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Never mind the economy - feel the width! Sums it up for me.

Scrutiny by our members of the used car market, as far as I am concerned, is very welcome. No one wants to be ripped off or sold a lemon. There are honest sellers out there but there are plenty who will try to hide faults and provide a description that at best is economical with the truth. I have bought couple of pups in my time, even though they appeared cosha and ticked all the right boxes. I accept that I don't always get it right!

The way this works is the high bidder who bids an enormous amount of money for the car to ensure he gets the car, sends the seller a note to says if the winner doesn't turn up I will buy the car off you, of course the winner doesn't turn up because we all know who the winner is. He keeps sending notes asking if the winner had been in contact but of course we all know he hasn't eventually the seller gives in and our well known chap turns up to pick the car up, going over the car he finds so many things wrong with the car that he offers you barely half what the auction price is for the car, he can use charm or menace but hes done it so many times hes well practiced at it and he comes away with the car for I would think about half what the final bid was. Then low and behold as if like a miracle our chap has it for sale , no mention of the dash lights not working anymore so perhaps he has repaired that problem or any other problems with the car. I bet that the list of problems with this car is a mile long. OK for spares. Mike.

I'm on my first hybrid Lexus - had two IS 250's before that, so been driving Lexus for 10 years and enjoyed every minute of it. Like many people I was not sure if going from the silky smooth 6-cylinder 2.5 litre all petrol engines to the 4-cylinder 2.5 litre + battery with CVT might result in more noise inside the car but a long test drive proved this was not the case. I've had my hybrid for 18 months, done 21,000 miles and find it utterly relaxing to drive. It may sound crazy, but I actually find the 40 minute commute home a great way to de-stress after a long day at the office. The fact it's giving me nearly 54mpg and service intervals are stretched out to 12,500 miles give me a couple of significant and welcome bonuses.

Its amazing how good these cars look in pictures but closer scrutiny never has them live up to it. Mike.

Hi Tom There should be second hand batteries available from breakers, I'm sure plenty of 400h vehicles have been written off by front end damage with a perfectly good traction battery. You certainly don't want to pay for a new battery from Lexus, it wouldn't be worth it. From what you describe though I'm failing to see how there could be a traction battery fault. I'd want a second opinion. There is an external charger available for Toyota dealers, most don't have it.

The problem with Waitrose is - every time I've been ive noticed no difference in quality of goods compared to Asda/Tesco or Lidl. My Mercedes regularly goes to the independent - Im not paying £500 a service for a car worth £3k! However, I have noticed that every time I get the Merc serviced, the seats are grubby, the carpets are grubby (they're grey!) and even if I put plastic on the floor and seats beforehand, they manage to get their fingers everywhere else! Not to mention the scratches on the wheels when changing tyres and inevitable corrosion on crap Merc wheels afterwards. Always manage to get scratches near the bonnet too! There are 3 recommended independents near me but Ive been to them all and can't see why people go there - you just get your "pristine" car dirty - the damn oil doesn't come out of the carpets now! On a side note - Lexus quoted me £750 for 2 majors and a minor on an IS300h and 2 MOT's included. That works out £250 each year including the hybrid healthcheck and wash and vac - no extra bits The cheapest ive got for 3 services around here by an independent is £500. Id rather just have the full Lexus services done for £250 extra (minus MOT cost)- works out only £100 more a year and it'll go in expenses anyway.

As I spoke with Lexus service manager in my country, he said, that reason for that generous reserve is cooling off the fuel pump in the fuel tank. Pump is cooled down solely by fuel and if you are driving with almost empty tank, fuel is heated up to 60-70 degrees of centigrade so pump is much more hot. So main goal is to prolong the life of fuel pump and other components. It looks like this "issue" occurs only in Prius and CT200h. I'm not sure if other Lexus models are affected.

The sell came about because a member asked if anyone had this particular item and I offered it on the terms that any proceeds went to charity it was not put up for sale as you seem to be implying and as for the rules as you put it I don't go out of my way to break them and neither do I like being talked to like some errant schoolboy, you are starting to sound like a dictator not a moderator.If this is a wake up call for you than so be it. Again in this statement you have questioned my integrity when your refer to the charity issue I think you have said enough do not dig the hole any deeper.

Five for £2.97 is cheaper than one from Toyota , if you dont mind Stuart could you supply the web address of the supplier you are using .

Thanks for that John, Eiffel's viaduct now on the itinerary. Have a good trip yourself. Mike

This tatty old dog looked to me as though it was suddenly shill bid to a daft level http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/s71svk-/111742559337?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=8utKAJpOOvGax413cAAgGFe6i6Y%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc Next thing we know our old friend has it for less http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRONZE-LEXUS-LS400-MK4-98-S-FSH-SUPERB-DRIVES-MECHANICS-MOT-FEB-QUICK-700-/301715870557?hash=item463faad35d

Hello there, I'm genuinely really pleased to see your post because I have used D&J in the past. They are fantastic! 18 months ago we emigrated to France (used to live in Alkrington Middleton) but prior to that D&J serviced my RX300 and my current RX400h. Always a great price and service. 6 months ago our RX400h reached its 100k service level. Prices in France for Timing belt, water pump and plugs were stupid money. I went back to the UK to get the car serviced at D&J and stayed with family and friends during the process. Even though I paid fuel (900 mile round trip and EuroTunnel crossing) I still saved money versus the likes of Toyota, Feu Vert and others in France. Top lads that I can't recommend enough. Almost 10k later its running like a dream....

Greased lightning for me too, after a wash, [the car not me]. Did risk trying it on a not very dirty area and it did seem to work with the recommended microfibre cloth. As my LS is only twenty years old, I didn't risk it any further!

My GS doesn`t have the carrying capacity of the Merc Estate Michael, plus the French and Spanish are not as careful with other people`s cars as we would like them to be, hence the Merc! I`m going to Andalucia via the Tunnel, Rouen, Bordeaux and Madrid until the middle of November, so we are unlikey to spot each other. Have done your route several times (both ways) and 5 visits to the magnificent Millau structure. If you can visit the Eiffel structure North of Millau and just off the A75...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garabit_viaduct...it is magnificent too. Have a great time. Regards John

Very interesting thread. Six weeks ago I experienced four TIAs (transient ischaemic attacks) within a 90-minute period and was whisked into hospital with siren sounding and blue light flashing. The upshot is that after a four-week ban I am back on the road and will probably never experience these things again as I'm now on an anti-coagulant and statin for life. The insurance company have not blinked, nor have the DVLA - coincidentally I needed to renew my licance, being well over 70. It wss a real treat to get back behind the wheel of my 430, I can tell you. AFB

The nsf alloy is still a mess ?? does that make it a "null point" for Lanarkshire? Not seen a vvti engine for less than £400(would break for £700) . Not £2700,maybe £2500? does that include a bottle of anti- freeze to top yer gearbox up? Simon

That is annoying being outbid at the last minute , a lot of the after market ones I looked at had the ends chamfered so there must be a reason they are made like that . When I first got my Mk2 about five years ago I fitted some cheap QH pads , the amount of muck they threw off and the squealing noise they made used to drive me nuts . I think they were made from compacted coal dust , best to buy decent quality ones if you can , if you can pick them up cheap from Ebay even better .

No Rupert - someone else got them at a good price £4.20. Last minute zoomed in for the kill before I could sign in. Thought for £4 I'd have them as no one was interested until the last few minutes except myself. Frankly I would not buy them with chamfered ends like that at market price. Less area touching is less stopping power, means more pressure needs be exerted and wear out more quickly.