Mileage I'm almost ashamed to say is over 150,000 but it would essentially be a free car excluding insurance.
There is not a single mark on it - anywhere.
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Colour - a maroony type colour.
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Do you want talking into it, performance, looks, quality, or out of it, economy, service costs, insurance?
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Insurance is unavoidable whatever car you get , ins. group for ins. group (I think GS300 is IG15) so not an issue. If it's effectively free then first sign of an expensive repair, sell for whatever you can get. Buy.
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Adam, you need to get a zebra-stripe fedora and a purple velvet floor-length coat if you are going to start driving one of these at your age.
They lend themselves to, say, 40 upwards but under 30 and it screams "pimp!"
These cars can be bomb-proof but when something does wear out, time to grovel the bank manager. Toyota parts aren't the cheapest to be had so add the Lexus label and it gets worse. They don't run on fresh air (or even diesel) so expect to be on good terms with your local filling station.
A fellow contractor ran one for 6 months and even on his money he balked when the bills started coming in.
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Sorry - Should have said - it's not for me - it's for Dad.
I didn't want to get in the rigmarole but I will anyway. He has a Mazda 626 now which has only done about 40k but loathes it. He hasn't hated a car more in his life. He doesn't trust how it handles, doesn't like the lack of power and just hates it in general.
His mate has his own garage/engineering company and acquired this Lexus. He asked Dad to take a look to see what he thought - we all went today and all loved it. Even Mum. It drove perfectly, was quiet and powerful. His mate is his best mate and so, extremely trustworthy and has said pretty much the same as you Al - that they're bombproof. Plus he's there if anything needs fixing.
He's said Dad can have it for a grand. I reckon Dad's car is worth 2 grand on a bad day - probably a shade more given it's condition so that's what makes the Lexus, essentially, free.
That being said, if I could insure it myself, I'd have one. That's how impressed I was with it.
Thanks again for the input. More thoughts welcome.
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25 owners have reviewed it at
www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/user_reviews/readReview...5
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The early ones certainly look better that the later face lift models.
If it literally costs nothing buy it or offer him 50 quid from me.
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Thanks guys. It's looking like a Go then. Only trouble is insurance. It's ridiculous even for Dad!
Stupid Internet sites.
I was amazed at the kit level on such an oldish car though. Bold statement but I think it has almost everything you could have on a car bar sat nav. And it all worked too!
Many thanks again,
Adam
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I was amazed that the 02 plater I drove last week didn't have even basic a trip computer (handy for knowing how little fuel you've got left) or parking sensors
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If it literally costs nothing buy it or offer him 50 quid from me.
Adam:
He's said Dad can have it for a grand. I reckon Dad's car is worth 2 grand on a bad day - probably a shade more given it's condition so that's what makes the Lexus, essentially, free.
Not quite as free as that Cheddar, but pretty cheap nevertheless.
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Not quite as free as that Cheddar, but pretty cheap nevertheless.
Ok, thanks, I was going by Adam's earlier comment "essentially be a free car excluding insurance."
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Sorry sorry - I was trying to miss out the whole story but just made it harder for myself!
Looking on autotrader, a few are going with 280,000 miles on the clock! That's fairly reassuring.
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I ran one of these for a year - stunning value that's for sure.
What's good: smooth, nippy engines; pretty bomb-proof mechanicals and electrics; distinctive looks; lots of toys, great stereo too.
What's bad: jiggly ride; so-so fuel consumption and small tank; curiously-shaped small boot with high lip; watch the handling in icy/slippery conditions; being a shorty I couldn't get comfy with the settings on the backrest - that's why I sold the car.
There are loads of them around and they're all cheap. Just make sure it's been loved and you'll be fine. There's a good forum on ther web too - let me know if you need any other info.
Cheers
R
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Well, the better half actually had an early one of these; admittedly that was from new, but I never saw anything better put together. And she found it very easy to drive.
I found it a shade boring (like a large silent Carina) but that's probably a recommendation!
Mechanicals should indeesd be bomb-proof, but just make sure there is no tin worm.
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Bear in mind that all luxury cars are built to a very high standard, and cost way above average to maintain. Hardly any Lexus independent specialists out there either.
The engine and gearbox may well be "bomb-proof", but make sure the suspension is not on it's last legs. The cars are so smooth that even the slightest play in the bushes are noticeable. The bushes and control arms are not cheap on these cars!!!
Enjoy the car if you do get it.
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Thanks for all the help.
Still hitting a problem re insurance though. A grand for a 50 year old it taking the mick I think.
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Have you tried confused.com. It may seem a tiny bit time consuming, but it's the most thorough at getting a real deal, not a headline one.
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Confused have never really worked for me but it's a good idea.
I'm trying it now...
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A grand fully comp mainly with 850-900 ish TPFT.
The best I've done so far is 790.
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£308, surrey, 5 years no claims (there was no space to mention the bus), 51 years old, fully comp direct line
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Dad gave Mum all his no claims though to make her car cheaper to insure Amy on.
It's so messy!
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Confused results back.
£650 is the cheapest by a long way. Then it starts getting silly.
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Just send me a tenner via HJ....
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If he gets it, I will ;-)
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>>Dad gave Mum all his no claims>>
Get Mum to insure it, and Dad to insure her car perhaps!
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Which is why you are asked how many cars there in the household and who will be the main driver.
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Oh believe me - we know every loophole there is going. Don't forget we were in a similar situation when I was learning to drive.
Alas - all seemingly closed off sadly.
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Got it down to 530 now.
Crazy thing. Turns out he's got one year. So I put the one year NCB in and it adds... yes ADDS 50 quid on the premium!!!
I hate insurance.
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go to Bell direct, they'll match the NCD
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Just tried them now.
932 Quid.
Thanks though.
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Adam
Peter Goord 01752 361888
More Th>n or Royal Sun Alliance
I use both these insurers for our vehicles. Prices and service both very good.
H
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Thanks H.
Just tried the More Than site now and it decides to tell me at the very end that they're unable to insure me.
I'll put Dad onto Mr Goord tomorrow.
Cheers,
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Please do. If you speak to a Mr Victor Goord tell him that Hugo put you onto him via this site.
If you don't get any joy from their staff, ask to speak to Victor, who may be able to give you a good steer. His knowledge of the insurance industry drawers parallel to that of Mark (RLBS).
I've mentioned them a few times here as being helpful. He's picked up this site via searches on his company name on a few occasions.
H
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Looks promising.
And to think this morning, all was lost.
Thanks again,
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I couldn't help but get a quote for me. My insurers have said give them an extra 300 quid and I can have it.
I'm so tempted for myself. I've always wanted big engine and even if it only lasts me a year until I get a full time job, I'd be happy.
Petrol consumption isn't putting me off. The cost of repairs is. But I can't help but think that if I said no, I wouldn't know what I was missing. The V6 growl....
I'll have a long hard think. I wasn;t expecting the insurance to be so cheap.
What do you reckon I could get for a Mazda 626 Intrigue. S reg, 50k. Almost immaculate bar a small scrape on the rear bumper.
Thanks again,
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P.S. You think if I cared what I looked like I'd have had my car for so long? ;-)
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>>The V6 growl...<<
Except I won't be hearing that. It's a straight six isn't it?
I'll...just....go..now.
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Repairs? Eh?
It's a Lexus.
*grin*
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That's what I want to hear :-)
But it's an old car isn't it?
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You pays yer money you takes yer risks. Like for like, A Lex of that age is less likely to need a repair than many others. If it does, then as long as you don't take it to a main dealer you should be able to get it sorted reasonably, and if not, well it was lovely anyway for a while.
Life's too short not to go with your heart sometimes. Just buy the darned thing if you want it.
Warning. If you do it will be hard to buy something less nice next time, of course. Look at me - happy as Larry in my Mondeo a couple of years back, now am in the throes of buying a LexusLS430 or an Merc S class. Model creep and totally unnecessary, profligate, foolish, expensive, anti-social and I don't give a flying hippo.
But maybe you don't want to hear that.
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