Chris Skelton

Three wise men, obviously driving Lexuses.(probably RXs, given the desert conditions?) Frankinsense, however comes from arabian peninsula. Somali pirates often try to steal in as it's worth a high price per kilo, as it's hard to get. See 'Shadow of the Silk road' by Colin Thubron.

Train pulled in at the Airport. After letting out the incoming passengers, a team of ladies swept through the entire train, cleaning it all. Best of all was the bowing. On the Bullet train -and others - the ticket inspector entered the carriage and bowed to the carriage-and when leaving, as did the food person. (I've seen people running for a lift being held open for them. bowing WHILE RUNNING!, in a kimono!) Having read the rest now........Macassar was hair oil, hence Anti-macassars. El Grand? I imported one via Algy's Autos. Good service (and they import to Avonmouth - I can see it from my garden!) - and the van was great to drive. Yes same engine as 350Z (and Renault Espace!) 50K miles. Pristine condition. Thinking of looking for a Soarer....... Was fun tracking the ship across the planet to here ('disappearing' in Indian ocean; they stop sending tracking signals there, to avoid the Somali pirates!) Was surprised to see the ship make THREE stops in Turkey!

Takes a little practice. You would have LOVED the Citroen DS brake. It was a button (that opened a hydraulic valve) that required very little pressure. In summer, I drove barefoot, braking the car with my big toe!

Setright wrote an article expounding the benefits of driving Auto cars using BOTH feet, one for accelerator, one for brake. I have it somewhere. Made perfect sense to me as you have instant control of the car at all times. Takes a bit of time to educate your feet. I have to remind myself when I drive a non-auto car though!

I recall digging around in a scrapyard and 'gun-gumming' (plus split coke can + wire?) a 'found' silencer on to (my '55 Magnette). times have changed!

Nice Cube in background of pic! possibly my next car! (-:

Apologies for the 'dig' about stuff earlier (made with a smile!). The tale from Aido is a cautionary one! Modern cars are so complex. There's been a string or several about this on Petrolheads etc.. We lucky folk who had LSs from 93-00 seem to have unearthed a gem of a car. I'm often tempted to look out for a Soarer to continue my Lexus life, for the same reason. (A friend had his Peugeot (806?) written off...because the Wiper computer couldn't be fixed!) 2CVs suddenly look attractive?

Even the mechanic had a hard job loosening the nuts! Imagine on a wet night...... Now have full set. Inflated tyre. Jack.Tools. Locking nut. Nuts that don't need the Hulk to loosen. Coffee flask/Brandy...later.

Near neighbour thought I'd hexed him when he had a flat this morning! Off to get my nuts loosened (not by the neighbour!) (-:

Was watching Mike Brewer (dull TV choices!) and he drives off in his new purchase, then, gets a FLAT TYRE! Thought; would be ironic if the spare was useless! Got me thinking; how often do we - ever? - check our spare, and/or the wheel nuts? So today, dug out my spare...it was nearly flat! Never used. Inflated it. Then....after locating the tools.....tried to loosen the nuts. Impossible! Have booked in to my friendly (down the hill from me) garage, to get all my nuts loosened. Where the security nut? Do I have spare nuts, as the spare is steel, not alloy, and needs different nuts..... It's not easy! My neighbour pulled in. Had recently had a flat/wheel bend on M5; had great difficulty getting nuts off....... I noticed she's still on the spare though! Maybe I'll look out for a spare alloy....... Drive safely, folks!

Attention needed? You're obviously new to Lexus. Nowt!!.....this isn't a Merc; enjoy the quality! (I think -it was in the LS400 ser 4 - the dvd is in the boot)

Suited to Japanese frame? Not the larger German/u-ess-A one then? Lardy seats?

Imagine the hacking possibilites!

Going back to an RX.....just shows how the 'lure of the new' has got into your psyche? We're surrounded by ads trying to tell us to buy 'new' stuff. Why should a car be 'out of date' at 5 years old/60K miles? Cars CAN go on to 200K -see ads. If you worked out just how much you spent......ludicrous! 'Even' a 10 yr old RX is more than enough, and has less complexities to fail.

THE LS 400 rides well. A bit of history background? My old DS23 was SOOO smooth.

Toyota spent years selecting leather from cows kept in barb-wire free environment (no scars). Get Yamaha to select special wood....... But they STILL paint cars black! Lots of good work here though. I found a great low mile (original) Smart Forfour recently. It was ....black! Still looking......

AS I've referred to before....The old ad for a 2CV had a list of (othercar's) features that the 2CV didn't have. At the bottom it said "nothing to go wrong"!

Being a fantasist (masochist?) , I fancied the last big one, a 2.8 XWD limo! One used to live in Clevedon where we walk every so often ('Walking'? It's what legs do, besides getting to the car!) Like an LS, you'd wince at the repair costs?

" All of that aside, it is without a doubt the quietest LS I've owned"..unlike the Wife, then? Ta-da.....

Isn't thsat 'little voice' called.......a Wife?

Ser 1 V Ser 2? The front, side lights have a 'line' across them on the Ser 2 ......is how I tell! plus you can check plates on the Gov MOT site, which gives you the 'birth' date.

There's a nice deep purple metallic on sale!

He needed that BEFORE he bought the car? (-: judging on his ''I'll never buy a Black.....".etc., comments!

When I read "taking the carpets out", I thought of the little 2 sq foot thing in our Micra, that's under driver's foot! Not half a car! Intense stuff! Saw an SC briefly the other day, here in Bristol/Shirehampton.....revived my interest (just after swearing NEVER to drive long distances again!)

HAH! You think you joke! 1980s. I DID once put a cylindrical-type old paraffin heater in my Citroen Dyane, overnight, when it was about to snow. I have always regretted not photographing the scene in the morning (6 a.m.) when the whole street - cars and all - was snow covered .....except this Dyane, sitting there, pristine! It had heated the whole car, body and all. Meharis aren't too drafty, despite appearances, and the heater pipes (cardboard tubes from heat exchanger!) are big.