Leaderboard

Well after test driving both V8 and Hybrid models I have taken the plunge and ordered a car to replace my Aston DB9. I have gone for the "base" model V8 in Sonic red with black leather inside. I decided on this spec. as I felt the Hybrid was very clever but was not such a balanced package as the V8 with only the Sport + mode in the Hybrid offering a similar driving experience to the V8 and then with the 6 cylinder engine revving away quite loudly. However, it was interesting to be going along at 70mph on battery only - quite unlike my RX. The black interior needs a bit of a lift so the glass roof on the lower range model fulfils this and I don't really need 4-wheel steering or sport seats. On my test drives, I averaged 23mpg in the V8 and 31mpg in the Hybrid. Pretty good considering the performance. My verdict in a few words is: Like an Aston V8 Vantage but built to a far higher quality and at 2/3rds the price. The most similar car to the LC I have driven is Merc AMG Coupe. This has the bombproof build quality but is £110K! Delivery is estimated at 3 months. I will let you know how things go. P.S. You can get 2 small suitcases in the boot of either model.

just sold the gs 430 sport ..going to new owner in "france" ? guys who viewed it spent 1hr and 35 mins going over it took @ 70 pics between them even took pics of the oil filler hole !!!!!!! volt meter check header tank check for co etc etc etc etc etc etc etc ... paid drove away ...so it must have been as good as i said it was . but have used the monies to buy the wife an is 250 se-l auto ...so over to the is section ...bye

Time for an update. After setting up the bass drivers in the rear, the music system is beginning to sound pretty good so it's time to take it up a level with some Focal 3 way door speakers that I've had laying about for far too long. I did think about creating some door builds but instead will try to use the original positions and hide the focal mids and mid bass drivers behind the original ML covers. Examining the speaker positions within the door. The mid bass is an oval 6 x 9. The tweeters and mids are attached to the door by metal brackets Gathering together a few mounting brackets and spare tweeter housings. Prepping for a weekend install. The 6.5 mid bass need an mdf baffle fitment and will no doubt shake the door so requiring some sound deadening. First job complete, with a bit of a hack, the tweeters fit into the original pods.

As David and Martin said, it's only going to be an estimate based on the power measured at the wheels. Does the printed dyno sheet list the settings used and the conversion from wheel HP to flywheel HP? As a very, very rough calculation allow 15% for auto transmission loss and the measured 365 whp = approx 420 flywheel hp. Here's a print showing a stock ISF at 357whp on a Dynojet machine which I would think is similar to Surrey RR.

....a MK4 went past my house today (a very, very rare sight) with a modified exhaust, and it sounded fantastic, just like an American muscle car with a V8!

Also used them. If it’s any help, we did a dyno day with TDi originally, and my results were awful! The auto was their reasoning for the poor results, but as others have said, you can make adjustments to factor that in so the results are more accurate. It’s not an exact science, but done right, it’s usually fairly accurate. That said, no two dyno’s are the same. I’d get a second opinion from these guys. They’ve done a few ISF’s now, so you know they will get it right.

To bleed the brake properly on the Toyota/Lexus range of cars Techstream or a suitable equivalent is a requirement. The braking system has a brake stroke simulator in it to use regen braking whenever possible. I have posted the hydraulic circuit elseware on the forum "cannot find it at the moment", but looking at this will tell you why the equipment is needed. Further a linear solenoid calibration should also be carried out on the brake actuator when ever the brake circuit is opened. John.

Looks very smart, thanks for sharing.

Wow! Fantastic looking car you have there. Great find [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

really not quite sure what all the fuss is about ........... it's quite well proven that whatever the miles on the Ls400, even several hundred thousands, you are probably going to be buying a really good car with many years of life ahead. If you want to keep your car in aspic and never use it to it's full advantage, and enjoy the pleasure it will give you, then by all means pay many many £000s and do that. But for me the joy is in using the darned thing ............... now exactly 200,000 miles, bought it at about 123k miles June 2011 at £1400 ....... minimal maintenance costs to date ........ she's BRILLIANT Malc

If that turns out to be as good as the photos you've got a real corker there!

Got sent some photo's during the week. In good condition I think but can't beat seeing a car in the flesh so fingers crossed .

When I took it out, it was for 3 years. It expires in May 2018 so is still active and in use.

You can take warranty out on cars up to 10 years old. So like mine that is 9 years and 10 months old, my warranty will last until the car is nearly 12 years old. I suppose you get a non Lexus warranty after 10 years old anyway? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think I must have the wrong end of the stick somewhere. I thought warranties were only available up to 10 years old but @PCM Piers' car is older than mine and yet it sounds like it's still warrantied - or maybe you meant that you got good value out of your warranty while it was active Piers?

Not petty at all, if they are describing the car as 100% complete and it's not then it can't be 100% OK. £9K is way over its value. They will have it on sale at that price for a long time.

I think that if you have an older car, the extended warranty does make a lot of sense. It also means that you get minor aggravations sorted, when otherwise you might decide to live with them because of the cost. I had an issue with the audio system that would turn itself on or off at random. It probably only happened once per week, although when it came on it was on full volume. I mentioned it to my local dealer and 2 days later got a call advising me that the whole audio unit would be replaced. I seem to recall that the cost was near £1500.

Very tidy but not complete there is a plastic cover missing from the engine compartment that sits forward of the battery , It might sound like I am being petty but these things are important when the car is classed as complete, the other aspect is the wheels are not the original spec . I have a mark 4 with less mileage and in similar pristine nick but I doubt it is worth any were near 8k, the reason being there are plenty of good examples for a lot less. It might get the price if it was the last of the breed on the road other wise it is what someone is prepared to pay .

I recall that the Toyota's v12 was a one off and exclusive to the JDM limo. Wasn't it even the only Japanese v12 ever made?

I didn't know you could get a warranty on such an old car Piers, not that I'd be inclined to get one anyway but that's interesting to know.

Oh dear, I've just spent 40 mins watching Supra videos...... I've been thinking about doing something slightly daft like taking an A40 classic car racing next year on the basis they are cheapish, fun and are unlikely to go fast enough for me to kill myself.... However, now I'm thinking, if I could find a 20 yr old tuned supra with a roll cage already in it, that wouldn't be so bad, after all, what damage could I do with 1000 bhp???

Motoring heaven! Lovely looking cars! Thanks for sharing.

I like the Firebird but my goodness, that 3000GT!

For about a grand for two years cover, I think it's a good insurance policy Rayaan. I notice the cars you run are just a few years younger than mine, that influences my decision.

Or maybe an analogue version using a peg and a piece of card just like I did in my youth with my bike!

I seem to remember a while ago reading of a system whereby there was a flap (or two) in the exhaust which when a switch was activated on the dash,the flaps would open and give the sound desired. With flaps closed the exhaust would sound normal. I personally prefer the quietness of my MK3, but every now and then I get the wind up my jacksy and would love to hear a mighty 'burble' even for just a few seconds,then shut the flaps again. A long time ago I had a V8 Range Rover with a decaying exhaust,she sounded lovely - until the Plods gave me a tug.

Oh how coarse. I thank my learned friend of course for pointing out I wasn't coarse enough.

You might be interested to know that on the 4RX you cannot turn the headlights off! What is normally the "off" position has now become "Auto". While what you say about lifetime is probably true for HID lights, the new LED ones are insensitive to on/off cycling.