chrali

On 2/12/2024 at 9:34 AM, BigBoomer said:

Go test drive an LS430, LS460/600h. I found them to be just as comfy as the LS400 but with a more planted feel.
I preferred the LS430 because it has better steering feel than the 460/600 but any of them can be thrown at the twisties with gusto and just eat it up.
The LS460 engine is the most powerful, but for me the LS430 was the best overall package.
The computerised air-suspension and Vehicle Stability Control in all of them is very good indeed.

Of course, your passengers will be puking/screaming if you do throw it at the twisties as these are still 2-ton behemoths.
On one of my test drives (LS460) the owner spent the latter part of the drive with a death grip on the passenger grab handle. 😱
I did ask him if it was OK before I flipped my head into "BANZAI" mode. 🤣

Cheers for the assist, but whilst the '03 on LS430 looks decent, I've always liked the LS460/LS600 shape and am tempted to dip my toe in the hybrid waters. 

13 hours ago, Chris Skelton said:

You need a 1948 Cadillac fast-back!

There are some Japanese import Lex 600s about,at lower price; I spied a lovely white on for…..£8K, if I remember correctly.

not as many folk want big cars, to our benefit!

Yeah seen some of the imports pop up. Some are in weird specifications such as no sunroof and I'd assume wrong satnav. Would be wary of spec differences that you can't see as well. Completely agree on people getting out of large cars being a good thing. 👍

On 2/9/2024 at 5:30 PM, DavidCM said:

That won't get dented in Tesco's car park.

I lived in Edmonton at the time and yup did drive it to the supermarket. You didn't want to let it stall, as it took some time to start when warm. Not ideal in the filter lane to turn into the supermarket. 😁Was intended to use it to take the dogs to Epping in it, but it scared them silly, as it was so noisy inside. 

15 hours ago, Jon Evans said:

@chrali all of your images are broken for me. If I right-click and "open image in new tab" it takes me to a Google login, and if I log in I just get a grey no entry sign.

Hmm I added them from my google, I'll download them instead. Can't edit my original post though. Suffice to say it should prove my big car bona fides 😁

12 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

An excellent line up for sure 👌 

Malc 

They got me where I am today ... devoid of savings 🤔 Did you like my 1950's Humber Pig APC with full Northen Ireland mods? £80 a year to insure, MOT and road tax exempt but 4 mpg as its over 7 tons. All this is why me looking for an LS600 is me actually trying to be reasonably sensible. 

9 hours ago, Tinonline said:

You had a later LS?

on standard wheels with well serviced suspension, quality tyres, they handle and stick very well.

sure the steering feedback is not exactly sports car but…it’s forgivable.

This was many years ago, cost me £1500 with 170k+ miles on it, so I doubt it was best of breed. 

9 hours ago, Malc1 said:

Chris, what “ big “ cars have you actually owned ? 

Malc 

Ok starting from when I was 18 when I had a  1981 Jag Series 3 4.2 (was 3.4), 1979 Rover SD1 2.3 &  Rover SD1 3.5, then 1988 Ford Granada, 1993 Range Rover LSE 4.2, then another 1994 Range Rover LSE 4.2 soft dash, 1997 Nissan Patrol 4.2 GRSE, 1988 W126 Mercedes 560 SEL, 1995 W140 Mercedes S500L, 1988 Jaguar XJ40 2.9, Ford Scorpio 2.9, Vauxhall Monterey Diamond 3.2 (Isusu Trooper basically), a few Rover 820's, at least 1988 and 1989 Jaguar XJS V12s, 1997 Lexus LS400, 1988 BMW 750il V12, 2004, E66 BMW 760Li V12, 2006 Mercedes GL420 CDI, 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and most recently a 2012 Range Rover TDV8 4.4. Oh and a 2006 Jeep Commander CRD (with GDE HOT tune).

I think these count as "big" cars. 😁🤪

Evening chaps, As I've said in replies in other topics, I am on the hunt for my next barge. I'll be honest I've had most barges, but definitely lean to the Germans. Like others, I've wasted wayyyyy to much cash on cars over the years; kept for to brief a time, but I'm knocking on a bit and have SWMBO approval for one last, definitely positively the last, barge with a proper engine. My thoughts are as follows. Whilst I do hanker for a Bentley Arnage I couldn't justify the 13mpg quoted combined MPG. A Bentley Flying Spur is tempting, but I cannot reconcile buying a car many simple repairs require the engine and transmission to be dropped. A facelift Mercedes S600 is a soft spot of mine and would fit in a garage, as would a Lexus Ls600. I got the LS600 test drive out of the way without any expectation, but was actually amazed by it. I have never driven a car so smooth and so quiet. It has left a lasting impression on me. So much so that testing a 2011 Mercedes S500 felt crap, squeaky blower motor and head nodding as it went through the gear and the steering felt gritty. I think my only realistic concerns on the LS600 is that my old LS400 on DHP alloys was appalling when driving enthusiastically and I'll need to another test drive of the LS600 to find that out. To be honest, accelerating hard didn't cross my mind in the LS600. That and finding out if the carbon capture in the exhaust is in UK cars. I also think garages are asking too much for them, but it doesn't hurt to make an offer now does it. 😁

Any update on this? I'd forgotten about this issue.

They are wonderful cars and yes Introcar does do many parts. If a Red label pops a head gasket your covered, if the R or T eats its camshafts you're stuffed. Same for the transmission actuator I believe. They are the complete opposite ownership proposition when compared to a Lexus IMHO and you're lucky to own one. Kinda jealous 😁

On 1/3/2024 at 7:27 PM, Newbie777 said:

Personally  I think the properly Bentleys are the Arnage or prior, huge presence. Elegant design and luxury

I'm in a quandary on my next barge, so whilst I agree and a Bentley is my dream car, it has waaaaaay more potential big bills. Bentley SZ cars and prior, are total classics and corrosion prone. Arnage Red labels blow head gaskets; apparently when not if, for near £10k bill and Arnage R & T eat their camshafts with NO available replacement parts.  Car Wizard was unable to repair an Arnage due to no available transmission actuators on the planet; including from Flying Spares !!!! A mass produced modern luxury car like the Continental GT (a Phaeton in party frock) is much less likely to be rendered unrepairable in one go like that, especially given the second hand spares availability. 

Handling, power and 'soul', my 97 was like a water bed and never felt fast enough. Not saying it wasn't fast, just didn't feel it. The float could've been sorted with suspension changes. As for 'soul', well I still miss my old 'S' class MB, but I don't miss my LS400 anywhere near as much. I'm still more likely to get another one, probably a LS430 when every dumps them due to fuel price, as theres no excuse for unreliability especially from a MB (heres hoping :))

Rear wheel arch liners......!!!!!!

Mine rusted there, and I was confused why on a RWD car, the front wheel arches had liners ;{

Handling, power and 'soul', my 97 was like a water bed and never felt fast enough. Not saying it wasn't fast, just didn't feel it. The float could've been sorted with suspension changes. As for 'soul', well I still miss my old 'S' class MB, but I don't miss my LS400 anywhere near as much. I'm still more likely to get another one, probably a LS430 when every dumps them due to fuel price, as theres no excuse for unreliability especially from a MB (heres hoping :))

I would change wheels as well, but not just any wheels....

These babies :)

Oh thats right ... make it look even more like a Merc S class :)

Yeah keep what you have ..... any way 2001 - 2003 LS's are butt ugly.

Damn, yes that's what bugged me, the double logos. I think the MB looks good as its more delicate, can be angled back and its at the very front of the bonnet that's got a much more vertical drop to the grill.

Looks worse on the 430 as its bonnet is curvy and shallower drop to the grill, the mascot has to go so far back.

Good illustration tho!

My conclusion is that bonnet mascots only suit cars with 'cliff face' front ends, so that's Mercs and yank cars then :)

I used to have a MB S500L and loved the gun sight on the bonnet, and always felt my LS needed one.

In my personal opinion it looks like an add on and doesn't fit the style of the car.

I don't know why, its very subjective.

"before buying a 2001/02 4lt v8 check how much road tax you will have to pay. id have to check but im pretty sure that a car registered after April 2001 will be taxed on emissions: and its likely to be £400+."

Currently it is £245 pa-just done mine. I think it is only cars registered after june 06 that get hammered(ripped off).

Pete

Correct. Did mine today £435.

The road tax on my 2005 LS430 that I picked up 3 weeks ago was £245. Cars registered after March or April 2006 are taxed on CO2 emissions.

It breaks down like this. Although cars were taxed according to emissions from March2001, cars that were in the highest band at the time (Bank K) are only approx £245 to tax, as long as the are registered before March 2006 as they are artificially pegged when the bands were reworked.

The main thing that would put me off buying a Series 3 is the fact that some people have experienced engine stalling immediately after sustained high-speed driving. The 'workaround' is to switch on the a/c (to raise the idle r.p.m.) just before leaving the motorway. I don't know if Toyota ever owned up to this one, let alone issued a fix, so I'd bear this in mind.

I also read something once (affecting only the Series 3) about the alternator being vulnerable to spray/salt from the road, and I think the solution was a special shield - nothing too drastic. Whether Toyota would be willing to pay for such an item so far into the car's life is anyone's guess. Hopefully somebody else will know more about this...

On the subject of recalls generally, just how old does the vehicle have to be before the manufacturer doesn't have to take responsibility for any safety issues that arise? I often wonder this, but nobody seems to be able to tell me!

Never had this happen to my me and mine was driven fast every day ;)

Ah the deed is done I sold my 97 on a well known aution site, and its gone off to its new owner whose replacing his 250k Ls400. Didnt expect a lot and I wasnt suprised :)

So to summarise my time LS400....

LIKED: Good MPG, overall build quality, bulletproof feeling of the entire car, the exterior styling of my particular one, leather quality, admiring looks from others, grippy chassis on my 17's.

DISLIKED: Handling waaaaay too soft, including lack of steering precision, engine neither torquey nor fast enough, gearbox slow witted even in ECT

OVERALL:Positive, but I always moaned about the lack of power and handling, so I guess its not the right car for me long term, unless all of that changed. The car and primarily the engine/gearbox combo just feels well ...... old, but thats why VTEC, LS430, LS460 comes in eh!

Its been a good time, but when I get another beast I will probably be returning to the MB S fold, sure the LS430 addresses most of my dislikes, but the looks man ..... the looks. I just dont like it.

Of course when the LS460 is good and cheap I'll be back.

So long and thanks for all the fish

I have a 2000 with the DHP.

If I had my chance again then I would rather not have the DHP. It makes for a choppy ride on B roads and the handling isn't that much better. These cars just don't want to be thrown into corners, they are cruisers.

The tyres for the 17" wheels are ridiculously expensive. :o

The Sat Nav is awkward to use and the directions it gives are quite often very suspect. It can't be programmed while the car is in Drive so your passenger can't even use it while you are driving.

The fuel enonomy is about the same as my 95 LS was, I average about 25 MPG.

Having said all that, it might only have 20 BHP more but you can tell the difference when you stamp on the loud pedal.

Personally, if my 95 LS had not lurched every time the AC compressor kicked in then I would have had another MKIII, that was the thing that annoyed me most about my 95. The MKIV is silky smooth AC on or off.

Just my view.

Redsteve.

Is yours a LS400 or a LS430? I assume its one of the last LS400's. My '97 has the DHP wheels alreadywith 45 profile tyres due to the cost of the right profile ones. The ride is a bit choppy, but I dont mind that at all as I like to drive mine quite hard at times and find it grippy and confidence inspiring. I do get annoyed by the cars motion making my head sway left and right tho!

I probably will sll mine, as when all is said and done the 98+ is more economical, more kit, more power, more performance, more, more, more, more more .......... and I do so love having more of everything !!!!

Seriously though my '97 is at 163k and although full history has had an indifferent owner(s) who haven't provided TLC. If I wanted beasty to be mint it would cost me more than upgrading to a pampered vehicle and lets not forget the more, more, more :)

I woudlnt out of principle get the same model as one I've had before.

Initially I tend to agree with Floggit,

but personally, I have a 1995 series III and I just bought another..... 1995 series III because they are such good value.

Once a Lexus driver ....... Always a Luxus driver!!!

Yeah but I reckon the vtec LS400 would also be great value.

Common chaps someone must be able to tell me is it worth selling a 97 model to get a 98, or not?

Send me a stick of aniseed rock and I will give you my views! :D

If its sweet I'd have eaten it already :)

Afternoon chaps

Finances dictate that I have now dispelled any idea of getting an LS430 as they are still highly priced (too me anyway).

My options are to sell my '97 and buy a '98 on LS400 in a year, or just keep my '97 off road for a year.

This is purely coz I need to use the Renault thats on HP until I can hand it back, so obviously I want to use it as much as possible to ensure its got a low auction value for them :)

I originally said I wouldnt get the 1998 model LS400 as its too similar to mine ( the best looking model :) ) but with a gloopy front end :(

So given that my car will still lose value in the drive should I sell it now, and get the vtec version next year, or sit on my one. I admit a full DHP, vtec, 5 speed box, and standard satnav are tempting, but on the other hand its only another 20 bhp.

I more convinced Im Lex for life, but I dont want to put money into my '97, if it makes more sense to wait for a year and get the '98. If I didnt have the Renault, I would keep the '97 no question, but I do so here we are.

So come on, whose had both and was it worth the change?

Hello there Nitmoi.

You've owned a caddy Coupe Deville?

I have a cadillac Coupe Eldorado for sale at the moment...lol

I like the MB 6.9 .... cool car !