thatfatbloke

Just been quoted over £500 to insure my LS from next week by my current insurers (RAC). Go Compare got me a quote of £169.23 using Saga. Quite a difference. No point in being faithful to the same company for years on end these days. Result.

Pix by current owner - not good!. Note the hideous sat-nav in last picture. That'll be the first thing to come out!. Then a wheel refurb/change,followed by a respray on the back bumper. Then change the drivers mirror cover as it's a different colour (the original is in the boot). Will take better pictures when she's mine.

Nice to see you back. I'll keep an eye out for a silver/grey P-reg in Sussex. (East Sussex or West Sussex?)

Thanks. It's an R reg,it was registered on 01/08/97 and I'm in Eastbourne,East Sussex.

To be honest Malc,the F*c*s has been brilliant,with no problems or expenditure in the past year. Last Ford I had was a MK11 Granada Ghia 2.8. But I feel more 'at home' in an LS. On the test drive I felt as if I had my own space back again. I wasn't constantly bashing arms with the old woman in the passenger seat. I had my area,and she had hers. A bit like a pilot and a co-pilot!.

Said I would be. Been away from Lexus for nearly three years now.Next Friday week (pay day) I shall be the proud owner of a 1997 MK3 LS400 again. She ain't the prettiest in the world but she's MOT'd 'til next June and taxed 'til end of December and has 130k on the clock and everything works.Silver(or grey!) with dark grey leather. Got her for a song really from a small time trader by part exing my Focus estate which I also bought from him last year. Been hooning her round the Sussex countryside this afternoon - with a big smile on my chops!. No service book unfortunately or proof of cam belt change(but it was done - apparently) when I get VIN number I'll check with Lexus. YIPPEE......

Well I just got my old car back (see other thread) and the guy who owned it fitted an HID kit. Going for MOT Tuesday morning so we'll find out then :)

I've got an MRI scan to go to Tuesday morning. Wanna swap?. I'm sure it'll be fine,be interesting to find out about these HID's though.

I've done a little bit of research on the fitting of HID lights,and it seems they are illegal 'in some countries' unless the car has self levelling headlights. Haven't got time to look more,but I would think they are probably OK here. I take it these are the lights that always blind me when they come up behind me at 4 in the morning on the way to work!. Bloody things should be illegal!. Can only assume that if your car passes the MOT with HID lights,then they must be legal.

Also the 'lovely example' (a nice looking MK3) that Mike drives half way through the show is no longer with us. Date of liability is 7/3/2013. Would you let your car go on this show?. I think not!.

Just watched the episode of Wheeler Dealers revamping the LS yet again. Thought I would check on the DVLA website to see if it was still around - it's not!. Apparently the 'date of liability' was 10/3/2011,so she's either been scrapped or is sitting in someone's front garden. The programme was first aired in January 2006,so she only lasted another five years. And by the way,apparently the HID lights that Ed fitted are illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0PSdpajIqQ&feature=youtu.be

I've always used Crossland air filters on my old woman's Mercedes 3.2 V6 with no problems whatsoever. Go for it.

Has anyone ever had a vehicle inspection done?. I see the AA will inspect a car 'from £128 for members' (which I am). It seems quite comprehensive covering around 200 safety and mechanical items. I just wondered if it would be worthwhile on a car that's only valued at around £1500-£2000. I don't want to get caught out like I did last time with all four coil springs broken (£600 to replace)!.I have very little mechanical knowledge unfortunately,but do you need to with an LS?.

Nope, it's a timing belt, I used to have a 99 celsior, that guy has been trying to sell that car for ages, but no luck, and the fact that he hasn't mentioned that the engine is misfiring, I know because I called him up just for the fun of it

That's what I thought. Thanks.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS400-TOYOTA-CELSIOR-LPG-CONVERTED-FACE-LIFT-MODEL-REDUCED-/301094370205?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item461a9f7b9d

Description claims the Celsior is fitted with a chain not a belt. Is that right?.

I did hear that Lexus have never sold a replacement gearbox for an LS400!. Fact or fiction?.

What year and how much are you looking at spending ?

I will probably be looking for a late MK3,so around '97. Should be able to get something 'nice' for around £1500 I would think.May be prepared to pay a little more for the right car,but it would have to be a minter (if there is such a thing). I haven't even been offered redundancy as yet but I think it's coming,so I've started looking early to 'test the water'.

I must get a Lexus

I must get a Lexus

I must get a Lexus

I must...................

I've owned a couple of Rover 75s (petrol not diesel) and there is a great forum to glean info from.Diesel is chain driven so no belts to worry about.Manual clutch replacement can cost around £1K-buy an auto.There are 2 versions-114bhp and 131bhp.Choose carefully as the lower bhp is under powered.Can be upgraded with 'magic box' to around 160bhp. Some very high spec cars (Connoisseur and Contemporary models) with sat nav,cruise etc.Choose carefully -lot of car for little money.Well screwed together and loads of parts available.

But not a Lexus as you can appreciate.

The one I was thinking of was an '03 Connoisseur 131bhp in firefrost red with autobox for £1650. As you say,a lot of car for the money. I joined the forum which I found very good. It would have made more sense from the economy point of view,but there is something about an LS which makes me come back.

I need help!. I was seriously considering looking at a Rover 75 tourer with the BMW diesel engine. Probably a very good car - but not a Lexus.

I am hoping for redundancy in the next couple of months,which will enable me to get back in the LS saddle again. Trouble is any car I come across that I like the look of is always the other end of the country!. One disadvantage of living in the deep south east. If HMA still have a selection of cars when I get my money,it would be nice to have a choice of a few different cars to look at all in the same place.

I notice that most photo's are taken in a residential area as opposed to a commercial premises. Some descriptions state that the vehicles are kept in a security compound and can only be viewed by appointment only. Not necessarily something to be concerned about,but a bit unusual.

I notice that this Birmingham company always seem to have LS's for sale on eBay. They have no less than five up for grabs at the moment. They have good feedback,and have used the same name for nearly eight years. They tend to describe their cars quite thoroughly as opposed to some that find it difficult to string more than two sentences together. My query is of course,has anybody here ever purchased a car from them?. Any problems etc?. Thanks.

Hopefully I'll be in a position in a couple of months time to get back in a Lexus. I used to have a MK3,but I've noticed recently that there doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference in the prices now.I seem to remember some saying that the MK4 didn't seem as good as a MK3 in certain areas. I'm not too bothered about the sat-nav and stuff in a MK4 to be honest, Is the sound system as good in a MK4?. The MK3 was brilliant. Are servicing costs any different?. Does the cam belt last longer before it needs changing?. All that sort of stuff I need answers to please!. Ta from a very windy but dry (at the moment) Eastbourne.

Sorry to hear your news Chris. I may soon be in a similar position to you - and I'm looking forward to it!. I am also an LGV driver facing the chop by the s**ts that recently took over the company I have been employed by for 19 years. Unemployment wouldn't really have been something I looked forward to,but I've got plans for my redundancy money. It may be the kick up the jacksy I need to set myself up in my own business. As I am 57 next week,I doubt there will be a queue of employers waiting to take me on!. In fact,when I was 44 I applied for another HGV job and was told then that I'm 'no spring chicken then'!!. Bloody cheek.

I have looked at various franchises,but there seems to be a hell of a lot of small print and risk involved. My LGV licence is also up for renewal soon and due to health reasons,it may be revoked. (I'm not telling my employer this of course).

Perhaps I could start a breakers yard,and break LS400's for a living. Now there's a thought.................

I've just been on 'Go Compare'. Cheapest quote was £110 for my F**d F*c*s. Someone called 'The Green Insurance Company'. This is roughly half of what I'm paying at the moment.

I've just used Go Compare again to get a quote for an 'imaginary' LS400 valued at £1500 and the cheapest quote came in at £211.84 with 'Budget Insurance'.

Both quotes are on 6000 miles per year.

Insurance seems to have got reasonably cheap over the past couple of years.