thoughts on older LEXUS

epah said:
I thought so too. But I studied the pic and I am confident it was at the panel beaters.

The front door and fender have a different shade compared to the the back door, A-pillar and even the wing mirror.

If it was bad lighting then the Mirror would atleast match the front door but it doesn’t. Totally different colours .

Edit: Right hand side. Left looks fine.
The car itself looks like it has pearl white paint and the panel beaters tried to mimic or match the rest of the paint during repairs but they definitely made the right door and fender and bit too yellow. It’s not an easy job repainting a pearlescent car.
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Both mirrors are off colour, I think it's because they have plastic casings.
 
Hemi300c said:
Just bear in mind that Lexus is on the list of most hijacked/stolen cars.
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Hemi300c said:
Lexus (all models manufactured from 2018 onward)
Most insurers have it listed as above and 2 tracking devices required one auto activating and another usually a cell recovery type
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Would they be taking stolen Lexus vehicles over the border, who would be wanting to steal a Lexus considering they aren't in huge demand and aren't seen as high status vehicles?
 
epah said:
Okay and the A-pillar on the right side. Why is it the same colour as the mirror?
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I think it's purely proximity to said mirror highlighting it under the kak lights.

Which is why you always look in the flesh and don't buy cars off websites.
 
airborne said:
Would they be taking stolen Lexus vehicles over the border, who would be wanting to steal a Lexus considering they aren't in huge demand and aren't seen as high status vehicles?
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Parts are shared with Toyota remember.
 
Those colors look off coz its that crazy lexus pearl white metallic color. car looks fine otherwise.
 
JemJem said:
how often does a Lexus need a major Service?
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they're cheap to maintain and service.

Get the model and age etc, vin number is even better. Go to the agents as it's quicker. Ask them for a printout of what the next few services cost and what gets done. There you will see a breakdown for each service. Easy peasy...

And no ffs whoever said a car needs a major service every 10,000km should be shot. You are more than welcome to change the oil + filter every 10,000km by all means, but that is it and that is really nurturing a car...

Iridium tip spark plugs last upto 200,000km <--- you only need to change spark plugs when they go bad, not just willy nilly. Same as pollen filters etc etc etc
 
airborne said:
Would they be taking stolen Lexus vehicles over the border, who would be wanting to steal a Lexus considering they aren't in huge demand and aren't seen as high status vehicles?
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It surprised me as well, but they are on most of our Insurers lists as high risk vehicles.
 
JemJem said:
Hi all,

I am looking into getting a lexus, but when i have been reading about how expensive it can get for the service, and maintenance I have been told by my colleagues that I will either need to take out a second bond if a buy an older car and it gives issues, or ill need to sell an arm and a leg to keep up with repairs.

but they look so nice, and ive read so many positive things about Lexus....so i think my wife might still find me attractive without limbs!

any thoughts on Lexus!
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All cars can have expensive maintenance and repairs, it depends on what needs to be done. And then there are sometimes huge differences in models of the same brand.

Generally speaking, I have found Lexus maintenance to be quite fairly priced, unlike the usual German suspects (Audi, Mercedes and BMW). My own 2014 IS350 went in to Lexus for its 165,000km service last year, and if I recall correctly, it cost around R4000. I paid R2000 extra to supply 2 new front control arm bushes, because the old ones were cracked (i.e. roadworthy but serviceable) and another R2000 for fitment. So around R8000 in total (R4000 maintenance, R4000 repairs) which, whilst it isn't cheap, isn't all that bad. She will be going in again in 2-3 months and I expect to pay around R4000 again. Brake pads will probably need to be done, but I will do it myself because I think that the dealership is quite expensive on that at around R4000 - R5000.

Lexus have an undeniable reputation for their excellent build quality and slightly conservative design choices, the result is a car that doesn't break often. By contrast, the usual German suspects are quite leading edge, and they are not afraid to try out newer tech which might not have fully matured (at the client's expense). For example, ask any owner of one of these who has needed repairs on their DSG gearbox recently. I am very happy with the 8 speed ZF box in my IS350, it may be 0.05 milliseconds slower to shift than a DSG, but then again who cares? It works, all the time, and when it reaches 500,000km it will still work. The same with the motor: it is a tried and trusted 2GR-FEx which Lexus has improved upon, making small incremental improvements every few years, to the degree that today it is virtually perfect. Incidentally it is also fitted to the Lotus Evora S and Exige S, as well as many Toyota models.

The IS models will generally cost slightly more to maintain and repair than the ES, GS and LS models, that is just how the car is designed and set-up (higher performance has a reciprocal cost). That's even truer for the ISF, but you have to appreciate that the car's drivetrain, brakes and suspension experience far greater forces and wear, so quite understandable.

Generally speaking, if it's a respectable dealership (so not one in Marshalltown or Rosettenville, for example) and you have validated accident-free status and service history, they are all good buys. If you are looking for an especially good one, I personally prefer private deals, and you must not be in a hurry to buy. Set an alert on Autotrader for a private seller deal. When you spot a car that you like, view it, and set a mental price that you are prepared to pay. Make an offer, and be prepared to walk away. Some private sellers are hard-headed, but some are very reasonable. About 2 months ago I spotted a 2015 GS350 in showroom condition with 135K on the clock for R145,000, private deal, and I felt like screaming "Take my money!". Yet whilst I was sorely tempted to buy it, I don't have storage space nor use for it. Had it been an LSxxx, I might just have bought it (and a new home with 4 garages!).

Some good YT channels to help you:

ReDriven:
and
and

The Car Care Nut:
and
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkjE2-O3wo

Scotty Kilmer:
www.youtube.com

Scotty Kilmer

I've been a mechanic for 57 years and I'm here to share my knowledge with you! Over 3 Billion YouTube views. New car stuff every day. The most watched individual car channel in America. Never any sponsored content, just the truth!
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
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