bargain bucket big boy bruiser cruiser - Lexus GS300
Discussion
Having been eyeing up various motorway cruisers recently as I'm getting a bit fed up of buzzing around in the C2 Loeb. Don't get me wrong, when you drop a cog and point it down a country road, its a lovely little go kart pocket rocket. But on the motorway its just dire. So the hunt was on for a bargain barge sub £1k to take up some of the motorway miles.
In my quest ive been to see a Rover 75, Audi A6, and finally the Lexus. The jag S type was also on my list but to be honest, I couldn't walk away from the Lexus when I saw it.
The 2000 rover 75 connoisseur V6 looked good in the pictures, but was utterly awful to drive. It floated around the road and the interior stank. Add in the simply atrocious build quality (squeeks and rattles everywhere and trim loose) and I actually said to the dealer I wasn't interested because it was awful to drive. Plus the cambelts needed doing, on a rover KV6 this is a £600-£700 job. Needless to say I walked away.
Next was a 1999 Audi A6. This drove pretty well but was incredibly grubby inside. It also looked like it had been involved in a light front end as the bumper was hanging down about an inch on one side and was held on by zip ties. Otherwise it was in reasonable condition and drove pretty well. My only gripe was that this was full poverty spec with fabric interior and that well loved 1.8T lump up front. The dash had the typical dodgy LCD module though and there was a dash light (bulb I think). But I checked all the lights and they were good.
Today I went to look at a Lexus GS300. I think the owner ticked every option, and they all worked well, including the sky light. It even has an original Lexus moulded boot tray. The passenger and rear seats may have been used once or twice. They looked new. Even the drivers seat looked very good indeed with very minimal cracking to the bolster. Its a 92k miles car, 1998 with every single service stamp from the main dealer it was bought from new (18 stamps). Everything works and it drives very well! And super quiet and comfy. MOT until April '17
And what did I pay? The grand sum of £700.
More pics when I pick it up later in the week! Here's a few from the advert
In my quest ive been to see a Rover 75, Audi A6, and finally the Lexus. The jag S type was also on my list but to be honest, I couldn't walk away from the Lexus when I saw it.
The 2000 rover 75 connoisseur V6 looked good in the pictures, but was utterly awful to drive. It floated around the road and the interior stank. Add in the simply atrocious build quality (squeeks and rattles everywhere and trim loose) and I actually said to the dealer I wasn't interested because it was awful to drive. Plus the cambelts needed doing, on a rover KV6 this is a £600-£700 job. Needless to say I walked away.
Next was a 1999 Audi A6. This drove pretty well but was incredibly grubby inside. It also looked like it had been involved in a light front end as the bumper was hanging down about an inch on one side and was held on by zip ties. Otherwise it was in reasonable condition and drove pretty well. My only gripe was that this was full poverty spec with fabric interior and that well loved 1.8T lump up front. The dash had the typical dodgy LCD module though and there was a dash light (bulb I think). But I checked all the lights and they were good.
Today I went to look at a Lexus GS300. I think the owner ticked every option, and they all worked well, including the sky light. It even has an original Lexus moulded boot tray. The passenger and rear seats may have been used once or twice. They looked new. Even the drivers seat looked very good indeed with very minimal cracking to the bolster. Its a 92k miles car, 1998 with every single service stamp from the main dealer it was bought from new (18 stamps). Everything works and it drives very well! And super quiet and comfy. MOT until April '17
And what did I pay? The grand sum of £700.
More pics when I pick it up later in the week! Here's a few from the advert
Having seen the other 2 cars (priced at £899 and £799) I literally couldn't believe my luck when I started looking around the Lexus. Its such a nice car and genuinely a nice place to be. Not only was it cheaper than the other two, and cleaner, it was much much better spec and the build quality was as good as modern BMWs, mercs and Audis.
Very happy bunny!
Very happy bunny!
You've just got to keep an eye on eBay, autotrader and gumtree. Chances are there'll be something good up if you are savvy about how to search. Generally I did a none specific search and just limited the results via price, mileage and distance, then its a case of trawling through the pages of s
t to fid the diamond on page 136 or whatever. I've written about the condition of the other 2 in the write up.
t to fid the diamond on page 136 or whatever. I've written about the condition of the other 2 in the write up.f1nn said:
You'll not go far wrong with that for 700 notes that's for sure!
0a said:
Disgusting value for money, a great way to remove some miles I am sure!
I know, I feel like I've robbed the man! He seemed happy with the sale price though! It was on eBay and sold on Saturday, but the guy who won it didn't want it in the end (I honestly can't think of a single reason why he didn't want this for £700) I contacted him after and said id give him the final sale price as a BIN subject to inspection. So a deal was struck today! I guess if nothing else it saves him the grief of dealing with any more eBay morons!ETA: If you buy a second had car for £10k and keep it for 10 years and sell it for £3k then you lose £700 per year in depreciation.... Therefore even if I keep this for one year and its scrapped, I'm still winning, and very comfortably as I do so...
Edited by Ambleton on Tuesday 19th July 22:43
For my own amusement today I rang up Lexus at Milton Keynes to find out the cost of the 100k mile service.
This includes the following:
Spark plugs
Oil filter
Oil
Air filter
Pollen filter
Top up of all other fluids
Brake and tyre check
A stamp on the service book that says Lexus on it.
All for the bargain price of £595... Hahahhahaha, bless em.
I then rang up my local trusted garage who would do all the same things for £175. In my mind that makes the Lexus stamp in the service book the most expensive thing in the service...
Or I could do it myself for about £70...
This includes the following:
Spark plugs
Oil filter
Oil
Air filter
Pollen filter
Top up of all other fluids
Brake and tyre check
A stamp on the service book that says Lexus on it.
All for the bargain price of £595... Hahahhahaha, bless em.
I then rang up my local trusted garage who would do all the same things for £175. In my mind that makes the Lexus stamp in the service book the most expensive thing in the service...
Or I could do it myself for about £70...
Right, ive booked my train to go collect the car tomorrow eve. I'm expecting about 2 hours of the most uncomfortable journey, followed by 2 hours of the most comfortable drive back.
My train leaves at 5.30pm, just in time to hit rush hour on Friday evening heading into central London (joy) then across London on the tube (satans armpit in this weather) and then another train out of London into Surrey.
My train leaves at 5.30pm, just in time to hit rush hour on Friday evening heading into central London (joy) then across London on the tube (satans armpit in this weather) and then another train out of London into Surrey.
Well the time is nearly upon me! Where I leave the office and head to the train station to begin my voyage. The weather is cloudy, warm and incredibly humid, perfect for travelling in rush hour on public transport into, and out of the capitol.
Ive donned my shorts, charged up my mp3 player and arranged to meet the seller at the train station at the other end.... I'll try to update regularly.
I'm hoping that I'm not wedged into small space with my face squashed into the armpit of an obese, American tourist with a shirt wetter than the front row of a Justin Bieber concert and the odour of a dead body washed up at low tide on a particularly warm day.
Ive donned my shorts, charged up my mp3 player and arranged to meet the seller at the train station at the other end.... I'll try to update regularly.
I'm hoping that I'm not wedged into small space with my face squashed into the armpit of an obese, American tourist with a shirt wetter than the front row of a Justin Bieber concert and the odour of a dead body washed up at low tide on a particularly warm day.
Well the first train was actually quite refined. Got a seat, it had aircon and I wasn't sat next to a fat, sweaty, faeces odoured moron.
Getting across London on the tube was awful. It was like temporarily residing under the sweaty ballsack of a sumo wrestler.
Everytime I visit London I'm reminded why I hate it so much. Its just way too busy and rushed.
Oh well. Just about to get my third and final train....
Getting across London on the tube was awful. It was like temporarily residing under the sweaty ballsack of a sumo wrestler.
Everytime I visit London I'm reminded why I hate it so much. Its just way too busy and rushed.
Oh well. Just about to get my third and final train....
carinaman said:
Good work. Seems an absolute steal for £700.
That A6 with the cable tie bumper was the red saloon with 50 to 60K on it? I quite liked the poverty spec. Interesting marks across the front bumper.
Yes. My guess is that whilst parking it was scraped against a bollard or something. Certainly no other damage beyond the black streak and broken clips. The black streaks would easily be removed with TCut... They started to come off with my nail.That A6 with the cable tie bumper was the red saloon with 50 to 60K on it? I quite liked the poverty spec. Interesting marks across the front bumper.
Just arrived home! I decided whilst I was down that way to pop in to see my friend in Guildford for half an hour or so. The cd cassette was there and present. On the drive back I noticed a few things I hadn't noticed before. But for £700 in the grand scheme of things are minor.
1 - the back doors don't lock/unlock on the central locking. My guess is wiring or motor. Should be an easy fix, although as its both rear doors could be something more complex. Either way, they can be locked from the inside. No biggie considering the back doors will be used very infrequently.
2 - although the air com has some effect, ita not as good as I anticipated. Probably a regas needed. Again, no biggie.
3 - the washers don't work. At first I thought it was out of fluid. But I filled up and i don't actually think the pump is turning on, so it might be wiring or a dead pump.
Hopefully nothing major. Otherwise the sound system is amazing, the seats are mega comfy and it is super duper quiet. And has a fair old hoof when you bury your foot. That gearbox is soooo smooth.!
1 - the back doors don't lock/unlock on the central locking. My guess is wiring or motor. Should be an easy fix, although as its both rear doors could be something more complex. Either way, they can be locked from the inside. No biggie considering the back doors will be used very infrequently.
2 - although the air com has some effect, ita not as good as I anticipated. Probably a regas needed. Again, no biggie.
3 - the washers don't work. At first I thought it was out of fluid. But I filled up and i don't actually think the pump is turning on, so it might be wiring or a dead pump.
Hopefully nothing major. Otherwise the sound system is amazing, the seats are mega comfy and it is super duper quiet. And has a fair old hoof when you bury your foot. That gearbox is soooo smooth.!
Ambleton said:
Just arrived home! I decided whilst I was down that way to pop in to see my friend in Guildford for half an hour or so. The cd cassette was there and present. On the drive back I noticed a few things I hadn't noticed before. But for £700 in the grand scheme of things are minor.
1 - the back doors don't lock/unlock on the central locking. My guess is wiring or motor. Should be an easy fix, although as its both rear doors could be something more complex. Either way, they can be locked from the inside. No biggie considering the back doors will be used very infrequently.
2 - although the air com has some effect, ita not as good as I anticipated. Probably a regas needed. Again, no biggie.
3 - the washers don't work. At first I thought it was out of fluid. But I filled up and i don't actually think the pump is turning on, so it might be wiring or a dead pump.
Hopefully nothing major. Otherwise the sound system is amazing, the seats are mega comfy and it is super duper quiet. And has a fair old hoof when you bury your foot. That gearbox is soooo smooth.!
Looking over all of this online it appears the rear door locks and the washer pump are common issues, and easily fixed. Replacement door lock actuators can be sourced from ebay for ~£25 per side, and the pump is again about £20 and located underneath the washer bottle behind the headlight and an easy swap.1 - the back doors don't lock/unlock on the central locking. My guess is wiring or motor. Should be an easy fix, although as its both rear doors could be something more complex. Either way, they can be locked from the inside. No biggie considering the back doors will be used very infrequently.
2 - although the air com has some effect, ita not as good as I anticipated. Probably a regas needed. Again, no biggie.
3 - the washers don't work. At first I thought it was out of fluid. But I filled up and i don't actually think the pump is turning on, so it might be wiring or a dead pump.
Hopefully nothing major. Otherwise the sound system is amazing, the seats are mega comfy and it is super duper quiet. And has a fair old hoof when you bury your foot. That gearbox is soooo smooth.!
Happy days.
For all those who have been patiently waiting. Here are a few more pictures...
I think it has been stood under a tree for a couple of months and needed a bloody good wash. As today is going to be a warm one, and I was awake anyway, I got up at 6am to give HMS Lexustrious a clean.
One thing I didn't do, was prepare myself mentally. Having owned the C2 for a couple of years now, and getting used to its size. This really is A LOT of car to wash!
THATS BETTER!!
Under the boot tray there is all the standard stuff, correct and complete, looks unused too. It even comes with the original toolkit in the leather pouch and a tin of touch up paint.
I think it has been stood under a tree for a couple of months and needed a bloody good wash. As today is going to be a warm one, and I was awake anyway, I got up at 6am to give HMS Lexustrious a clean.
One thing I didn't do, was prepare myself mentally. Having owned the C2 for a couple of years now, and getting used to its size. This really is A LOT of car to wash!
THATS BETTER!!
Under the boot tray there is all the standard stuff, correct and complete, looks unused too. It even comes with the original toolkit in the leather pouch and a tin of touch up paint.
Edited by Ambleton on Saturday 23 July 08:57
Looks like its had a recent set of Lexus car mats too. Very little wear! I bet these don't come cheap either!
Original Lexus moulded boot liner...
4 matching Conti tyres all round with about half tread...
The rear wheels are showing a fair bit of corrosion, the fronts are okay...
CLEAN
The headlights had frosted over slightly due to wear. Nothing a bit of Brasso and elbow grease cant sort out!
Original Lexus moulded boot liner...
4 matching Conti tyres all round with about half tread...
The rear wheels are showing a fair bit of corrosion, the fronts are okay...
CLEAN
The headlights had frosted over slightly due to wear. Nothing a bit of Brasso and elbow grease cant sort out!
Edited by Ambleton on Saturday 23 July 09:05
CX53 said:
Looks like it's cleaned up nicely. That interior looks great, a very comfy place to be!
I'm quite jealous, I could do with something just like this. Bonus that it came with decent tyres on as well.
i know! had a very minor wheel wobble about 75 - ill take them to be rebalanced when i can be arsed!I'm quite jealous, I could do with something just like this. Bonus that it came with decent tyres on as well.
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