Cotswold Pete

Very very odd that his other motors have mileage, and the Lexi does not. And other photos look as if all taken outside the house. Did he want to impress the bidders with how big a 400 looks in empty car park?

I activated it once when not in the car, wondered what the four and a half was going on, most embarrassing. Don't have one with current LS, thanks heavens. Who would want to car jack a LS400, to most crims probably about as desirable as a horse and cart - unless they are more discerning!

I seem to see far more 400 than 430 though? Not that I see many of either of course. Maybe there were more 400s sold, anybody know? I think another post has the numbers that approx 5000 of the LS400 sold but only 1500 on the road (or not SORN). I rarely see 400's but there are 2 more where I live (small town of 5000 people), and I even say one the other say on same school run as me, and always used to see a really nice bronze Mk3 in the days when I commuted to Bath. But when on the motorways it seems like I am the only 400 out cruising.

Just goes to prove repressed memories always surface

As others say, once a Lexus driver hard to go back to anything else. Your comment on the Steering and under-finish - having driven a number of Detroit Dustbins in my days of USA I am not sure what you mean, I always found steering yank cars only slightly more responsive than an ocean going oil tanker, which is not how my LS behaves. Under-finish - I quite like it, I hate modern cars which are all identikit Germanic looky-likely with dashboard that try to be TRON stylee. Most of my teenage lads mates thing the Lexi is cool. My dads first car was an Austin Cambridge and the LS 400 reminds me of that (but a million times nicer to drive) - so a bit retro makes it stand out, and a lot easier to keep the interior looking good as it is all so simple. Enjoy cheap luxury driving, LPG or no LPG.

Turns out that ATS had a newbie just joined doing the work yesterday and so no one told him about LS. The old lags were aware. So they say all sorted and moved the weights. So I am expecting the drive home to be 'chuff' free

Did a bit of reading on the Queensland RAC website. It implies that aircraft benefit as they have cold tyres (from 35,000ft) that hit the runway and go from 0 to 200mph in an instant, so nitrogen is 'good'. So I had an idea. Get the Lexus on a Galaxy C5, come into land and get them to drop me off the tailgate a few feet off the ground, I'll have taken the limiter of the LS and so should be able to keep engine going at 180+mph. Then if all is fine once I have stopped and tyres are in one piece then I will recommend Nitrogen to any budding stunt LS drivers. If anyone else feels like trying this, then let me know - saves me having to find a spare weekend!?!?! What flowers would you like? Mike Lupins will be fine - I understand that they are good at fixing the nitrogen (that will come out of the bursting tyres) back into the soil

Did a bit of reading on the Queensland RAC website. It implies that aircraft benefit as they have cold tyres (from 35,000ft) that hit the runway and go from 0 to 200mph in an instant, so nitrogen is 'good'. So I had an idea. Get the Lexus on a Galaxy C5, come into land and get them to drop me off the tailgate a few feet off the ground, I'll have taken the limiter of the LS and so should be able to keep engine going at 180+mph. Then if all is fine once I have stopped and tyres are in one piece then I will recommend Nitrogen to any budding stunt LS drivers. If anyone else feels like trying this, then let me know - saves me having to find a spare weekend!?!?!

Cheers guys. FIrst time I have used ATS with a Lexus, so will see if they have sorted it by this afternoon. Previously used an independent (who obviously knew the situ with the calipers)

Is this becuase the offset is a bit tight on these cars

So post wheel align and balance, notice last night when out that there is a very odd chuffing noise. Did not notice on way home from ATS, as had stereo up far too loud. So this morning on way to work had a good listen. The sound is related to wheel rotation, and at 5-10 mph barely noticed even with window down. Above 15mph cars sounds like a steam engine (a bit like the sound you get when a gasket is going big time, or as if a tyre is leaking like mad - which it is not). Matters not whether on left of right lock or braking. So taken in back to ATS to get them to see if they did anything odd yesterday. But any other ideas appreciated, as always worry that something like this is rubbing something else that will cost a fortune to sort out if not dealt with.

Got my wheels checked out for balance and tracking today, and only 6 months since MOT, but car felt scrappy to drive, but nothing to really worry about, but was beginning to wonder if minor front end suspension/bushes issue creeping in. Turns out tracking was out (but I assume that is down to the craters in Glos that are still being filled in), but the shock was how far the balance was out. 40gram on one tyre. The problem here seems to be the Lexus is too darned good at covering up the sins of bouncing wheels. Previous motors of mine only had to by 5 to 10 gram and I would notice, so makes me think better keep a closer eye on things. On way home tonight, almost as smooth as a baby's bum, apart from the fact that the roads round here are like tank tracks. Maybe the next gizmo for Lexus to add would be a thing that tells you on the dashboard 'Tyre bouncing like a nutter'. By the way what's all this with Nitrogen in the tyre!?!?

I assume if you use this it means you cannot get the normal CD holder in if you use this system I use a Maplins £12.99 cassette adaptor with my MP3 plugged in. Cassette Adpator works well, and sounds as good as one of these devices, as the metal head in the adaptor meets the metal head in the cassette player, so the bass and the treble all sounds fine and dandy. I am fussy about sound quality, and must say I thought 12 quid a better buy. I did try a Sony adaptor and it was rubbish, sounded like someone stirring eggshells in the head unit. It also means I can drag along 6 CD's for ultimate late night audio experience, or when the MP3 juice goes and I left the power cable at home.

I used Mikes advice and can say the Falknes reduce tramlining, and on most surfaces are quite, though on really rough surfaces they do seem to show up just about any imperfection. As for Snow, I am thinking of investing in snow socks, as I do not see the point of expensive snow tyres (which do work well), but only needed about 3 days a year. I found that my local MOT chap could get them as cheap as on web site, and so driving on a high end tyre for cheap(ish) as chips purchase

The price sounds more than reasonable to me. Agree it is a lovely part of the world. Did he need it for a week or did he actually get it down quicker.

aah! Clarkson is so wealthy that a car that needs constant repair, works half the time and leaves your ears bleeding is no problem. Just hand over another few thousand and a minion will bring along the next partially reliable overpriced heap of non-Lexus tat. The comment on the Phaeton was interesting, a friend of mine has one, and it has to go see the garage doctor about 5 times a year. He wished he bought a Lexus. I do like watch TG sometimes but regard it as program of 3 clowns (one who knows a bit about mechanics) playing silly beggers to fill up one hour of a few sunday nights. But I can only watch about one series in every 3, life is too short to bother with all of them. They mainly seem to like vehicles that boy racers would like but could not afford or cars that males on their menopuase feel the need to use as an alternative peacock display. Tis true when I was a young lad I craved one day owning a Lambo or Ferrari, but having been in a few super cars of UK and German make from E-type to DB9, a 911 beetle thingy, Range Rover Sport to name a few, I would happily keep a LS400 over any of them. A mate of mine has just bought an Evo 9, he may as well have got the go-cart I built when I was 12 and strapped an RB11 to it, as that makes about as much sense and has the same level of comfort, (slightly better cornering) there is no rhyme or reason behind what a 45 year will sometimes do when he trades up from a Ford Focus!!!!

It could have been - it was the second most uncomfortable car I have ever driven (the other being a Peugeot 407). I guess I never had time to bother looking after the Passat (the MD used to moan every 3 weeks if I did not have it looking spanking shiney and new) when I preferred to keep the LS nice. I suggest that it would have been cheaper to let me run the LS on the company, rather than all that lost dosh on rental But you could see the damage the car wash was doing the paint work, more lines than on Joan Collins face.

I may bear them in mind. The guy I use is Lexus trained and he also said replacing the tensioner etc isn't really necessary. Was there no mention of replacing the water pump, and do they do it in a day? Basically they said they would replace what needed replacing, and said they would advise me if anything other than belts needed doing. They did do it in one day, but they preferred me to let them have it for two days, just in case, which was not a problem for me. Looking at the time charged, they took 3 hours to do the job, so no reason why if no major hiccups they could save you a return trip. Mind you there is not a lot to do in Swindon, unless you take a bike and go off and do a bit of exercise on some of the old railway cycle tracks They also seem to have a bit of sniff about to see if anything else (non cam-belt related) needs later consideration.

I only ever tried a jet wash once (and never on the Lexus) but was not impressed, as you cannot deliver equal pressure for a good overall clean, I was soaking, and I ended up washing by hand afterwards. I tend to give the LS a quick soak most of the time and then a jolly good two pass wash, T-cut (not tried clay bars yet) and then a really good wax. I love then seeing those beads of water collecting in the morning mists. Also agree that hand wash lets you pick up on any defects before they become a problem. I have also heard that you should never put a car of less than 6 months old through a car wash as the paint is still not totally cured, but I stopped using car washes as soon as I got my first Lexus, but used to put the crappy Passat company car through all of the time.

That's the beauty of the LS no matter what the heat and the length of the queue the temp gauge never moves. The sign of a classy design and it does make one feel superior.

Just picked up car after having new cam belt fitted, so no more worries as I did let it go 4K past recommended mileage and the old one was 8 years old. Though the garage said it looked in fair shape. Had it done at Gas & Go in Swindon, and was amazed to only pay £267 which was cam + auxiliary belt. No need to tensioners etc, and as the guy is ex-Lexus dealer mechanic and a GS430 driver felt in safe hands. One of the tidiest workshops I have seen in a long time as well So if anyone needs a new belt and can afford the rail fares on First Great Western (Gas and Go is a 5 minute walk from Swindon Station), then might be worth checking them out. http://www.lexusandtoyotaservicing.co.uk/Colorus/colorus/cambelts.html It was some other member who recommended them to me, and they will be getting my business for the future. Apparently they are also into bike racing, but two wheels with an engine seems unnatural to me!

That's pretty good. I have never got more than 37.5mpg on a run up M5/M6/M74 at 60mph. I do reckon that once I have next service it should creep back up, though I did a fully loaded 150 mile run a few weeks back at 78mph all the way i was getting just about 31mpg, which is not much worse than a 2.6 Omega and darned sight nicer to drive. What tyres are you running on yours, wondering if that is making any difference.

Bart, I paid £2.2K for a Mk4, a tad over the top, but in good condition, and having had a Mk2 before I feel that Mk4 is a better car. (though sat nav is next to useless) One thing to add is that I find these heavy cars are tough on the front end running gear, so Mk4s are coming up to the time when the front end may be less than best, so make sure you try low speed braking, high speed breaking, and a variety of speeds on your average naff road. As for mileage mine had 125000 when bought and runs like new, and as others say go for a full service history. I bought from a dealer down in west country, and to be honest was a bit wary having had fingers burnt in past, but must say this chap proved that there are some decent dealers out there. One other thing, I found many LS400s with leaky boot syndrome, always good for knocking down the price a bit, and a real easy fix - no need to buy new seal, just clean out old one and re-fit.

James, I have got the same issue on my MK4, and never thought to see if it is the mirror moving when ignition coming on. I have problem with driver side, but most times I fold the mirrors - so never been bothered to find out what was problem Anyway I will go play tomorrow and see if same issue as you, and try the same trick. As for the Lexus and strange problems, all problems are strange (in my view) but someone has usually got an answer, and a heck of a lot less goes wrong with a 400 then any other car I have ever owned. Someone once said a Lexus is a Jag that does not break down! Also worth finding a local Lexus expert you can chat with, i am about to try one out in Swindon for Cam Belt change, recommended by another club member. Best of luck with your reset.

Think I may investigate giving my 4 wheel lady a treat, as I have noticed some of the effects you have experienced, and though the ride is smooth-ish, could be a bit better on our rougher roads, and those ridged approaches to junctions But first need to spend some dosh on cam belt, and a general service. Also seems like the cost for you was a bargain to get a new car feel, and as you say should be that way for a a good while yet. Having hear horror stories on some luxury Merc front suspension costs of £2K every 3 or 4 years seems like good old fashioned 90's engineering is worth sticking with.