Ed Toner

I'm no mechanic, so at 65,000 miles, I decided to ask the dealer the cost of this. $900!! I took it to a local trusted mechanic, who himself drives a LS 400, and he did the job expertly for $480.

I ran the last tank using the ECT power ON. Got 19.27 MPG in NJ traffic, local driving, AC on full. This is actually about 1 MPG better than with ECT OFF, and the performance is considerably snappier. The car has 62,000 on it, 1996 LS 400, original plugs.

I generally select ECT when I feel I will need a lot of acceleration, such as when entering the GSP in NJ. When cruising along in normal driving, I disengage. I'm wondering how many of you stay in ECT all the time? Is it harmful at all?

A mistake at the gas pumps caused me to take 20 gal. of 87 Oct. instead of the 93. I just checked my mileage on that tank and it was 18 MPG, stop and go NJ traffic driving, A/C on. Performance did suffer with the 87 octane. The best mileage I ever got was 23 mpg using the GSP for most of a tank, doing 70 mph, cruise control.

The cambelt was inspected by John and found to be OK. cambelt/plugs/brakes etc. are EXTRA at the dealer.

Eamonn - Thanks. BTW, we named our eldest son Eamonn, in honor of old Dev. My wife is from Lucan, so we named #2 Patrick Sarsfield Toner, and #6 is Kevin Barry Toner. I met her in The Metropole, when I was an Aer Lingus pilot.

I just put 60,000 on my 1996. I know it is supposed to be done by the dealer, in my case Ray Catena, an excellent dealer BTW, BUT, the cost is $1,100 IF they don't find anything wrong in the non-covered warranteed items. (I have a 100,000 mile warrantee.) I never needed anything done on this car, but with previous cars, I trusted the work done by a local mechanic in Tire Service, Etc. in Lakewood NJ, right around the corner.The mechanic's name is John, a real old time pro, who has a Lexus himself. I asked John if he would do the service for me. He did, and the bill came to $157. The only thing NOT done was the change in plugs, which the dealer said should be done at 60,000 miles. John assured me that these are 100,000 mile plugs. Comments?

Here in NJ, we have mandatory Full Service gas stations. It is illegal to fill up yourself. Considering the number of old widows in the state, NJ is famous for Senior Citizens Developments, such as Seizure Village, ***'s Waiting Room, etc., it's not a bad idea, and our prices are competitive with neighboring states who have Self Service. However, a young numbskull with metal hanging from many of his body parts, filled me up with Gulf Regular, despite being told to use Super. It was a 20 Gal. refill. Nothing I could do about it, so I've been driving with it. I make it a point to go easy on the pedal, and so far, 100 miles, no noticible ill effects. One thing I did notice was a significant DROP in radiator temperature. Does anyone have experience with this situation?

The Mercury marguis is an excellent affordable car. In itself, it is about the same size as the Lexus LS 400. Most of them have very attractive roof treatments of canvas over fiberglass. They stand out as beautiful cars. I have never seen a Lexus LS 400 with any roof treatments. I am no artist, but I can visualise a very stylish modification, based on the Merc's. I could care less about my Moon Roof or whatever it is, I never use it. Comments, please.

I decatted a 1975 Imperial, and had nothing but trouble from it thereafter.

That ECT Power is just the thing for entering the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

I have a 1996 Lexus LS 400 with 60,000 miles. I drive it hard. I like to blow the doors off kids with Pontiacs (I'm 71) I get 18 mpg in NJ around town, with AC on, and 23 on the highway. Not to worry about MPG. Check the cost of insurance. Thar went up for me.