Spacewagon52

Have been promising some photos of my LS 400 MkIV - so here they are:- Before anyone asks - no this is NOT an advert to sell!

I agree that a premium car like a Lexus is very good value for money when they are older. The repair bills can be worrying if you are trying to run the car as cheaply as possible. If you own a £20,000 + car and get a bill for say £1,000 - you would be prepared to pay it. Get that same bill on an LS 400, where the value of the car can match the cost - then psychologically you consider it not worth it. From reading other owners comments, once certain issues are sorted the car will go on for a long time. The hard decision is when to say - enough is enough - am I throwing good money after bad? At the moment I have a BIG smile on my face when I take out the 400. For what it cost, it is a tremendous car. And when you consider its age, I doubt many similar aged cars could match it for comfort and refinement.

The prices are definitely hardening as good ones do not come up for sale that often - people tend to keep them .... I wonder why? LOL!

That doe seem to enhance the look of the car - well done!

Vanish Foam is very good but sometimes you need to do it more than once. My cream carpets came up lovely!

How accurate is the mpg computer readout on the dash? I have not done enough mileage, so far, to do a brim to brim check but on a 40 mile run, mixed motorway, main roads, town it indicated 28.2 mpg (Mk IV LS 400 1998)

My Mk IV is so quiet I don't want to put the sound system on and spoil it!

Took my LS 400 out for an evening drive (40 miles). Did not go fast, just cruised steadily and enjoyed the smooth ride and quiet V8. I had forgotten how enjoyable these cars are to drive. I did wonder if my previous Mk3 LS 400, was as good as I had remembered - the Mk4 is wonderful. I still can't believe how refined the car is, even at 17 years of age.

Once someone has owned an LS 400, I wonder if they ever go back to another make? When the bug bites.............................

Posting when you have had one too many is not always wise! I know from bitter experience!

I would guess you add the two together? Who knows!

Just spotted the error! There are figures for LS 400 and LS 400 Auto ?????

Saw this but not sure it is that accurate. Any comments? https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/lexus_ls400_auto#!manufacture

The car is for sale!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201507054940150?radius=1500&make=lexus&model=ls_400&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&page=1&sort=pricedesc&search-target=usedcars&channel=cars&postcode=yo255hr&logcode=p

Over the years I have spent a fortune on cars and drink ........................... I have wsasted the rest! Car List Austin A55 Pick-up van (Began by driving around a field) NSU Prinz (Drove around a field) 1961 Ford Anglia 105E 997cc (First car in my name) 1969 Ford Cortina Mk II 1300cc 1966 Ford Cortina Mk I 1500cc 1972 Ford Escort 1300cc 4 door 1978 Datsun Sunny 1200cc 1965 VW Beetle 1300cc 1965 Ford Thames 400E Van 1703cc OHV 1966 Hillman Imp 875cc (Head gasket went had to keep topping with water!) 1976 Toyota Corolla E30 4 door 1166cc (Rust - had been in the sea! Interesting story) 1974 Toyota Carina 4 door 1600cc (superb car) 1978 Mitsubishi Colt Sigma 1600cc 1982 Mitsubishi Colt Galant 2000cc manual (very reliable car) 1982 Volvo 240 GLE Estate 2300cc (a dog!) 1988 Hyundai Stellar 1600 cc (no power steering!) 1991 Mitsubishi Galant 1800cc 4 door saloon (very reliable car) 1998 Mitsubishi Galant 2000cc 4 door saloon (Flat Red – faded paintwork!) Austin Metro 1000cc (What a heap!) 1990 Mitsubishi Space Wagon MkI 1800cc (served us well) 1992 Hyundai Pony 1300cc (inherited from my father) 2003 Mitsubishi Space Wagon 2.0 Classic (Only new car I have ever bought) 1999 Renault Kangoo 1.9 Diesel (Another Dog!) 2000 VW Golf 1600cc Auto 1996 Lexus LS 400 Mk3 ( best car I had owned so far but not the most expensive!) 1999 BMW 525 Diesel Estate 2500cc (A real dog!) 2004 Skoda Octavia Estate 1900cc Diesel (Turbo went - £1300 – economy gone!) 2009 Mitsubishi Grandis 2000cc Diesel (excellent tow car) 1998 Lexus LS 400 Mk4 (Now the best!)

I am now pleased to be a member of this exclusive (400) club. I have only seen two in my town. One is a lovely MK IV that NEVER seems to leave its drive. The other is a gold one (L - reg). They are getting rarer.

Children do mature early these days! Watch out!

Lovely photo!

Thanks for that. No advisories on the MOT. It has had new discs and brakes last year. I have not been8through all the invoices yet but it seems a genuine vehicle. However, it is 17 years old so I am expecting to have some maintenance work in the future. It has been garaged all its life and I too am keeping it in my garage - it only just fits. If I gain any more weight, I will not be able to exit the door. It is such a smooth car to drive - that V8 has so much torque and the ride is in a different league from other cars I have owned. Will take some photos and post them up when time allows. Many thanks for your comments.

Many thanks for all your comments and advice. (It is a super website, despite what others might say! LOL) I have now gone for a LS 400. I was too concerned about the suspension issues on the 430 to take the risk. I have bought a one owner, 72,000 mile, 1998 MkIV, with service history. Owned from new by a man in his 80's.who has given up driving. It is in very good condition inside and out, with original sheepskin mats. All handbooks and tool kit - torch is still in the plastic! Everything seems to work except the key fob to open the boot. No dents or major scratches. It drives like a dream. I had forgotten how quiet the engine is at tick-over. I believe have tried everything electric - all works. Very slight wear on driver's seat (usual place). Alloys could do with a refurb but not terrible. Very tight to get in the garage, but I think worth the effort! I sound the horn and the wife comes out to spot for me! Will post some photos. I think I paid a fair price for such a gem - but I feel worth every penny ! Will post more on how it drives / runs as I use it. Thank you once again for all your advice. Regards Dave

I still prefer the original look. It seems "wrong" to mess with such a good car. Each to their own taste. just trying to load a photo!

That is a bargain! You can't go wrong at that price. Were you surprised at the condition when you saw it?

Did you ply the seller with Scotch before you made an offer? LOL

It made me look twice!