Spacewagon52

I use Autoglym leather cleaner followed by the leather cream.

Hope I am not the only LS! Have managed to persuade my wife to drive me there!

It can be a bit off putting reading the forums here with some of the problems people experience. Overall I would trust a Japanese derived car over other makes. I have been tempted away by Volvo, BMW, VW, Skoda but non have them have ever matched the reliability of the Toyota / Datsun/ Mitsubishi's I have owned. Nothing drives me more round the twist than car that seems to have constant issues that need sorting. I am still not of the opinion that all modern cars have similar reliability. When it is MY money I am spending, I like to play it safe. One day I could buy a Jap pup - then you WILL hear about it! LOL!

Oak Tree Avenue or nearer the cinema? Is the car park chosen "quiet" on a Sunday - would hate to be contaminated with other lesser makes!

I think my wife would have trouble getting me to part with either one! Keep them both! The LPG makes sense for everyday use and the Mk1 for classic/special trips?

A neighbour with a BMW had his alarm going off all night - he had gone away. Can you lock the car with the key without putting the alarm on? Just a thought?

The figures quoted for repairing these German lemons are eye watering. When you consider the cost of buying an LS 400 or 430 and even having to rectify suspension and cooling issues - the sums pale into insignificance compared with buying a new Merc or BMW. I have always been a Japanese fan - my Toyota Carina (1974) sold them to me. I saw that car do 100,000 miles and then I sold it to a friend whose wife learned to drive in it. It still had the original clutch after she passed her test. The rust worm got it in the end but the gearbox and engine were still as sweet as a nut. 8 Mitsubishis later and I have not been disappointed in their reliability. I ran my previous MKIII LS400 for a year with the only expense of two new tyres - and it was due a service when I bought it! Mpg is only one factor when owning a car. Getting 50mpg out of a Skoda is great until the turbo goes and £1300 is knocked off the economy! What do I like best about my LS 400? The quality of the engineering - once you have owned one, nothing compares in my opinion. If it does go pear shaped - I will not have lost a fortune and will probably be able to afford to buy another. It seems a no brainer to me! Am I a little biased?

Be interested in your comparison of the two cars as you get to know the 430.

Saw this one: http://www.tridentcars.net/car-details.php?CarID=138 They want top dollar for it though.

Love it!

We will all have to agree to disagree! The LS 400 or 430 is remarkable value for money.

I would agree with Rudy, to me the MKIV 400 is the best looking model.

Saw this:- http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508256338006?sort=default&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&make=lexus&model=ls_400&channel=cars&postcode=de11aa&radius=1500&search-target=usedcars&page=1&logcode=p

Saw this out of interest:- http://www.instacars.today/used-cars/lexus-ls400-400-10040

When you get back post some photos of the SC in beautiful surroundings!

Would love to do either road trip in my Lexus! I am very envious! Take care and enjoy.

I am lucky to have these sheepskin mats in my LS400 when I bought it. Out of interest Mike, how did you clean them? I read somewhere you should only dry clean them? My wife now takes her shoes off when travelling in the car!

I did not realise that you had to change a Northern Ireland plate when it came here?

That is not amusing!

That is very disappointing, when you EXPECT reliability with the mark.

Agreed!

Just a suggestion? Could members put a card on their dashboard/windscreen with their forum name and real first name? e.g. Spacewagon52 - Dave

Could not agree more!

Would really enjoy actually meeting people from the forum. Hope the date chosen I can make.

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!