Spark plug change costs $14,600 to fix. car for sale
06-02-15, 12:58 PM
#61
Lexus Fanatic
I've been around these cars a long time. We had a 98 LS in the family until 170k miles. Nobody seems to question the reliability of the 400...we also had a 430 until nearly 100k...nobody questions the reliability of the 430. But there were expensive repairs. Air suspension, starter, you had to have a timing belt on those cars there at a $1200 cost at the dealer.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
06-02-15, 01:40 PM
#62
Lexus Fanatic
I've been around these cars a long time. We had a 98 LS in the family until 170k miles. Nobody seems to question the reliability of the 400...we also had a 430 until nearly 100k...nobody questions the reliability of the 430. But there were expensive repairs. Air suspension, starter, you had to have a timing belt on those cars there at a $1200 cost at the dealer.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars.
Yes these are expensive cars to PURCHASE, but parts are not and many parts are shared with other platforms (such as Tundra, etc),
radiator 65 bucks
water pump 50 bucks
starter 140 bucks
complete replacement set of control arms front and rear 300 bucks
mufflers including labour for both 400
rotors 75 dollars for both front and pads for under 25 (50 if you want Akebono)
Genuine Toiyota oiil filter - 6 bucks
None of these are boutique type prices and I would compare them to any other car's parts out there. Heck, a starter for 2009 Corolla is near a hundred dollars.
There is nothing exotic about the LS when it comes to parts. Good example is the mufflers that I replaced. Identical dimensions to a 2007 Chevrolet Cavalier. That's about as unexotic as it gets. LOL
Last edited by roadfrog; 06-02-15 at 08:31 PM.
06-02-15, 03:20 PM
#63
Lexus Fanatic
Most people don't have the inclination or the general knowledge to shop and use parts from different applications, afternarket, though. They take it to a mechanic or the dealer, and they get shocked by the cost of parts and repairs.
For instance the control arm repair costs 95% of people $3k because they aren't willing to use an inexpensive eBay part.
For instance the control arm repair costs 95% of people $3k because they aren't willing to use an inexpensive eBay part.
06-02-15, 03:41 PM
#64
Most people don't have the inclination or the general knowledge to shop and use parts from different applications, afternarket, though. They take it to a mechanic or the dealer, and they get shocked by the cost of parts and repairs.
For instance the control arm repair costs 95% of people $3k because they aren't willing to use an inexpensive eBay part.
For instance the control arm repair costs 95% of people $3k because they aren't willing to use an inexpensive eBay part.
With the BMW I was unable to source inexpensive parts on the internet, the best I could do is $50 off a $500 exotic part the dealer would charge.
The Lexus is just a big Toyota and the impressive thing about Toyota is the parts are ridiculously inexpensive if you know where to look.
The great motivator for sourcing parts is a lot of money saved and if you are not in the business of doing that there is no point in having a philosophy of saving on the little things when the big things just slip by out of convenience. Penny wise, pound foolish.
06-02-15, 04:23 PM
#65
Lexus Fanatic
For the price of the OEM parts/labour at Lexus, they could replace the "inferior parts" from Ebay, literally five times.
+1 on DEVH's statements too. These people need to lease or buy within warranty to protect themselves from themselves. There is nothing complicated about shopping and doing their due diligence research online, especially if you know how to post in a thread here at CL, all the more if you can post pics, include a fancy signature, etc etc.
Last edited by roadfrog; 06-02-15 at 08:30 PM.
06-02-15, 05:38 PM
#66
No... they would rather use the same oem part that let them down prematurely in the first place.
For the price of the OEM parts/labour at Lexus, they could replace the "inferior parts" from Ebay, literally five times.
+1 on DEVH's statements too. These people need to leaase or buy within warranty to protect themselves from themselves. There is nothing complicated about shopping and doing their due diligence research online, especially if you know how to post in a thread here at CL, all the more if you can post pics, include a fancy signature, etc etc.
For the price of the OEM parts/labour at Lexus, they could replace the "inferior parts" from Ebay, literally five times.
+1 on DEVH's statements too. These people need to leaase or buy within warranty to protect themselves from themselves. There is nothing complicated about shopping and doing their due diligence research online, especially if you know how to post in a thread here at CL, all the more if you can post pics, include a fancy signature, etc etc.
The lengths the industry will go to create that culture is turning people into zombies that infect other people.
06-02-15, 06:17 PM
#67
I've been around these cars a long time. We had a 98 LS in the family until 170k miles. Nobody seems to question the reliability of the 400...we also had a 430 until nearly 100k...nobody questions the reliability of the 430. But there were expensive repairs. Air suspension, starter, you had to have a timing belt on those cars there at a $1200 cost at the dealer.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
Bottom line, these are expensive cars. People buy them when they're old and approaching 100k miles for $20k and expect them to run like a brand new $20k car, and that expectation is just not realistic. They're full of expensive parts designed for an $80k car, soft bushings and mounts and things that don't wear as well as harder fittings. If you don't have several k to put your hands on at any given time...don't buy one of these cars. People traded them at that mileage because they didn't want to start incurring repair costs. If you want to compare repair costs, talk to someone else with an old approaching 100k 7 Series or S Class or A8...you have it WAY better.
Nothing lasts forever guys. An 07 460 is going to be potentially 9 years old...it's an old car.
The only thing I will say about the control arms, I agree it should be a recall or service campaign. My mechanic who was a Lexus master tech for 16 years before opening his Lexus focused shop told me when I was looking at a used early LS460 not to buy one because of the control arm issue.
06-02-15, 06:29 PM
#68
^^^agreed^^^. Had a beautiful '95 E-class Mercedes that I brought back from Japan with super low mileage. Had the body kit, rims, exhaust...all hooked up, right? Problem is that the car was unreliable (as you said, no amount of paint or bling could change the fact that it was an OLD car) and it starting costing me $$$$ so I got rid of it while I could and got my LS400. Best car move I've ever made.
Not ours, but similar with a different color.
Last edited by Pamperme; 06-02-15 at 06:34 PM.
06-02-15, 06:57 PM
#69
Just to clarify, OLD doesn't necessarily mean unreliable. UNRELIABLE means unreliable. Our 1989 Honda Civic was an old car that had 310,000+ miles before we gave it away ( the head gasket blew). Yet prior to the head gasket blowing it was FAAAARRRR more reliable than many newer cars with much less miles. It had the original tranny ( manual), original starter, fuel pump, oil pump, catalytic converter, wheel bearings. Not one sensor ever went bad. The water pumps never failed (they were always replaced with the timing belt). Prior to the head gasket blowing it did burn a little oil. It had some cv boots rip and need replacing, the AC had to be fixed. It was an excellent little car despite being old.
Not ours, but similar with a different color.
Not ours, but similar with a different color.
06-02-15, 11:13 PM
#70
Lexus Fanatic
No... they would rather use the same oem part that let them down prematurely in the first place.
For the price of the OEM parts/labour at Lexus, they could replace the "inferior parts" from Ebay, literally five times.
+1 on DEVH's statements too. These people need to lease or buy within warranty to protect themselves from themselves. There is nothing complicated about shopping and doing their due diligence research online, especially if you know how to post in a thread here at CL, all the more if you can post pics, include a fancy signature, etc etc.
For the price of the OEM parts/labour at Lexus, they could replace the "inferior parts" from Ebay, literally five times.
+1 on DEVH's statements too. These people need to lease or buy within warranty to protect themselves from themselves. There is nothing complicated about shopping and doing their due diligence research online, especially if you know how to post in a thread here at CL, all the more if you can post pics, include a fancy signature, etc etc.
To Pamperme, comparing an old Civic to an LS460 is silly.. The civic is very reliable...it also has no features, no technology, and is a far less complex vehicle than an LS460.
Old doesn't mean unreliable, but any older car is going to need more maintenance and repairs compared for a new car. If you aren't prepared for that...buy a lesser new car.
That's one reason why I don't buy used cars. I don't want to deal with it.
06-02-15, 11:40 PM
#71
Here's what I've always said: Every car is reliable. Do all recommended maintenance and if anything comes up fix it however small. The car will be reliable. Also if you're not comfortable doing your own maintenance or if you have second thoughts, let someone else do it. If you screw up, it's not the car's fault. At the end of the day, every car is reliable as long as you take care of it. The old adage: 'take care of her and she'll take care of you' applies here. I think reliability isn't about a car having unexpected repairs. At the end of the day, the word reliability needs to be defined with a definition that we can all stick to because it looks like we all have our own ideas as to what 'reliability' means.
Last edited by enoch861; 06-02-15 at 11:48 PM.
06-03-15, 08:58 AM
#72
Lexus Fanatic
Here's what I've always said: Every car is reliable. Do all recommended maintenance and if anything comes up fix it however small. The car will be reliable. Also if you're not comfortable doing your own maintenance or if you have second thoughts, let someone else do it. If you screw up, it's not the car's fault. At the end of the day, every car is reliable as long as you take care of it. The old adage: 'take care of her and she'll take care of you' applies here. I think reliability isn't about a car having unexpected repairs. At the end of the day, the word reliability needs to be defined with a definition that we can all stick to because it looks like we all have our own ideas as to what 'reliability' means.
..."dependable, good, well founded, trustworthy, constant, unfailing; fail-safe, reputable, established, proven, having trustworthy qualities".
06-03-15, 10:20 AM
#73
I didn't say inferior, I said inexpensive. No need to argue with me, I'm agreeing win you. The fact is though, the vast majority of people just take their car to a machanic or the dealer, and unless they are willing to pay for some expensive repairs, they should buy a new Accord instead of a used LS460. The OP is clearly one of these people. You clearly aren't.
To Pamperme, comparing an old Civic to an LS460 is silly.. The civic is very reliable...it also has no features, no technology, and is a far less complex vehicle than an LS460.
Old doesn't mean unreliable, but any older car is going to need more maintenance and repairs compared for a new car. If you aren't prepared for that...buy a lesser new car.
That's one reason why I don't buy used cars. I don't want to deal with it.
To Pamperme, comparing an old Civic to an LS460 is silly.. The civic is very reliable...it also has no features, no technology, and is a far less complex vehicle than an LS460.
Old doesn't mean unreliable, but any older car is going to need more maintenance and repairs compared for a new car. If you aren't prepared for that...buy a lesser new car.
That's one reason why I don't buy used cars. I don't want to deal with it.
06-03-15, 10:49 AM
#74
That's why I won't ever buy a new car again.
06-03-15, 11:11 AM
#75
Lexus Test Driver
Oh wow....I cannot disagree more. "Reliable" means that when I get into my car and turn the key, it starts and doesn't belch a mushroom cloud of blue smoke with only 50k miles on it, DESPITE regular maintenance (ie: My previous 7 series). Now, if you want to say that any car can LAST forever, THAT is true. So long as you keep throwing money at it, you can drive the car literally forever. Let's not play with words, everyone knows what reliable is. A Toyota Corolla is reliable.... A Yugo is not. Reliable is defined as, "consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted."
..."dependable, good, well founded, trustworthy, constant, unfailing; fail-safe, reputable, established, proven, having trustworthy qualities".
..."dependable, good, well founded, trustworthy, constant, unfailing; fail-safe, reputable, established, proven, having trustworthy qualities".