Cotswold Pete

So true. I have just realised I have been driving LS for near 14 years, that's one third of my driving life, and like the body of my car, my own body has seen better days, and as far as I know the missus has no plans to scrap me just yet!!

Looks so clean, looks like it was jet washed underneath and then left to stand for a while to get that surface rust. Mine at 217,000 has rust in which is now being 'pointed out' on MOT, but mechanic said looks like a while before anything becomes a MOT fail. Mostly mine covered in road crud underneath.

I never saw the point of a car as an investment. I recall being a passenger in an E-type on a M4 trip and the owner had bought it as a car to enjoy, rather than as an investment. A mate of mine has just bought the MG originally owned back in 1996, which he had already restored. Since then it has been restored twice and so the time and money in restoring must surely be greater than any investment value. Same with a house, not an investment, its a roof over my heads, and the LS is wheels under my backside to enjoy.

Up and running, or so it seems

Actually looks like in last hour the service has stopped, so hopefully wil lbe up and running soon

Was working at 10:36, so if you now reply lets see if I get a notice

Interestingly the Fit Guide on INNO web site says no K Hooks for my LS. Shame Not looking for a roof rack right now, but at least this seems like one to keep on the radar for future Lexus adventures

Could not agree more. Yesterday had to do a 200 mile round trip, put £100 of expensive liquid in the tank, drove at around 50 to 55mph, no hurry, and got around 41mpg on the main highway. For sure dropped off on the side roads. So still cheaper than using the train, nicer than using the train, and at that speed the LS400 is quieter than the complaints desk at Waitrose. ( was a passenger in an Audi TT and a Merc SL500 and CL 500 recently - nowhere near as enjoyable as a LS400 )

Could be straight forward, might not be Read this to get a (possible) balanced view - LED Retrofit Because the LEDs have a rapid ramp time (to overcome forward voltage in the LED), this can stress ballasts, which are expecting to see a soft start filament. Also I have heard that the LED appears to work, but then the revelent ECU reports problems as it sees line voltages as not expected. (just seen other posts about MOT fail - totally forgot about that)

I have found Timpsons do a fair job. BUT make sure you goto a Timpsons at Supermarket, they tend t o have their cutters newer meaning the key will fit (I got this from a mate who used to work at Timpsons -as wel las the chap running the Timpsons in Stroud. Been using my replacement keys now for 5 years, no problem.

Although I wonder if they bought it and saw the price of petrol getting scary, and are also seeing if they can make a few quid. A long way to drive from Yorkshire to give it the once over, but based on my 8 years of owning a Mk4, I would buy another one in a heartbeat (but would be poking for rust in rear arches, and checking the bushes on everything as 100Km miles - and age - is when they are needing some attention.

Not that I have the money, (and the parking spaces), I would have a ES300h (for long hauls up to the Lake District) and an LC500 convertible (for days like today, pottering about the Brecons), and keep my LS for old times sake. Look forward to seeing some pics, the Lexus web site does not (IMHO) do the actual colours justice

Might be near the sea, but no salt on the roads, and from my experience of Dubai it only rains like mad about once every 20 years or so.

Armpit Refresh Spray Advanced Refrigeration System Automatic Rug Smoother

Hugh, to echo Malc, a fine looking car, and priced well. I know what you mean about stewing over the decision, I keep stewing over whether to move on from my Mk4 (with 217,000) on the clock. not as pristine as yours, with more bits starting to fail and show there age. I sat in a mates Merc CL550 (ten years old) full of gizmos, but when I got back in my LS, I knew why the LS has really stolen my heart. I do a 24 mile round trip to work, so does get daily usage, and like you say hopefully someone can give your car the miles it deserves

Curious as to why the front seats look so rumpled for a car that has done so few miles

I would agree, the Impul Granz do at least look different as a statement, where as the ebay offering seems to have taken a Mk3 wheel and made it look 'well tacky and naff' IMHO. The fun and gmaes I had as a teenager with my chromed racing bike and trying to keep that looking nice on UK roads, no way I want chrome on any car of mine these days.

Great photos, but no more Lexus porn please

I had something similar on my Mk3 LS 400, I did wonder if it was engine mounts or transmission mounts vibrating at certain RPM, but never did poke around to find out. It was not anything in the running gear casuing the vibration at such a narrow band of speed.

I have had rust stains on parts of the car for last 8 years, but so far no eating right through the metal (only place the tin mice got seriois was in rear arches). Noticed some slightly more aggresive rust spots the other day, but I would think even if i do diddly squat the car is okay for another 4 years, but plan to do some treatments later this year. Not that I wash and wax that often, but when done only notice the bits of rust and other knackered bits of paint. I even have key marks down drivers side and most people do not notice them. If I could afford a full respray I would, but I have other minor stuff to do, and the missus would not understand the point of a paint job. I do suffer a bit of envy when I see a well sorted LS 400, but the Saw one the other day which looked great from the rear, but side on looked like it needed a lot of work. (Never judge a car by one bumper view alone!!) I look at cars in my neighbourhood, and see rust eating the doors, bonnets, arches, etc and we are talking 10-15 year old cars, mainly German ones.

When out in USA, had a colleague who survived Elk crash while in the company Porsche - a reward for being top sales of the month. I assume being a Porsche low enough to only have roof ripped off not crushed. What I learnt is that Elk (and Moose) stand in the road because the tunnel effect of the road in a forest means more of a wind, the wind is disliked by midges, so a bit like midge control (especially at night). Nothing like a 2 ton creature on the car to re-arrange the roofline

I am a mere junior with 150,000miles driving a 400 (Mk3 now Mk4), and with 13 years under the belt and could not agree more with amazing. I wish I had the space to buy and drive a 460 while I gave my day runner 400 a jolly good re-furb, but not likely to be happening anytime soon, unless I can tunnel under my wife's parking space and build an underground garage. Thats the problem with living in a 250 year old house, they did not have much need for parking spaces back then.

Be interested to here experience of using PSB bushes. I would expect it would firm up the ride a little and possbly increase road noice a little. I have a few more bushes in need of sorting, but to date my local garage has always been able to get rubber bushes (bit of a wait) and appear to be not a lot more than Amayama, but they did not reveal their source.

Bought parts from lexus Swindon, to date always been genuine in Lexus/Toyota boxes. Had new front discs and pads (and shims) 3 years ago, certainly much better than the Blueprints in use before

As a UK citizen who has travelled a lot, and read a heck of lot on world history as well as UK history, I always fail when I take example tests for living in the UK, and I know 90% of UK citizens would fail. My advice is to somehow remember 'off by heart' as many of the answers as you can. The challenge is whether your brain is better at taking tests or not. My brain is rubbish, and I mainly fail tests, even on subjects where I am classed as an expert. The trick is to know how your brain stores and retrieves info, then at least you stand a better chance of knowing some techniques to improve memory. If you want to Private Message me, I can send over some simple tests for you to take that would help me see how your brain helps you learn, then maybe that could help.