Spottedlaurel

Couldn't resist getting a shot under a blossom tree when collecting a rather appropriate Japanese takeaway last night, with the car vaguely clean for once after I treated it to a session at the jet wash. There's a little bit to report on the old thing after its straightforward MoT pass and celebratory oil change. On my first journey it suddenly slowed-up and didn't appear to be running on all its cylinders. I limped it home, with it sounding like a Corolla with a broken exhaust, generating a few clouds of steam and unpleasant smells from the underside as I splashed through puddles. The cat's and exhaust were glowing bright red. A quick Google suggested it was a failed coil pack, and that turned out to be the case. The heating and cooling of the exhaust hadn't done it any favours, so while it was in the garage they welded it up. Finally, when it was up in the air they found a coolant leak. I thought it would be the radiator, although a quick search showed them to be priced rather more reasonably than I'd feared. However, it just turned out to be a split hose less than 1" diameter, so they managed to sort that. Have since used it a few times, including the important birthday meal collection, and all appears to be well. As my Camry estate is out of use for the summer I'll swap its Lexus wheels and matching set of Dunlop tyres onto the LS, then just enjoy it.

I think all apart from the rare SE model use the same size 19" tyre, which is 235/55. That gives them quite a chunky sidewall depth, which is probably good for rural driving and speed bumps etc in town alike.

I don't know when it started or how long it will run for, but Black Circles are currently doing 15% off Michelin including CrossClimates. Doesn't appear to be dependent on buying a set of 4 either, so a pair of 19s for a gen 3 model is just over £280 fitted.

Of those two my choice would the Advance, despite the higher mileage. No air suspension to worry about for a start. It also gives you a little bit spare in case any work is required.

New car looks great, will be interested to hear your thoughts on comparing it with the previous one. I think they'll ask more for your old one, it is a great example. Steven Eagell in King's Lynn have got a maroon 63-reg Luxury with 58k up for £17,495.

I'm going to pick it up tomorrow morning. Will be great to be able to use it again once the current restrictions are lifted a little. Your advice on the insurance is noted (I need to revisit the values on my couple of Datsuns too). I had a bit of a job getting my current insurers to add it onto my classic policy. Hopefuly now it's there I won't have such a job this year, or I'll have to change to someone else.

My Mk1 went straight through an MoT this morning. A few advisories, but nothing too serious and it's a lot better than it could be seeing as I did no prep whatsoever. Its last test was in June 2019 and it got a 6-month extension last summer, then it's been out of use since late December - as I haven't been going anywhere much there was no point getting it tested back then. I only took it to the garage because I needed to pick my wife's car up and it was easier to do that then get a lift back! I've left it there for an oil change and quotes on the advisories.

Sorry, quoted instead of edited........

I rejected the first RX450 I purchased after I found damage to the underside trays and exhaust system, seemed like a previous owner had thought it was more of an off-roader than it is in reality. That was despite it being a Lexus approved car. Would be worth checking that. I'm happy with the one I have now and intend to keep it for a good few years yet, but I'm glad I got one without air suspension as I wouldn't have been so happy about it as a long-term proposition otherwise. The black leather seems to be holding up well with negligible car from me, admittedly it doesn't see much family use nowadays. The metallic black paintwork has picked up the odd scratch, but I live and work in the countryside and it still looks very presentable after a clean-up. The power tailgate failure seems to be a relatively recent issue, or perhaps it's just coincidence we've suddenly seen this problem occur a few times.

I'm down to around 32 at the moment, again too many short journeys in cold weather. I've managed some journeys in summer cruising at around 50 on flattish country roads and through 30-40mph towns/villages where I've got around 40mpg. It's not too hilly around these parts, but I still find a lot of occasions where I can lift my foot just enough to hold speed, that's what seems to make the biggest difference.

Thanks Piers. You've summed-up what I'll get to, if I sold it then someone else would still happily be using it still in 15+ years' time. It's as good a car as I'll ever need and I'll be absolutely confident in its history, so why shouldn't it be me?

I was going to post this in the RX section, but then I thought it applies equally to all models and other members on here might have an opinion and be considering or already doing the same thing. After a wobbly start when I initially got a 14-reg RX 450h Advance that I exchanged, I've had my 64-reg Luxury for nearly two years now. It was on just 23,000 miles or so and one former owner when I picked it up, so pretty much as good as a car only a year or two old. The overall condition and my subsequent experience have been commensurate with that, the previous owner looked after it well and it has continued to give me excellent service. It's taken me to France once, sadly 2020's visit there was cancelled but hopefully it will go there again. It's on a PCP which finishes in early-mid 2022. I had already made up my mind to purchase it outright at that time. Mileage is now around 42k, for obvious reasons I've done less in 2020 that I would normally have done, but even if my annual use goes up again I shall still be well under 70,000 at approaching eight years old. From memory the final figure is around £10,000, for that I'll be getting a quality car that I know and trust. At present independent dealers are asking around £15k for RXs with that sort of age and mileage, and it'll be more at a Lexus dealer (Cambridge have a 2012 Premier with 75,000 miles for just over £18k). As much as anything, I can't face handing mine back and letting them make that much out of it...... My original plan had then been to keep it for another couple of years, which would be long enough to pay off the £10,000 and make it completely mine. That would take it up to 10 years old and approaching 100k miles. My thinking was by that time the forthcoming NX would have been out for several years and available on the used market, or there'd be other alternatives, and I'd have the value in the RX to use as a deposit. Thing is, by 2024 I'll be only 5-6 years away from when I'd like to retire and do I really want to spend all that money again? Say £3-400/month, which would be better going into my pension pot, and/or the amount I save could see me retire maybe a year earlier. So, why not keep my current RX until retirement? By then it'd be 15-16 years old and have covered 150-200k miles - shouldn't be too difficult to achieve should it? I don't have air suspension to worry about, nor a sunroof/panoramic roof. If I keep using the main dealer for servicing then I can keep the hybrid health checks and extended warranty going for most of that time, so that pretty much fixes my costs. Whatever I drive would need tyres and other consumables, whatever its age, and the money I'll be saving will more than cover any additional costs. Economy won't be as good as a next-gen RX, Camry, RAV4 or the forthcoming NX, all of which were in my mind as potential replacements. However, some of the mileage will be business use and at 45p/mile that more than covers the 36-38mpg I usually get on work journeys. Hopefully for much of that time I will also have my older car(s) that I can use to keep the mileage down - even if it's just 5,000 a year that's 50k in 10 years that I can keep off the RX. One of those cars at present is a 1992 LS400 which has now done 162k miles, and in the past I ran a 1996 Camry that had done almost 200,000, so I have no qualms about that sort of mileage on a Lexus/Toyota. It's only in recent years that I've bought a relatively new car on finance. For most of my driving life I was happy to run around in whatever I could afford outright, whatever its age, but typically 10-15 years old Japanese cars (sometimes up to 30 years old). I'll be quite happy to break out of the PCP/deposit/PCP cycle, and running the other old cars means they give me some variety and the RX can just get on with doing its job. Also, if the current plans to phase out petrol/diesel car sales by 2030 are still in place then it feels like a lot is going to change and I'm better off sticking with what I have until a clear future path is more apparent. Sorry for the ramble, hope it makes sense. Just curious as whether anyone else is doing something similar?

Welcome, great to see another Norfolk-based LS400 owner on here. I don't know if I've seen yours around, did you buy it locally? I've got photos of one or two other L400.... registered cars, I suppose it's going to be popular on them. It probably wasn't intention here, but your plate looks like a Norfolk-issue 'EX' registration.

Indeed, it's a quality they all share. My Mk3 was probably slightly compromised in the ride department by running on 18" GS300 Sport wheels, although it still wasn't too bad as I recall: 1996 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Get you with your fancy steering wheel buttons and trip computer! Nothing like that in Mk1, or even Mk3 as I recall. Good to have that confirmed. I'll have to see if they replaced the pump when the belt was done.

That's interesting Malc, I assumed the engine continued pretty much unchanged from Mk1 to Mk2. Mine is certainly a Mk1, with the 15" wheels, analogue odometer etc, although admittedly a late example (first registered 30/09/1992). It would be nice not to have an imminent cam belt replacement to consider - as previously mentioned it's only done around 15k since it was changed in 2011, and it's been in a garage for much of the time when not in use, so not subject to significant temperature changes. Thanks Phil. By the time it was launched in 1989, the Japanese makers had shown they could make small/medium sized cars as well as/better than anyone else, but I think the Celsior/LS400, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Honda NSX in particular represent a massive step forwards and have every right to be regarded as classics. I'd happily have one of the other two, and I can only count myself lucky that I'm getting to enjoy a slice of that history. Beyond its various scratches, scrapes and dents I can't see significant rot in the outer panels, I suspect the sill ends might be a little tender and I await next month's verdict on the underside. Thank you Piers. I'm sure you're right. Until I got this one my wife thought I was stupid to have got shot of the Mk3, and usually she's not too interested in my rubbish. This is also why I have had a 1990s Camry of one sort or another on the road for most of the last 14 years, with my current 1993 estate having been with me since 2011 and staggering on despite being written-off by an Audi and spending periods of time out-of-use while I've concentrated on other cars. Toyota/Lexus products of that time are remarkable things, they work so well.

I've had this old thing for approaching six months now, time for a quick update before I have to make a decision on its future....... 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr It gets used as a commuter and dad's taxi in the very rural area where I live, so it's ended up looking like this: 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr Other than fuel, screen wash and a bit of air in the tyres, I don't think i've put anything in or spent anything on it during the 1,000+ miles I've done since late June. That's not to say it doesn't need any work, quite the opposite I suspect, but its been wonderful to drive and perfectly reliable. Based on what it cost me that wasn't necessarily a given thing..... 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr 1992 Lexus LS400 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr As it was looking a little disgusting, I thought I'd give it a quick clean. Came up OK, it'll be filthy again after a day or two. The extended MoT expires just after Christmas. Due to the usual financial pressures of the season, and the precautionary need to buy a new battery on the RX, that will have to wait until next month. If it fails drastically then I'll have to work out what to do with it, whether that's sell it for spares/repair or keep it myself as a spares donor for any future LS I end up buying. I've enjoyed the experience of this Mk1 as much, if not more, than the MK3 I had a few years ago. It has a certain purity and way of doing things that I really like, and it makes for an interesting comparison with my Camry of similar vintage and the newer RX. I think the LS does a better job of being a luxury car than the RX, it certainly has a more cosseting ride. The V8 is so smooth and quiet there are many times when it doesn't feel like it has engine providing motivation, so in that way it's much like the RX. Let it go beyond 3,000rpm and the smooth, rapid way it picks up speed and gets around to the redline is a great experience. I can't afford to spend ££££s on it, but I'd contemplate spending a reasonable bit to keep it going - looking at what they go for on the open market, and knowing that I have a reliable starting point I think it would be worthwhile, even if it will never be immaculate. Getting it through the MoT will only be the first thing, it'll then need a damn good service, cam belt change and various little things sorting - it'd be nice to have low and medium fan speeds for example, not just nothing or full speed. One nice thing is that all the HRW elements work, something I always look for, and the interior is pretty good. The bodywork will never be perfect without spending an eyewatering amount, but then if it was too good would I want to regularly use it? Fingers crossed when it goes in for a test this time next month........

Hmmm, I suspect if they were selling such a repaired car that's exactly what they would say, but completely the opposite if you were trading it in with them....... Sorry to hear it's not fully resolved yet. Modern cars are so complicated it must be very difficult for them.

I think this is an excellent and concise summary of RX ownership (and probably most hybrid Lexus models). Certainly my experience of a previous-gen model, I'm sure a 4th gen RX is similar but better in most aspects that count in day-to-day ownership and use.

I went for it on my 2014 RX when the Lexus approved warranty ended after its first year. It's low mileage and showed no signs of the warranty being necessary, but I felt it was worthwhile for peace of mind. The MoT test fees get paid, and the two years of AA European breakdown cover is useful to me as we visit France each year (well, usually).

It certainly looks like you're there or thereabouts to get an RX of that age/mileage for circa £10k from an independent dealer, but going by what Lexus Sheffield are asking for a 2010 SE-I with 95k miles you'd need to find a couple of thousand more if you wanted the comfort of buying it from a main Lexus dealer. If you're fixed on that budget probably better value to go for a reputable independent and ensure it's got good service history and a previous owner who's had it for a fair while, maybe upgraded to something else from that garage? If it could qualify for the Lexus extended warranty then that'd be good. To be honest even buying from a Lexus dealer I'd say consider the same things - I got an approved one for over £24k from Lexus that had a worrying enough issue for me to exchange it. Is there an expensive service at 100k/10 years? If so it would be good to get one that's had that done properly, or factor it into your costs if not. As you already own an older RX then you know why they're good, and somewhat overlooked? I think it's the blend of abilities they offer that makes them worthwhile. I bought mine to replace a Toyota Avensis estate, as I wanted something a bit special for my (borrowed) money than just a means of transport. RX isn't quite as good at being a loadlugger as the Avensis or other big estates. It's not really any sort of off-roader, as a luxury car my 1993 LS400 does a better job in many ways (certainly rides better), and any number of diesel SUVs will give better economy, but it offers a sensible compromise between all these requirements. There aren't too many others around my way, it's nice to have something a little different. Driven in a way that lets the hybrid thing operate effectively (which doesn't necessarily mean slowly) it offers a smooth, luxurious drive. I quite often have no idea of whether the engine is running or not without looking at the graphics. Assuming my circumstances permit, I like mine enough that I'll be looking to buy it outright at the end of the PCP. I'll be getting an under 8yr old RX with two owners from new, full Lexus history and 60-70k miles for around £10k, so I'd be silly not to.

Barry on here recently had to replace components on his despite it being a low mileage example, at some expense too.

Good point, gives something to think about even on a mundane journey. I think it would be pretty decent on a journey like that, my 450 is good at around 50. Have you got somewhere safe to park either end of your journey? An RX400h in London is going to be quite a target for the cat thieves.....

Really sorry to read this Barry, but at least everyone was OK. You've put time and effort into your RX, it didn't deserve that! A few years ago I had my Camry hit up the back, similar story with minimal visible damage to mine but the Audi A4 looking rather sorry for itself with the crumple zones having done their job and the airbag going off (with subsequent damage to the windscreen). Camry was written-off due to its low market value, but I kept it and got it back on the road with spares I had and I still use it now. There was no issue with the other person taking responsibility. I can't recall if my claim went through my own insurers or his but they certainly provided me with the loan car. Since that time my wife and I both had a couple of lesser non-fault accidents. The only issue I recall was that despite the accidents not being our fault my insurance premiums were loaded for several years afterwards. I didn't realise until it went down quite a bit one year and they said that was why. Seems a bit harsh, but insurance seems to be like that.......

It'd be nice if there could be a bit of common sense about this issue. I know some people remove cats for performance, but in this case it's being done because of criminal actions by others. The victim has to struggle with a whole load of issues not of their making.