Nick W858

Matt - mine is not for sale but if I did sell it I would not have any fear for what the next owner might be in for. It has done 252k (1998 Mk 4) and drives superbly. Mine has an annual service and other than that there is generally little else to do. As others have said the maintenance record is more important than the outright mileage in my opinion. Good luck with your search.

Thanks all and well done to Alan for joining the forum and I know the ISF will be in safe hands. Not sure what the replacement will be yet, I have been seriously looking at the 911 for quite a while as I feel as a lover of cars I should own one at some point in my life. It would be a 997 model 2009 onwards with the PDK so looking at a potential 50k spend for a decent one which aside from concerns about my job security I am not sure I really want to spend - also I did drive a colleagues car the other week which was nice but not as nice as I thought it would be - was a 61 plate S version and already it has been back in for three pieces of warranty work in the short period she has owned it which is a bit off putting after what you get used to from a Lexus. i am strangely attracted to the Golf R and was lucky enough to borrow none last week for 5 days. The 4 cylinder drone took a bit of getting used to but it was the most fun I have had in a car for ages, really capable and very easy to drive at high speed, took it out one night in the wet and was Incredible at the speed it could deal with wet roundabouts etc - very reassuring and I liked the fact it was also quite annonymous. Am considering ordering one through my company scheme and then driving it like a company car should be driven! Other option is to stick with the LS 400 for a short while and accumulate some more cash to put towards a RCF or GSF - as I said the job security thing is probably the biggest deciding factor at the moment.

Well the ISF has gone - trying not to be too emotional about it - only a car but a cracking one. Been up on AT for sale for a couple of weeks, it was a high miler at 119k and I was not advertising it a cheap rate and I did get a few interesting characters making me some interesting offers - all of which I was happy enough to decline. I was hoping that somebody would see through the mileage and appreciate the outstanding history of the car and was lucky enough to find that in Alan from Surrey who came up north on the train today and drove the car away a very happy man. I know that Alan has been lurking on here for a while so perhaps he might now join the club now that he finally has a Lexus! I am left with the old girl (LS400) for now and will be making a decision soon about what to buy next. Many thanks for the support I have had and good luck with your cars. Nick

Looks great - I prefer the lighter interior.

Good choice Malc - I looked seriously at these before I got the ISF - interested to see what the ride and fuel economy is like although both will be better than the ISF! You can't go wrong with a Honda - I have had several of their sports bikes and have ridden Fireblades for the past 14 years with no issues. My Dad has run the pensioners preferred weapon of choice (Jazz) for the past few years - again faultless. Good luck and keep us posted.

48 - banking

Lovely looking motor. Well done.

2009 and 118k - perfect - apart from the aforementioned stonechips!

Well done on the purchase - best colour too :)

Been using the ISF quite a bit recently racking up the miles and she is running like a dream - nice to get a straight pass today no advisories and not bad going considering the mileage. Just shows the quality of these cars.

That's good going my MK 4 98 managed to get 5 fail points and two advisories - can't remember the last time I got a straight pass - never mind 6 on the bounce - long may it continue for you.

Two weeks ago posted about the 5 fail points on the Mot - most serious was the headlamps which I got sorted thanks to advice on here by way of the Autoglym restoration kit. Car has been in the local garage for the past week and picked her up tonight - everything supplied, fitted and a service too all for around £500 which is great value for another year on the road. My mechanic has had a good look round and no other issues lurking save for what was called out as advisory on the Mot. Have been using the ISF exclusively for the past fortnight which has been fun but big smile on my face tonight when I took the LS for a drive - so soothing and serene - funny how a 17 year old car can create such feelings of pleasure! The tax was due to run out tomorrow so Mot passed in the nick of time and have just renewed online so here's to another year and hopefully many more to come.

Thanks all for the heads up re the headlight restoration - the Autoglym kit did the job - had the car back in the MOT station tonight and the lights passed the test. Saved a lot of hassle and money - car booked in for rest of the remedial work so hopefully all will be sorted soon.

Did the headlights this eve with the autoglym kit - no before or after pics but they do look loads better - will pop into MOT station on Friday just to see if they pass the headlight test - if they do it will save some hassle and money - will crack on with the other fail points and hopefully be back on the road in a week or so.

Looking at my records fairly certain it's the first time - so not bad. I am still a wee bit pensive at continuing to spend money but I would prefer to have the LS400 as a runaround than a small city car and if the ISF goes which it may do in summer then will be handy to have a back up car at the ready. Any idea what a rear shock would cost Malc?

Malc - the MOT shows 9911 miles but since the car was stood a while back I have had an issue with the odometern- some days it can show almost a million miles! The correct mileage is approx 245k - I now keep records based on fuel used and guesstimate of economy. My man at Lexus Hull has quoted £1312 plus vat for a pair - he will give me 10% off that mind! Got the kit now - if that doesn't work will need to chance my arm at the breakers - best quote £284 for both headlights

Thanks all - just going to pick up the Autglym kit which has just won the Auto Express best product award. Reviews look good so worth a go rather than a £320 spend. The other bits on the MOT were suspension arm excessive play in ball joint near side front upper plus a rear shock that has gone plus parking brake recording little effort on the near side. Think I will see if I can get the headlamps to the point at which they will pass the MOT and then get the other work done - my mechanic is ex LS400 owner and very trustworthy. There were also advisories re front wheel bearing slight play, seepage from power steering and rear axle corroded but I will worry about those next year assuming I can get this years passed. Nick

Thanks guys - they have been called out on previous MOTs - my mechanic who I trust immensely reckons they definitely need replacing - they have tried some paste on the lights today but cannot get to the standard required for the MOT - granted they have not had them off so I will look at rage restoration options - had a text from a breaker tonight quoting £340 for a pair.

Well I didn't have high expectations and was not disappointed. To be fair three of the items, parking brake, rear shock and front ball joint not deal breakers for me to get sorted, the other two points relate to the headlights - basically I need both replacing and suspect if I get these new it will not be economical to replace. If anyone knows of any good breakers or has a donor car with decent lights then me know. Car is a1998 Mk 4. Since getting the ISF, I have found the LS handy for those place I need to visit which are less salubrious, also with winter wheels and tyres on it has been useful on the days when you don't want to be in a rwd 420bhp car with summer tyres on! i could live without the LS or perhaps swap for a small city car but 12 years into ownership I'd really prefer to keep her. As I say, any advice or pointers re the headlights appreciated.

That's a lovely looking car and well done on the purchase. I do have some recognition oh what Moriwaki said, I had a LS460 for a day a while back as I was planning to swap my LS400 - the noise and the ride did shock me, it felt nowhere as refined as the LS400 and I put this down to the 19 inch wheels and the tyres - seems from other comments that changing the tyres will help but I just found it to be not what I was expecting for something newer with far less miles. In terms of loss, it beat my LS hands down - it looked terrific on my drive but I could not go ahead because it just didn't feel right. Hopefully it will turn out well for you and keep us informed as you get to know the car better.

Beautiful - good job

114k miles and nothing but tyres and brakes in 6 years - oh and a bit of petrol too

It's a no for me - got offered it yesterday when the RX was in Lexus Hull for a 90k service (2011 model) - no faults whatsoever and these cars are meant to be very reliable. For me personally I would bank the money in a slush fund but each to their own - if the thought of a big report bill worries you then go for it.

Just to reassure those of you that are worried about high mileage, mine has over 113k on the clock (09 plate) not that you would ever know if you drove it. It has two years Lexus warranty on it, has FLSH and I may sell next summer at 120k on the clock and with the 60k big service done it will simply fly off the shelf to anyone who buys on condition and knows these cars. Unless you are a complete nutcase or own a petrol station you cannot drive those kinds of miles at high speed. I bought mine from a multi millionaire self employed businessman and the high mileage was the attraction for me because it was obvious the car had to be used mainly for crusing up and down the motorway - the price I paid was of course lower due to the mileage and that will be the same if and when I sell it on. I'm not sure what the values will do and frankly I don't care - it's impossible to second guess the market, you should buy with your heart, these cars are amazing and if you buy on condition you will be fine. I have always bought cars privately and never had an issue - you can usually tell the genuine folk from the shysters and of course only nice people drive a Lexus! So for those of you that are unsure, do not hesitate and follow your heart - you won't regret it!