thatfatbloke

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.

I always thought it to be Luxury EXecutive United States,but a check on Wikipedia says differently. 'In 1986, Toyota’s longtime advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi formed a specialized unit, Team One, to handle marketing for the new premium brand.[12] Image consulting firmLippincott & Margulies was hired to develop a list of 219 prospective names; Vectre, Verone, Chaparel, Calibre and Alexis were chosen as top candidates.[19] While Alexis quickly became the front runner, concerns were raised that the name applied to people more than cars (being associated with the Alexis Carrington character on the popular 1980s primetime drama Dynasty),[19][20] and as a result the first letter was removed and the "i" replaced with a "u" to morph the name to Lexus.[20] The etymology of the Lexus name has been attributed to the combination of the words "luxury" and "elegance,"[21] and another theory claims it is an acronym for "luxury exports to the U.S."[21] According to Team One interviews, the brand name has no specific meaning and simply denotes a luxurious and technological image.[19] Just prior to the release of the first vehicles, database service LexisNexisobtained a temporary injunction forbidding the name Lexus from being used as they stated it might cause confusion.[22] The injunction threatened to delay the division's launch and marketing efforts.[22] Upon reflection, a U.S. appeals court lifted the injunction, deciding that there was little likelihood of confusion between the two products.[22]'

....is to get back in the saddle of another LS400. Of the 62 cars I've owned, only twice have I cried when they went. One was my old 1980 Bedford CF 'Advantura' motorhome,the other of course was the LS. Would like to stick to a MK3,but may be tempted by a MK4. We'll see!.

...or water getting in somewhere can do similar things.

Had similar strange things happen to my F*c*s. Was advised to replace the battery which I did,and hey presto - no more weird goings on.

I've always made it my policy when buying a car since being caught out years ago. 1:Check that the locking wheel nut key is there. 2: Replace lockers with standard nuts/bolts unless the wheels are worth more than the car. 3: Chuck the lockers in the bin. (Blimey - that was my 100th post!)

Can't wait to see the photo's of your girlfriend's Mum!.

Nearly choked on my cappuccino ,at that first line . The forum misses your insightful posts ,hows your search for an LS going? I would dearly love another LS and until recently had my MB 300TE up for grabs to fund it,but no joy in selling I'm afraid. One day....

I would have bought it for the number plate. MILF M - (google milf if you don't know what one is!). I can understand to a certain degree the seller wanting a 'small deposit',but he should have stated exactly what he wanted. I can only assume he thought he would get more for it because of the number plates,in which case a £200 deposit wouldn't have been too excessive for something which sells for more than a grand. Lets not forget the Paypal fees are 3.4% for something that sells for a grand - £34,plus the eBay fees of course. I tend to use Gumtree now - it's free.

An LS it is then. Having made the decision has made me feel sort of 'safe'. That feeling you get when caught outside in a storm,but then find shelter. Makes you feel all - well,goosebumpy and safe. I'll get me coat. Look out LS sellers,thatfatbloke's on his way!.

Phil - I'm in jolly old Eastbourne. Rarely see any LS's around Eastbourne but my job entails me driving all over East Sussex,where I see a few of them. I know of two around Rye and quite often see a 'J' plater around the Uckfield area. Used to be one in Hastings at The Bourne but haven't seen it for a while. Never see one for sale though I'm afraid.

Car colours are a funny old thing Rupert. I suppose there's not a lot wrong with silver,I just associate silver with rep's cars for some reason.I'd get over it if the car was good!. Some say gold is the dogs while others say it looks 'tacky'. Spookily enough I've just been looking at a gold LS on Fleabay and I think it quite suits it. Trouble is the car is up in the land of cloth caps and whippet racing, but looks a nice motor for £1295. Both mine and my wife's Merc's are green,some people wont entertain green at all. My old LS was as 'black as your hat' with tinted rear windows - a pimps motor some said. I loved it. Can't win!.

I was merely pointing out that for us non-techno's,the site is understandable for a change. I may not be capable of doing anything too complicated to a car,but with this sort of info I would stand a good chance of getting the right diagnosis of the problem which is half the battle. I wasn't trying to 'convert' anyone onto anything. Just wish there was a similar site for the LS. Not everybody has wads of cash to chuck at a problem,and have to run a car on a shoestring. The main reason I was looking for another LS is the fact that I didn't spend a penny on my old one in the nine months I had her,which to me balances the whole scenario of a juicy motor over virtually zero parts costs.That's why I'm currently running an old Merc. 300TE. I just think it's time for something a bit more 'modern' but not absolutely bristling with technology,because as soon as I get behind the wheel it's bound to go wrong!. Anyway,it's looking 75/25 in favour of the LS at the moment. Quite a few scary issues with the BMW. I'll be on the lookout for a MK3 for around a grand - but not silver. They do exist!. It's finding one that's available when I have the cash that's always the problem. Cruisermark summed it up really. BMW,'very nice cars,but no way as good as the LS'.

After having to scrap my beloved LS400 MK3 a couple of years ago now,I have always wanted to get back in the Lexus saddle. However on looking at the usual sites for an LS (I may be in a position to buy another next month)I kept coming across the old 7-Series Beemers. To cut a long story short I came across a website specialising in the E38 7's - and what a site, Nothing has been missed. This hasn't necessarily changed my views on the LS.there is still a very good chance I'll get another,but what an incredible website for someone like me who is 'mechanically challenged'. I wish there was one as detailed for the LS. http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/Index.htm If the link is not allowed I will remove of course.

Don't listen to that lot. You would look great in an Audi,now just sell me the LS for £200 !.

This is exactly what happened on my dear departed MK111. Managed to pull the thing off and chucked it away - problem solved.

Looking for a swap to an LS400. I offer my wife's (yes,she does know!) 2001 Mercedes W210 E320 Elegance V6 3.2 petrol. 90000 miles,MOT August,some service history,leather interior,blah blah. Would like a Mk4 LS please. Based in Eastbourne but would travel a reasonable distance. Merc value around £2-2500 realistically,tho some trader clowns are looking for £4000. So i'm looking for a nice one,not a scrapper.Will post pictures later if any interest.

I'm paying £215 per year fully comp on my 21 year old Mercedes 300TE. Down £28 on last year.(Regret still no LS400 to replace my dear departed MK3!!)

I'd be very wary of NOT telling them my new address. If you needed to claim for whatever reason,they could say your insurance is null and void due to not telling them. They will ALL try and wriggle their way out of paying out if they can find the slightest reason. I was with Saga for a while,the first year was a competitive premium,but the renewal was considerably higher,so off I went elsewhere. Good old Go Compare!. I'm now with Chaucer Direct for the second year running as the premium actually decreased this year.

Hmmm,can't work out why nobody hit the 'buy it now' when it reached £1000,or was the 'bin' removed?.

Bugger. When the MOT tester failed my dear departed MK111 on all four springs being broken about 15 months ago,I was quoted 'About £600 mate'. If the springs only really cost £200 for all four,I would have been charged £400 labour for a job that takes less than 1.5 hours including a tea break!. I wish I had shopped around a bit before letting the banger boys have her,I might still have her. She drove and rode beautifully with four broken springs,so what would she have been like with new ones fitted?.

I've been 'Lexusless' for about 14 months now,and run a 21 year old Mercedes 300TE now. So why do I always check in at this forum before I go to the MB forum?. I think we all know the answer to that one!. As much as I love 'Gertie' (my Merc.) I still hanker after another LS. In an ideal world I would use Gertie for work,and keep an LS for weekends etc.Not possible though I'm afraid, I paid £500 for my old LS,she didn't cost me a penny in repairs or parts in the ten months I owned her,and when the wicked MOT tester failed her miserably.I still got £400 for her from the Essex banger boys. She who must be obeyed purchased a 2001 Mercedes E320 V6 petrol a few months ago despite me pleading for another LS. Though the car is nice to drive,in my opinion it can't match an LS. Difficult to put my finger on it,but the V6 engine is noisier,there's more road noise than the LS despite it having all new Pirelli P6000's on it,and is nowhere near as smooth as the LS. One day - I'll be back.

A nice looking car for under £700.

Just had a quick look on fleabay at LS's and noticed that the vast majority of them are being sold through the trade,over 75% of them in fact. So why is it that when I want to part-ex anything bigger than a 2-litre car for example that the dealer always says 'You'd be better off getting shot of it privately mate,I wouldn't be able to sell that gas guzzler 'cos no-one wants 'em'. I did have the theory that the dealer would have no trouble in selling a Lexus as it's an excellent car,but some of these LS400's have been on fleabay for months. Strange.

Not me I'm afraid. I got too cocky,and my bid with three seconds to go didn't get through in time. Bloody BT and their slllllllllloooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww broadband speeds!!.