DrYazz

Thanking you for responses.

Fellow admirers and devotees of the LS400 form, will be in the very near future, purchasing my first Lexus, a Mk IV LS400. Quick question - is one able to fold back the rear seats, to enlarge the load area?

Being based in Vienna at the moment, I can confirm that Lexuses, Lexi, Lexus are a very, very rare sight indeed.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a DHP model?

Nil point, Nitmoi. Agree wholeheartedly on the comfort and quietness front. But the Ferrari has a whole 100 bhp more and weighs around 700 kg less. Quick though the Lexus is, it will not see which direction the little red thing went.

Greetings of the seasons one and all, I have viewed a silver LS400 Mk4 in Windsor, and there is a second car also in Windsor and a third in Slough that will come under my mediocre scrutiny this week. Can you let me know if (someone as mechanically unminded as myself) there is anything else I should be looking out for during the viewing and test drive? 1. Documentation V5 present and VIN matches; call previous owner (on V5) Manufacturer’s handbook Service history log with invoices Road Tax MOT and old certificates Mileage consistent on documents HPi clear 2. Physical Inspection Number of keys Alarm/ immobiliser functioning Body panels and shut lines; evidence of resprays Opening/ closing of all doors, bonnet and boot Tyre tread and condition Spare tyre, jack and toolkit Locking wheel nut Alloys’ condition Exhaust fumes All exterior lights work All interior lights work Number plates front and back match General interior condition Wipers and washers All windows and their switches Multifunction steering wheel controls Dash and other controls’ backlighting AC is ice cold (front and back) All other ventilation (front and back) functions Audio controls, multidisc CD changer, sound quality All electrical items, including mirrors Electrical steering adjustment Electrical seat adjustment and heating for seats Sunroof function Engine bay condition Fluid levels: brake, oil, coolant, washer Suspension mounts and chassis members 3. Test Drive Allowed? Noise on start up Cruise control functioning Check brake performance Handbrake tight Steering – what to check? Suspension on cornering, noises? Unnecessary noises Smooth gear changes, including reverse Computer functions Hoping that Xmas present to myself does actually arrive before Xmas. All silent 4 litres of it.

Top of the Morning to you nonplussed, Sir. What sort of typical parts and labour costs are we talking about here?

I would have thought 17mpg from a Rarri was good, 8 - 10 mpg seem to be the norm... At a very steady 70mph in 6th gear, you can get 200-220 miles out of 60 litres in my car. 15-17 mpg. 5mpg is not uncommon, on a bit of a blast.

Thanks for these figures, it gives me an idea of how many fuel stops to plan for and expect. Still, it betters the absolute best of 17mpg I squeeze out of the Ferrari.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...8&logcode=p Link above is for a 300,000 miler LS400 on an R-1998 plate on Autotrader. It is advertised by a dealer for what appears to be a very reasonable £1750. There is no mention of the service history status. Assuming it is fully stamped up, is this a tempting proposition, or will it be a miserable ownership proposition? ps 300,000 miles equates to lapping the M25 over 2500 times.

Wow. That is impressive. Assuming I can achieve the same 36mpg: 85 litres equates to 18.7 gallons, making it a theoretical range of 673 miles. Looking forward to achieving 673 miles on a single tank.

Seasonal greetings to one and all, I am 99% certain that a LS400 Mk4 will be my next acquisition. How large is the fuel tank on this vehicle? What mpg am I likely to return at a very steady 70mph (120 km/h)?[/b] I intend to take it back and forth a couple of times from Berkshire into Vienna, Austria. That's a 900 mile trip there and a 900 mile jaunt back. Choice of car, I am sure you will agree, is critical. I have rejected a 1999 BMW 740i on the grounds of the Lexus' superior refinement and noise levels. Bestest wishes, The Doc

Dear fellow LS admirers and owners, I am following this thread with interest: Manic Mark wants to upgrage his 1998 Sat Nav disc. Devon LS will replace his 2005/ 2006 disc with a newer one. Passman53 has a 2007/ 2008 disc. What improvements are upgrades do newer versions contain? Is it just a case of improved maps/ graphics or lots of other functionality and useability? Much regards.

David Hornet and Manic Mark, thank you for this information, exactly what I was looking for. Will keep the board informed of my progress in acquiring the right vehicle. DrYazz

Greetings, I intend to purchase a Mk4 Lexus LS400. FSH is something I will be looking for. Nothing like a fully stamped service book. 1.What is the service schedule for this model and when are major services required? 2. What is the situation with cambelts? 3. Anything else to look for? Kindest regards The Doc

Good morning, I have downloaded one picture into the album. Or alternatively, please provide an email address and I can forward some pictures of Italian exotica to you. As soon as I buy an LS400, I will share those pics with the forum. DrYazz

Thank you Jon for your considered response, how and where do I perform mapping update? Does this involve purchasing of CDs or DVDs? What compatibility issues do I need to consider? Would for example a CD/ DVD used in a very recent (say 2007 or 2008 car) Lexus car be functional in a 1998/1999 LS400? DrYazz

A chiropractor? Or a Thai masseuse? I would have a strong preference for the latter, but 'er indoors is unlikely to approve.

Greetings to all Lexus LS400 owners, I was astonished by the refinement, quietness and tranquility of a short ride in a friend of a friend's Mk4 Lexus LS400 recently. I believe it was on an S plate, so possibly a 1998 car. As a result, I am 95% certain of purchasing the very same model. I have been told (by a number of different sources) that similar aged Mercs, Beemers or Audis do not get remotely close to the Lexus in terms of refinement, build quality and hushed silence. This will not be an 'impulse' purchase. I think this vehicle would represent an ideal mile muncher across Europe, to ferry my missus and her gear in a stress-free and peaceful manner. My questions are Sat Nav related: can the Sat Nav software be updated, as I could not enter a postcode, which I found frustrating? Secondly, is European coverage available (I spend most of my time in Austria)? Kind regards and look forward to hearing from yourselves, the experts.