lordturns

Order! Order! Perhaps the right honourable gentlemen on here would care to enact legislation to ensure there is a little less Lexus party in fighting and a lot more harmony in using the forums. :) Is it me or is there more politics and squabbling on here than in no.10 just of late?? I don't know maybe it is the full moon or summink...... :D maybe I should ditch my LS and buy an Audi A8!!! haha.

Pics from the completely pi**ed school of photography - LS LWB?? didn't think they ever made one of those??

You couldn't make that up - brilliant :D :D :D

Thanks for the suggestions - I have also discovered one more in the shape of the Suzuki SV650. I like Triumph bikes and they always get a really good review in the Telegraph motoring plus many are saying they are simply outselling the competition both Japanese and BMW. I sat on a brand new scrambler a year ago - loved the retro style and I bet it makes a nice noise too.

Mark - had a look at a few Hornets on fleabay, the later model years 2005 onwards and they do look comfy but many of them do not have much protection from the wind being quite 'naked'...definitely a bike for me to consider though despite this. I would not go for an out and out sports bike as I am planning to do a trip across the continent with a friend of mine and so comfort is top of the list and I may even use the bike as a daily commuter apart from when the weather is nasty.

Thanks for the replies - I'd be looking at the VFR from 2005 onwards, so I am assuming that is the VTEC version? and also Fazer from around the same date. A friend of mine owned a Fazer 600 and said it was a brilliant bike, although he ended up trashing it! A friend of mine - his dad owns an old 'Thunderace' sports bike dating from around the mid-late nineties and he mentioned something about the 'Thundercat' being a decent buy if you can find a good one, although I imagine as these bikes are fairly old I'd most likely rule them out in terms of everyday reliability and the ease of buying parts etc. Plus as they are sports machines?, I'd more than likely rule them out. What make is the Hornet Mark? Cheers!

Does anyone ride any of these bikes? I have heard lots of good things about all of the above - I don't really want an out and out sports bike, something comfy 'sit up and beg style' is more me (after all I do drive an LS400) with 'enough' power and forgiving handling, i.e.- easy to ride....any more suggestions?

Okay, I am thinking of putting myself through the 'Private Driver' assessment day for £160 at DB Schenker in Doncaster. They do all of the industry standard assessments including the reactions test and the criteria based interview - if I pass, then my thinking is that this will help me leap up the food chain with the selection process, thereby bypassing the TOC (sorry!) assessments and going straight to driver manager interview.....any thoughts? does anyone know of anybody that has done this? also I think it would show a TOC that you are committed to becoming a driver if you have paid for yourself and used your own initiative - my opinion of course.

Ha ha no problem, here's a starter for you what does SPAD stand for? Oh that one is easy peasy - Signal Passed At Danger....next!

Thanks for the replies gentlemen - I will PM you both and sorry for the abbreviation Steve :outforcount:

Hi Chris, thanks for the reply - I have two applications (for trainee driver) in progress with TOCs and would like to open up a dialogue of conversation with someone like yourself to gain a realistic insight into the job and how you are trained. I have of course done much research on the internet and have a good idea of what to expect although I believe it is always better to talk to someone first hand....plus you own a Lexus! PS - I lived in Kent for 25 years.....

Just wondering if anyone on here drives a train or is a driver trainer or involved in the industry at all?

A pure case of 'av somma thaaaaaat'

That is quite remarkable Steve, and completely opposite to what I thought.

And I imagine after 16 years, the tank will be full of gunge which leads me to ask the question - are any of those tank or engine flushes any good?

When I picked my LS up from Annan, I brimmed the tank and the distance from there to my home is 239 miles - I did this in just under half a tank at a steady cruise. I imagine that well over 400 miles is possible from an LS with this figure in mind. LPG beckons though for long term sensible use.

I think you may be right Jon, I have not seen any LS's in this area since I bought mine and none on a recent trip down to Basingstoke....although when I was going to Swindon every day for 9 days I managed to see two! one was a MK2 on a K plate and the other was a MK3 on a P plate both silver and going in the opposite direction - they did look in good nick mind.....wonder if it was anyone on here??

I agree, after all you know these cars without badges have an 'el boggo' engine and spec....likewise I always misunderstand why people stick an M5 badge on a 518/520i. The word that springs to mind is 'berk' (a word that is so underused these days) :)

I winced at the thought of such a great car facing a not so pleasant ending....like so many Jaguar XJ saloons that were trashed this way and now you see them cherished and restored.

Just had a chat to someone about Lexus parts, his friend is a car breaker....I was astonished when he said 'yeah,banger racers love the LS400 - they can't get enough' ummmm.

I had the same - sat waiting for the lights to change at a roundabout, when a Bmw 120? (badges removed) with a private plate pulled up next to me. We both turned right onto the dual carriageway and he floored it.....so did I - he wasn't getting away at all and I looked down at my speedo when we were neck and neck 'ooops sorry officer' only problem is that I was in the left hand lane and ran out of road as a lorry was in the way....and he turned off at the next exit so our little duel ended. Also was on a single carriageway a few weeks ago when a 2009 Audi A8 loomed large in my mirror and weaved about slightly as if to say 'I'm gonna get past you in your old barge' my response was to press the gas into the wilton and he vanished to a spec very quickly indeed.

Messi, I quite like the A8 D2 and test drove a 2.8 sport quattro with all the trimmings - as usual I had done my research and was aware of the gearbox problems with these cars and a few other niggles....I have always fancied an S8 though ever since I saw the film 'Ronin' which also happens to have another few favourites of mine - E34 M5 and Merc 450SEL 6.9 :outforcount:

Thanks Brian, nice to see you are keeping things original, which is what I am doing also. Those prices actually don't seem too bad and in line with what I am used to paying with my BMW. Sourcing some items from the US has saved me money and is advocated by quite a few members on here. Although I still cannot find a drivers side mirror glass for less than £227! which is better than Lexus dealer price of £380....

Think my mk3 needs a regas as the air is just cool and not freezing, my local Toyota dealer is doing an aircon service and regas for £69 - bargain!.

Brian - sounds like a good result! if I may ask, what was the total cost and did you source the parts yourself? Were they genuine Toyota or pattern/OEM parts?