Illogan

My second car was a 1929 Austin 16 with a non-synchro box and 3 gears (AND a reverse) It's amazing how satisfying it is to match engine and road speed when changing up/down (down particularly) PS - - The car wasn't new when I bought it!!!

John, Are you sure you didn't mean to type "soldering on"? 😬

Aye Barry - - they are programmed to do that - just to avoid the 12v battery losing too much charge

Cheers John - - - - - I will - - besides - I do so few miles these days, that a wee treat of snake-oil will do no harm, I suspect that at worst it would only make the difference of a few drams of Laphroiag Lore consumed per year - - (and that doesn't go into the car's fuel tank!)

Hmm - - - I may well try that too - - - - - - Thank you Marius

I second what Barry has written. I bought a 2014 RX450 last year with 55k on the clock, and have not experienced a single shudder at any speed - (not that I've ever exceeded 70mph of course!) and we live at the bottom of an hill - - so there's plenty of slow and hill starts - and we've been gloriously shudderless. The seller needs to have a look at that issue of yours

Apologies for my belated message, but nevertheless my sentiments are sincere - - - Merry Christmas everyone! And may we all have many more!

I follow (mostly) the Money Saving Expert process every year - and it is fascinating to see first-hand how quotes will differ company by company. Now, the various comparison sites have slightly different form formats, and so I always, but always, make sure that I have a sheet of paper (I actually use a spreadsheet), with ALL the information that they are likely to require. Details of car, date acquired, expected mileage, (private/business), licence number, partner's details (if required), address, type & level of cover, excess level, etc I then set about contacting the various online sites, and spend a good hour or so getting quotes. My quotes this year ranged from circa £400 to over£2800 (!!!) - same details, same car, same me!!!! I always but always, then research the reputation and reviews of the two or three companies whom I might have shortlisted - - just to make sure that if I am ever required to claim on my insurance - that I'm not trying to deal with a cheap offshore 'erbert who try to avoid every possible reason why they should pay out. The internet is so useful!

Always great to learn of new members - - I've not been here for long, and yet have learnt a great deal just by browsing here regularly. Welcome Alan

Get a number of quotations from agencies like'Compare the Market dot com' and you'll discover how widely varied the quotes can be

Ahah! That's Southern motorways for you! In t'North, on us proper motorways, where we are chased by whippets, and the Traffic Police still use Lotus Cortinas, and the (solitary) motorway services still sells hot dogs for 1/6d - we don't get none o'them traffic jams either - so we's able ter drive flat out at 60mph without a care in t'world. That's how we get 34 mpg. (But don't tell anyone - 'cos they'll all want us peace n quiet)

Our 2014 RX450-F has turned in 33mpg around town in the summer, (and currently 31mpg) Motorway journeys (rare for us this year!!!) rewarded us with 37mph. I am a gentle driver, - [I have no reason to enter the 'Traffic-lights GP' norfeel the need prove my virility ) - but if, purely for reason of sheer enjoyment, I give it an hefty squirt down the road, I realise that a couple of tonnes of steel, moving quicker that it should (!), will have an healthy appetite. But the car - big, bold, understated, comfortable - is a winner.

That's good to know - thank you Chris

That may well be the case, I appreciate that all insurers will normally make a profit on their policies, (whether it's car, house, pet, health etc). But logic suggests that the older a vehicle gets, the odds get higher.

I received an e-marketing mail from my Lexus Dealer this morning, trying to encourage me* to take out a Lexus Warranty before the end of the year, because the "2 Years for the price of 1" offer was ending in December. Has anyone else received anything similar from their Dealerships, or may it just be Sheffield (unlikely as that may be) OR Is it just some marketing puff to try and get some finances into their business after this difficult year OR Are Lexus knocking their 2 for 1 on the head? (*I already have the warranty of course)

They're not bad little motors! ( 😉) are they?

Thanks for the updates and the pics Martin. As with so many threads on this forum, your experiences will serve to help others in the future. (and delighted it's all sorted too!!)

I think we should employ Rudy Giuliani to launch a recount !!

What a damn shame Barry - - but a relief all round that there's no serious injuries, and I hope the wallet wont be too seriously bruised either. Mind - now it's the darned inconvenience of the whole repair cycle that's a pain!

Be careful Peter - - - We don't normally allow folks from Gloucestershire into Yorkshire - - even if they do drive a proper car!

And I was hoping it would be emanating from the mysterious underground bunker built at the end of your road, - - the one that has a regular stream of black Hummers (with totally tinted windows) going in and out of it every dusk, and those squiggly laser beams from somewhere behind it. Oh - - you haven't noticed that! Damn! - hope i haven't worried you........

I think you may well be right, John!

As there is a common clause in most vehicle insurance policies (that I've read) that any modifications to the vehicle require the insurer to be notified, would the removal of a cat be sufficient for them to raise and awkward eyebrow?

Useful info - - - thank you John 👍

Welcome Simon, I'm unable to help you with local knowledge of garages or bodyshops, as I'm a couple of hundred miles away from you, but I can thoroughly recommend lexuspartsdirect as an excellent source of OEM spares for your car. I have found them to be helpful, prompt and competitive.