Lexus Experience

Hi all.
Its been around 6 years since I got rid of my Rangie P38 going through a Hyundai Tucson to my current Lexus RX450h (had it for two and half years now)

The Lexus has been great but just had my first fault with it since I got it.
One of the rear springs broke and this has shown the downside to the Lexus.

Whereas the Rangie parts were cheap and easy to get hold of (and usually required often) the Lexus spring is dealer only and around £240 so its a good job it is very reliable.
Also whereas on things like the Rangie you can replace the rubber bushes easy on the Lexus quite a few of them are integrated into other parts.
The bolt seized that connects the bottom of the hub to the spring carrier and luckily they managed to cut the head off and pull it out otherwise a damaged bush would have needed the hole hub replaced at £500 for the part alone.

Hope you are all enjoying the forum and your Rangies … if anyone is looking for a lower rear tailgate for a P38 I have had one stored dry in my house for the last 6 year ( I was about to put it on mine until I got rid of it).
It is in white with all lights and I started sanding it for painting.

That is the oddity of the Japanese 4x4, their breakdowns/failures are infrequent but when it does brake it is usually something massive..
Parts are expensive too as you say..

The 100 series Landcruiser is a prime example, the air suspension components are twice sometimes three times the price of the equivalent P38.
and that to me doesn't add up.

The good side of it though is that this is the first thing that has failed on the Lexus whereas the Rangie was causing problems every few weeks.

Henry_b said:

That is the oddity of the Japanese 4x4, their breakdowns/failures are infrequent but when it does brake it is usually something massive..
Parts are expensive too as you say..

The 100 series Landcruiser is a prime example, the air suspension components are twice sometimes three times the price of the equivalent P38.
and that to me doesn't add up.

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Maybe the airsprings las a lot longer than the 7/8 years 80K miles that the P38 airsprings are supposed to last. Quality airspings for the P38 cost at least twice the price of Dunflops.

Datatek said:

Maybe the airsprings las a lot longer than the 7/8 years 80K miles that the P38 airsprings are supposed to last. Quality airspings for the P38 cost at least twice the price of Dunflops.

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I believe you can get cheap alternatives but they seldom last.
The workshop is riddled with them, usually we convert then to coils,
The Air ride system on them is pants.

Henry_b said:

I believe you can get cheap alternatives but they seldom last.
The workshop is riddled with them, usually we convert then to coils,
The Air ride system on them is pants.

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Many people say that about the P38, EAS, most of the problems are due to lack of maintenance.

Datatek said:

Many people say that about the P38, EAS, most of the problems are due to lack of maintenance.

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Yep

Datatek said:

Many people say that about the P38, EAS, most of the problems are due to lack of maintenance.

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Totally agree maintenance is paramount and not just on Range Rovers

Henry_b said:

The workshop is riddled with them, usually we convert then to coils,
The Air ride system on them is pants.

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Who would do that!

RangeRoller dt said:

Who would do that!

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I do it begrudgingly

Has its uses.
Even Data says if he could afford it he would buy a Japanese 4x4 without EAS

The air suspension on the P38 was actually the best thing about it .. the problems were the diesel pump, turbo, gearbox, front prop shaft.. and more.

The Lexus RX450H is normal Spring not air suspension

RangeRoller dt said:

Has its uses.
Even Data says if he could afford it he would buy a Japanese 4x4 without EAS

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But I would prefer one with EAS

Datatek said:

But I would prefer one with EAS

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Could be done. Setting it up would be a nightmare but something you could probably handle. Would require lot of crawling around under it though

RangeRoller dt said:

Could be done. Setting it up would be a nightmare but something you could probably handle. Would require lot of crawling around under it though

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There are kits to convert many cars in the states.

Henry_b said:

I do it begrudgingly

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Heathen

Only today I was saying that I wished my hilux was on air. The ride is so ummmm pickup like lol. Long journeys you do feel it whereas it would be ideal on air!

The Lexus RX400 used to be available with Air suspension on certain models but they dropped that option when it was replaced by the RX450h around 2009

I’d like an ls400 for the commute. Around 99 plate and only 2k or so. My hilux is brilliant it really is but I lust for a v8 barge. An old 740 would be nice too but doubt it would come near Lexus reliability. Saying that, a jdm celsior would be the one to have!
Sounds like your Lexus has treated you well! Yeah they might be more expensive than a landy but probably more reliable and cheaper to maintain than ze German competition. I’d say you’ve done well if that’s first fault!!

flookyk said:

The good side of it though is that this is the first thing that has failed on the Lexus whereas the Rangie was causing problems every few weeks.

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Sadly no sane person buys a LR product for reliability these days, though decades ago intrepid travellers ventured into the unknown all the time in Series 1/2 & 3's.
Don't think I'd want to in today's examples
Toyota or Nissan would be my choice, unpatriotic I know but ...