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How stupid can you (I) get? It never occurred to me that the volume on the satnav voice might have been switched off by the previous owner of the car. There's an aspect of Lexus ownership I still haven't got used to yet: if it's not working, don't automatically assume it must be broken - just work out how to operate it properly. Anyway, thanks volvo2lexus for suggesting I check the volume setting. And Happy New Year to all.

Yes, I've got a separate instruction book for the SatNav but it doesn't seem to explain much about controlling the voice.

I've gradually been getting to grips with the finer points of life with an LS400 since getting mine last summer. The heating controls still elude me but I've more or less worked out how to use the SatNav (I've never had one before). However, this might sound silly, but I don't seem to be able to get the nice lady to tell me where to go (as it were). When I put in my destination, the map comes up and the directions change as I carry on, but I never get any verbal instructions. I've tried pressing the 'Voice' button but she remains steadfastly silent. I wondered whether my repeated pressing of the button had turned her off again (and then on and off again), or could there be a fault in the system? Anyone else had this problem? How often is she supposed to speak? It's not the end of the world, but I wanted to find out whether the voice was actually female and whether she spoke Japanese or English (or English with a strong Japanese accent.)

That's probably because the engine had to work so much harder. Mine very rarely does more than 2000 r.p.m.

That's nothing, for the age of the car. My Mk.IV will be 13 years old next month, and this weekend I've done a 450-mile round trip from Brighton to North Norfolk and back; car didn't miss a beat, averaged more than 30 mpg because I drove gently, and after 225 miles yesterday I got home feeling like I'd driven about 50 miles because the car's so quiet, smooth and relaxing. I thought (as I often do): what else could you get for under £2000 that gives anything like as much luxury? I could easily have spent £1000-2000 more on a later model that wouldn't have given me any appreciable advantages for the extra money. These cars are amazing, and worth spending a reasonable amount on, I reckon.

Is that why "Mums go to Lexus!" There was an LS on ebay a few years ago which was originally owned by Bill Gates. And (less starrily) another, a few months ago, which used to be Gary Lineker's.

My LS used to be driven by Kerry Katona's personal chauffeur - hence the lingering smell of Iceland pizzas and party nibbles. (Joke)

You mean you'll share your lottery winnings with me?

Where's the best/cheapest place to get headlight bulbs for a Mk.IV LS400? Mine are ok at the moment but I thought I'd plan ahead and get a spare - it's that time of year when they seem to go. Searched on here for previous threads about this, but wondered if other members have recent experience of ordering bulbs by mail. Thanks.

Just an update for anyone experiencing the dreaded starter motor problem that seems to afflict older Toyotas and Lexuses. My problem of clicking/whirring/not starting got worse and worse, as predicted, so I had to bite the bullet and have the starter motor contacts replaced. It took my mechanic six hours, and in addition to the contacts he had to replace a couple of gaskets and a plunger switch. Plus some coolant. So a big bill, because of where the starter motor is situated, but it had to be done.

Agreed - the Ro80 was way ahead of its time. I never thought I'd prefer older cars to current ones, but I must say the CT200h and LS400 have converted me! I was wondering the other day why few of the latest models actually look more 'modern' than the cars they replace: if that's true (you may disagree), could it be because manufacturers have reached the limit of how 'modern' they can actually make their cars - because of practicality and safety regulations - and so, because they have to do something to generate demand, create trends for new, ugly cars instead? Meanwhile I waft happily around in a 12-year old car that I'm very happy with.

The DS is my all-time favourite car. Pity they weren't better made. The C6 looks okay, but not as stunning as I remember Citroens being when I was young. I can't think of a contemporary car that's really elegant, though Mercedes are doing OK these days - especially in comparison to BMW (and Lexus!).

Maybe (without wishing to get too philosophical) there's a difference between styling and 'style'. Stylists are presumably the people who design turd-like lumps such as the CT200h which are full of individual features that aren't integrated into an overall style. The LS400 is to my mind a bit plain-looking, but at least there isn't a single feature that jars with everything else. It has a certain understated style, and all its features are integrated. Unlike the CT200h and most BMWs, which clearly aren't intended to be good-looking as such. I think they're intended to intimidate, actually - which, in my experience, is how most of them are driven (i.e. 'Move over, I'm in a Beemer and I'm coming through'). It's the Hummer Effect. Sorry if there are any members who drive a Lexus AND a BMW... I know I'm a grumpy old man, but what happened to grace, elegance, beauty? And why don't punters paying tens of thousands of pounds for a new car demand it? On that subject, how much do you think the styling of current Lexuses puts off buyers? I hardly ever see a 460. In London the other day practically every big executive car was a Merc S- or E-class.

SteveLS400, the CT200h looks like it's already been partly crushed! It's all personal and subjective, I know. And things go in fashions, which is why most new cars look like either the BMW 1 series (which if any other manufacturer had launched would have been laughed at) or the Megane/Astra/Leon/new Focus. I've always thought that when Toyota were developing the LS they should have paid a bit more attention to its looks, because it's not a pretty car, but at least it isn't pig-ugly.

Ive just been looking at the official website of the new CT200h (so I can enter the competition). You wouldnt buy it for its graceful lines, would you? It resembles the love-child of a BMW 1 series and a Sherman tank. OK, I didnt buy my LS400 for its looks, but in comparison, its almost pretty. Why are modern cars so ugly?

Really pleased for you. What's sad for me is that by the time I can afford to replace mine, there won't be any left in the condition that yours is in! Seems like you got one of the best available - it looks almost new.

It looks fabulous - my favourite colour combo, too. Congratulations on your new acquisition.

Hope you had a good trip home and are still loving the car!

I agree - that's brilliant for such a big car. Well done about the MOT by the way. I've not had many MOT bills for less than £200, ever, but then I've never had a Lexus before! Anyway, it's still cheap motoring.

I use my Lexus mostly for long journeys, and I keep the trip computer set to show 'average MPG' as this stops me from putting my right foot down too much. (Also, 'current MPG' seems to fluctuate wildly, and I can never work out exactly what it shows.) Anyway, on my last trip I decided to waft home at between 50 and 60 mph on dual carriageway and motorway just to see what I could get the MPG up to; and apart from the fact that the journey didn't take me much longer than normal, I got 32.6 mpg. What's your best figure?

Alan, if your sat-nav CD-Rom is like mine (1998), it will work by address only, not postcode. A more recent disc will be postcode-based. So whether you replace the disc depends on how important that is to you. According to the instruction book for mine, you can also search on hotels, hospitals etc. - though I haven't tried it out yet.

Congratulations! Welcome to the LS400 owners. Small marks on the bodywork are good, because when someone makes another one in Tesco car park it won't be the end of the world. I look forward to hearing about the cambelt change as mine's due next year.

Alan, in answer to some of your questions: 1) The silver LS400 sounds as if it has the Dynamic Handling Pack, which included larger wheels with low-profile tyres. I think the car looks much better with those wheels, but there are compromises: the ride quality is supposed to be slightly firmer, and those tyres cost a fortune to replace. I posted a query about the DHP on here while I was car-hunting a few weeks ago, so you may care to have a look back at the responses I got. 2) The sat-nav needs a CD-Rom (the unit is under the boot floor on the left) and if it's missing, or you want an updated one, you'll need to buy a replacement. I'd suggest you ask around on here or look on E-Bay. 3) That gold LS400 has been on sale at £5995 for weeks, if not months, because it's over-priced. Also, it's being sold by a dealer who specialises in Japanese imports (a lot of these are very low mileage), so it might not be a UK-spec car, which might present additional problems. 4) Old, high-mileage LS430s seem to be cheaper than some 400s now, but I get the impression it's much more sophisticated mechanically; and personally I'd be terrified of the cost of repairing, for example, the air suspension if it went wrong. 5) If you get an LS400 that needs a new cambelt fitting, at least get a quote from a Lexus dealer, but be prepared to get the work done by an independent specialist.

Maybe the gold one had been in a rear-end shunt? That might explain the paintwork and the leaking boot. As there are so few cars around, you can't afford to be too choosy about colour. Although silver with black interior is actually my favourite, I ended up with dark green with beige leather/carpets, and I've grown to like it more than I thought I would. Good luck with this one, anyway - glad you're willing to look further afield. If you want a good one, chances are you'll have to travel. I got mine from 250 miles away, and did wonder at one point whether I was mad to go so far, but I don't regret it.

We're all disappointed for you! But far too many issues there for £3500. And it just goes to show that while low mileage is tempting, it's not everything. I hope another one comes along soon.