Shaft

I take it these gents are Dahn Saawff??

looking forward to a bit of continental cruising...

I found my cherokee to be a little bit too full of vibrations. I did 2000 miles in a ten day period and was going to bed still feeling the vibes from the jouney. bit like having sea legs when you get of the boat. I sold it and the bmw 325i at the time and bought a Volvo T5. Was spectacular at the distance journeys I had to make. I'm hoping the Lexus will knock everything (even my mk2 GS) into a cocked hat though.

£185 Plus vat

Interesting thread. I had a Mk2 GS300. Loved it. BOught an Audi TT. after six months I sold the Lexus. 10 months later, what do you know, I'm buying an LS400. I don't think other cars compare. I know they are not exciting. but I'm past excitement. I know they are not chick pullers, but I'm past that too. I know they are reliable, refined and robust. That will do for my dollars. Don't think you'll ever see me part with my hard earned for a German car again. Don't think there is a better value brand than Lexus for quality executive cars. Hope my clients don't think I've been promoted though...

96 LS400 - 78k - I've done 4.7 of them on my test drive. Looking forward to seeing 250k on there, might think about getting another one then and saving this one for high days and hollidays or just trips to the dump, depends on how ship shape she is then. I plan on looking after her from day one! (tomorrow, please the almighty big'un!)

Thanks Chips, I think I've done okay. Just want to get my mits on it now. waiting for paperwork... Hope tomorrow will be a result. Will be doing some cruising for sure. DOn't care about the thirst! Looking forward to first trip to London in it. GOt some appointments to make in Birmingham that I have been putting off. Got a good reason now! And the North East! might even get a little continental trip out of it! Thanks Chips, I think I've done okay. Just want to get my mits on it now. waiting for paperwork... Hope tomorrow will be a result. Will be doing some cruising for sure. DOn't care about the thirst! Looking forward to first trip to London in it. GOt some appointments to make in Birmingham that I have been putting off. Got a good reason now! And the North East! might even get a little continental trip out of it!

I already have a traders policy. I will see what the loading is next month when I get my renewal quote. I don't want to spend a lot to make a lot. I am just looking for way for the car to pay for its self and be an asset not a liability. Even though its a very nice liability... Up here there are some "posh taxi" firms that use merc and BMW as standard but they are glorified private hire. I used one and found the price little different from a ride in an Avensis. I would like well paid work on a part time basis evenings and weekends. And if I made a monkey a month out of it, I'd be rich! I'd buy another house! What else could you do with it to make it pay? Modeling career? Nah... Getaway car, Risky.... What about: "Paradise Rides" A chauffeur driven experience from anywhere in the UK to the Heart of the Champagne country for a weekend away. Picked up Friday and gently wisked down to the Coast where you would check into the hotel of your budget choice. Freshen up and then have the car take you to Dinner and back and then pick you up in the morning and put you on the boat. Once arrived in Calais you would be cruising down the route Nationals admiring the view while sipping on the regions finest grape products in the back seat of a luxurious LS400 Lexus. Music of your choice and a friendly driver who knows when to mind his own business. As you have pre-selected the Caves you wish to Visit the Driver will simply take you from Champagne house to Champagne house until you can stand it no more, He will then deliver you to your hotel and check your bags to the room, and be available to take you to dinner and back should you chose not to dine in house. You will have been given a guide to the hotels based on their accomodation and food rating. Sunday sees the car arrive to take you on a tour of the more select minor producers in the villages surrounding the major towns of Epernay and Reims. while you taste and buy and enjoy the driver will pack the ample boot space with your wares. Anything that wont fit in the car will be shipped back to your chosen uk address. You will head back to Calais between 2 and 4 depending on your need to hit the local super markets etc... And dinning on the boat in Langan's brasserie will probably mean you'll sleep in the cars sumptuous leather clad seats all the way home. Priceless! © copyright - Shaft (as known on the LOC forum)

Firstly, On watchdog did you here the clips of phone interviews. One was me! Secondly The Blighters at audi have a nerve, why only 5 year old cars or less if all were affected? Finally in answer to chips question, Neither. It was a Cherokee Jeep 4.0 Limited. Was hoping to have lex home today. missing some docs. hope they turn up tomorrow.... *hurumph!!*

Don't wizz in my pocket and tell me its raining! The IS may well be popular but How may LS400's did you see? Maybe it's cos I'm picking mine up tonight/tomorrow but I don't know anyone outside the forum who has one. I don't see any regularly near me. I was worried that I wouldn't even find one to buy as they seem to have sold in such small numbers. I'm just glad I did, of course. Here is my LS400 count for the week. 2 - and I test drove both as I only saw them as I was going to buy them. Still rare on these streets me thinks... but then I live up north.

Chris, When I first gotmy TT 16 months ago I thought it was the biz. Looks and performance were great. interior fit was excellent and pose factor was pretty high without being openly brash (I was going to have a used 911 (964/993 model). I soon found that I would accept lifts on longer journeys as I didn't like the drive. NEVER felt that with the Lex. For the 6months I had both I would still drive the lex if I was doing more than 60 odd miles but after a while the long journeys fizzled out and It became redundant. Not anymore. I would'nt have another TT if you paid me. THey are great cars. no question. I just have no interest in the crashy ride, the manual gear box, the lack of cruise control, the buzzy engine, the road/wind noise. until you've strayed from the brand (Lexus) you might not realise just how well put together they are. And how much that is worth. The deprecation is soooo wrong. but Thank ***** its their because I could not have the car otherwise. Its a £50k car. to loose 90% of its value in 8 years is criminal. To not buy it when its circa £5k is beyond criminal, its just plain daft.

When I had my previous Lexus I thought about doing some professional driving. Airport runs and executive stuff. Now I'm having the LS those thoughts for a little lifestyle money are coming back. Reckon I could win business off the more established firms. driving monied execs between meetings and such like. Reckon the LS is the perfect car for that. Had a few more idea's which I am going to keep shctoom... Anyone else done this? Shaft's Wedding car!! :shutit: Eeek "

I haven't traded my other steed in. I have kept it for now. It will sell privately better than it will at trade in. Its an Audi TT. my new home.... and spare room... Thanks, Simon.

...So it seems the answer is to double your budget, add a bit more, and get a minter then! I think in the end I'll be happier with my chosen steed. Thanks for all your help.

Well, I paid a healtly price yes. It was up at £6795 and I paid under £5k so I'm not complaining. Compared to the sub £2k that I thought I might get away with, I've gone way over budget, but what I have ensured (I believe) is that I won't be feeling short changed. I think If I have bought one (that was offered) at a grand I would have been niggling about the momo rims that didn't suit it and "little things" needed to get it an MOT. If I'd have paid £1400 for a nicer looking and mot'd till June 212k miler I might have been a little happier but would have still felt a little sheepish. This on is less than half the price of my current steed but I feel it looks twice the price! No sheepishness required. I would have loved a 97/8 car with the facelift (Mk4) and the sat nav etc... I will buy a sat nav for this one though and be much much more than content. :D Reckon between now and May a patient buyer could get a Mk4 with 100k (ish) for under £5k. I still have a bit of "Mr Have-it-now!" in me. And no rude jokes please!

Chips, I'll be taking it steady for a year or two, Mate! I have no intention of caning it or upgrading any aspect of it. I think it is a great big bus and my biggest mod is one of the mind. To accept that this is IT for the next two years. DOesn't matter if someone gives me a winning lotto ticket. Its the last car I'm gonna buy before I retire from full time employment... Happy days! Yes, that means if it blows up I will be buying a new engine. not bitter (under warranty!) and carrying on regardless. I'm really looking forward to trouble free driving. Funny thing... Just remember I was about to blow up my last car before I bought my first Lexus. Now I've just blown up a perfectly good car and guess what, back to lexus! Nice thing about the LS400 is you still don't see many around. Bit like the Honda Legend... Awww, I'm dead chuffed I got a goodun and not the one grander that I was going to have to do tinker with. my first 4.0 V8!!! Had a couple of 3.5 V8s and a 4.0 straight 6 so its about time I owned the daddy! It pulled sooooo smoothly! I'm going to have to watch those rear tyres! Only on 16"s though... not too dear. I'm rambling cos I'm excited!! Yippee!

And finally a Car that requires NO mods whatsoever!!... ...well maybe clear front indicators...Doh!

Found a suitable LS400 to save me money without trashing my professional credibility. Smoothest drive I ever remember taking. Very brisk if needed but floats on a bed of air (not litteraly..) as far as ride is concerned. Don't think I'd take it on a race track but I have a trip to Wrexham next week that I can' wait to do in the Lex. I'm cured of of sports cars. Give me a luxurious and reliable work horse and I know I am happy. So what have we got. Green over Silver ( dated?) Mint Tan Leather ( Nice...) 78k (Lex service with cambelt at 65k) Secure... Silky smooth to drive first owner owned the lexus dealership it came from Second owner owned local business It's mine now. Every time between now and getting it that I have to drive my other car I'll be pining... Hard to believe I'm exctied about trading to a car less than have the cost of my current one. Never been more sure. Only thime is when I bought my first Lexus, which was by chance. I'd gone for an S Type Jag that day... Looking forward to miles of smiles, relaxed cruising and the odd zip about. Yesterday I almost bought one for a grand. Reckon its better to go for a smart buy than a cheap buy. Didn't take me long to figure that. If I have to take a client anywhere in my car, I'll never worry that they'll think its an aging toyota. I'll be more worried they think I'm paid too much... I'm not! So happy day.

You'll have one again in no time, dude. I don't know how I managed to stray from the fold before. I must have needed my head read... As the winners in life say: Success is a poor teacher. We learn much more from our mistakes. Won't have to ask me twice. Shaft ( grinning from ear to ear!)

Hey, I didn't say I'd bought it.... But I have cambelt done at 65k at lexus... peace of mind. hope to pick it up Saturday when they have polished the scuffs out of the rear bumper where its been brushed into a wheelie bin I suspect. what an old man colour... Tan leather rules though! previous owners: Lexus Dealership owner, chinese businessman, Now me! really not sure about the colour in that picture... looks better in the flesh. But, I'm not stupid. It is Green. I can live with that for an LS400.

found one! £4995 (more a quality purchase than a bargain basement buy) 78k 96n reg ( so I can put my Lreg cherrished plate on it right away!) Green over silver (yeah, but who's counting...) Tan leather (mint) Razor edged wings ( as someone put it, and I like the way they put it...) And a serious car for a couple of years at least. I say a couple of years cos I would want ultimately to have the post 98 cars with the say nav. But if the next two years are kind then I would consider either keeping it as Its so sensible and buying more assets not liabilities, OR keeping it for my dad and buying an LS430 for £10k or less. .. Happy days!

Simon, Thanks for the offer but locally the Cambelt service is £185+vat...

Let us know how you get on. Diagnostic would be good if its not too costly. I would check the above manually first... GOod luck.

Can anyone show me what the clear rears look like, please?

Simon, You sell it so well! I'm buying, dude! I'm buying!!! I can't fault one iota of your logic.