LUXOBARGE (sub5k) of the week/day

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-lexus-gs300/16055040



Crazy to think that at less than ten years old this is worth under five grand. NCT to Jan 18, few weeks tax, €4750

Why is it that 90% of GS300s under the 5k mark are either silver or black!!



So much nicer looking in red but this 2008 example is demanding a 3k premium compared to the silver one - way too much given that after June 2008 the tax is halved to €750.

Furzy wrote: »

Why is it that 90% of GS300s under the 5k mark are either silver or black!!



So much nicer looking in red but this 2008 example is demanding a 3k premium compared to the silver one - way too much given that after June 2008 the tax is halved to €750.

Only the hybrid version.

Any car registered in the first 6 months of 2008 had the choice of cc or co2 rates, which ever was cheaper to allow old stock to clear.

MuffinsDa wrote: »

Surely there should be a few used ones knocking around from written off cars at this stage - depends on labour cost for replacement though.

I'm not French or a specific fan of French cars (I currently drive a Saab and a Jag) but I think the old anecdote of "french car flakiness" only belong to the pub talk not a serious motoring forum. Modern French cars are not particularly less reliable than other modern cars, according to recent stats. Gone are the days of Megane II and Laguna II.

I'm not so sure if I'd agree and dismiss it as "pub talk".

Funny you should mention gone are the days of the Megane II and Laguna II. I bought a 96 Megavan in 2002. Despite minding it well over the next few years of ownership it caused me a serious amount of heartache and cost. Ended up depending on lifts and bussing it a lot despite owning a car. Overall I would class it as an inferior product to any car that I have owned since and none of them were what you'd class as prestige products or fancy cars, rather every day run of the mill models. And its not that none of them ever gave me any trouble as some did.

I recall having a conversation with someone at the time about how woeful the car was and them trying to convince me that the newer range of Renaults were superior products. Among that newer range would have being the Laguna II and the Megane II. Probably overall it was too soon to say he was right or wrong at that stage as proof of the pudding is not when the car is newly launched, rather a number of years down the line when problems manifest.

While the C6 in hand might be an improvement on previous models as are French cars generally speaking I don't think things like window regulators giving up is helping their cause if they want to be taken serious from a reliability and longevity point of view as compared to other manufacturers.

mullingar wrote: »

Roll on megane 3 and laguna 3, vastly improved, but reputation really killed off a lot of sales. Especially the laguna 3 which forced renault to discontinue it. Pity as it was a good car.

You realise the world does not end where the coasts of Kent are, don't you?

mullingar wrote: »

Agree that the megane 2 and laguna 2 were terrible, just like some German brands, their accountants got involved and cut too much costs and reliability suffered.

Renault learnt their lesson, upped the quality and started to offer 5+ year warranties

Roll on megane 3 and laguna 3, vastly improved, but reputation really killed off a lot of sales. Especially the laguna 3 which forced renault to discontinue it. Pity as it was a good car.

That's the point I was trying to make. Current generation of Renaults is pretty much as reliable as it gets compared to similar German and Japanese cars, and better than some. I had a Megane III for 5 years, came with 5 year warranty, ZERO problem, utterly reliable, but mind numbingly boring to drive despite having all the bells and whistles!

I am not sure about groupe PSA cars but I wouldn't think they would suffer from Gremlins as much as they did in the 90s either.

I wonder in 10 years time what cars would be included in this thread.

From looking at the other adverts the seller has I'd say they are a salvage/breakers yard too. Eyes wide open is my advice.

Wonder can you tell from inspection and reading current or historic fault codes if the hybrid system is good or would it be a main dealer job to run a test?

Would the hybrid system be worth much in terms of reducing running costs on these big engined Lexus's? Always believed they wouldn't be much use.

darragh o meara wrote: »

Would the hybrid system be worth much in terms of reducing running costs on these big engined Lexus's? Always believed they wouldn't be much use.

It is scar with V8 performance (0-60 in around 6 secs), but much more friendly economy... It's hybrid nature pays off.

Furzy wrote: »

Looks very low in the rear - new shocks needed?

What do shocks have to do with that?! Springs maybe, but shocks?

Lovely car, but he might struggle to achieve his asking price or near to it.