goldtop

Don't forget it was voted the sixth best used car buy by Radio Norwich. Probably. ;)

I need to hear one of these in person. I know it's just a simple typo, but the image of someone doing sign language at a Motorhead gig is too good to ignore. I think the guy who did the signing at the Mandela funeral would be perfect. Thanks for a proper chortle. :)

Well, at least the wheels and tints will be easy to remove once your sense of taste returns. ;) But that beige-gold is possibly the least pimpable colour isn't it? Darker colours work a bit better, but IMHO the LS's shape is all wrong: http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/168267/lexus-ls400-1996-awesome-ashford Why not plastidip it, too? Flip-flop paint the next owner can peel off! Er... good luck...?!

That dealer in Birmingham has 3 (or at least did have last week) LS400s for sale at £100 differences. Perhaps you can see all three which will quickly give you an idea of condition variations. Good luck!

Alas, Israel is not a democracy. It wasn't founded on democratic principles, and the current veneer of democracy is paper thin, if you choose to look more closely. Some info: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/Is-Israel-a-true-democracy-352445 I'm aware it looks like I'm pro-Palestinian. I'm not, but I prefer to be even-handed and counter factual errors.

Where to start, there's so much in there. Let's start with this: were you to ask the general public about the number of deaths on each side, they would grossly understate the lopsided nature of the conflict. I'm sure you know, right, Hugo? The western media is far more likely to report rocket fire (few casualties, thankfully) than drone attacks with the dozens of fatalities caused in the collateral damage. As for saying there never was a Palestinian nation, that's about as daft an argument for your PoV as you can imagine. Up until the middle of the last century, there wasn't a state called Israel, either. You may like to know that Israel got to become a state thanks to ... are you ready for this, Hugo ... terrorism. (Late 1940s campaign against the British.) More mistakes? OK, Jordan, Egypt and the Lebanon do not seek the annihilation of Israel. Most Arab states accept Israel's existence now. Only a few rogue religious entities want the annihilation of Israel (primarily Iran, which is not an Arab state). Apart from that, well done! ;)

It'll be a surprise (but not an Elise!) Of course, there's the small matter of finding a friendly MOT centre before it goes anywhere...

I'd definitely be interested if it was somewhere reachable for me. I definitely want some good instruction. But I'd bring the 'weekend' car, not the Lexus (if you'd allow an interloper to join in!) :)

The Palestinians have been mistreated for many years, and not only by the Israeli state. Go and see how well they are treated in other parts of the Middle East and you will see they are exploited there, too (e.g. employment status and rights in the Gulf Arab states). They are a convenient and unfortunately willing pawn for Iranian scumbags to use, also. Alas, Palestinians allow idiots into positions of power and influence and do nothing about the latter's outrageous transgressions. (Sending children as suicide bombers, etc.) You are right that, once again, the Israeli response is disproportionate and many wholey innocent Palestinians are being killed. Plus ca change. There is no simple solution to this, and as I said already, whether the rest of the world got involved or not, it would not change.

Hi Mike. Yes. I should be in a Lexus LS400 myself, it's the start of a long road trip holiday, so I'll be more or less going from Salzburg to Villach (A10 route, I think). For sure, there will be plenty room - if it's not too long?! :) If necessary, perhaps you could get it shipped to my business address? PM me if you like when you know what's happening.

Low polar moment of inertia (as LJKS used to bang on about). Can't beat it. Get an Elise as a second car! :)

There are a few LS430s being parted out on Ebay UK. I'll be driving through Austria in 4 weeks (from Munich to Slovenia, so not very close to Vienna) if it helps?

No-one's really turning a blind eye to it. However, most people are fed up at 50 years of "six of one, half dozen of the other" nature of the Palestinian conflict. It is an outrageous use of US-Israel lobby, but the two parties are so entrenched and so happy to be used by their religious leaders that the chances of the conflict being resolved are about zero. Whether "we" got involved or not.

That low miles Mk4 in Ilford (on Autotrader, I think) isn't too far from Kent. It did need a cambelt, though.

Supposedly any Lexus dealer can do an LS cambelt for £295 (according to the Lexus Website, although it lists LS430 and 460 and not the 400). Waterpump replacement is listed separately at £395. I'm waiting to hear back if there's a cost of doing both at the same time for (say) £450.

What he said. I had a Nissan Maxima QX a few years ago, and the computer in that was never correct (I always did brim-to-brim fills and knew exactly what mpg I was getting). I suspect the Nissan's computer was calculating US gallons instead of imperial gallons, and from memory I think the latter is 20 percent more. Also, I presume the ECU plays a big role in economy and perhaps if an LS400 has the flakey capacitor problem, it may not run as efficiently as it should?

Thanks, Ian. :) I won't get the car for a couple of weeks (frustratingly!). So I'm just trying to get the other bits arranged in readiness. Looks like Lexus has some special deal on timing belt change at £295, but the water pump replacement is priced separately at £395! I'm hoping that there's some reduction for both being done at once; just waiting for the call back from the local Lexus dealer's service dept.

I keep meaning to get along to that, but being as it's midweek, I keep forgetting! Some PH events are good fun. I did last year's Cressing Temple drive out + show: (In my weekend car - not sure I'd want to try to keep up in the LS400!)

Thanks Jonathan. Well, as of this afternoon, I appear to be sorted. :) I left a deposit on a silver Mk4 and once the seller has done the necessary paperwork to take off his private plate, I will collect. If anyone knows a LS-savvy independent anywhere relatively close to Cambridge, please let me know. I've budgeted for a cambelt and water pump replacement ASAP, and will get fluids and filters done at the same time.

Shame I missed yor car, Phil. It would have saved me today's wasted effort. Ad said: "Private sale ... A beautiful, clean and smooth family car. The vehicle has full service history, 11 months mot, ...very good condition." Advert had only just appeared and I couldn't wait, and off I trot on the 120 mile round trip. He and the car weren't there when I arrived about 15 mins early. Had to call him (on his mobile, obviously) and then he drove up with the car. Hmmm. It had damage on every corner, rust on front wheel arch, scrape on rear wheel arch. History was just two DIY stamps in a book (not the correct one, either) with the last one over 4 years ago. Squeak from the engine at idle. Duff aerial, duff gas struts, and to cap it all, he's hadn't bothered to send off the previous owner's V5. Oh well... Not looking for sympathy, guys. Just sell me your lovely car!

One time bump (honest mods!) Please sell me your LS/GS and save me from having to waste so much time seeing cars like this morning's wreck. PLEASE! :)

Hello from a complete newbie (not even bought mine yet). Your Lexus dealer obviously knows how to push your buttons! :)

Hmmm. I've stopped mentioning the new cars to my OH! :) Got two parked up in storage that I haven't 'fessed up to yet.

Newbie here and only just started reading up about these fine cars before buying, but I gather there's some ECU fault affecting the early Mk3 GS. Hope I'm wrong, and you're sorted soon!

If you go for a test drive and/or buy it, I would be interested to know how the GS430 compares on comfort and refinement. I assume that Lexus would deliberately keep some extra refinement in reserve for the LS - to avoid undermining sales.