runbly

I went to look at a LS430 at Lexus Milton Keynes - think it was a 2000/1 - it was one of the newer shapes but very early model - didn't have standard fit parking sensors, only aftermarket add-ons. Anyway it wasn't a bad car for the price and I was near to saying yes when I stood back and noticed the front nearside door had something on it. On closer inspection, just above the silver strip, was a rust bubble the size of maybe a £2 coin, maybe a bit bigger. I said no even though they offered to fix it - I had doubts in my mind in case something had gone wrong with a repair. It might have been the silver strip had been removed and replaced incorrectly, chipping the paint away -either at the factory or following a repair. Interesting is seems to be a weak point on other LS's too.

Brio, many thanks, just what I needed!

Anyone know how to lift the rear seat base to retrieve something? I presume there are some clips or suchlike but not sure. Cheers.

jellybean - I would be very worried. What happens if you approach a sharp bend at 60mph and then don't brake in your Lexus? What would happen if you left your Lexus unlocked overnight and someone opened the door and stole your belongings? What would happen if your braked from 40mph in heavy snow as you approached a queue of traffic? My god, I am seriously worried now and will be returning my 8 year old LS430 back to the dealer and demand a full refund as it is clearly not fit for purpose.

The guy who wrote the article voted the Range Rover as his car of the decade a few months ago on the Autocar website, so I was expecting him to go for the RR over the LS or C6.

So this weeks Autocar tests a used Range Rover, Citroen C6 and a LS430. Plenty of good things said about the LS but ultimately the C6 is chosen. Each to their own....I wonder how long the C6 would last compared to the LS430 though!

Have a gander before you buy, but there should be something about the LS in there.

In Autocar next week is a big article on used cars £4k to £70k....there just be a LS430 in there....

My 2002 LS430 - what colour should the glass be in the door mirrors? Is it the one with the slight blue tinge or the one with the slight brown tinge? The near side mirror wasn't folding so the dealer replaced it the other day and I noticed tonight that the glass in the replaced mirror is different to the drivers one - but I can't remember what it should be. I think the dimming feature is working but I'm not convinced - so either the replaced mirror isn't working or the drivers mirror is permanently dimmed and there is something wrong with that. I might get some pics if I can.

Does your LS have the auto recirculation if outside air is "dirty"? That could be your problem - I'll be driving along and then wonder why the windows are getting a bit hazy and yep, the car in front is belching out rubbish and the aircon has gone into recirculation mode. Normally with aircon going that prevents the mist inside but on really icy mornings the aircon won't work below a certain temp and hence the mist will build up unless I manually turn off the recirculation mode. As for the meet - wasn't someone else on here looking at holding a meet Milton Keynes way? Suppose not a million miles away from where you are?

I had an Avensis a while ago and a day or two after a service I opened the bonnet to find a hose was loose and coolant had spilt into the engine bay etc. Dealer arranged a clean of the engine and I was given a bottle of wine as an apology. Suppose they could have argued I had been messing about in the engine bay but nothing was ever even suggested.

How about on Pistonheads? There are near-daily postings from people talking about bargain barges, luxury motoring, V8's etc

I've tried Rain-x on previous cars and found it to be a bit distracting on the windscreen - the water droplets seem to smash on the windscreen into a haze, same with the wipers leavings a a mist behind. However useful on the side windows. Anyway, as for my LS the side windows are certainly water repellent and the rear window appears to be the same but I didn't think that was as standard - although I do use a good wash/wax every time I was so it might be that. Oh well it works well enough whatever happens!

Just reading this article in Autocar re the new Audi A8: http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstD...Quattro/247265/ Interesting he says LS460 yet only says S-Class, 7-Series and Jaguar XJ for the other rivals. Why not say the LS600, or really just call it an LS much the same as he did with the other three. So when someone says what car do you own do say just Lexus, Lexus LS, Lexus LS400 etc?

The side windows (and the rear window, not sure if it should be) have a water repellent coating. My LS is 8 years old and the water streams off the windows really well. Is this a life-long coating or will it have been topped up at a service with a Rain-X type product? Just interested more than anything else. I used to own an Audi A2 which had a rear window split in two with a spoiler (think new Honda Civic) and this had a water repellent coating as there was no rear wiper. However the service schedule had a item that said something like "re-apply rear window rain repellent coating" at X miles/X months.

http://cars.uk.msn.com/ There is an article here about the top 10 most stolen cars in Britain. The picture used to link through to the article shows the interior of a LS. However the content says the only premium car in the top 10 is the BMW 3 series. Never mind!

Fair comment above - TomTom have all sorts of Satnavs these days, and the money you save getting one of them over a Lexus unit would probably afford you a decent fitting system, other than the suction cup mount for the windscreen - I'm sure there has to be other fitting options for Tomtom units. But of course it won't look original which could be why you want the lexus unit.

I'd see if BBC Watchdog will take on your story. Hopefully they could sway lexus to do a worldwide recall to replace the faulty bulbs ;)

Didn't Clarkson once describe the LS as "automotive silk" or something with similiar meaning?

Doesn't it also raise the ride height? I presume to clear any laying snow that might otherwise foul the bottom of the car.

Reading the Lexus Chester thread made me realise I should mention my recent service experience at Lexus Norwich. Had my first ever Lexus booked in for a service so not sure what the customer service from the dealer was going to be like. I hadn't asked for a lift or loan car as my wife was going to follow in our other car and pick me up. On the day she was ill so couldn't drive so I phoned the dealer and asked if they could re-book or could someone give me a lift home. No problem they said. Turned up, booked car in. We have ordered you a taxi to take you home, have a coffee whilst you wait for him to turn up. No cost for taxi. Call later in day to say car is done and would I like a lift back to pick my car up. Yes please, so another free taxi ordered. Nice.

Have a look here - the guy has converted the PDF to Excel: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/201...s_released.html Shows MOT stats for the LS models (well, and everything else!).

Good reminder - I checked mine the other month and although the batteries were not in the torch and still wrapped up in plastic, their use by date was a few years ago. They hadn't leaked which was good but I've had batteries still in date and they have leaked.

£295 inc VAT for 9 year LS430 service, both filters and coolant change from local dealer.........

Thanks for the input. Good idea about the MOT/warranty issue -I shall not volunteer any information to ensure I have an impartial review of any work that they say needs to be done. I think the warranty has some MOT-type clause that says anything it fails on under warranty is covered.