Rear Seats - Ls400

[bigegg]

Hello - first post, so please be gentle :.))

Looking to buy my first Lexus - probably going to be a 1997 ish (mark 2/3?), after having seen one in a local 2nd hand dealers and falling in love...

However, I have what will probably seem to be a silly question.

Do the rear seats fold down to allow long luggage to be passed through from the boot?

I sometimes have a need to carry some awkward loads - I'm upgrading from a Vauxhall omega, and sort of got used to the convenience of a humongous boot space.

ta.

[Bluesman]

Hello Greg and welcome to The LOC. We are always gentle with newbies so dont worry. I have a Mk4 and mine dont fold down and I think that goes for all of them but somone with far more knowledge than me will pop along and let you know fairly quickly.

You havent said much about the car your buying but one of the big issues is has the timing belt been changed? If not thats £600/800 approx and you want to see a proper receipt for the work.

Good luck Mike

[bigegg]

Hello Greg and welcome to The LOC. We are always gentle with newbies so dont worry. I have a Mk4 and mine dont fold down and I think that goes for all of them but somone with far more knowledge than me will pop along and let you know fairly quickly.

You havent said much about the car your buying but one of the big issues is has the timing belt been changed? If not thats £600/800 approx and you want to see a proper receipt for the work.

Good luck Mike

Thanks Mike.

Haven't found one, but pouint taken about the belt - the omega is the same. cambelt cambelt cambelt. :.)

Looking at one on the bay which finished this morning - had three changes at about 60K mile intervals.

[Rupert Dubreaux]

Hello and welcome Gregg , I can confirm what Mike says regarding the Mk2 + 3 the seats do not fold down. That is the only thing I miss from my Vectra handy for the fishing rods and long lengths of wood etc.

The timing belt is not such a big issue on the MK1 + 2 they have a non interference engine so usually no major damage if they fail .

[steve2006]

The petrol tank is fitted just behind the rear seat upright so no access from the boot, good idea I think as it is well protected in the event of a rear end shunt and should never rust may just cause loading problems at Ikea though.

[ManicMark]

Hello - first post, so please be gentle :.))

Looking to buy my first Lexus - probably going to be a 1997 ish (mark 2/3?), after having seen one in a local 2nd hand dealers and falling in love...

However, I have what will probably seem to be a silly question.

Do the rear seats fold down to allow long luggage to be passed through from the boot?

I sometimes have a need to carry some awkward loads - I'm upgrading from a Vauxhall omega, and sort of got used to the convenience of a humongous boot space.

ta.

I went from an omega to an Ls 400 6 years ago the one to go for is the mark4 on eBay with 68k on the clock £2750 owned by a member on here . i would snap it up but just got mine gas converted. the best advice I can give.

[bigegg]

how much (roughly) is a gas conversion?

Someone said it would pay for itself in 9000 miles, so I'm estimating £1500?

[ManicMark]

how much (roughly) is a gas conversion?

Someone said it would pay for itself in 9000 miles, so I'm estimating £1500?

£1450 with profess for a perfect conversion & about 9000 miles payback is right.

[simontaylor]

I have a genuine LS400 pair of roof bars for sale on eBay.

[Lexmanic]

Hi My 97 LS400 (see my avatar) with private number will be in the FOR SALE section later today if your interested

[soundchaser100]

I amazed that the only difference between a Vauxhall and a Lexus is the amount of luggage it can carry !!!

[bigegg]

lol. theres more than that.

things I don't have to worry about *every year* if I get a lexus:

rust
headlamp adjuster failure
crankshaft sensor failure
powersounder conflagration
HBV failure
ABS ecu failure
rocker gasket failure
Wheel bearing failure
Wishbone bush failure
Changing cambelts+tensioners+waterpump every two years/20,000 miles

[bigegg]

<duplicate post>

[Rupert Dubreaux]

A few more that I suffered from with a just out of warrenty Vectra C .

High pressure fuel pump £700

Fuel pressure regulator X 2 in one year £80 a time

Three road springs in two years two at £40 one at £60

Was able to replace these items myself so avoided extortionate labour charges at local main dealer.

The worst thing was Shift solonoid failure on the auto box, with parts and fulid flushing etc cost nearly £1200 at a local transmission specialist . Vauxhall main dealer would have replaced the whole box ,as they had no one competent enough to change the solonoids .

I have spent just over £2500 in total, including the purchase price on three Ls400's in the past two and a bit years which is £6000 less than I paid for the two year old Vectra . The best bit Is I now have three more reliable cars that are bigger better faster and dont owe me anything.

Just love um

[ambermarine]

Hi Bigegg

Rose tinted glasses unfortunatly do not come with a Lexus LS400

Rust does affect the range unless the previous owners have protection treated the subframe and chassis.

Wheel bearings do go but thats more to do with our lousey roads in the UK.

Upper control arms front fail after 100k miles rear suspension bushes fail after 120k miles and niether are cheap fixes if done properly.

engine problems are very rare, cambelt 60k intervals.

Your outgoings on your prospective model will depend on the love and tlc it as had in its lifetime but don't expect it not to cost .

[bigegg]

Hi Bigegg

Rose tinted glasses unfortunatly do not come with a Lexus LS400

Rust does affect the range unless the previous owners have protection treated the subframe and chassis.

Wheel bearings do go but thats more to do with our lousey roads in the UK.

Upper control arms front fail after 100k miles rear suspension bushes fail after 120k miles and niether are cheap fixes if done properly.

engine problems are very rare, cambelt 60k intervals.

Your outgoings on your prospective model will depend on the love and tlc it as had in its lifetime but don't expect it not to cost .

lol.

I don't expect it not to cost - do I come across as a bit naive?

cos I'd like to think I'm not.

It's a 2nd hand car, and obviously 3/4 of the battle is not picking a wrong'un to start with

But that list of things in the omega is stuff to worry about *every year*, not after every 100,000 miles