Faults:

Air mixer box motor stopped working at 320,000km, so now can only get cold air, not hot.

Coil pack failed at 315,000km.

General Comments:

A big, heavy, strong vehicle that has pulled our caravan around Australia with only a couple of problems.

The coil pack failed on the 23rd December, and in an hour and a half, the local Lexus dealership had fixed it and we were on our way again.

The car started to make a very loud clicking sound one day, and I traced it to the electric motor that mixes the cold and hot air for the climate control. As we live in a hot climate, I just unplugged the motor, and haven't worried about it since. Fixing it would require the entire dash to come out, and it isn't worth the expense.

We bought the car for a lot less than a turbo-diesel, and have all the luxuries that have made our trip a breeze. She was high mileage when we got her, but she had been serviced religiously at a Lexus dealership, so she couldn't have been in better shape. She is rock solid on the road, and has not missed a beat since the coil pack was replaced.

She has handled a few remote offroad trips in the last year with style, and has coped with any conditions we have put her into.

The only downside is that she likes to drink. However, she was so cheap to buy in the first place, and has cost very little to keep in excellent condition that we can put up with the fuel consumption (17l/100km).

Would I buy another Lexus? Yes, provided I could get one at a good enough price. Sadly, a new one is a bit out of my price range.

Faults:

Some dashboard lights failed - replaced free of cost.

Rear brake disks replaced at dealer at around 130000klms.

General Comments:

Huge, heavy, thirsty. Everything you'd expect from a full size luxury 4WD. The stuff you don't expect is the luxury, the ride quality, the reliability, the evangelical zeal that the dealers approach their job with and the general feeling that you've found the car that you want to keep for ever!

A clear class above a Toyota Landcruiser - I know, I bought one new - the Lexus should dominate the market. Its simultaneously exclusive and understated. The competition - BMWs, Mercedes etc are simply outclassed in quality and delivery. The dealers are simply fantastic - I have never experienced these service levels from a car dealer. BMW, Mercedes and Toyota should be embarrassed - they are clearly left in the weeds by Lexus service levels.

The car itself is incredibly quiet, huge interior, dual air-con that gets the car from furnace to comfortable in seconds - not minutes. The sound system is good, though lacks some power if you really push it. All the toys work - seat memory, ride height, ride levels (soft through to hard), auto dipping centre mirror - everything.

The suspension adjustment for ride quality is a bit of a toy - but its pricless if you're on a rutted road with sleeping kids, or if you're wanting to maintain speed and stability on a twisting road. Load space is cavernous - even with the 2 additional seats in the car (though in their stored position) you can get a pushchair or pram, plus luggage and shopping in without cluttering up the car itself.

This is a great car. If you're in the market for a luxury 4WD, try it. Try everything else first, then try it. Then go find a 5 year old BMW, Mercedes and a Lexus and compare them. The Lexus holds up to the daily abuse of kids, stop-and-start and the occasional blast on the beaches way better than the competition.

That's the last word - try one.