cdmaskell

Sorry to hear about your recent theft attempt Mark.  Maybe be worth having the Lexus tracker fitted?  Also the other deterrents.  Motorway appears to be giving the best prices for s/h cars.  I myself are in quandary about my ES. Son and wife have been having a “pop” about getting something smaller. ( just bring the IS back!) It is so unforgiving in steering lock and size. I had an HGV licence for 45years and I get caught out at times. But I just cannot go down the SUV,  BMW , Merc and Audi route. Oh what a dilemma. For all its foibles I love driving it. Also it is distinctive and looks special.

Maybe time to go for rechargeable?  My Honda lawnmower is 20yrs old.  If it completely packed up I would go Battery.  But no signs yet. Try an economical repair first.

Love that word “malarkey”.  Steve. Which this disc and pad replacement certainly is!   The dealers love replacing them.  An ex colleague of mine works still in a Toyota/Lexus dealership in the USA. They regularly skim the discs,  if in tolerance and use the existing pads. The machinery is readily available.  The disc does not have to be removed either.  I saw a demo at trade do, some years ago.  I felt it would be a great tool to refurbish discs on trailer brakes, that had been idle for sometime.  Working for the MOD it wasn’t purchased.  It would have saved thousands.

Also I have encountered many faulty readings on RBT’s. And having to call out the manufactures.

As a senior retired MOD technician and inspector.  A roller brake test can be easily “confused” by how the tester applies the brakes . Gradual or hard application.  Had they been warm?  A RBT does not respond well to cold brakes.  A fellow operative could get a fail.  I would retest with a pass. A quick run around with light brake pressure would normally do the trick.

Prop shaft balance, worn U/J’s or centre bearing?

The IS was a great motor for us. Not too big and marvellous to manoeuvre. I have had several ES’s since.  I miss the IS.  Why oh why did Lexus discontinue it?  As I have mentioned on previous posts., if only they made an IS with the comfort and refinement of the ES. Audi, Merc and BMW produce a mid sized saloon. I don’t want to be like the herd and end up in a SUV.  My sciatica might disagree mind.

17 hours ago, tHomBleached said:

Air con on both times 🤓

Believe the drag is worse than the drain from the compressor..

Well! That shut me up.

You would have only lost 5mpg with the air con on.

Amazing!  If you have the patience to keep to 55.

Many years I mentioned to a senior work colleague.  ( Rather a know all, big headed fella) I was going to buy a Honda Izzy for the wife to use in the summer.  He replied, “great little open tops they are”. Hmm I said it’s a lawn mower.  True story!

Had 4 Accords.  The last being a 2008 latest shape.  Great looking even now.  This model had an atrocious appetite for rear brake pads and seized calipers.  When the model was discontinued in around 2014. Honda didn’t have a suitable saloon. That’s when I got the Lexus bug and bought an IS 300h.  I wish they still available with the refinement of the ES.

Gave son my 22 ES P/P and used his 21 ES P/P to fund my 24 ES P/P.  Got 22k, price down from £23.5k in Jan, with 14,000 mls.

The dealer explained that the ES seems to be going out of favour understandably.  There were no S/H on forecourt.  What a changing world to purchase a vehicle I.e. salesman takes order, others sort finances and P/exchange, they even have a handover person.

The 24 ES has changed, being a technophobe it was daunting, no split screen, different central console etc. Most importantly that speed bong! after many personnel trying to disable, they finally managed it, but I can’t explain how.  Maybe when I exceed the limit it will go off, I’ll report back later.  I somewhat regret getting rid of the ES 22, I should really have kept the old IS.

Sorry! AWD.

In South London, and Khan in “charge” of our roads and speed limits. FWD to me seems a complete waste of money 

Do not even think of a Land Rover/Discovery.  Toyota/Cruiser a fine choice. All the best.

Ian, excellent ideas, but getting into that fuze box is a pain.  The Battery seems easier.  Surely some easy isolation of both could be fitted?

Going away for a few weeks?  ES on drive?  How would you feel about jacking it up and removing a wheel and securing it safely. Just a thought whilst having a few in the pub!

Is a specialist aluminium welding an option?

I agree with all what Mr Vlad has said. Niggles for me are the limited steering lock and the concern of theft.  I am coming up to my 4th.  I feel the build quality and reliability is second to none.  But you should explore all alternatives. Welcome, possibly to the Forum. All the best with your test drive.

On 2/12/2024 at 3:48 PM, cdmaskell said:

Wait for your next MOT.  Nothing serious on those advisors. My Old Accord had the same with dust covers 8 years ago and they are still showing the same now.  At what degree is the pin worn?  If serious it should have failed.

The rubber components on Japanese vehicles are of a much higher quality than their counterparts.  They crack, yes, but rarely allow lubricants to escape.  Take that horrid c/v joint boot.  The Jap ones would crack but rarely fail. The MOT test parameters have certainly changed, putting undue stress onto the Inspector. As a retired MOD senior inspector on car/ HGV’s.  The inspector now has to cover his ar -e.  The day of simply fail or pass have gone. One what rattles me is “worn and “wear” there is a very distinct difference.

6 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

Ray hi …… the Dust Cover is comparatively  tiny cost and saves all that road crap from entering the unit it protects ……. potentially causing premature wear and unnecessary bigger cost going forward 

Its always your choice how you spend your ££££  

Malc 

If the dust cover was deteriorated to such an extent to to allow ingress of dirt and moisture it should be deemed a fail.  

Wait for your next MOT.  Nothing serious on those advisors. My Old Accord had the same with dust covers 8 years ago and they are still showing the same now.  At what degree is the pin worn?  If serious it should have failed.

Contaminated pad at extremities?

20 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

The BreakDown service will carry all the appropriate jacks etc  but NOT a spare wheel for you ! 

Malc 

They will, and have appropriate space saver’s with various sizes and stud figurations.