Swapping My Subaru Sti For Ls 400

[talib]

hi, I have been offered a ls400 for my Subaru STi version 4 1998,the lexus is 1998 s reg mk 4 .

The dealer has offered a straight swap.I think their might be slight leak on the exhaust on the ls some where near the engine .Otherwise the car is oK it has 95000 on the clock FSH and 4 owners,it has had new brakes and discs.

My subaru has 75000 with a rebuilt engine 10k ago the engine cost 3k to build.

It needs respraying on one side because somebody has keyed it .

Your advice is much appreciated.Thanks in advance.

[Rob]

straight swap - what yours worth and the LS, they must be making a huge profit somewhere.

[talib]

They want £3995 and mines worth about the same because i had it on 4 sale @4495 and i couldnt sell it .

[TigerFish]

If you can figure out what is blowing on the exhaust it might help. Hellishly expensive to replace if you need the whole thing. On my GS300 it was just the gasket on the first joint after the downpipe which was cheap as chips.

[talib]

hi, i spoke to lexus yesterday one of the mechanics told me it more than likely to be the gasket on the front pipe .He told me that he has never seen a exhaust blow in his 4 years mechanic for lexus.I did get a price for the front pipe looking at about £380.

The car is advertised in Nottingham has anybody been to view it ,it is blue one.

[BarneyTT]

Two very different cars, are you sure you want the LS is my first concern?

You really need to get to the bottom of the "blowing" on the exhaust/gasket, as mentioned a big difference in repair bill.

[Supradave]

I would echo Barney's comments about it being a completely different type of car.

I went from a TT Supra to an LS400 at the end of last year and to be honest I am not happy. The Ls400 is a very good car (quiet, well built, reliable, etc) but after two months of LS ownership I am looking to change back to something more sporty.

Oddly enough I thought I would miss the performance of the Twin Turbo Supra but it's actually the difference in the handling that I am struggling to come to terms with.

Take the LS for a good test drive and make sure that you are happy with a car of that type.

[talib]

I have taken it for a test drive everything is fine ,problem with my subaru is that the ride is too hard .so i want something with a better ride i can go for BMWs but i think the LS is more reliable.

I hope i dont regret it later on.

[MAT_8N]

is it a lexus dealer? i'd guess not.

i think the dealer will be thinking it'll be easier to sell the ever so popular trendy fashionable 2 a penny subara than the not very common hard to sell gas guzzling 4.0ltr monster that only smart people buy!!

[bazgtr]

As being well into imports which include GTR's, GTiR's, S15, MR, EVO 4's, Evo 5's, Supras, Civic's and some starlet gt's here's my five cents worth.

STI.

Positives

Good handling

Good everyday car for fast road.

Negatives.

High insurance

Attracts hoodies like a bear to a honeypot

Image problem

Traffic cops love pulling them

Everybody seems to have one while driving.

Bottom end is a common fault on modified ones(Three gone on me last year, Have stopped selling them).

Uses petrol like water

LS400.

Positives

Ride quailty.

Comfort & toys.

Realiable.

No image problem other than old mans car.

Parts easy to get and cheaper than sti parts from the US.

Very helpful ownersclub.

Insurance not to bad.

Police and hoddies normally leave alone.

Petrol pretty good for a 4.0 V8. 20mpg plus compared to a modified sti doing around 14mpg on full boost.

Great V8 sound out of the exhaust.

Negatives

People think they are a old mans car,

Handling is nowhere near as a sti. Quick fix is to get a set of strut braces which transform the body roll on these cars.

Speed is not it's best being two tons.

Servicing costs at main dealer, Simple answer find a specialist or do it yourself easy enough.

Timing belt and water pump are a nightmare to do, But once done will go for another 40K to 80K easily.

Summary

If you want to go fast with all the hassle that goes with it, Then keep the STI, If you want comfort without the hassle of police and hoddies and without wondering when it's going to breakdown then get an LS400.

One other note is if you get a LS400, Go for one with the sat nav fitted which came out late 1998 model.

My own choice is to have two main cars which one for a trip out with friends I take the LS and then take my GTR for when I want to have a blow out and get some attention for the fuzz and hoddies.

[talib]

As being well into imports which include GTR's, GTiR's, S15, MR, EVO 4's, Evo 5's, Supras, Civic's and some starlet gt's here's my five cents worth.

STI.

Positives

Good handling

Good everyday car for fast road.

Negatives.

High insurance

Attracts hoodies like a bear to a honeypot

Image problem

Traffic cops love pulling them

Everybody seems to have one while driving.

Bottom end is a common fault on modified ones(Three gone on me last year, Have stopped selling them).

Uses petrol like water

LS400.

Positives

Ride quailty.

Comfort & toys.

Realiable.

No image problem other than old mans car.

Parts easy to get and cheaper than sti parts from the US.

Very helpful ownersclub.

Insurance not to bad.

Police and hoddies normally leave alone.

Petrol pretty good for a 4.0 V8. 20mpg plus compared to a modified sti doing around 14mpg on full boost.

Great V8 sound out of the exhaust.

Negatives

People think they are a old mans car,

Handling is nowhere near as a sti. Quick fix is to get a set of strut braces which transform the body roll on these cars.

Speed is not it's best being two tons.

Servicing costs at main dealer, Simple answer find a specialist or do it yourself easy enough.

Timing belt and water pump are a nightmare to do, But once done will go for another 40K to 80K easily.

Summary

If you want to go fast with all the hassle that goes with it then keep the STI, If you want comfort without the hassle of police and hoddies and wondering when it's going to bkreak down then get an LS400.

One other note is if you get a LS400, Go for one with the sat nav fitted which came out late 1998 model.

My own choice is to have two main cars which one for a trip out with friends I take the LS and then take my GTR for when I want to have a blow out and get some attention for the fuzz and hoddies.

Thanks for that BazGtr ,iam supposed to pick it up this evening .I will let you know how i will get on.Feel like having both if i had the money.

[JellyBean]

There are VERY FEW postings here about major exhaust trouble - if any. It will be a gasket. Mine went (end of downpipe) and it cost £5.

Why not give it a whirl? If you do and an find LS400 is not "you", you can always move it on. If you don't give it a try, you will always wonder what it would have been like.

[Steve]

get ready for the "pipe and slipper" remarks :(

[JellyBean]

Bother! I just tried to swat an insect on my screen. Must be time to go to bed/wear glasses.

[Chris Skelton]

Bother! I just tried to swat an insect on my screen. Must be time to go to bed/wear glasses.

No flies on Steve?

[boddamloon]

haha rofl

[talib]

I went yesterday and picked car up drove back the exhaust started blow a lot ,in the morning took it to exhaust place the showed where it was blowing .It was blowing from the Y pipe ,pipe would have cost £300 from dealers.I rang the guy up who i had bought it off and told him i didnt like it basically cut long story short gave the Ls back and got my scooby back .Iam glad it didnt cost me too much.

[BarneyTT]

I went yesterday and picked car up drove back the exhaust started blow a lot ,in the morning took it to exhaust place the showed where it was blowing .It was blowing from the Y pipe ,pipe would have cost £300 from dealers.I rang the guy up who i had bought it off and told him i didnt like it basically cut long story short gave the Ls back and got my scooby back .Iam glad it didnt cost me too much.

Did you take it back because of the cost of the Y pipe or did you not like the car itself?

[talib]

I went yesterday and picked car up drove back the exhaust started blow a lot ,in the morning took it to exhaust place the showed where it was blowing .It was blowing from the Y pipe ,pipe would have cost £300 from dealers.I rang the guy up who i had bought it off and told him i didnt like it basically cut long story short gave the Ls back and got my scooby back .Iam glad it didnt cost me too much.

Did you take it back because of the cost of the Y pipe or did you not like the car itself?

The car was very good brilliant sound system ,nice ride and all the gadgets.The reason i took it back was that my kid didnt like it also it had slight knocking noise coming from N/s side at the front when i took it over a bump,i think it was a control arm or some thing .It also needed two new tyres.If it had only been the gasket on the exhaust i would have kept it,but with everything else needed doing i think i made right chioce in taking it back.

i have had Subaru for 9 months done about 5000miles only thing i have done is have it serviced, nothing has gone wrong.

[Chris Skelton]

Keep looking; it's well worth it (and your kid will come around....just turn up the stereo!)

[talib]

Keep looking; it's well worth it (and your kid will come around....just turn up the stereo!)

Definitetly i will keep on looking ,lets hope i can find a good one.

[ChewBakker]

Keep looking; it's well worth it (and your kid will come around....just turn up the stereo!)

Definitetly i will keep on looking ,lets hope i can find a good one.

Mine's Nice !!! See her at

http://gallery.mac.com/tjohnwez#100060

Pics taken with my mobile phone, so they could be better !!

John