Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]
Discussion
B210bandit said:
LS400 owners often think that a 130,000 mile LS400 ("just broken in") drives like a 50,000 mile LS400. They don't, unless the suspension has been refreshed, and no-one seems to dip into their pockets for that apart from a couple of front ball joints if they're feeling saucy. Even looking through detailed Lexus service histories shows a reluctance for "Full Lexus Service History" cars to have anything more than a few ARB drop links etc. They'll handle OK (for a barge) but once you hop into a low miler you really notice it, and then you want to refresh the suspension on your own one, and then Mr Toyota gets the thumb screws out.
Anyway, the good ones are being held onto. Oh yeah, they can look really, really good on top and have serious issues underneath at the rear suspension which often MOTs don't catch out (rear sub frame mounting points are particularly vulnerable.) Probably better than many barges their age, but you need to get the car on a ramp if you want to buy a keeper.
I suppose there would be an argument that buying a £2k 100,000 mile example and spending another £2.5k on the suspension would give you a better car than a £5k low mile one. After all, the rubber bits on the low mile car are still 20+ years oldAnyway, the good ones are being held onto. Oh yeah, they can look really, really good on top and have serious issues underneath at the rear suspension which often MOTs don't catch out (rear sub frame mounting points are particularly vulnerable.) Probably better than many barges their age, but you need to get the car on a ramp if you want to buy a keeper.
JZZ30 said:
SpeckledJim said:
MorganP104 said:
JZZ30 said:
MorganP104 said:
Steady on, old chap! We don't do "hate" on this thread (plenty of other places on PH for that sort of thing). 
Healthy debate and a dose of opinion is fine... Out and out slagging, not so much.
It's true! I came away relatively unscathed after posting pics of my SC430 Healthy debate and a dose of opinion is fine... Out and out slagging, not so much.
Time's a great healer.
I hereby retract my "quirky and charming" statement, to be replaced with "looking like Jordan's knicker drawer".
It's not really (at all) a barge, exactly, but I've noticed B6 Audi S4 Cabs coming more and more often into and close to thread budget. They seem a lot of good-looking, nice-sounding BHP for not a lot of money. I remember looking around a PHer's bright blue model a few years back and thought it was a quite odd car in terms of being a bit boulevardy but with a slightly bonkers engine. Anyone with any experience of said motor?
Thankyou4calling said:
Realistically if you put the LS400 up for sale at £4995 "To see what happens" we know what will happen.
If you are tasked with selling it, then price it to sell.
£2750 if you are lucky.
It depends. LSs slowly collect little snags in middle age (e.g. steering wheel motors, washer fluid float failure, instrument illumination, door mirror daftness, poor alloy finish, etc), and if our PHer's dad's car is free of these, presents well and there's no cambelt/water-pump interval looming, I think it'd sell for more than £2750.If you are tasked with selling it, then price it to sell.
£2750 if you are lucky.
Someone above mentioned suspension, and for sure these old boats can get a bit 'wandery' as they go out of alignment. I took mine to Wheels in Motion (after a local place with the same equipment made my car worse), and it was way better. It would be nice to try a fresher suspension to see if there is a significant difference.
forzaminardi said:
It's not really (at all) a barge, exactly, but I've noticed B6 Audi S4 Cabs coming more and more often into and close to thread budget. They seem a lot of good-looking, nice-sounding BHP for not a lot of money. I remember looking around a PHer's bright blue model a few years back and thought it was a quite odd car in terms of being a bit boulevardy but with a slightly bonkers engine. Anyone with any experience of said motor?
No personal experience but an auto is a must-have as the manual was clearly geared by a complete lunatic.Escapegoat said:
It depends. LSs slowly collect little snags in middle age (e.g. steering wheel motors, washer fluid float failure, instrument illumination, door mirror daftness, poor alloy finish, etc), and if our PHer's dad's car is free of these, presents well and there's no cambelt/water-pump interval looming, I think it'd sell for more than £2750.
Someone above mentioned suspension, and for sure these old boats can get a bit 'wandery' as they go out of alignment. I took mine to Wheels in Motion (after a local place with the same equipment made my car worse), and it was way better. It would be nice to try a fresher suspension to see if there is a significant difference.
WIM are brilliant, huh? Someone above mentioned suspension, and for sure these old boats can get a bit 'wandery' as they go out of alignment. I took mine to Wheels in Motion (after a local place with the same equipment made my car worse), and it was way better. It would be nice to try a fresher suspension to see if there is a significant difference.
I test drove an LS400 MkIV from a Lexus dealer, with 29,000 miles (at £8,999 :-) What I do remember is (i) no front end float at all, and it tracked beautifully on the motorway, with nary an adjustment to be made and (ii) slow speed corrugations or similar small, repeated bumps were quite indistinct and not transferred to the body as dramatically as in higher mileage cars (sub frame bush wear?). All other LS400s, mine included, have had varying issues with the above, even when aligned. Trouble is, the overall ride quality and that "cadence" of the car makes you not really notice...if that is indeed a problem.
B210bandit said:
LS400 owners often think that a 130,000 mile LS400 ("just broken in") drives like a 50,000 mile LS400. They don't, unless the suspension has been refreshed, and no-one seems to dip into their pockets for that apart from a couple of front ball joints if they're feeling saucy. Even looking through detailed Lexus service histories shows a reluctance for "Full Lexus Service History" cars to have anything more than a few ARB drop links etc. They'll handle OK (for a barge) but once you hop into a low miler you really notice it, and then you want to refresh the suspension on your own one, and then Mr Toyota gets the thumb screws out.
Anyway, the good ones are being held onto. Oh yeah, they can look really, really good on top and have serious issues underneath at the rear suspension which often MOTs don't catch out (rear sub frame mounting points are particularly vulnerable.) Probably better than many barges their age, but you need to get the car on a ramp if you want to buy a keeper.
It's this sort of thinking that stops me spending 4K+ on a LS. I think a 2 grand high miler would probably still be good enough to tool about in without throwing up massive bills and if it didn't I could just take the hit at that price point. Anyway, the good ones are being held onto. Oh yeah, they can look really, really good on top and have serious issues underneath at the rear suspension which often MOTs don't catch out (rear sub frame mounting points are particularly vulnerable.) Probably better than many barges their age, but you need to get the car on a ramp if you want to buy a keeper.
I'd be worried about a low miler as bushes etc will still have deteriorated over time. Minters seem to go for 4-6K but I've seen a few good 120K or so cars with history and recent cam belt change for 2. Reckon I'd put the car in question up for 5 grand or so and see what happens if I wasn't in a rush.
I think the more expensive low-mileage car is more of a long-term investment than your usual £2k example.
It'll need replacement suspension etc, but in terms of other wear (seats, gearbox, engine, even bodyshell stresses) it's a lot better off. It might be that a £2k example will keep going for another 100k miles with minimal effort, but a 30k miler will do at least another 200k with the same work.
It'll need replacement suspension etc, but in terms of other wear (seats, gearbox, engine, even bodyshell stresses) it's a lot better off. It might be that a £2k example will keep going for another 100k miles with minimal effort, but a 30k miler will do at least another 200k with the same work.
Thankyou4calling said:
That's true.
As for the poster above saying someone might buy a 100,000 mile example for £2000 and refresh it.
I can't see that happening.
You can get a 10 year newer 430 for around that.
Some people do buy old cheap cars and refresh them, especially around this thread, despite it costing as much as a newer version would. Myself and r129sl being cases in point, both with multiple examples. And there are plenty of others similarly minded on this thread too. As for the poster above saying someone might buy a 100,000 mile example for £2000 and refresh it.
I can't see that happening.
You can get a 10 year newer 430 for around that.
Reason being we like the older ones more than the newer ones.
Escapegoat said:
The LS does not attract the same level of interest as a W126 with a similarly low mileage.
Therein lies the madness of the classic car world. A Mark 10 Jag - a fat old whale with the build quality and durability of a Bic biro is apparently worth more than a Silver Shadow."No, I don't want the really nice car - I want second or third best...............and I'll pay for the privilege "
So I've been looking to move my s124 on and have made arrangements to ship it to the mainland to be listed with a specialist. Had a slight distraction:
Came across a localish ad with no pictures on Sunday. Sounded interesting so made contact. Viewed it and drove back the 100 miles home this morning.
3 owners, good spec, 94k on the clock, EVERYTHING done by mb main dealer from new.
Came across a localish ad with no pictures on Sunday. Sounded interesting so made contact. Viewed it and drove back the 100 miles home this morning.
3 owners, good spec, 94k on the clock, EVERYTHING done by mb main dealer from new.
Edited by harrykul on Tuesday 19th September 18:13
pitchfork said:
^ That's lovely, hkul. :-)
As the talk is about Lexuses, what is the forum opinion on the IS?
Anyone got any first hand/ownership experience?
I've had a thread budget IS250 for the past year. Excellent car in many ways, smooth, very reliable, attracts positive comments. A bit dull behind the wheel, seems a bit slower than it ought to be. I can't really complain, it does what it does very well, simply I'd prefer a bit more character. Avoid manuals, apparently. For the year, they have great kit and if you get the Levinson hifi its very good. Annoying feature is the rear seats don't fold. I can't recall anything specific to look at when your checking out any given car but I'd favour a detailed service record. Another annoying feature: The flappy paddles don't actually change gear, they just limit up or down the range of gears the car uses in sport mode. As the talk is about Lexuses, what is the forum opinion on the IS?
Anyone got any first hand/ownership experience?
Minor gripes aside, I'd recommend one if you want a comfy, slightly alternative, very reliable and excellent value mini barge.
pitchfork said:
^ That's lovely, hkul. :-)
As the talk is about Lexuses, what is the forum opinion on the IS?
Anyone got any first hand/ownership experience?
I had a cheap, high mile 2007 IS220d for about a year - and really enjoyed it. As the talk is about Lexuses, what is the forum opinion on the IS?
Anyone got any first hand/ownership experience?
Compared to the contemporary 3 Series, it was much better equipped, better riding and much more refined.
Mine had the multimedia/sat nav system which was surprisingly good considering it's age. Also had the 13 speaker Mark Levinson audio system which is one of, if not the best I've heard in anything. 177bhp, 400nm, and approx. 40mpg over its lifetime.
I would have another, EXCEPT for the fact that the 220d engine (as used in other Toyota models) is very susceptible to head gasket failure at relatively low mileage, which was what killed mine off.
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