! I was also not doing myself any favours - my mileage has dramatically reduced in the last couple of years so opportunities for a good blast to burn off rubbish were also reduced. Additionally, although the car was always serviced by Lexus (so I assume the correct oil, etc.) I was consistently using supermarket fuel. A casual comment from the Lexus Service Manager suggested, like yourself, that non-supermarket fuel might help so I changed and the difference was staggering - over the course of a couple of weeks the problem disappeared almost completely and continues to improve to the point where, today, it's pretty much completely gone. I had no idea saving a few pennies on fuel would end up costing so much and was convinced fuel was fuel, no matter where it came from - I won't make that mistake again. Thanks again for your comments and input, and apologies to anyone following this thread for not keeping it up to date.

This response is amazing, and typical of good car sites where people are like minded and care. Any further advise is much appreciated.m

Hi, other members here have more knowledge on what to look out for on the 430 than me but I can chip in my 5cents.. I have 2002 with 102000 on the clock and it came with problems due to not been looked after that well. Major service missed with the timing belt etc, cheap parts, a little neglected overall. However I did get it cheaper than most and I don't mind spending the money and time to get it back to running right. What I'm saying I guess is that for a 2001 it's got to be looked after, fully serviced, timing belt should've been done and potentially water pump, regardless of mileage. Check for water in the boot and holes in the exhaust, other than that like any car press all the buttons make sure the roof operates smoothly, mirrors seats etc... Have you taken one for a spin yet? I've had a few Lexus now and for me I've never felt the fear of breaking down, smooth comfortable confident drive but like any car it needs to be looked after properly. I think there's a detailed write up on clublexus about sc430 purchases if you do a search. Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is unsuitable; in fact, just the opposite, that is an impressive choice for a 20 year old to make. After all, it is a rather sensible choice. I wish I had that much sense when I was 20

hahahahahahaha ................ this OAP rather prefers a little more oomph and risque in his life ............. the Legend will satiate my thoughts that were taking me towards a Ls600, but never though to replace my beloved Ls400 Malc

MOT history is available from here - http://regisearch.co.uk/registration_search.php?registration=CK04LTE&make=LEXUS Hope this helps,

I feel reasonably qualified to comment on this. Partner had a 30k mile 2010 auris hybrid, just sold. Noisy, uncomfortable, but excellent mpg. Genuine 50mpg around town, when I drive it I easily get 60mpg on a long run. My mum borrowed it and got 72mpg on a 70 mile a-road route. Mpg is exceptional. But you don't want to sit in it for long journeys. I have a 90k 2007 gs450h. Best tank was 38mpg, worst 35mpg (and that is me calculating). It is very comfortable on long journeys and mpg is ok. Round town it will drop to low 30s but I use it for long journeys predominantly. I had the choice of keeping the auris or selling and buying a gs450h. For my drives there was no contest. I do 30k miles a year too and the comfort is worth the cost sacrifice. Horses for courses. Hopefully my real life mpg figures help your decision.

Sewell Lexus may do, there were a couple but recently they have stopped exporting from the USA,there is also Amayama.com who export from Japan. Whichever way you decide don't forget the shipping will be increased and you may be subjected to delays and extra costs with UK customs.