Lexus GS300 any reason not to?
Discussion
I've just found out in addition to my car allowance work will pay me 45p/mile. Which is far more than I have received previously.
This means the Civic 1.8 plans can be put aside for a something more palatable on long drives as they will now meet the fuel costs of something with more lazy power and a spacker box.
These ten year old GS300s just about fall in my soft budget of about £5,500. They seem to be regarded as tougher than many equivalents, which is my main concern as having owned an XJR previously it was somewhat stressful on occasions trying to fault find and price up repairs.
Any reason not to go for one?
This means the Civic 1.8 plans can be put aside for a something more palatable on long drives as they will now meet the fuel costs of something with more lazy power and a spacker box.
These ten year old GS300s just about fall in my soft budget of about £5,500. They seem to be regarded as tougher than many equivalents, which is my main concern as having owned an XJR previously it was somewhat stressful on occasions trying to fault find and price up repairs.
Any reason not to go for one?
You sure that work dont specify 'has to be under x years old'? All my previous car allowances bar one have had a sliding scale rate, normal for under 3 years old, reduced for between 3 and 5 years and go lease something we're not paying you for anything over 5 years old.
I want to like the GS300 for what it is, but I cant get past that rear 1/4. Admittedly it's a wide angle and taken from low down, but it's gopping
I want to like the GS300 for what it is, but I cant get past that rear 1/4. Admittedly it's a wide angle and taken from low down, but it's gopping
Do what I've just done and spend £2k on a Vauxhall Omega, finding a decent 3.2 V6 is nigh on impossible so I plumped for a 2.6, smooth engine and gearbox, brilliant ride, whisper quiet. Then stick the balance in the bank to sort the rear arches when they start rusting and change the cam belt when it's due
Surprisingly our industry in general never seems to have this caveat about vehicle age, for my role at least. Only standard stipulation is a valid MOT.
We don't even need to use the car because of the amount of hours we do. They just pay us an extra £4000 a year and then most people take the train instead, but I live in quite a rural area so this isn't as easy for me. Now that I'm getting four times the obligatory amount in fuel costs I would like to make use of it however.
So no, no stipulations, caveats, etc. I just don't want to use the full amount every year as I have a lot of other things to pay for. I actually quite like driving the C-Max day to day, so its really just for long work journeys and when herself has the Ford.
We don't even need to use the car because of the amount of hours we do. They just pay us an extra £4000 a year and then most people take the train instead, but I live in quite a rural area so this isn't as easy for me. Now that I'm getting four times the obligatory amount in fuel costs I would like to make use of it however.
So no, no stipulations, caveats, etc. I just don't want to use the full amount every year as I have a lot of other things to pay for. I actually quite like driving the C-Max day to day, so its really just for long work journeys and when herself has the Ford.
D_T_W said:
Do what I've just done and spend £2k on a Vauxhall Omega, finding a decent 3.2 V6 is nigh on impossible so I plumped for a 2.6, smooth engine and gearbox, brilliant ride, whisper quiet. Then stick the balance in the bank to sort the rear arches when they start rusting and change the cam belt when it's due
I like the Omegas, my old man had the 2.5 v6 when I was younger. I always wanted an MV6. But I think the Omegas are getting on a bit, so not with long journeys in isolated areas. I also similarly have an old C-Max which offers cheap distance covering abilities (as well as family duties).My plan next year is also to work almost exclusively on a track bike for 2017. Nothing else, I just don't have the time for the niggly things that some older cars demand. I'm not an idealist, but my perception is that the Lexus will be easier to live with in this way.
The GS300 is a very good car - not exciting but as a super comfortable and refined car that rarely ever goes wrong there are few better
I often drive the GS of that era that was the world launch car a few years ago, since when it has been stripped down and rebuilt several times - it has done 89k kilometeres and still feels tight and rattle free
I often drive the GS of that era that was the world launch car a few years ago, since when it has been stripped down and rebuilt several times - it has done 89k kilometeres and still feels tight and rattle free
jbswagger said:
How many business miles do you do a year?
Usually the 45p per mile is for the first 10000 miles a year and it's 25p a mile after that.
I don't know yet unfortunately, it's not easy to predict this early on. It varies between 4-30K a year but looking at the distribution of sites I'm working with I'd say 5K max. That is very much an estimate though.Usually the 45p per mile is for the first 10000 miles a year and it's 25p a mile after that.
Usually in context would be about ~10p mile depending on the fuel type and engine size is the norm as this is the HMRC guideline payment for those with a company car/allowance which few companies go over. But no, there's no ceiling on the 45p/mile. It will however be taxed on anything over the HMRC guidelines at 40%. So for every 45 pence a mile I only get ~31p. Not like if I did not receive my allowance where I would get about ~43p.
Everyone experiences will be different, but here is mine from my first hand experience.
It was a few years ago now that I owned a GS450h from 08 - 11 and it was faultless.
It had the potential to go wronger (!) that the GS300 as it had all the electric bits bolted on, but it never let me down.
The looks were challenging to me initially; it's bland. The interior was at first not that pleasing on the eye but i grew to quite like it (i had the dark wood option not that vile reddy browny effort). It is a very comfortable car and if you are doing miles, big or small, it is effortless. I did 86k miles in 3 1/2 years and most of that was on the motorway (90%+) where it excelled. Noise levels we very good. Way better in my view than my now 7-series.
The overall quality of the car was very good, not Lexus LS levels, but very high. Easily comparable to the German equivalents, and in most cases higher. No squeaks, no rattles, no suspension knocks. Interior looks maybe a bit flimsy, but it is not.
The Lexus service experience is A1, BMW, MB et al, take note.
....and, it was good at the old Ph favourite, wafting.
It was a few years ago now that I owned a GS450h from 08 - 11 and it was faultless.
It had the potential to go wronger (!) that the GS300 as it had all the electric bits bolted on, but it never let me down.
The looks were challenging to me initially; it's bland. The interior was at first not that pleasing on the eye but i grew to quite like it (i had the dark wood option not that vile reddy browny effort). It is a very comfortable car and if you are doing miles, big or small, it is effortless. I did 86k miles in 3 1/2 years and most of that was on the motorway (90%+) where it excelled. Noise levels we very good. Way better in my view than my now 7-series.
The overall quality of the car was very good, not Lexus LS levels, but very high. Easily comparable to the German equivalents, and in most cases higher. No squeaks, no rattles, no suspension knocks. Interior looks maybe a bit flimsy, but it is not.
The Lexus service experience is A1, BMW, MB et al, take note.
....and, it was good at the old Ph favourite, wafting.
aka_kerrly said:
Nothing wrong with a GS300 especially as there are plenty for around £2500, how about something with a bit more sparkle, an Aristo twin turbo
The MK2 is the only one you will find for £2500. The MK3 is £4k and up even with high mileage. I got a smoking deal on our MK3 GS300 (2005). Car is absolutely amazing, way better (and WAY more reliable) than anything German in the price range. Although the outside may be a bit bland, the interior is an absolutely lovely place to be! Keyless go, satnav, heated and vented seats, quick enough (7 seconds to 60) and we get well over 30mpg on motorway trips. Reverse camera is awesome too!
Prof Prolapse said:
Right, I think I'm sold. Mk3 is what I'm after and I don't give a s
t about the looks.
I just need to find one as there's none suitable near me!
I had to drive 2 hours to find ours. And I had been looking for weeks. The lower priced/lower mileage ones go quick so you have to constantly be searching. Ebay has the biggest selection but you can find the occasional one that pops up on AT or Gumtree. Don't be afraid of mileage on them, they are good for it. No cam belts, no camchain issues (looking at you Audi) no need to rebuild the cooling system at 100k (looking at you BMW) No need to worry about the transmission self destructing at 125k miles (German cars in general) Suspension stays tighter for much longer than its German counterparts also. Brakes are expensive though, rotors are over 13" and the pads for the 4 piston calipers are a little more expensive. Good luck with your search.t about the looks. I just need to find one as there's none suitable near me!
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