JasonLS400

Hi scribe, the 400 was designed totally for comfort, over engineered for its time but in the right way giving It the X factor, I think later models became to OTT trying to keep ahead of the Germans with gizmos, and styling and lost focus on what drew people like me to Lexus in the first place, it's all about comfort for me, with whisper quiet engine (and a good stereo ). I remember the first time I drove a Peugeot 405, I thought it was wonderful, the best car I'd ever driven.......(I know, but I'd just come from an Austin allegro ).....as I progressed through a few cars that feeling went as soon when I bought my first mk1 400....150k on the clock and ran like new, since I've never driven another car that had that "feel"........until 2 weeks ago when I bought the mk4 and it being exactly what I remember......I'm just so glad I did it

Hi Tulpen, The LS400 drive I feel is far more relaxed, smooth power delivery, gentle brakes....glides along on the magic carpet soaking up lumps and bumps. The LS460 didnt have this, the brakes were far to keen for me, even when trying to come to a gentle stop at slow speed, I felt like a nodding duck sat in the car, they'd bite slowly then suddenly grab. Also the magic carpet had gone in LS460, probably down to the larger wheels and low profile tyres but it felt no different than a BMW or Audi - Granted the LS460 is a far more modern car, inside the LS400 does feel dated by todays standard and the sat nav like an old Atari - but the ride and drive quality is by far the best I've ever driven. Even the LS430 to me which I had about 12 months (30,000 miles) had lost the LS400 "feel", hence I'd hoped to get this back in the 460 but I was so dissapointed.....so moved to Land Rovers !!! - I'd always been on the lookout for another 400, but wanted low miles / mint which are getting very rare now to find.....when this one came along I knew I must have it despite the price, I'm so glad I did, its exactly how I remember the 400 to be. Probably though......'horses for courses'? :-)

Thanks spacewagon, there's just something about the 400 which was lost on the 430 and 460....I was so disappointed with the 460, the drive and feel was not what I'd hoped for. I knew when I first drove one but still bought it anyway, I thought it was "me" but after driving it for about 6 months I moved it on. I think the feel of the 460 leant more towards the euroboxes and lost the wow of the 400 which first got me in to the Lexus brand. The mk4 with DHP for me is the ultimate, I've had many cars over the years, some really expensive ones, yet nothing comes close to a 400.

Thanks for the welcome guys, I was a member about 10 years ago when I had a mk1 ls400 (forgot my old login ), since then I've had the ls430 and a ls460....but nothing beats the LS400 (one of the reasons I paid so much to get the right one).

Well, you were right about the new owner cropping up on here - I didn't trade the mk111 in for it though. If you knew how long I'd searched for that exact spec, colour, trim and mileage....you'd realise why I paid £12995