Cotswold Pete

Dan, Being a father is something special, and you never stop being a parent. I would say I got my first LS when my son was 7 years old, him and his mates thought it was such a cool car, so maybe in future you can indulge. Having just got rid of my LS (scrapped), after 16 years of Lexus ownership their still is nothing like an LS, but at least we have all enjoyed a period of driving such a magnificent beast. Sorry to hear about the miscarriage, and all the best for success with some 'tiddly-winks' in the near future

I remember when 130BHP appeared plenty managed to get my SRi up to nearly 130mph once. Then one day scooting along the M5 at a ton only to see a Lotus Carlton leave me for dust. And nowadays 300Bhp seems to be 'de rigeur'.

I used to do a lot of work with the MOD years back, and so knew of some of the stuff done to protect 'important people', and when I zoomed into the photo I could see that it was sensors in the wheel well, so as a result typed 'TALOS SENSOR' into Google. I can recall the poking around that used to go on with my company car back in the 80's whenever I went to certain 'sensitive sites', to make sure I was not smuggling threats into the bases. A little bit of 'different' history in your car, though odd it was not removed as in theory whoever was the passenger (or driver) of that car could still be located if you were that way inclined and wanted to blow them up

The Talos is a BOMB Detector, crickey, who owned this car. Detector

This made me laugh so much, brilliant, I think I have a problem with certain letter 'Oh fugger' As to the cars, love the Monteverdi - has a certain kind of Jensen look about it, and Fiat Coupe looks nice, the Lagonda is just a missile in disguise, knew a chap who owned one, never went in it though. My dream car as a kid was the ISO Griffo saw this one back in 2018, had a Corgi model when I was a nipper

Such a succinct word 'fuggly', new one on me, and totally agree about the Crown and the new trend (not just Lexus) for looking like a fasking shark with a collander in its mouth. However beauty is in the eye of the beholder - so as we used to say - 'Get it out with Optrex'

Gordon Bennet

Lovely looking mini, that was in the days when a mini was a mini (not the current 'hugeez' we now have on the road). Many a happy days pottering about the new forest in late 70's in mates mini, always felt like you were going twice as fast as you actually were, being that close to the ground

My first company car had MW/LW radio, got that sorted by having a tape player with that new fangled thing called FM. Still got 600 cassettes in my study, and a decent home player, but for the car now addicted to using a Smart Phone with Neutron player and 10,000 tracks on the go. Do have some original John Peel sessions on cassette, and one day might digitise them, but never enough time to do the usual, let alone the not really necessary.

Lexuspartsdirect.co.uk (Swindon based), genuine Lexus parts, and fair price. I have heard (from more than one source) using non Lexus shocks on LS can create a really odd ride. I used OEM when I did mine a few years back

Totally agree, when I replaced front and rear shokcs a while back I noticed a difference, but even more important passengers noticed a better ride. Does make me think that as drivers we always - in our heads - think well it's not that bad and nothing is broke. I found cornering was much better at the limits but not a huge amount differnt when ambling. To remind myself I get in my wifes mazda which is still as tight as a drum and that remind me of how the lack of rattles and knocks is so sublte that the sound proofing in the LS can hide those noises a little to well

MBclub seemed much better to me, though IMHO not as well laid out as this site, but certainly seems to be lots of useful stuff that I will no doubt be surfing at some point. Having been a member over the years of Jag Owners, Honda, Vauxhall, Volvo, they all have (had) their good points for sorting out problems as usually someone would pop up with ideas and answers.

I have the saloon, and not a waft-mobile like an LS much firmer on the road and steering gives more road feel. Boot looks big enough to get two bodies in with having to cut feet or heads off (so useful mafia car if I ever get the call). Even to me it seems to have way too much tech, and not got used to all the beeps it makes (though less than my wifes Mazda does), and the only thing missing is DAB radio, but that mean sometimes I will have to do without Radio 6 or Jazz FM, but has bluetooth and I have 10,000 tracks on my phone so music never a problem. On the braking I suspect it does have SBC, as it was not until 2012 (I believe) they stopped putting into E-class. The braking does feel totally different to most cars I have driven but if things start going west on the complicated tech then cross that bridge when we get there. I do know that nothing will ever beat the 16 years of LS costs, given I paid £2K for each LS, and then it was just general maintenance (one cam belt change) and nothing major, on the other hand the V6 diesel does nearly twice MPG of LS on way to work and is (and feels) a darn sight quicker when you put the foot down. I did think of an Volvo as option, but could not find Swedish factory one to go for, as Volvos IMHO are very comfortable to drive. At some point I will post what I miss about the LS and what I like about the Merc, and if I won the lottery I would be up for a new ES or well sorted 460

This reminded me of many moons ago when I was still growing 'bum fluff', my mate had a brother with a 2CV, and he ripped out the passenger seat to fit a Revox Reel-To-Reel. So maybe someone somewhere has done the same and installed some record deck that can handle movement of a car, though with todays pot-holes gonna be a lot of skipiing!!

For sure you would not find me near an S Class, have been in a few of them, and rather large for my needs. As you say any 20 year old car needs ££ spent on it, and the 13 year old Merc just bought, I cannot see me keeping it for ever, it is likely to be my last 'big' car before I start trading down size wise and relying on my good lady more and more to ferry me about. I take a view with the E class money saved on fuel will be spent on work on the car (probably), but the paintwork on this Merc is really good, even better than the LS when I got it 11 years ago (when it was a mere 12 years old), so looks like my mate knew how to keep a car spick and span. If it does become a money-pit, maybe that is time to get an e-bike and just stay local ???

Signed up on MB Forum, and not as good is IMHO an understatement. I liken the Lexus forum to being in the Club or First Class Lounge at Heathrow (relaxed, informative a nice place to spend an evening or works time, and easy to navigate [to the drinks and food]). The MB forum is a bit like The Works - that high street book shop (a bit confusing, probably informative but not the kind of place you would strike up a conversation while sampling a fine whisky). Having said that it is 20 years since I last enjoyed the BA lounges so they may be less enjoyable than the Lexus forum. Anyway off for a run to Heathrow in 2 hours to fetch the wife and daughter after Yoga break in Goa - wont have time to pop into any lounges

I would add to make sure what ever set up you end up with make sure you can whitelist access to to the cameras, so that no unwanted IP addresses can access your system. I do not have CCTV, but college at work has his set up so when someone hacks the camera they get a message and he gets an email. He gets a couple of hits a month, so people are out there poking around

Folks, after 16 years of pottering around in an LS I have made the decision to sell my LS, as it has become a restoration project and I do not have the space or time to do it up, and getting a garage to do all the work is something my missus is not keen on. I must confess even writing this feels a little strange. As to what I am going to be driving, I have acquired a Merc E Class E350 - a mate of mine is now in his final months (maybe a year at most) and he has looked after his car, and much though I never thought I would buy a Merc, I feel it keeps his memory going as long as I keep it (and it has personalised plate which works for me as much as it did for him). I have been to Lexus and had a good look around and had my mate been in fine fettle I would probably be teasing him by getting a 460, as although I liked the ES300h I do not have the cash to splash. I have put details in For Sale, and I will not be giving up the forum, as it is a nice friendly place, and maybe one day I will be back in the fold. I guess I better sign onto the Merc Forum (and my boss will love me as he is a CL and SL fan-boy - and having driven them the E Class is more my thing)

Did not know that. It is a lovely looking car in a fantastic colour and IMHO if £8K sounds fair, but I am not looking for a 430 otherwise I would be heading up t he M5/M6 right now. (Rory - good luck in Alaska)

I don't know if it is just me but it looks like the back end sitting a cm (or so) lower than front end.

Theo, from my years of driving an LS the way to know if bushes are affecting the car are to get my missus to come out for a drive with you (only kidding), but in reality she picks up on the subtle changes as the bushes add a little more roll and instability to the car. Everytime I got bushes sorted (be it drops links, sway bars, control arms) the good lady would feel less sick. So at the mo I can tell from clunks and knocks that all my control arms needs going (upper / lower/ front and rear), but the car drives fine to me but makes the wife sicker than a dog, Not sure how she is going to cope when I pick her up from Heathrow next week. I would say at 100k bushes are going to start needing a good look at, but it's only if on MOT when on shaker plate they pick up excess movement. My previous LS had more knackered bushes than an Ozzie drought, but never had any picked up on MOT.

You could try - PSBushings - poly bushes that a local indi could fit. Certainly others have used Poly bushes on lexus with no problems Otherwise might be cheaper to use Amayama to get genuine replacements but not sure which control arm bushes cannot as purely the bushes. I am sure some other members will come back with better answers

Same with Portugal, first time I went was before they joined the EU, roads were 'interesting'. Last visit most roads amazing and goat tracks now roads. However in 20 years time I assume without decent money going into maintenance, they might start heading back towards the past, and roads falling apart. Who knows

Coming back to this post, I think it is all irrelevant because the state of the roads is really getting to be like your average banana republic that we will all either need Land Rovers or Walking boots to get about. It does make me mad that 15 years of UK government austerity has made all of the roads I use to get work so naff, that cars dodge and dive like mad, and any poor cyclist is taking their life in their hands, so what the heck have the people in power been wasting VED on. Maybe that is the master plan, let the roads fall apart then we will all be wearing clogs to trudge 'off tut mill' (that was closed down many decades ago)

Because it does cut out 50% of light, which as you get older is a bigger issue than when you are younger and your eyes are better at contrast which there is a distinct lack of at night I have also driven with tinted glasses at night which was even scarier as that kills contrast dead to the point was hard to see the grass kerb, and coz most roads have faded centre lines was a 15 mile experience not to be repeated. Night driving advice