Spacewagon52

Thanks for the information Mike - I did not know about returning a car for a full refund.

Very sorry to see that. A couple of xmas ago our whole road had every car rear window broken by some half-life! Including my daughter's Golf. Not a nice thing to wake up to on Christmas morning. Did they get the driver?

Would be very interested to hear your comparison and your reasons for changing to a BMW?

That is the sort of Car Park I like!

Happy Christmas to all and safe driving over the holiday period. Taking the Lexus to Bristol on Sunday to pick up my lad - only two big sleeps to go!

Very sorry to see that. Ouch! was my initial reaction.

Being a member of this forum, can give you some added inside information before buying. Getting hold of a genuine LS 400 seems to be getting much harder and chancers will obviously try and pull the wool over people's eyes. As most LS 400 owners seem to keep their cars for an extended period, when they do come up for sale, it is even more important to try and ascertain the genuine reason for selling.

Are the wheels correct for a 1998 Mk IV?

That is interesting, as the throttle response on my MkIV is much sharper than my old MkIII. Setting off, you need to be very gentle with the pedal, otherwise it feels like you are accelerating too quickly.

Quote: ."........but the ride and drive quality is by far the best I've ever driven. " This is what really grabs me about the 400. Toys are fun to play with, but just to cruise along, even a 30 mph, and enjoy the smoothness of the ride, engine and gearbox is enough for me. The sound system is superb to my old ears but I often have it off just to enjoy the peace and quiet. Are we going a bit OTT? I hope not, as I do not wish to be disappointed.

Malcolm, you are now making me nervous about taking her out of the garage!

That is so interesting. There IS something quite special about a LS 400 (especially considering its age) which is very different from anything I have driven (experience limited) before. It is comforting that I am not the only person who thinks this way about the 400. Will try to keep mine going as long as I can afford it. When I can't, hopefully someone else will come along and keep her running. I have a friend who was a big Landrover fan ......... eventually he got fed-up with breakdowns and repairs. His argument for keeping the 90 was that it had soul. The LS 400 certainly has SOUL, in bucketfuls!

The debate continues - here Jason owned a LS 460 and he has bought a LS 400! The mind boggles! Are the Ls 460's really not as good? Or are we just searching for nostalgia? Owning a LS 400, the hairs on the back of my neck tingled when I read Jason's comments! Took the LS 400 out for a spin last night .......... yes.... they are something special. I came out of McDonald's (can't afford a decent restaurant!) and the lights were shining on the alloys (though they are a bit corroded) - I thought it was a flashy Mercedes, then I realised it was mine! (Smug look - aka Jeremy Clarkson). Enjoy Jason .... compared to other cars costing that much, you have got a bargain!

From other posts I would say this was sound advice! I was not sure if a suplimentary cooler had to be fitted or not.

Mark, do you tow with the Lexus LS 430? If so do you have any extra cooling (oil cooler) for the auto box?

I print out the advice on thge forum, just in case the garage mechanic starts to scratch his head.

My daughter wrote off her old but immaculate Golf by rear ending another car - her fault. They did not even look at the car, I described the damage and they said it would be written off. It was worth at least £3400. They offered her £1700 - I sent them adverts from Autotrader showing almost identical cars between £3200 and £3,600. They came back to her with £2,600 - she said "NO!" "What will you accept?" they asked. "Nothing less than £3,000!" They paid her £2,900 in the end! BUT ............. from £1,700 to £2,900??? What a joke. It was like bartering in an Arab market!

Very exciting challenge Mark. I wish I had had the courage to take the plunge and gone abroad, though circumstances would not have allowed me to take the plunge anyway. Are you going with an organisation such as VSO or is it private? Good luck with the move. Will look out for your LS 400 advert!

I do feel for you. My son (28) tries not to use buses (he does not have a car) because they always have a nutter on them. I disagreed. When I next went on a local bus ........... yes ...... there on the front seat was a man dressed as a pirate with a parrot in a cage. On the back seat was a transvestite, who kept shouting "Do you think I'm sexy?" My 7 year old was transfixed! I fully understand why he tries not to use buses! This is a TRUE story!

Are they easy to fit? Any issues with the airbag? I love the wooden ones!

Me too. But have you wondered what it will do to road congestion - keeping an extra generation on the road? Well, I'm hoping that there will be less of an issue with congestion if cars are driving themselves - junctions being more efficient as cars talk and negotiate with each other, motorways having 'trains' of closely spaced co-operating cars, and optimum routes being negotiated as well - plus fewer motorways closed for hours because of serious accidents ... This may be a real life saver in the future for people who for medical reasons or other are unable to drive. BUT ........ for people on this forum, I feel, driving is a bit more than just getting from A to B and having independent transport.. I realise that there is pleasure in driving - I enjoy it very much - but isn't comfortable safe independent travel from A to B the real reason most people would own an LS? If you want something showoffy, then you'd not get an LS, and if you want to push your driving skills, surely that's what track days are for? I think the future is coming faster than we think! : o ) I am afraid I must disagree with you Scythe. I don't think it is always about showing off or testing your driving skills. I bought my Lexus because it gives me great pleasure to drive it and at an affordable price (at the moment!). I have not bought the LS to show off, in fact the opposite. I really like the fact that few people realise that it is car that can stand alongside S Class Mercedes, BMW, Jags etc. without being noticed. Do I need a 4.0 V8 to do over 140 mph? Did I buy a Lexus LS just to get me from A to B? No is the simple answer to both questions. I find I drive my Lexus very sedately and I really enjoy the smoothness and quiet refinement. It is also nice to have that power if you want a quick blast. But, to me, owning a Lexus is more than just owning a car ............. it is hard to describe ........... it is something special. I have a BIG grin on my face everytime I put the key in and start that wonderful engine. No other car comes close to my idea of motoring Navana. I go out in my Lexus just to enjoy it!.

This may be a real life saver in the future for people who for medical reasons or other are unable to drive. BUT ........ for people on this forum, I feel, driving is a bit more than just getting from A to B and having independent transport..

That is the sort of result I like! Very reassuring

Gutted for you - at least no one injured.

I have always preferred a manual gearbox (owned 3 automatics) but with the LS400 the auto is lovely. Larger engine capacity seems to suit auto boxes more in my opinion. They are easier to reverse and to use in heavy, slow moving traffic - no clutch to replace. I only miss the engine braking you get with a manual.