JMRussell

Had a busy weekend so only just on line. What an event and yes next time maybe further to travel. JMRussell looked at home behind the wheel of his stately LS400 kart and his strategy was to obstruct the TOC karters - successfully. - I definitely need to lose some weight or maybe there should be a handicapping system for you skinny ones. The LS doesn't seem to notice anyway. Sorry I had to shoot off (Magdalen College Choir Concert) otherwise you might have discovered how to add a few pounds! But there again the car park didn't look big enough for me to park! Great time well done to all.

Don't know about the IS but on my LS they've just done one and are about to do the other - under extended warranty no question - at 67K. On the LS the classic way to know they're going is a knock when reversing and turning plus of course your steering gets a bit more sloppy.

I enquired of my local dealer about a year ago and they said about £1700 as the car needs to have additional oil coolers etc fitted. Bought a Range Rover instead just to do the towing!

Fairly certain I registered using this link http://events.lexusownersclub.co.uk/events.php but never received a PM though the screen at the time said thanks for registering or something like that. If I go to the page at the moment it shows me as having to click to unregister???? However, it appears I'm not on the list so shan't be there. Hope everyone has a great day and yes there are some great pubs around for lunch

Fairly certain I registered using this link http://events.lexusownersclub.co.uk/events.php but never received a PM though the screen at the time said thanks for registering or something like that. If I go to the page at the moment it shows me as having to click to unregister???? However, it appears I'm not on the list so shan't be there. Hope everyone has a great day and yes there are some great pubs around for lunch

I thought I signed up for this ages ago - well at least it's been in my diary for ages - but I don't seem to have received/seen anything other than is on these posts. I thought I signed up via the calendar. Should I have received something? Am I on your list? Could you post a list of everyone who's going?

I understand there is a revamped LS430 coming out at the end of the year with a redesigned back end. Has anyone seen any pics?

I agree with all your points - indeed I reckon the back seats are more than adequate even for a long run. My wife sat in the back - roof up and down - for well over 100 miles and said it was really good and she's 5'8"! She just complained there was no centre arm rest as the seats are very upright and you need something steady you. But sorry I can not agree on the ride/handling - The salesman did agree with me when I returned it and he's on his fourth one! In fairness my wife would have one tomorrow!

How about a little Golf club in Oxfordshire (Carswell). I live next door and we could almost certainly host a mini meet before/after/during at my place - I have the room (Loz I'm sure you'll confirm). If that sounds any good I'll negotiate a society rate etc.

Had one for the weekend a couple of weeks ago and noise levels are as you would expect from Lexus. i/e. good. but that chassis particuarly with the roof down - frequently found myself having to wind the wheel more because of understeer (and I was never pressing on) and on the motorway it's one of those vehicles you have to steer straight. Definitely a vehicle to admire and look at but not one to drive.

Had a new SC430 last Friday to Sunday when my LS was in for some work. Took it up to Alton Towers staying overnight. Top gear are right about some things but:- There's still room for golf clubs in the boot even with the roof down - we had overnight bags etc. There is room in back - my daughter (a large 9 year old) was fine and on the way back my wife (5'8") tried it. Wife said it was very comfortable once you've got used to the very upright position and she said it needed an arm rest in the middle. Yes the engine and everythings great but some little things - like the lack of rear arm rest but also if every time you put the roof up and down the windows go down why isn't the passenger window an auto switch. However top gear were right about the chassis - it's C.. very bad. Awful understeer and no feel and with the roof down the scuttle shake is bad. It's niether one thing or another. Accept its no Porsche but it's no boulevarde cruiser either - unless its very very smooth. All in all a nicer car than my wife's Saab cabrio but the ride etc is the same and I don't fancy paying twice the money. Come on Lexus you could do better.

I always use the 'hand'brake - just do it automatically. I don't like the rocking you get just leaving it in park. My wife has a Saab which you have to leave in reverse to get the key out and she hardly ever puts the handbrake on. Drives me nuts - get in the car foot on clutch to start it and the damn thing rolls away!

Mine's got Suffolk Leather and I'd call it creamy/brown. To clean it just leather soap and warm water and then autoglym leather conditioner. I wax and wax mine once a year (or there abouts) using Autoglym and the gloss finish then otherwise it's a car wash. Wheels are like all Lexus ones - pretty poor. I changed to Lexus insurance scheme through Gold membership this year. Enjoy

Big problem apparently with the LS is that if you fit a tow bar Lexus insist you also fit additional oil cooler etc - hence the very high cost. Add to the fact fitting a tow bar will also reduce the value of your car I reckon it's cheaper to buy another vehicle just fopr towing!!!!!

Having tried standard set up and the dynamic handling pack version. It all depends what you want. If you want a smooth queit ride stay standard if you want a more interesting drive go DHP. Personal view is why buy an LS unless you want the luxury style ride you'd be better off driving something designed for the sportier drive.

1. I too have the spaces so assume nothing is supplied to fit as standard. 2. Left hand side of the boot floor lifts up to reveal unit. right hand side has similar flap to host old analogue phone set up. 3. D8 are the tyres designed for the car but other versions do get fitted. 4. fine 5. ? 6. indeed 7. I put spare cd's there!

Presuming you're on 16" rim stick with the Dunlop Sport D8z s. I've tried a few different ones but these are the tyres designed for the LS400 a I reckon they work well.

i wish they would make a cabrio. I could change the wife's Saab to a Lexus then! I rekon that red p/shopped is a Saab stuck on the top.

Lexus are tightening up on their warranties - or at least their insurers are. If you are going to extend your warranty do it as soon as the old one expires do not wait till you are next at the dealers. Apparently they are now looking at anything more than a couple of weeks gap as a potential excuse not to renew. My dealer had to plead to get mine renewed. If you have something logged as a warranty claim get the work done - after 4 weeks it is deemed resolved. My local dealer said it had been brought to their attention when a claim was 1 day over the time - yes it was a big claim and yes they did get it paid. It was a result of this that the dealer phoned me and said I needed to get the renewal in even though I had told them I was intending to renew when I was next in.

Just another tribute to being Gold - I just saved over £100 on my last service because I was a member. I reckon in the full year I will save over £200 so not bad for a £25 investment.

If you are after a big luxury saloon with a good reliability record look no further. Compared with some other big luxury saloons at about 10 years old they start looking a bit dearer compared with some of their competitors such as Jags and Mercs but at that era Lexus were streets aheads in standard spec. Servicing like all cars of this ilk is vital but most owners if they can afford the car in the first place have it done to the book. Running costs I think are pretty good for a car of this class and repairs are rare. At over 7 years old you wont be able to get the full Lexus warranty. It depends how you drive but on my Mk4 I average about 24.5mpg going upto 30 on a motorway run but dropping to low 20's around town. The big service is at 63,000 (cam belt and plugs etc) which will set you back about £600 at a dealer. Brake pads last me about 20-30k on the front and 30-35 on the rear. Tyres last about the same - using the recommended Dunlops. The biggest problem is if you buy one you'll soon be wanting a later model - ooh for a 430!

I get around 400 miles on a tank in my LS. I reset the computer every month and the average comsumption varies between 22.5 and 25.5 mpg per month.

I'm with you on this one

Yeah a seriously good way to spend the weekend. Beat Loz back by about an hour but I wans't heading to the frozen north!

Well done Loz for organising this. A great idea turned into a great weekend. Crossing at 6am (Loz had driven down through the night) meant we hit Reims at 11.30 am - just in time for everyone to have shut for lunch - so we followed suit. The moules were great and a walk round the Christmas Fair. Then to the tasting - Mumm first followed by Piper - Heidsich - 2 good tours - very different and the first champagne in the boot. Over to Dizy just outside Epernay - leave the ladies to have a sleep and we suss out Epernay - Christmas lights were great. Call in at a hypermarket and pick up some cheap champagne - just to try as an apperitif! Back to hotel try the apperitif down to restaurant for dinner - great - washed down with another champers. Breakfast then try some small family houses few miles down the road to them ( too many to chose ) but do a couple - just tasting - no tours but another 4 varieties - bought some of each. Then back to Epernay to do the Mercier tour - excellent - buy some more then hit road back for 4pm ferry. Bottom line must do it again with more of us and we need an extra night (and may be a chauffer!) so we can visit more of the family houses (there 12,500 of them!).