As some of you may know, I'm a long-term Omega driver - all very dull, sensible and boring so far.
I've got this little urge, though. I've noticed that 5-7yr old Lexus LS400 prices are getting down towards my range, and I've begun to wonder whether I should consider one.
Does anyone have any experience of running one? Are they as phenomenally reliable as they are made out to be? And what kind of real-world fuel economy can I expect? Can my local garage service one?
Or should I just go for another Omega?
Questions, questions.
V
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A relative of ours has an LS400. He bought it second hand when it was a couple of years old. (It's a 'J' REG, as I recall, but he very quickly put on a private plate, so now you'd never know!) He swears by the Lexus and when given a run in it, I can honestly say I'd never been in anything so quiet.I can't really say I like them, though - I find them ungainly to look at with desperately bland interior.
The best laugh I had was when we both attended the funeral of a mutual friend recently. The Lexus promptly broke down (flat battery)in front of the church and had to be pushed out of the way to let the hearse get through! I gave him a run back in my old Xantia, which, after 9 years still had its original battery.
That's maybe a bit unfair - I'm sure the Lexus would make great economic sense in the long haul but they are pretty much like Toyotas (surprise, surprise!) - boringly reliable, but also boringly boring!
Graeme
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Is the IS300 boring? Probably a little more exciting - whichlooks like a pile of planks on wheels.
And the Xantia - Hmm that car had longevity didn't it?! It must have been the excitement that killed it!
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Stick with the Omega, mate. Low running costs, been in production for ages and it's all sorted, and a newer car for your money.
Lexus LS430s and the like are fine for the obscenely rich, but after 5-7 years if stuff starts to go wrong (and there's plenty of kit to go wrong) it cost a fortune to fix.
That's the sensible advice. If you want to live dangerously, waft around in a Lexus. But there are far more interesting cars to live dangerously in...!
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Is the IS300 boring? Probably a little more exciting than the C5 - which looks like a pile of planks on wheels.
And the Xantia - Hmm that car had longevity didn't it?! It must have been the excitement that killed it!
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LS400 a fine car. The LS430 is better. Both too large for my garage though.
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If you don't mind the high running costs (have you checked out insurance, tyres?) and the fact that your local garage just may not be able to do much more than oil and plug change, then go for it. But be prepared for the coccasional big bill if something does go wrong. Of course it may not....
Do you plan to keep it for only a few years? - or longer if it turns out to be trouble-free?
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"Do you plan to keep it for only a few years? - or longer if it turns out to be trouble-free?"
Probably for the three years or so I intended to keep the Omega - just past three years now and just beginning to show its age (it's getting on for 5 y.o with 88,000 miles).
I know it'll not be as cheap as the Omega, but with the reliability it offers, I do wonder if it's likely to be vastly more. I am very interested in fuel usage, as I receive a flat 13ppm for fuel for running my own car for work. Thus I need about 26mpg. My driving is 60 miles to work on motorways.
V
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They\'re wonderful cars with very quiet, very smooth and very powerful engines.
However if an expensive repair would be a financial disaster, you might want to avoid.
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Had 3 in a row - would swear by them. Best time to own them is between about 3/4 and 6/7 years old. At that point they've done most of their spectacular depreciation and are new enough not to go wrong.
By far and away the best ones are the post-97 models (identified by different lights and standard sat nav & xenons) which handle better, are more refined and are very attractively priced these days. These also have varibale valve timing so feel faster and have more modern features such as stability control, side airbags etc.
Standard servicing is not so bad but things like pads & discs are pricey (the discs will need replacing about 80k). Tyres are pretty standard 225 16" so frankly no more than an up-spec Golf or Focus to replace these days. Camblet change is at 60k miles. Expect up to 30mpg on a gentle motorway run, 28mpg on a faster motorway run and about 24-25mpg in normal driving. Hammering it can bring it down to low 20's mpg around town.
They have quite a different feel to BMW's and the like (much lighter to the touch) so take a bit of getting used to. One thing few people realise is how fast they are - close to sub 7 seconds 0-60 and loads of torque.
Personally I'd avoid the pre-95 models as they're getting on a bit now. The 95-97 model is a possibility but try and go for a post-97 if you can.
Buying rules are the same as for any car only more so. Do not touch one which has been in any way neglected or had anything skimped on. Absolutely everything should work. The service history must be complete and from a Lexus dealer. History, condition and the degree to which it has been pampered are all more important than mileage.
Good luck.
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You might also want to check out the Lexus Owners Club site.
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"a little more exciting than the C5 - which looks like a pile of planks on wheels"
(Pause to wipe teardrops of LHM from cheek)
Exactly! It's called understatement!
Put it like this, members of MENSA are respected - but not much fun at a party. I like a car with flashes of brilliance made prominent by human frailties.
Now if Lexus could stick in a decent turbo diesel, offer tasty cashback offers and throw in a bit of French temperament they might just win me over.
:-) :-)
Graeme
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they have the best sound system of any production car anywhere in the world.. (autocar 1998)
is it true? i've never heard one.
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"Exactly! It's called understatement!
"Put it like this, members of MENSA are respected - but not much fun at a party. I like a car with flashes of brilliance made prominent by human frailties."
The C5 is one of the most unreliable cars out there (see HJ's car-by-car breakdown - pun intended).
There are frailties and there are frailties. The Citroen cars are hopeless. Nothing understated turning up for work late or walking in soaked to the skin despite driving to work!
Don't buy French cars - they are no good!!! Not xenophobia, just fact - look at every reliability survey and they are there at the bottom.
Can be understated and reliable - try Lexus, Audi, Honda or Toyota.
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Re turbodiesel - the Lexus IS200 should have one next year. About time too!
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My friend had one two years ago - early model, 91 I think on a private plate. He paid £4k, showing 140k if I remember correctly. Pearlescent Ivory colour. I was amazed at the quality, silent engine. Had a go in it but the steering is very light without much feel. Classy black instruments with illuminated needles. Loved the lazy feel of the engine and surge on kickdown. Unfortunately it got scraped by a waggon outside a casino in Salford. That signalled it's decline - doing a respray was a serious problem in obtaining a paint match with lacquer problems. It was never the same again. Watch for bodywork repairs.
Wonder if they will last forever?
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"Now if Lexus could stick in a decent turbo diesel, offer tasty cashback offers and throw in a bit of French temperament they might just win me over."
LOL. The RHD 607 and Vel Satis are being made just for you!
I've heard the sound system in the LS430 and it is very good indeed - it's made by Mark Levinson, whose home systems cost more than a 3 year old Safrane. Even the humble IS200 has good sound (spoiled only by tyre roar from those beautiful big wheels and a tendency to eat CDs).
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>Don't buy French cars - they are no good!!! Not xenophobia, >just fact - look at every reliability survey and they are there >at the bottom.
Hijack thread on:
Keep up the good work, keeps the price of these excellent cars down for us that DO like them - and don't have reliablity problems on 100k+mile cars!
Hijack off
Don't know anything about Lexuses (Lexii?) - but I'd imagine they're very competent comfortable cruisers - in fact so comforable / competent they're likely to send you to sleep!
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Don't know anything about Lexuses (Lexii?) - but I'd imagine they're very competent comfortable cruisers - in fact so comforable / competent they're likely to send you to sleep!
Ironically, if you like Citroens you'd probably like Lexus. They have that same sort of long legged slightly detached and relaxed feel of the large Citoens only more so.
I also have to say that having owned both an XM and a Xantia and a LS400 I can tell you which marque I'd buy again....
(hint: It's not Citroen!)
-- RichardW Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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