Where to buy RX450h - £20k budget

[makmanuk]

Hi all

We have finally decided that the RX450h is the car we want to buy. Within our budget we can but privately, 3rd party dealer with 3 month warranty or approved used from Lexus with a 12 month warranty.

Which is our best option? The best deals seem to be at 3rd party dealers but that comfort of a 12 month warranty appeals. We are looking at cars in the 2912 - 2014 range, anywhere from 45k to 90k on them.

[makmanuk]

Thanks all. On our way to take a look at a 2014 model that’s relatively close and at £17500 by but I’ll check out those 2015 ones too.

[makmanuk]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304045...

So this is the one we have come to see. It looks in good condition, the only minor issue is that one wheel is black, the rest are silver. The guy selling it said they hadn’t even noticed. They are replacing the brake pads annd disks and the original Lexus ones are on the seat ready to be fitted. Edit: they said they will also sort out the wheel.

I’ve looked under the car as best as I can. They a little bit of rust here and there but nothing you wouldn’t expect of a car this age. Likewise the little bit of scuffs internally here and there. It’s has 6 services, the first 4 at Lexus, then a Halfords and a kwik fit. Would that affect the extended warranty?

What’s do you all think? Go for it??

Edited by makmanuk on Sunday 14th May 12:17

[makmanuk]

Thanks everyone, your responses, backed up with a quick chat with a mechanic friend who reiterated what you’re saying about Halfords and Kwik Fit stamps has put us off this one, so it’s back to looking. It was a good experience though, learned a couple of things.

@bigg would you not expect some minor rust in a 9 year old car regardless of the price? The price is so much dictated by the original price of the car, surely?

[makmanuk]

https://usedcars.lexus.co.uk/en/used-lexus/Lexus/R...

There’s a Lexus dealership close to where we had come to look at the one above. Thoughts on this one?

[makmanuk]

biggbn said:

As I said, my expectations are doubtless unrealistic. Most I've ever spent on a car is @7k so for 18 I'd want a gilded carriage!! Good luck in your search, I love these cars.

[makmanuk]

The one in the dealership is reserved, but will take a look at it anyway.

They’ve got smothering that’s not on the website, similar mileage but a 64 plate, which doesn’t have a price yet but is likely to be around £20k. Let’s see how it goes.

[makmanuk]

Yeah, not trading and paying cash, so no financing. But the way these seem to be going, I doubt they’ll offer me a reduction, they’ll just wait a week for the next punter to come in and snap it up.

We’ve left a deposit and reserved the one that’s not been listed yet, another trip back there next week.

[makmanuk]

I’ve never done financing, how would that work in practice? And wouldn’t they get a bit pi**ed off at me basically scamming them?

[makmanuk]

Agreed. Between that and the service history we decided to skip that one. We are off to see another at a Lexus dealer on Friday, it’s slightly over budget but just comes with a lot more peace of mind

[makmanuk]

Terzo, I think you're right, that is the case. The salesman said they can go beyond the 10yr 100,000mile warranty on a case by case basis but the last one he knows applied and was rejected. He said Lexus keep changing the policy a bit.

Plan is to go and look at one tomorrow and if it doesn't work out we can go back to Woodbridge for the new one they have coming on.

[makmanuk]

Unfortunately that’s pushing the budget too far, if we did that we would never stop! Our original budget was £15k and I upped it to £20k, and now it’s going to £21k. 🙈

[makmanuk]

Just waiting for them to do me a deal and I’ll part with my money.

[makmanuk]

Well, deposit paid and I’m getting a new car. They didn’t do me a deal on the car but I’m getting the supagard treatment done at half price.

[makmanuk]

Will do, next Wednesday hopefully!

I’ve got to say, I think I got a decent deal. 50,000 on the clock, almost perfect condition outside, scuffs here and there inside. But the selling point was the service history, Lexus dealer stamps, every February, every year. I’ve got 12 month warranty with the dealer and if I service it in Nov just before the anniversary I’ll get another year from the 10 year warranty deal Lexus do. I’ve walked away with some piece of mind.

[makmanuk]

Will do, next Wednesday hopefully!

I’ve got to say, I think I got a decent deal. 50,000 on the clock, almost perfect condition outside, scuffs here and there inside. But the selling point was the service history, Lexus dealer stamps, every February, every year. I’ve got 12 month warranty with the dealer and if I service it in Nov just before the anniversary I’ll get another year from the 10 year warranty deal Lexus do. I’ve walked away with some piece of mind.

[makmanuk]

https://imgur.com/a/OZ49xmS

Here you all go, new car collected, Lexus made us feel very special.

They took us into a room with a glass wall, dimming the lights in our room and raising them on the other side of the glass to show us a silk sheet covered car. My youngest son got to pull that back to reveal our new car. Honestly, it really did make you feel a bit special.