Man logic?

[v8will]

I'm off tomorrow to look at a sub £1000 Lexus LS400, looks ok in the advert, 1995, 150K with recent timing belt etc.

I've reasoned that it would be:

1. The best car available for less than a grand, certainly better than a £800 Mondeo stter.
2. Cheaper in the long run than buying a new eco box and sticking it on the never never...
3. Plenty of room of the family and wipe tastic leather for baby sick etc.
4. Reckoned to be one of the most reliable, best built cars about.

What could possibly go wrong?? (have only factored in insurance and fuel as irritating afterthoughts) Anyone else finding the appeal of the barge too hard to resist?

[DanGPR]

It's a good move, although I would be far more interested in something a little more German.

A bag of sand will get you a perfectly servicable 190E or E36?

[vladcjelli]

Thankfully, absolute lack of funds prevents me from acting on even the cheapest barge urges (should that be burges?) otherwise I think something wafty would be corroding gently outside my house right now. Aging Lexus or creaky 7er being front runners (other models are appparently available, suggestions welcomed).

Will watch this thread though. May be something I can use in evidence against Mrs Cjellis iron clad financial planning.

[Baryonyx]

Please see the smoker barge thread for some excellent suggestions for bargain motoring. Since spotting that I decided a barge was the only way for me and it has paid dividends since. I've enjoyed driving it on my own, I love taking it to work and when the lass wants a lift with her mates it carries them all in comfort. The Lexus should be an excellent choice, but make sure you have some cash stashed as a keepy-back for when something goes wrong.

[Parrot of Doom]

Pay attention to the front suspension, listen for creaks, knocking noises, test it on bumps lock to lock, etc. Also check all the LEDs are working on the radio and controls, they're repairable but it's a pain of a job.

Also look for any leaks around the power steering pump. Check all the electrics work, they almost certainly will, but check anyway.

[Mr POD]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I thought about an Ex police VXR V6 2.8 Turbo for a smingin over £3k

The logic being :

1) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... this is £10K more

2) I have the cash somewhere.


3) I can.

Not the best logic I know.

[Deluded]

v8will said:

1. The best car available for less than a grand, certainly better than a £800 Mondeo stter.
2. Cheaper in the long run than buying a new eco box and sticking it on the never never...
3. Plenty of room of the family and wipe tastic leather for baby sick etc.
4. Reckoned to be one of the most reliable, best built cars about.

1. True, but an £800 mondeo stter will be cheaper to fix when it breaks.
2. But far more expensive to fuel and run on a daily basis. Why buy a new eco box when you could buy an old, far more economical car for under a grand?
3. True again.
4. It might be. For under a grand, I wouldn't expect it to be.

[davepoth]

Deluded said:

1. True, but an £800 mondeo stter will be cheaper to fix when it breaks.
2. But far more expensive to fuel and run on a daily basis. Why buy a new eco box when you could buy an old, far more economical car for under a grand?
3. True again.
4. It might be. For under a grand, I wouldn't expect it to be.

Are you Deluded's wife thinking this is Mumsnet?

The man is buying a V8. MTFU or GTFO.

[Globs]

Deluded said:

1. True, but an £800 mondeo stter will be cheaper to fix when it breaks.

Have you read the costs of some of the Mondeo repairs???

[300bhp/ton]

Garlick has an LS400. Do a search to see what he's done. Think sorting the rear suspension out (refreshing it) was a bit pricey. But in fairness you possible won't need to in order to have a drivable example and refreshing the suspension on a Mondeo to the same level would likely cost similar amounts.

Go for it I say. 6-12months time it'll still be worth what you'll have paid for it. So fuel is the only real cost.

[Garlick]

A bit pricey?



http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Learning to love mine, not a Merc but still good

[v8will]

I had a slight wobble today, phoned the seller to apologise for not being able to make it down to him tonight due to being a bit busy, some probing on the phone has revealed little or no service history and a worryingly short MOT. It did put me off a little but at shed money for a V8... Of course the initial call was 'Have you still got the car, what's your address and does tomorrow afternoon suit?' It's only 20 minutes down the road so not a major hassle if it's a real dog.

Anyhow, we've arranged to meet up tomorrow and I'll have a look, providing the car is OK in all major areas (will trawl some forums tonight for tips) it might be worth a punt at the £900 asking price or a little less, lets face it who wants a 4.0 V8 with fuel prices as they are, hopefully a bargaining chip if needs be.

I had been looking at conventional stuff such as Mondeo/Avensis etc at shed type money, we really need a bigger car as our little diesel Yaris is ste for any family orientated trips, it would remain my daily driver for the daily 50 mile round trip, I don't like spending too much money going to and from work. Whatever else I buy will be for maybe 100 miles per week that I do at the weekends with the family in tow.

Hopefully I'll report back tomorrow

[V88Dicky]

I'm shocked that those things have timing belts!

I thought Toyota were big fans of chain driven cams?

[davepoth]

V88Dicky said:

I'm shocked that those things have timing belts!

I thought Toyota were big fans of chain driven cams?

Timing chains are quieter and vibrate less. That was the whole point of the LS400.

[Mr POD]

Mr POD said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I thought about an Ex police VXR V6 2.8 Turbo for a smingin over £3k

The logic being :

1) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... this is £10K more

2) I have the cash somewhere.


3) I can.

Not the best logic I know.

I started pricing up LPG conversions and doing pay back calcs today.

Not sure how I can justify it. I could just as well get my 20 year old cavalier LPG converted and save the cost in about 6 months.

[Garlick]

I run my LS as regular transport and around London I reckon I see around 20/22 mpg, not bad, and more than acceptable for an aged V8 around town.

[AndyT77]

Mr POD said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I thought about an Ex police VXR V6 2.8 Turbo for a smingin over £3k

The logic being :

1) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... this is £10K more

2) I have the cash somewhere.


3) I can.

Not the best logic I know.

Do it and change your username to The Plod.

[Parrot of Doom]

V88Dicky said:

I'm shocked that those things have timing belts!

I thought Toyota were big fans of chain driven cams?

The engine is quiet and silky smooth, a belt just improves on that. They last a long time on these engines.

Oh, and the early engines are non-interference.

[Mr POD]

AndyT77 said:

Mr POD said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I thought about an Ex police VXR V6 2.8 Turbo for a smingin over £3k

The logic being :

1) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... this is £10K more

2) I have the cash somewhere.


3) I can.

Not the best logic I know.

Do it and change your username to The Plod.

Feck off !!!


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... or Points ?


Joking apart, I'm not sure my total loss accident last year (depite protected no claims bonus) plus 3 points in the coming weeks, add up to an Insurance Premium of reasonability.