Spandex Sidney

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201303165802441/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/5000/model/ls/make/lexus/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/po368hd/page/4/quicksearch/true/radius/1500?logcode=p

Why do people do this? Could be well stung if you didn't know.

At least this one has hasn't had the badges changed and I think there's only a couple of hundred left on the UK roads.

Going up for sale next week. I need to enjoy it for another week, it's just too good.

But I really want a LS400 and I have not enough room to keep the GS. I've been agonising but my want for a 400 is just too much.

I will miss it. Hugely. :(

Don't go to the Isle of Wight. LPG 90p a litre. Not worth converting at that price.

Is this a difficult job with airbag and various controls on it?

Just thinking about looking for a better nick wheel for my GS430

That would be a Lexus SC430 then.

Ignore the rubbish, they are GREAT to drive, the power delivery is just awesome

My ex always moaned when I got another car. Three kids was alright but three cars, talk about double standards! Notice the use of the prefix 'ex'.

I am now the master of my own destiny and I am developing a Lexus harem instead. In fact I am picking up my first LS400 today. Hooray!

Wow, we are like the eBay police!

Jeremy, what quality did you go for the, the super or ultra!

Plus did you have any special edging at all.

What about some pics!

Agreed! My toyota dealer seems to know more about Lexus's than Toyotas so there is clearly no 'chinese walls' there!

Mine is 2001, 125k miles with the sat nav option with full Lexus and Toyota history. Cambelt done at 104k by dealer.

Didn't realise these are holding their prices so well.

`I might have to sell mine later this year but I do not want to, it's just soooo good!

Also mine has the black leather which I very much prefer.

Like all of these cars nowdays, it's worth what people are prepared to pay.

I would put it up for £3k and take the best offer if it was me.

Then buy a LS400 instead! ;)

Hi Dave,

The 400 v 430 debate is a long and tricky one and boils down to YOUR personal preference. However, on balance I would say that the 400 probably edges the debate based on people moving to 430's and then moving back to 400's again.

I believe the 400 was the best Lexus ever made. The accountants moved in with the 430. For example, compare the leather on a 430 v the leather on your 400. The 400 leather is much better quality.

The 430 is marginally quicker but noisier and has lots more toys (and lots more to therefore go wrong if you only see ventilated seats as nothing more than a novelty).

I wouldn't worry about the LPG thing, the cost benefit of that will be based on your using the car. I am personally against LPG on such a magnificent engineered machine but again that personal choice. Having said that it would take me at least 5 years to get my money back on it and what if I totalled the car, the insurance wouldn't pay me that money back.

I have a GS430 and with the 4.3 engine cambelt is everything. A snapped cambelt on a 4.0 is about 400 quid to fix, a snapped cambelt on 4.3 is a new engine. And yes I do know someone this happened to, on a SC430, 15000 miles after the belt was 'replaced' and documented by a 'specialist'.

Bottom line, your choice, but make sure you test the 430 first, it has a hard act to follow and remember that Toyota pumped endless development money into the 400 but the 430 was a stopgap to appease the yanks.

I am flabbergasted about this!

2 gallons (9 litres) for £10? Whereabouts is your car located? 2005?

Interesting debate. I tend to spend money on my cars so I am happy with the higher mileage (with a FSH), cheaper car as I will spend whatever it needs to get it back to as near to A1 as possible.

I still don't by the 'out of the showroom' argument though. A car standing around in all weathers, never driven would be an absolute pig after 15 years of that punishment with the odometer on '0'.

I guess it comes from my previous life as a Jag enthusiast, I have had a V12 XJS, 4.0 XJ40, Series 3 Daimler Double 6, Daimler 250 and a massive Jaguar 420G and when I bought all of them they were mechanically much better for having regular mixed use on motorways and backroads, the 'concours' cars I saw at shows looked lovely and were undriveable!

Each to his own, I still say that put an average 150k miler next to an average 50k miler, both with FSH and I bet it would be hard to tell from the body and interior alone which was which.

Thats how good these cars are. I wish Lexus made cars like this now!

Interesting answer, I see the logic but if the cost difference between low and high mileage, both with full service history is Between £1000-£1500, that gives you up to 1500 quid to play with to get it exactly how YOU want it to be, plus you know for definite that things have been done properly.

I still think the higher mileage, lower cost option is better for me, I have been driving since 1989 and I think the preference for lower mileage stems from the 'old fashioned' idea that petrol engines are only good for 100k miles.

With these cars I would go for complete history over mileage every time.

Silly idea, why don;t we club together, buy 100 at trade price from the USA and split the total cost 100 ways plus UK P&P?

Unionise LS400 ownership, isn't that what a car club does?!

I am a big car fan, always have been and it looks like my fabled first 400 is on it's way (fingers crossed) to go with my GS 430.

However, I do not see the fascination with low mileage cars? It would worry me that the engine hasn't been properly used and the cambelt hadn't been done.

I haven't looked at any car with less than 100k on it. The interior of a looked after 180k miler won't be that different to a 70k miler, and has probably had the belt changed three times and lots more 'new' parts on it?

Plus it will be half the price.

My GS 430 has done 125k, belt done 20k ago, FSH and the interior is like NEW and it drives like it's new too. £1800 well spent, or £3000 for a 85k miler with no belt change? It was an easy decision for me.

Is it just me that likes my cars 'lived in' a bit?!

You will find them here:

http://www.afs.uk.com/

I would actually check with them whether they done the job and why, after their alternative fuel penetration of the car, it now has herpes!

When it comes to tyres I look for comfort, stability and wet grip (I love RWD cars!) and noise. Do the Falkens score well on these measurements? I have found Avon and Hankook decent budget choices previously, never had Falkens but might give them a go when I finally get my 400

Why is he cancelling bids though? Why bid up his own auctions when you are cancelling others? Guaranteeing to win your own auctions?! Bizarre

How can you not like a GS430? What's not to like?!

I don't want to hijack my own thread but what Falken's are people running? I have also heard good things about them but I dunno which model and how much for 4 corners?

Find out how many people have 'upgraded' to a LS430 and then got back to a 400. There are more than a few.

If you look at the 4th pic and do a close up of the lpg filling point on the rear wing.

Scab city. Looks like the car has herpes.

He will be lucky to get half that asking price.

On my GS430 I struggle to get over 25mpg on a run and around town/B road driving it's around 19.

I think I should get a bit more than that?