Scribe

Alan, I don't have any experience of the other cars you mention, but I can't believe they'd cost less to run than an LS400. Yes, parts are expensive but you shouldn't need many if you have the car maintained properly. The only thing an LS400 doesn't have is style - it's a bit of a plain-looking lump - but when I'm wafting along in such comfort that doesn't bother me. It might be a good idea to find a local independent Toyota/Lexus specialist for routine work, as he's likely to charge much less per hour than a Lexus dealership. I understand that many parts can be bought on e-bay, and other members on here will be able to advise you about that.

I agree with jellybean. I recently bought my first LS400 and can't imagine what I could replace it with apart from another one. It's an amazing car, and so relaxing to drive that after 3-4 hours on the road I don't feel tired. One of the problems when buying one is that cars over 10 years old don't have a fixed market value as such, like 2-3 year old ones do, so to some extent an LS400 is only worth what someone will pay for it. Having said that, the one you're interested in sounds like the best you're likely to find - it's from the last year of manufacture and has a very low mileage. On that basis, and assuming that you're prepared to maintain it properly, you should be able to run it for 10 years. It probably cost around £50,000 new, so you'd be getting a lot of car that someone else has lost most of the value of, and over the next few years you won't lose much more in depreciation. When you take that into account, it shouldn't cost much to run - that's what I'm hoping about mine, anyway. I only use it for long journeys (I have a smart car for running around town), when I just set the cruise control to 70 mph and get around 30 mpg. With the advice of other members on here, I drew up a checklist of things to look for when I was Lexus hunting, and I'm happy to send this to you if it's of use. Good luck with your search.

If, as I fear, I may have to have this done soon, if only for peace of mind, would it be a good opportunity to replace the cambelt as well? I wouldn't have bothered otherwise because although mine was replaced five years ago the car's done less than 30,000 miles since. Which is more significant: age or mileage? Any thoughts?

If the problem, as my mechanic suggested, is to do with one of the contacts in the starter motor having worn out, it makes sense that the motor would click and whirr until the plunger in the centre hit the other contact and started the engine. But what I don't understand is this: why didn't the problem happen when I turned the engine off then immediately on again? Doesn't the fact that the starter clicks after the engine's been switched off for several hours seem more like an electrical problem, such as drainage from the battery? After tightening up the battery terminals yesterday my mechanic tested the voltage this morning and there had been no loss overnight, and the car started first time. He suggested I get a cheap voltmeter so I can check this, in case the battery's on the way out. Alas, I'm no mechanic and have no idea if any of the above is correct, but I'm interested to find a solution, preferably one that doesn't involve paying for him to strip the engine down to get at the starter motor. It seems that the VVTi engine in the Mk.IV is much more complicated to dismantle.

I've just had exactly the same problem with my 98 LS400 Mk.IV. Just a click and a whirr when you turn the key, then after four or five attempts it fires up. If you turn it off and immediately on again it's fine, but left for several hours it just clicks again. My friendly local independent Toyota/Lexus specialist immediately diagnosed worn-out contacts in the starter motor and prepared to strip the engine down to fit them (a whole new starter motor isn't necessary). But first he tightened up and greased the battery terminals, kept it overnight and tested the voltage. Since then it's started fine - but I have a suspicion that the starter motor is really the problem, as it's such a common one.

Dark green (aren't they all?) on a private H-plate. What will you be in when you beep me?

I did it. Armed with the advice of members (thank you all) I looked around and rather surprised myself by buying not the latest Mk.4 I could afford but an early one - 1998, 138000, well maintained, good paintwork for age, everything seems to work (except for the complicated controls that I need to learn about in the manual first) - for considerably less money. On a 250 mile drive home yesterday it ran beautifully and certainly didn't feel like a 12-year-old car. Drove gently and got more than 30mpg. The only fault was that during the journey - the first long one it's done for some time, I think - it developed a creak at the offside rear which you can hear if you push down on the suspension. Could this be a lubrication issue, or bigger (damaged bush)? Anyway, I've booked it in for a checkover at my friendly local independent Toyota/Lexus specialist, who's keen to see what I eventually bought and will be servicing it for me.

Thanks all for your comments. I agree that the car looks better sitting slightly lower, but for me a Lexus is all about comfort - speed's never been important for me (as would be clear to you if you knew what cars I've had in the past).

Hi Stiffer suspension, bigger wheels, low profiles. Stops the body roll when cornering under power but the trade off is loss of the magic carpet ride and the more expensive tyres. As your other post suggests you prefer the MKIII it won't be an issue, its only on the MKIV. Thanks Steve - you really are the LS400 Guru. Seems like the DHP would bring only disadvantages to me...

Further to my recent post about looking for my first LS400 , can anyone explain exactly what the Dynamic Handling Pack on Mk.4s was, and whether it's worth paying extra for? All I want is to waft around in the greatest possible comfort and silence (and reliability).

Thanks John. I've been interested to read members' comments about the relative merits of MkIII v. MkIV. The latter appeals because it's a newer car but I prefer the style and colours of the MkIII - plus they seem better value (assuming they're in good condition, of course).

Thanks for all this. The business about the keys would never have occurred to me if you hadn't told me.

Thanks Nitmoi. By all means let me have more details of your cheap 96/7, and what work it needs. A friend has suggested that as I haven't had a Lexus before I should begin with an older one and see how it goes before perhaps getting a newer one in a year or two. I'm open to this idea - unless other members think I should buy as new as possible. Presumably any Mk.IV will have a few problems to be sorted? Hi and welcome As Nitmoi suggests, there is a ton of stuff on here, just use the search facility - give your self plenty of time and enjoy. Most would say that there MK (I,II,III, IV) was best. As you will see from the search results the MKIII is probably the most economical and has less dash board issues than earlier versions and doesnt have the satnav issues of the MKIV. It is widely suggested that cambelts are now good for 100000 miles but is a costly item due to time. Also costly for the same reason is the starter motor as its located in the V of the engine meaning time to strip down just to get at it. The other things that may be an issue are leaking power steering reservoir, front upper control arms on the suspension (safe but can clonk - mine does in hot weather), heated front seat elements (go on most vehicles as they are like electric blanket elements). The only extravagance I went to was to have the automatic climate control/aircon completely overhauled but in the main regular gasing per any aircon is suffient. In the main these cars are superb and significantly better than competitors of a similar age. Parts aren't horrendous although main dealer prices and servicing often is. I test drove mine 3 times including one session where I had the windows down to listen for anything untoward; nothing. At 190k miles I recon she's just run in. I love my car. Hope you are successful in your search. Make sure you get at least 1 master key and a fob that works the security and central locking, preferably 2 of each. It may also come with a valet key but that won't open the boot etc. Below the steering wheel is a button and a key slot, if the seller won't let you press the button in, then you don't have a master key. Thanks for your welcome and information Steve. I've been reading some of your other comments on here - all appreciated. I suppose my big question is: how much do I spend? You know what it's like: you can always spend a few more hundred to get another car that's slightly newer or with lower mileage, and at what point do you stop? I was thinking of spending about £2500, for which I'm expecting a 98 or 99 S/T reg in decent nick and with sensible mileage and a good history. But I've been surprised to see that some people are advertising late Mk2s or early Mk3s for that money; in which case why shouldn't I spend £1500 max on a Mk3?

Thanks Nitmoi. By all means let me have more details of your cheap 96/7, and what work it needs. A friend has suggested that as I haven't had a Lexus before I should begin with an older one and see how it goes before perhaps getting a newer one in a year or two. I'm open to this idea - unless other members think I should buy as new as possible. Presumably any Mk.IV will have a few problems to be sorted?

I've just joined the Club as I'm looking for a MkIII or IV LS400 and will be grateful for any advice about finding a good one. I'm planning to keep it for a few years and to use it mostly for long journeys. Having dithered for months over buying one, and scoured E-Bay and Autotrader most days, I know I've just got to take the plunge and go for it. I've already found comments on here helpful, but as someone has pointed out, the problem is that there are so few decent-looking cars for sale at realistic prices, so finding one could involve a lot of travelling around the country. My starting-point is a good service history, and after that I'm looking for the newest car I can find. I don't want a mega-mileage car but gather that this isn't necessarily a problem if the car's been maintained well. It seems I can't be too choosy about colour - most of the later MkIVs for sale are dark green or blue. As I haven't actually driven an LS400 yet, and am bound to be struck by its lack of noise, can members suggest what I should listen for, and look for, other than checking that everything works? Would it help to try out a few different cars? And are E-Bay and Autotrader the best places to look for one? Lastly, there seems to be a difference of opinion about how often cambelts should be changed - some say every 60,000, others every 100,000 (I got different answers when I spoke to the local Lexus dealership and independent specialists). Many thanks in advance!