Lexus GS - to rid or not after gearbox issues?
Discussion
I bought a 2005 Lexus GS300 with 104k miles on it around 14 months ago. I do around 14,000 miles per year and wanted something comfortable and was happy to swallow poorer fuel economy than diesel would give for a more well equipped, higher quality car, which the Lexus afforded me at a low purchase cost of £4.3k.
It has been perfectly reliable until it recently suffered a gearbox issue where it will not shift above 3rd gear, rendering all but short journeys impossible.
The failure was caused by 3 solenoids dying which, including labour, comes to £1.1k to rectify.
I have already committed to have this work carried out, given it's that or scrap it.
The Lexus dealer stated that 'this has no guarantee of fixing the issue in the long term and it may well be an issue with the gearbox itself which is stressing the solenoids' so they may fail again'.
I have no idea if the dealer is covering themselves by saying that or if it's actually likely but I am contemplating trading it in rather than finding out if the issue will arise again in the medium-term.
The car might only get me £3.5k towards something else which no doubt will be greatly inferior in comfort/equipment but in my shoes, would I be best to get shot of it?
The answer obviously turns on the % likelihood of more solenoid failures but as another failure would write the car off, would the best idea be to trade it in and get rid?
Many thanks for any help, just curious what people's attitudes are to predicaments like this.
It has been perfectly reliable until it recently suffered a gearbox issue where it will not shift above 3rd gear, rendering all but short journeys impossible.
The failure was caused by 3 solenoids dying which, including labour, comes to £1.1k to rectify.
I have already committed to have this work carried out, given it's that or scrap it.
The Lexus dealer stated that 'this has no guarantee of fixing the issue in the long term and it may well be an issue with the gearbox itself which is stressing the solenoids' so they may fail again'.
I have no idea if the dealer is covering themselves by saying that or if it's actually likely but I am contemplating trading it in rather than finding out if the issue will arise again in the medium-term.
The car might only get me £3.5k towards something else which no doubt will be greatly inferior in comfort/equipment but in my shoes, would I be best to get shot of it?
The answer obviously turns on the % likelihood of more solenoid failures but as another failure would write the car off, would the best idea be to trade it in and get rid?
Many thanks for any help, just curious what people's attitudes are to predicaments like this.
Tricky one really. If the car is otherwise in good shape then I'd be tempted to fix and keep it. Better the devil you know and all that. On the other hand if you can't afford for it to go wrong again the perhaps it is time to cut and run. Looking at eBay a 2nd hand gearbox is £1500+ and who knows how long that would last. A reconditioned unit would come with some guarantees but cost more still.
Have you checked out options for warranties which could cover a future failure? There might be some providers willing to cover a 11 year old car provided it has a dealer repair this time.
Might be an idea to have a look at Lexus Owners Club and some of the US sites to see if it is a common fault and what people's experiences if repairs have been.
Have you checked out options for warranties which could cover a future failure? There might be some providers willing to cover a 11 year old car provided it has a dealer repair this time.
Might be an idea to have a look at Lexus Owners Club and some of the US sites to see if it is a common fault and what people's experiences if repairs have been.
Thanks for you thoughts.
I think I'll stick with the idea of keeping it following plenty of testing once the work has been carried out.
cptsideways: from my research and discussing with a couple of places it seems it is more costly and time consuming and that to get hold of all the solenoids (even if it was only one, I understand we wouldn't be able to tell without putting it back on the road, and repeatedly stripping down to test each individual one).
Having looked at the kind of alternative cars available in that budget range and the type of mileage and age they would be to get anthing of remotely similar quality, I guess it's best that I just view the issue as the 'cost of having a once-expensive, high quality car' and swallow it for the time being.
I think I'll stick with the idea of keeping it following plenty of testing once the work has been carried out.
cptsideways: from my research and discussing with a couple of places it seems it is more costly and time consuming and that to get hold of all the solenoids (even if it was only one, I understand we wouldn't be able to tell without putting it back on the road, and repeatedly stripping down to test each individual one).
Having looked at the kind of alternative cars available in that budget range and the type of mileage and age they would be to get anthing of remotely similar quality, I guess it's best that I just view the issue as the 'cost of having a once-expensive, high quality car' and swallow it for the time being.
Complex said:
Thanks for you thoughts.
I think I'll stick with the idea of keeping it following plenty of testing once the work has been carried out.
cptsideways: from my research and discussing with a couple of places it seems it is more costly and time consuming and that to get hold of all the solenoids (even if it was only one, I understand we wouldn't be able to tell without putting it back on the road, and repeatedly stripping down to test each individual one).
Having looked at the kind of alternative cars available in that budget range and the type of mileage and age they would be to get anthing of remotely similar quality, I guess it's best that I just view the issue as the 'cost of having a once-expensive, high quality car' and swallow it for the time being.
Just order the solenoids from the USA, they are cheap there get all three (two are the same one is different I think) a filter & seal kit. The job is straightforward if you have the parts at hand.I think I'll stick with the idea of keeping it following plenty of testing once the work has been carried out.
cptsideways: from my research and discussing with a couple of places it seems it is more costly and time consuming and that to get hold of all the solenoids (even if it was only one, I understand we wouldn't be able to tell without putting it back on the road, and repeatedly stripping down to test each individual one).
Having looked at the kind of alternative cars available in that budget range and the type of mileage and age they would be to get anthing of remotely similar quality, I guess it's best that I just view the issue as the 'cost of having a once-expensive, high quality car' and swallow it for the time being.
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