amcdonal86

If the original poster is less than 23 years of age, like I am expecting, he is paying much more than $400-500 every 6 months for insurance. Insurance rates are much higher for younger individuals under 23 than they are for adults. A friend of mine passed his 1995 LS400 onto his son when he turned 17 years old. He has never been involved in any accidents and his parents are paying $1300 every 6 months for comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage. They live in the same city where the original poster and I both live. And if the original poster goes ahead and files the claim, what if he has another accident before he turns 23? Another claim before that and his insurance company will most likely either drop him or require him to purchase expensive "high-risk" insurance. There are several insurance professionals on this board and the consequences of young drivers filing too many claims have been covered several times in the past. killerfatty, assuming you are a younger driver, I think you should find a way to repair your car on your own, or continue driving it in it's current condition if you are able to do so. Wait to take advantage of your collision coverage until you are driving a newer vehicle that is worth more money. Otherwise, your rates will increase with your current company and you will have a much more difficult (and expensive) time getting insured should you switch companies. Like I said in my previous post...not worth it for a 15 year old car. I'm 22, and I'm paying less than $500 every six months for full coverage ($500 collision deductible) with 1 speeding ticket (61 in a 35 zone) and no accidents/claims. I think my estimate is reasonable. Then again, I do have a good student discount (although I'm sure it's not much). If I ever made a claim, I don't think the insurance company would jack my rates up that much. After all, I have been driving for over 5 years without any claims. A 17 year old would have much higher rates because he has no driving record at all! You make a good point about having another accident before turning 23 or whatever, but then what exactly is the point of anyone under 23 having collision insurance then? Maybe he should've just gotten liability coverage only and just risk everything. But then again, it's not much different than what you're having him do now... Then again, I'm only 22 and I don't really have as much experience with these things, but personally, I'd make a claim and see what happens. Maybe they won't be so harsh since it appears that the weather was a contributing factor and that there were no other vehicles involved.

Haha, yeah, I think the economy is hitting the used luxury car market pretty hard. Nobody wants the additional maintenance cost, and people with money are buying the new ones (as they always have). Yep and a major factor as well is dried up credit. Not being able to get credit, really reduces the number of people who can buy. That 2003 can probably be had for 13-14K which is almost like giving that car away. If I was in the market, I'd definitely look at some 430's right now. The LS 400's don't look like they taken that much of a hit to me You are right. But NADA Clean retail for my LS400 was $10550, so at $7400 out the door, I think I got a steal! (Clean trade in is supposedly $8325.) NADA tends to be a bit high. Here's a link to edmunds true market value for your car: http://www.edmunds.com/used/1997/lexus/ls4...929/prices.html You got a fair deal if you compare with Edmunds which is still nothing to feel bad about considering that the LS is the best used car out there. Edmunds TMV says $10,797 for dealer retail and $8,614 for private party. Keep in mind the car only has 91k miles and is in outstanding condition!

I disagree. Insurance on that car is probably running about $400-500 per 6 months, and if it goes up 33% or so that could be an extra $165 every 6 months or $330 a year. If, as you say, the increase in premiums lasts for 3 years, that's $990 in increased premiums. Add $500 deductible, and you're getting $4000 of repairs for about $1500. I'd definitely make a claim, even if you're not going to get it repaired.

I'm glad your wife is ok, and the damage wasn't too bad! I had a similar experience with that undercover on my '95. I was driving from New Orleans to Chicago, and somewhere around Memphis, TN I heard something grinding for a couple seconds, then stop. When I stopped for fuel the first time in W Memephis, AR, I found that the undercover was ground away pretty well. I used the pliers and wrench in the tool kit to remove it and throw it in the garbage. I was glad to finally have an excuse to throw that damn undercover away because it made maint/repairs a PITA, and I never replaced it either (and surprisingly the LS didn't fall apart.). Did yours collect any garbage on the way to the dealer?? LOL.... LOL That is great! What's that red thing caught in your bumper? Bird strike?

Yes, I think that's probably not that unusual for a door shell. Have you considered just taking the check from the insurance company and buying a similar LS? I've heard of people taking the check and buying the car back from the insurance company for cheap. If the damage is limited to only the door and fender (and not the frame or anything), you could probably do the repair yourself with a little work (except for paint) by finding junkyard parts. Easier said than done, but I think you might have some success--that is, if you really really want to keep this car.

Go to a body shop and get the estimate straight away. By the looks of it though and the car you have, I'd guess the $500 deductible is spent. Aligning these doors could be a real tough thing to do unless you've got skills. So, a claim may be the lowest out-of-pocket cost. The estimate will be telling tho. I agree. Don't just go to one shop either. Go to many shops.

I wonder if this has a big affect on gas mileage...

Sorry to see that. Glad you're (apparently) okay, though! Do you have collision coverage on the vehicle? That damage looks pretty serious, but it could've been much worse! Your best bet is probably to get a used door and fender from a junkyard and have it painted to match. Best of luck!

UPDATE--I ordered the parts for a total of $209.97 from Carson Lexus. I spoke to Gordon--he was great to do business with. My parts should get here by the end of next week, so I should have a fun Saturday replacing these things! I will keep you guys posted!

Holy moly these parts are expensive. $185 each roughly. If it solved the problem, I would gladly pay that, though. Is labor to press new bushings in really that cost prohibitive? Instead of paying almost $400 for the parts, I could get new bushings for about $100 and have them pressed in. Wouldn't that be cheaper? EDIT--looks like Carson Lexus in California has them significantly cheaper at $100 each. I think i will do that!!

Thank you so much blake918!! I appreciate your help (and the help of everyone else as well)!

Thanks. Where can I find a replacement part online? Also, what is the procedure for removing it?

Okay, which part in the attached photo is the "strut rod"? Is it the one with the rubber boot over it?

Hmmm... I was just reading another thread about the rubber door/window seals causing a creaking sound when going over dips... Could this be the culprit????

Haha, yeah, I think the economy is hitting the used luxury car market pretty hard. Nobody wants the additional maintenance cost, and people with money are buying the new ones (as they always have). Yep and a major factor as well is dried up credit. Not being able to get credit, really reduces the number of people who can buy. That 2003 can probably be had for 13-14K which is almost like giving that car away. If I was in the market, I'd definitely look at some 430's right now. The LS 400's don't look like they taken that much of a hit to me You are right. But NADA Clean retail for my LS400 was $10550, so at $7400 out the door, I think I got a steal! (Clean trade in is supposedly $8325.)

What kind of cool bling items do you guys have on your LS400s? I'm thinking of some interior bling. I was envisioning getting some window tint, maybe some sort of rear video/entertainment system, side curtains (no, not airbags), power rear window shade, heated rear seats, fold down tray table in the rear, etc. Does any of this exist in the aftermarket for the LS400??

Haha, yeah, I think the economy is hitting the used luxury car market pretty hard. Nobody wants the additional maintenance cost, and people with money are buying the new ones (as they always have).

Or perhaps one of you guys can show me the part in a catalog or something?

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/ind...playCatalogid=0 You can find it there for about $115.

I see you're on the West Coast, but just in case, do NOT go to Pohanka Lexus in Chantilly!

Not from my experience. They will make noise when the car is not moving and you move the wheel left to right a little. You can also feel play in the tire when you try to move it side to side when the car is up on a lift or up on a jack with both wheels off the the ground. Your steering will also wander if they are worn enough to make noise. Track along grooves in the road and such. My money is on the strut bars. The problem is I haven't seen anything resembling what I imagine a strut bar looks like when I looked under the car. Does anyone have a photo of it? I see this wishbone looking thing. Is that a strut bar?

Would bad ball joints also exhibit the kinds of symptoms I've described?

Yup, the problem is as bad as it was before. I assume it's the cold weather. Does anyone have some sort of tutorial on how to remove the strut rods?

Right side is still making noise. I will see if I can get the car loaded up with people and see if it makes the noise from all four corners as it did before.

Well, I spent about 5 minutes under the car lubing every single bushing I could find and the noise I was describing is much less frequent. However, it is still there occasionally, but now only on the right side. I spent more time lubing up the front and I will see what the result is later!