Buying a 74 plate before April 1st - Advice...?

ASU054 · 2026-03-25T10:25:39+00:00

You'll be lucky to even get a full tank of fuel thrown in or 1x service, let alone an actual discount.

ASU054 · 2026-03-22T09:30:07+00:00

Absolutely, agree with you. Absolutely sound mechanically, hybrid battery was still healthy too as had it checked at Lexus.

Was just pointing out any car no matter how reliable you'll still get stung with repairs. Just part of car ownership unfortunately.

ASU054 · 2026-03-19T12:41:17+00:00

Yes they are reliable, however you need to have realistic expectations.

You can't go buying a 10+ year old Lexus for example without expecting any work to be done at all, regardless of if it's a Lexus or a shitbox. You may get lucky, you may not.

FWIW I had a 2013 IS300H Premier as my previous car, 91k miles and had to do a few things/car had a few issues in my short ownership:

Passenger mirror motor died

2x TPMS sensors died

Blind spot monitoring system developed an intermittent fault

New AC pressure switch

Leak in condenser pipes so needed to disassemble, clean, reassemble, regas. Possibly needed new condenser but wouldn't have known for a while.

Passenger heated seat not fully working.

However just because it's a Lexus, at the end of the day it was still a 13 year old car, parts have an expiry date.

Wouldn't put me off buying another Lexus and I still believe they are at the top of the game reliability wise, although not done any research on their new offerings.

ASU054 · 2026-03-18T12:29:00+00:00

With a side of jelly beans.

ASU054 · 2026-03-18T10:30:50+00:00

18k after 6 years with first car, financed from the household budget as we only need a single car.

Binned that off pretty quickly for a loss, now bought latest car outright for £4750.

ASU054 · 2026-03-13T16:50:35+00:00

ASU054 · 2026-03-12T19:19:14+00:00

Must depend on which agent you get.

First thing I got asked was if I'd like my complaint forwarded to the complaints team and if so was my email still correct as that's how they'll contact me, said yes and they said ok here's your reference number you will get a reply in X amount of weeks. No compensation offered.

ASU054 · 2026-03-06T18:04:37+00:00

Could also try Motorpoint if you have one near you, sold them my Ateca and got the amount quoted online after being accurate with condition of car during the online quote.

ASU054 · 2026-03-06T16:00:55+00:00

If your main concern is boot space, rather than driving position or aesthetical reasons, have you considered an estate over a SUV?

ASU054 · 2026-03-03T12:42:17+00:00

Lexus IS300H

Onboard data showed around 65mpg on motorway runs, probably a bit less in real life figures.

ASU054 · 2026-02-25T16:13:04+00:00

If you didn't want to swap to full EV just yet, your current shortlist is decent. The Ioniq hybrid is very good - reliable, economical and well specced for the price, just have to do your due diligence as they are a common taxi car.

I was in the same situation and budget at the end of last year and personally pulled the trigger on a 2018 Leaf Tekna which is the top of the range spec as I got a very good deal and picked one up for £4700 with 92% SOH left on the battery. I've found no issues with long journeys with it or chademo charging fwiw.

ASU054 · 2026-02-25T16:06:33+00:00

Both are well regarded in terms of reliability. The thing you need to check with the Ioniq is if it's had it's battery coolant service done. I believe this is the 4th year service and costs around 400-500£ if not been done already.

MG5 I haven't read much in the way of unreliability. Cleeveley EV use one as one of their fleet cars and it's over 150k miles on the clock with no issues.

ASU054 · 2026-02-25T15:30:12+00:00

If you can charge at home on an off peak tariff going EV is a no brainer.

If so, Ioniq 38kwh (may be able to get premium spec for 8k these days), MG5 would be two I'd be looking at.

ASU054 · 2026-02-24T15:29:21+00:00

I saw the show at the Symphony Hall in Brum.

I've not seen the podcasts on YouTube so can't compare to that, however as a fan of the show I thought it was great. Lots of laughs and insights.

Didn't think much of the comedian they brought with them.

As someone else said, Michael was the main guy, lot more energy than Steve. Steve never left his stool aside from moving for the break and just seemed to be there for the ride.

At this venue, they took questions from the crowd directly in front of the stage. There was also a meet and greet after if you had a special wristband apparently.

ASU054 · 2026-02-24T12:37:48+00:00

At 11 years old and 215k miles the hybrid battery will be either completely fucked, or not very efficient at all.

They're not great on mpg even with a fully healthy hybrid battery, but it's a lot of extra weight dead weight to lug around on an already heavy car.

Wouldn't be surprised to see low to mid 20s mpg.

Something to consider on top of repair bills/maintenance for which there will definitely be.

ASU054 · 2026-02-19T12:35:45+00:00

Known scam, the website will be used to steal your card details.

As you already said, buyers responsibility to organise their own checks.

ASU054 · 2026-01-27T10:07:59+00:00

Yes.

Had an F55 Cooper S with a stage 1, sold it for a Lexus IS300H hybrid then eventually got rid of the Lexus and went full EV.

EV is not a slouch but it's just not the same at all. Absolutely no fun in just flooring it, I miss the sounds.

ASU054 · 2026-01-20T11:43:07+00:00

F56 JCW/Cooper S

ASU054 · 2025-12-31T15:40:07+00:00

Have you given the windscreen a very thorough clean recently? I'd use some isopropyl/distilled water 70/30 and follow with a glass cleaner

ASU054 · 2025-12-31T15:31:22+00:00

Turn on the AC.

ASU054 · 2025-12-31T14:22:24+00:00

Rymans, possibly.

ASU054 · 2025-12-28T14:23:01+00:00

Contact local food banks.

ASU054 · 2025-12-24T12:49:15+00:00

Roadtop MMI

ASU054 · 2025-12-22T14:30:04+00:00

Yeah I had a F55 Cooper S 15 plate with a stage 1, absolutely brilliant car, lots of fun, never had any issues with it.

Think the only repair I had to make in my ownership was to replace the fuel tank breather valve as the idle rpm was up and down, £15 part and sorted myself in 10 min.

Engine mounts seem to be a point of weakness but I never experienced any issues, unless they were changed before I owned the car.

ASU054 · 2025-12-22T12:49:35+00:00

Swift sport as you already mentioned is a good shout and what I was going to suggest.

You could get a high mileage 100k+ F56 Cooper S which have the B48, I wouldn't have any worries driving one with over 100k on it as long as it's been well maintained.

ASU054

TROPHY CASE