autobahn

Does the (05-plate) LS430 satnav have full 7-digit postcode mapping?

I'm hoping someone can answer my post above. I'm going to view two different 05-plate LS430's tomorrow and the lack of decent iPod connectivity could be a showstopper for me. My current car has a proper iPod interface where the stuff you see on the multimedia screen emulates an iPod with full functionality. I'm very surprised that a car so 'full of electronics' and technologically advanced as a Lexus cannot manage to integrate a humble iPod properly, even though older BMWs and Mercs manage it without any issues. I haven't used CDs for several years and have no intention of downgrading to CDs when I 'upgrade' to a Lexus! So, please could someone reassure me that full iPod integration won't be a problem as I could end up sticking with German marques simply because they tick all the boxes for me.

Do any of these units provide a full iPod integration so you can browse albums, artists, etc? Or are they just for playlists? Also, would these need to be fitted professionally?

Car is a 2005 model, so it's 5 years old.

I'm looking to ease myself into the world of Lexus ownership before I hopefully purchase an ISF some time next year. I've seen a Lexus LS430 that I fancy buying. However, the dealer has informed me that 'some' service stamps are missing. It transpires that the car has only one service stamp (10K miles service). The dealer says that he has just carried out 'the major 60K service' so there will be two stamps in the service book. The car is advertised as having done below 40K miles. It is offered with a full Lexus used car warranty and an MOT.

Should I walk away or go for it? I'm at a loss as to why a 60K service needs to be carried out on a car that hasn't even done 40K miles yet but am more concerned about missing service stamps from an approved Lexus.

The answer to my question would dictate whether or not I would buy a cheap runaround for work or not. I drive around 30,000 miles per year so the cost of fuel is a major consideration for me. I also like to research my cars on owners forums so that I don't run into any surprises if and when I do buy one. Many thanks for the helpful replies so far. Low 20's mpg sounds reasonable.

What is the real-world fuel consumption (mpg) of the IS-F? If owners could give an indication of fuel consumption over various types of journeys and driving styles then that would be great!

As a supplementary question, when did the white leather option become available?

what are you not keen on black on black is the way looks beefy and scary

The IS is quite a small car and, purely in my personal opinion, black paintwork makes a small car look even smaller whilst a black interior makes it look a little claustrophobic. If the car was S-Class sized then I think black/black looks great. I'd prefer a lighter interior if it's possible to provide a more airy ambience.

I know this is a very subjective topic, but what do owners reckon is the best colour combo for the IS-F? I'm not a fan of black interiors so what options are there? I'm also not keen on black paint on small cars.

Thanks all for the replies. You can see why i'm a little confused! I think it's disappointing that the seats are not ventilated on the IS-F as it's supposed to be 'fully-loaded' and ventilated seats are not even an option.

I have a few questions on the Lexus IS-F. I'm looking to buy a car (new or used) in 2011. I read recently that Lexus updated the IS-F. I have downloaded the brochure and seen some used car adverts but am a little confused with regards to the following:

1. Which model year has the mechanical LSD? Related to this, would I even notice if I bought an older IS-F?

2. Are the sports seats ventilated or not? The official brochure suggests they are not but adverts for used IS-F's suggest they are!

3. Is DAB standard equipment?

4. Is there a (digital) TV option?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for all of the helpful replies. It's given me a lot of confidence to commit to becoming a Lexus owner finally! I will find some time over the next 3-4 weeks to locate a car and haggle hard. I am guessing that this is quite a good time to buy with the holiday season approaching. If I could get an '08-plate for as close to £30K as possible then that would be the ideal scenario but I can stretch my budget very slightly is need be (possibly up to £32K).

I have to say i've been on many car forums over the years and i'm very impressed with the LOC. The friendliness and helpfulness is very much appreciated. I hope to be able to fill in the 'Lexus Model' part of my profile before Christmas!

When did the facelift happen? I got two different answers from two different Lexus dealers!

Thanks for the advice, DJ Wozza. Oh, I forgot to mention that i'd like new wiper blades too!

It's funny but one dealer simply wasn't interested in selling me a GS 450h. I tried another one and after the initial "we're a big dealership and have got the best stock" he found one with a few scuff marks and a couple of stone chips. But at least he was interested in selling me a car. It's a shame that the dealerships aren't networked so you're stuck with the very limited stock from individual dealerships.

The mileage on the Lexus site for approved used vehicles also seems to be incorrect. I enquired about one car and found that the mileage advertised was lower by 1,500 miles than the real mileage.

Anyway, i'm determined to find a decent dealership and get a GS 450h.

Can someone clarify if road tax is included with an approved used Lexus? The dealer I spoke to today said I would have to add the cost of road tax to the purchase price.

I'm looking to buy a used GS 450h SE-L. I have a budget of around £30K. The best GS 450h SE-L that I can get from a Lexus dealer appears to be around two years old (56-plate) at close to 20K miles. I'm a bit confused with some dealer cars as one doesn't have the wooden steering wheel. I thought this was standard on the SE-L model? What i'd like to know is if a 2-year old GS450h comes standard with the following and which of these are options:

1. Wooden steering wheel

2. Adaptive cruise control

3. Mark Levinson music system

4. Parking sensors + rear camera

5. Xenon headlights

Also, how much can I realistically negotiate with the dealer in the current economic climate? I'd like to get any scuff marks and stone chips repaired, a full professional valet, a service if the mileage is close to a service, new carpet mats, a years road tax included, satnav map upgrade CD/DVD and new tyres if the present ones are worn. And are dealers generally flexible on price?

Thanks for the advice, Alan. Yes, i've certainly been reading up every single review that I can find. I found the Honest John review very helpful. Financially I cannot afford to make a mistake so I will test drive several LS430s before committing to one. The idea of an RAC inspection is also very useful to know as I had not considered this before. I've checked on the RAC site and there are two levels of inspection costing £139 and £249 (prices are for non-members).

I have a question if I may: do all LS430s (with and without Premium Pack) come with touch-screen DVD-based satellite navigation? Or was this an option (in the context of 2000/2001 cars)?

Hi guys, I should be in a position to start my search in earnest in the next 2-3 weeks. I'm probably looking at a 2000/2001 LS430. When I go to view/test drive the car, are there any specifics that I should look out for pertaining to an LS430 of this age? The funny thing is that i've never really bought a secondhand car for as long as I can remember so am not experienced in the things I should look for when buying secondhand. My general check-list could be broken down as follows:

- Documentation (including keys/key fobs, V5, service docs, MOTs, repairs, accidents, tax, etc)

- Exterior (paintwork, dents, chips, door edges, handles, bonnet, boot, engine, exhaust, glass, wheels, tyres, fuel filler cap, oil cap - looking for emulsion, coolant cap, check oil level and condition of oil on dipstick, lights, indicators, foglights, condition of wipers, wheel arches)

- Interior (seats - including seat adjustment, carpets, mats, steering position - is it dead centre when wheels are straight, steering stalks, switches, windscreen washer, radio/CD, satnav, glove box, handbrake, condition of pedals, electric windows, bonnet/boot release, electric mirrors, interior lights including door and footwell lights)

- Test-driving the car (engine start/idling, exhaust smoke, gear-shift smoothness, ride quality, kick-down, engine noise, wind noise, tyre noise, veering to one side, any noise from steering on full-lock, power-steering levels when parking, instruments, temperature levels, any warning lights, body roll, steering vibration)

I'd appreciate any comments on that checklist and any Lexus LS430 specific things I should look for.

Great input everyone. Would an LS430 be able to carry 4 adults (i.e. 3 adult passengers plus mysefl as the driver) in comfort?

Hi Pete. Thanks for that write-up. You guys have totally sold me on the LS430! I don't care about the looks of the car as long as the inside is nice and plush. Do you guys rate the cabin of an LS430 as better than a Merc S-Class? I've been a passenger in an S-Class many times and found it very comfortable indeed.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. The points made already are very interesting. I am used to expensive running costs so I expect consumables like tyres to be pricey. I reckon I will do a maximum of 75,000 miles in the five years that I expect to keep the car so a 100,000-miler shouldn't be an issue.

I may incur one or two cambelt changes in that time so how much does this work cost? Also, how much is an up-to-date satnav CD/DVD?

I expect to start looking for a car in around 3-4 weeks time but am just arming myself with all the information that i'll need to get a good one in the meantime.

Firstly, hello everyone. I just signed up today...

During March/April I am looking to purchase a used Lexus LS430. My budget is around the £12K mark. Thus, i'm probably looking at a high-mileage 2001/2002 model. I've been doing a fair bit of research and this appears to be the ideal second car for me. It will be used for going to work and ferrying friends/family around in comfort. My requirements for a second car were: supreme comfort, near-silent at motorway speeds, easy to drive, a refined ride, a decent set of toys/gadgets in the car (satnav and a decent sound system is a requirement), ability to soak up high miles, a decent amount of storage space and excellent reliability. The LS430 appears to tick all of those boxes. I will be doing around 12-15K miles per year.

Anyway, I need some advice on what to look for in cars of this age when I start viewing a few and test driving them over the next few weeks. What are the mileage points at which major work is required? How costly is this work? What about the Premium Pack - is this worth seeking out? Finally, I expect to keep the car for around 5 years and need to ensure that a 2001/2002 LS430 won't be a moneypit during that time.

I have another car but that is fairly impractical so the LS430 will become the practical car and my other car will be used for weekends and track days. I have also considered a used GS300 or RX300. Is the LS430 the last word in luxury and refinement and a major step up from those models?