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I wrote this in response to my previous post, and then realised that I had gone off at a tangent, so decided on a separate post. I am in a position in which I can afford a really nice new car but having been out of the market for a few years, and driven a few new cars recently, they seem to have moved backwards. This after many years of not being able to afford a nice new car, having wasted most of my money on children etc. These newish cars seem unrefined, don't ride particularly well, a spare wheel is unheard of (expensive insanity in my view), and research (of which I do a lot), uncovers what seem to be relatively common horror stories of dpfs, egrs, dmfs, gearbox failures, turbo failures, diesel contaminating oil and increasing oil content to destructive levels and so on. I'm talking about cars that include some that cost 30 grand upwards. I have considered various petrol engines, but they are not available in many models and come with their own issues including failed turbos, coil packs, stretched timing chains etc. The last car that was as satisfying as my 400 was my 1989 Audi 90 5 cylinder. It was a wonderful car, with a briliant engine. It was incredibly well engineered and lovely to drive. I wish I could find a mint example, I would abandon my search for a newish car. My daughter just paid just over 2 grand for a 2003 vw beetle convertible with around 50 k on the clock,, a full vw history and a set of winter tyres. I'm starting to think that buying new or even newish is insanity,unless it is something very special. Some of the new smaller petrol engines seem brilliant, with incredible power for their size -including the vw / audi 1.4 tsi 150bhp, but ever increasing fuel pressures, turbos and superchargers strapped to a small, highly stressed engine do not seem to me to be a recipe for a long and reliable life (the opposite approach taken by the LS 400 of a large , unstressed engine). I suspect that many of these little time bombs will be kept for three years only, for fear of ruinous repair bills when problems start to surface (as they already have). So here is a caveat for potential Lexus LS 400 owners. Seriously, Don't, on any account, buy one, because you will probably never find a satisfactory replacement, and will be doomed to spend the rest of your motoring life regretting the one you sold, and cursing the car you currently drive, because it fails to live up. This is my quandary in deciding whether to sell my Mk 4

Thanks for the screenshot,mate... I have written an email to Euro Car Parts on behalf of my mechanic, drawing their attention to ASDA prices. I have seen they do a price match promise. But whether they refund the difference, I ain't sure...Let's see.

Not strictly true. Most tyre fitters and companies don't recommend rotating tyres any longer. The reason behind it is that 4 tyres (2 brand new and 2 part worn) are always going to be better than 4 tyres which are both part worn.

I went from a 14 plate IS300h (Luxury) to a 64 plate GS300h F Sport. Sure, the GS is bigger (not huge amount of rear leg room though considering) and the feel and quality of the materials is generally higher in the GS but, to me, the GS is poor against the IS when you're pushing on. The IS feels more nimble and lively compared to the GS - I guess that was the design intent - the IS more dynamic to drive? I miss this driving feel in the GS - even in Sport S+ with the firmer suspension - and I miss the TFT screen from the IS which shows audio info and nav. The GS's TFT shows nowt much more than fuel status and economy. And don't get me started on the infotainment in the GS! A nice 12.3" screen but in radio DAB its shows nothing more than the station you are listening to. Even when the whole screen is audio is still only shows, say, BBC Radio 2 DAB. A 12.3" screen and that's all it shows. WTF. My wife's Juke says who the presenter is, which programme it is and who the artist and track is of the song being played. I love the GS but there are some niggles.

Got a running thread on them over in the CT200h area Chris:

A wee update 3 weeks on and after about 500 miles. With the onset of a few sub 7 degree C mornings I've certainly begun to notice how these tyres are working better than their regular summer counterparts. It really is like driving on rails in comparison! The initial harder ride feel has either soften up as the tyres have bedded in or I've simply got used to it as I can't say I notice it now. Only had 1 really wet session with them so can't really say I've done enough of that to come to an opinion but no complains so far Just waiting on some snow now.

Rotating tyres to even out the wear is ok (as long as they are not directional or staggered set-up) but one should always have the better tread depth on the rears. So in your case I'd leave as is. Better still invest is a set of winter wheels and tyres?

Most likely the wind noise is just because there's crosswinds on a windy day. You shouldn't really be getting much in terms of wind noise, its one of the quietest cars in its class

Hi Tom, If you can give me a few days I will take a look in the electrical manual and see if I can suggest a common cause for your problem. BTW welcome to the LOC.

Sure this has been seen before but.....

There is no SD card for this system as everything is done by CD input. I would check fuses first but I doubt an OBD reader will find anything as they only read generic codes for basic sensors/faults. It would need to be done with a proper Toyota/Lexus fault reader. Does the normal radio/CD player work(controlled by radio buttons and not mouse? Does the phone buttons work? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think they improved the ride when they facelifted the GS, but I also think that the ride is a bit firm. I find that mine smothers the small bumps well, so it's not jittery, but it is firm over large bumps. I haven't noticed any wind noise in mine, but there is a far bit of road noise over some surfaces. I think there is an element of it being more noticeable because everything else is so quiet, but I think it's also the harshness of the noise that makes it more obvious. Hope the IS works better for you.

Surely you're not saying your Austin A40 didn't have this facility? You obviously had a really basic model!

I had the use of a new RX450h Premier again last week, while my own car was in for some warranty work (radio unit being replaced). With the evenings drawing in, I had the opportunity to drive the car at night over 45 miles of B-roads across country. I was blown away. I had been impressed previously by the Auto High Beam function available on some Lexus models, which automatically and efficiently manages the switch between low and high beam, but the Adaptive High beam System in the new RX is something else and is just outstanding. The system does not just automatically switch from low to high and high to low beam, but provides various degrees of lighting in between, varying the intensity and range of each of the 3 pairs of LEDs depending on traffic and road conditions to optimize visibility. As you follow another vehicle on a dark country road, you can see the range of the lighting stretch all the way to the car in front and also expand sideways, without switching to full beam. As you get closer, the beam retracts accordingly. If another car comes towards you, you can see the beam from the right-hand side reshape itself so as to not blind the oncoming driver. And of course, when the car does switch to full beam, the level of brightness is just incredible with a very long reach both in front and sideways. It is just like driving in daylight. While the system does not provide swivelling headlights as of old, it has small, but very bright LED cornering lights imbedded in the bumper, next to the fog lamps. They are so small, you barely notice them when looking at the car, however whenever you drive around a corner or switch the indicators on, they brightly illuminate the road at a 75 degree angle far better than the old AFS system. In all, this new system makes driving at night a lot more relaxing and far less tiring.

Yes I think you are right and compared to my old RX 400h Premiere with adaptive beam the lights are so much brighter that I missed the fact that the new F Sport dipped lights didn't turn into corners. I am saving my pennies and going for a 2013 450 Premiere and wait until the 2016 models are lower in price.

If you read my new post you'll find that mine will stay on as well!

HI Michael, Where are you based? I can recommend a good workshop but it is based in North West London, up near Edgware.

Yes I agree about the Auto high beam function, it is uncanny how it sees oncoming headlights and dips accordingly. Made a long night drive against oncoming traffic almost a pleasure!. Helped by the power of the dipped beam - new RX 450H with all the bells and whistles. Not mine but Lexus Guildford let me play with one for 24 hours.

Hi, If anyone finds they have any issues with insurance for a tuning box then please feel free to drop me a line. Regards, Dan.

The LS400 might not be a looker, but in the driver's seat it can't fail to impress. You get used to the so called 'lack of feel steering' and if minded, you can chuck it around and pull enough G to scare off all but the new fast fad cars (like the Ford ST - actually not a bad motor...but a Lexus it aint). In my humble, prices have or are about to bottom out, just watch the values start to climb. We'll first see it in the Trade £7,999 ono tags and it will be "a lot of car for the money." 430 prices will be pushed up too. What can you replace it with? A Merc? No thanks, Jag? I'm a Jag owner/nut - not until they make a car that is reliably built with good quality parts...oh never mind it'll never compare to a 400 however fab it looks. Beemer? Over rated and over priced. Disregard anything from year 2000 - 2010 with an auto ZF gearbox whatever vehicle manufacturer. I'm not a fan of diesel although I gather it's very good in trucks and trains. Did you know? Jag use same coil on plug manufacturer as Lexus. I haven't read of any need to replace coils through intermittent misfire issues on the LS. Both my XKR and S type needed new coils: the Jag forum was full of 'I have a misfire when warm 50 mph plus'...coils. Funny that. It seems a lot of LS cars are being scrapped when there is still life in them. What next? 460 for me. Please tell me it's a cracker...

Like everyone who has commented above, I would say keep your LS400. You will lose little or nothing in depreciation, the cars are very reliable and there will not be any massive bills (unless you are unlucky), and they are great cars to run and drive.

yes for sure .... my now 188k miles Ls400 cost me £1400 5+ years and 65k miles ago, cost very little in repairs , mainly just the one single UCA at £250 15 months ago and then tyres and a battery and servicing, oil and filters, wiper rubbers and a headlamp bulb about £6 .................. depreciation, well, zero, maybe it's worth that £1400 still eh ! BUT worth a great deal more to me. ( from an ex car dealer , me ) Buy and keep the car you really really want and forget the " need " to part with loadsa dosh from time to time in the pursuit of total imperfection ....... hang on to your Ls400, it's money in the bank Malc

Hugh Amazing coincidence, I also had a five pot J reg Audi ninety with low profile tyres on alloy wheels that I have never seen bettered and a super smooth engine. I bought it at 4 years old for 9K it was red and a 2.2 version ,when I came to change 2 years later the new shaped jelly mould Audi had been launched and the Audi dealership offered me only 3K . In 96 I went to Devon to see my Daughter and on a curiosity looking for the replacement to the Audi I called in what was then Templeton Motors in Barnstaple they offered me 6k in part ex on what was to become my first Lexus LS400. Needless to say it was the best deal I ever did. The owner specialized in seeking out cars for people and obviously had a buyer for the Audi but the purchase and sale of the Lexus was speculative as there were not a lot about then. And to reinforce your point 18 years later when looking for a replacement for my Mark 1 I spent months researching nothing but Lexus cars to replace it, being able to afford any one of them in the LS range I opted for the one I have as I do not think it as been bettered. I have said this before, It is the best car LEXUS have ever built as an all round example of a Luxury Saloon. I have a friend who visited me today to show me his new Jaguar 2.2 diesel which he as taken on in part exchange for his similar range Mercedes which he bought 4 years ago when I bought my second LS400 for that famous £2750. He as just dropped 14k on the Merc buying a second hand Jag for 25k and he stood in front of my LS400 and lamented on how much he had lost and how much I had gained . Again this reinforces all the values of owning a Lexus LS400 and keeping hold of it ,without doubt they are an investment.

Not on the old Gen 1 and 2 RX300's, unfortunately - the gen 2 may have LED high level brake strip (but I haven't had to take mine apart to find out!!) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk