Well said. I know he doesn't need my help but thank you on behalf of SW17LS anyway.

 

Apparently I’m the worlds most persistent troll LOL

Thanks Guys!

 

Is it actually possible to install a more powerful aftermarket compressor in place of the factory one? Or is the system limited by compatibility and or the amount of pressure it can withstand.

 

Hope we hear back from Tiffany and the final outcome of factory and dealer assistance with the repair. Arnott makes an aftermarket compressor that's compatible. Don't think that there are other options that would just drop into place.

 

$100,000 cars have $100,000 problems, and the $100,000 problems don’t get any cheaper as the cars market value crashes through 4 figures.

 

Good morning the LS club,

Thank you all for the kind words and inputs. I am feeling slightly better. What is the most devastating to me is that I have literally lost $70k since ownership. The dealer contacted me yesterday saying that they remained yet to hear from Lexus. However, it is very thoughtful of them to offer me a loaner next week knowing that I have no car to drive for almost 2 weeks since visiting them. They said I could keep the car at least for the coming week. Although I am thrilled, it doesn't sound right to take advantage of their courtesy without knowing whether I will repair the car in the end. I am thinking to take the loaner for grocery shopping and return it on Tuesday (My fridge is now practically empty other than a few bottles of beer).

Back to my car.... Should Lexus decide not to cover the cost (which they do not have to), I will go for Arnott compressor (millions thanks @lwphat66) hopefully the mechanic shop that I have found can do the job well. It is nice to know that converting to coils is going to do more harm in resale value (Thanks @SW17LS for pointing that out). At this moment, there is no intention to keep my car; worrying that one day I may die of heart attack or stroke when something else leaks, breaks or even explodes. The car has already costed me a great fortune. When it is fixed, I am considering for an upgrade to a LS 430 (I notice that it is what Celsior is called in America). Better to take action when it still worth some money.

Lesson learnt - never ever again to buy something that is never meant for me. Again, thanks to such a supportive LS community.

Enjoy your Sunday.
Tiffany

 

If your mechanic is a pro he should be able to install the compressor easily. Its not an overly technical job.

 

Why don't you just get an older LS460? No need to ditch the line completely, unless you can't afford any of them. There should be good examples of a 2007 - 2010 out there. Because of their age they will have higher mileage, but by now their owners would have had all the problems rectified like the interior issues, brake actuator and any suspension problems. Higher miles don't make much difference if the car has been looked after.

 

Hi Tiffany, good to hear you have decided upon a course of action. Keep us updated on your journey.

As for your car losing value, any car is going to depreciate and is never an investment. Luxury, flagship cars depreciate severely within 5 years depending upon mileage. Without knowing the details of its equipment and service history, it's hard to say whether your car has lost 70K value for a 5 yo LWB car with 36K miles. Also, you will be always quoted a lowball value if you are considering a trade-in. Do some research and consider a private sale to maximize your returns.

As you have realized, buying a brand new LS with hard-earned savings was never a good idea for the young person that you appear to be. Hope your next vehicle is a better fit for your lifestyle and personal situation. There are plenty of reliable used and new cars with the latest tech to choose from in the 15-25 K range. Throw a larger net than just "upgrading" to an LS430.

 

Makes no sense to get an older one that is more likely to have repairs to than her newer one.

You are making this much harder on yourself than you need to. The dealer has offered you a loaner, take it and keep it. Don't worry about keeping it for X time and taking it back, just keep it until they ask for it back.

If its causing you this much stress and "devastation" just get rid of the car. If you want the most money for it, you need to fix it first. Do yourself a favor and buy a simple Corolla or Camry or something. Do not get an LS430, replacing a 5 year old car with a car thats at least 14 years old because you are worried about potential repairs is crazy. a 14+ year old LS430 is not an "upgrade" lol. Go out and get yourself a new Camry or Corolla with a warranty and move on.

 

Tiffany, do you realize that LS430 is no longer made and that it is the predecessor to the LS460? This makes it at least 14 years old and definitely more wear and just as much chance of repair if not more. Just because a few people have posted that they are great cars doesn't make them bullet proof. I agree with SW17LS, a private sale of your car if you refuse to keep it and buy a Toyota Camry or Avalon. Talk to your Priest or Rabbi for help making these decisions, they may not be car experts but these are really life decisions with grief and loss feelings. They can be of great help.

 

Yeah, don't go backwards to a 430. Get a Camry or something simple and reliable

 

Lease a Honda Accord for $229 a month with $500 down on approved credit. Lease term is 36 months and 32,000 miles. Exclusions apply. See dealer for leasing terms and conditions. If you experience any symptoms of nausea or lightheadedness, discontinue taking Accord and contact your Lexus service center immediately to fix the air compressor.

 

Seriously though...I was devastated when my father died...not when my car broke down or depreciated. I'm sorry, but perspective is required here. Its just a car, its just money. These things aren't worth all of this anguish.

 

Hello everyone in the LS club,

The dealer called me on Monday saying that Lexus agreed to cover half of the cost of the height compressor. They don’t think it is a mechanical failure or flaw in design. I am actually grateful that the dealer is willing to negotiate on my behalf using my situations to the advantage (first time buyer, low miles). Estimated out-of-pocket expense is ~$1600. Since there was barely any space between the tyres and the vehicle body, I called my insurance company to have it towed to the dealer. Hopefully my car will be ready by next Wednesday. As a separate note, my insurance will not be helpful with a claim because I only have collision coverage (with uninsured motorist coverage) but I do appreciate you guys point out this possibility.



After spending a week with the ES loaner, I asked myself why didn’t I get one back then that could have saved me tens of thousands of dollars? Honestly the loaner does not ride any worse than my car. Walking around the dealer, I am actually surprised to learn that 460 is now replaced by 500. Believe it or not, it is almost impossible to distinguish between a 500 and an ES just by looking at the exterior. With the ES also copying the aggressive design of a LS, I thought to myself what kind of people would spend that much for a LS while he/she could have got 2 ES?


During the previous weeks, I was also looking for a 430 to replace my 460L. Yes, I know many of you are against this absurd idea; which I realize that too. One of them is a 2006 with 100k miles which the shop asks for $11k. The car drives as smooth as my parents’ Celsior. The 430s really live up to their names! Not of my favourite colour but not too bad (silver). However, I gave it a pass because from a cosmetic point of view, the yellow headlights aren’t just appealing (I know, the car is really old now but…). The second 430 is a 2003 with, surprisingly, only 80k miles. Its headlights are just as clear as my car but I didn’t even test drive it. When you turn on the car, you see a triangle sign in the dashboard. Sorry I don’t want another car that has its own problems, my height compressor is demoralizing enough.



I will give you guys an update next week when my car leaves the dealer. Thank you all for the support! Your kind words and suggestions do mean a lot to me.



Tiffany