Chris Skelton

Well, I had a series 1 Citroen AX GTi which had a wheel nicked off it, 11.30 at night in street! So someone uses these tools! Thinks.....a whole new career beckons.....

:o It DOES have a trip meter, in fact TWO, it says in my manual wot I have 'ere! But it doesn't have all those other bits. So you CAN work out tour mpg, etc, but not via computer. So!! That's one less thing to go wrong! But when you're driving this car, all those concepts pale into insignificance, as you cruise in such absolute comfort and surety. If you can find a Series Three for-say- £6k, you're quids in! Can cost £12k! (Mine cost £10 with 50k miles on. I spent ages researching getting one. decided that the series 3 was the best choice. It's better (quicker, more economical, quieter, etc etc than the series 2. )Sure the ser 4 is yet more, but it's more dosh....at the moment. I love mine. Just got in from re-gassing the Air con. Chilled! Now THAT'S automatic! Great stereo too (my major interest; you can hear all the details) AND it goes like....well as fast as you'd ever need a car to go, effortlessly. And it's so well built and reliable... O.K? Get out and buy it (check service records carefully, but usually it's some fashion conscious person wanting a 'newer' car, like a Merc. ) I'm keeping mine for 10 years+ :zee:

:D ....this is what to look out for! A big grin on your face! (Or a quiiet feeling of contentment?) It's always a worry. If you know which Lex dealer previous owner used, could check with them. Pity the USA system of all dealers being able to check ANY car isn't here (is it?) Tyres and balance/tracking? Other than that; these cars are VERY well engineered. Have a look underneath too, though a 98 car shouldn't have much wrong there. Change all the fluids, if they look tired, and every 5-6000 miles or yearly? Look at the Lexuscarcare site. Get used to ample power just sitting there untapped most of the time. Get freaked out on M-Way at 90 when you can kick-down and reach 120 in seconds! Other than that...? Nothing much to expect!! B) :)

:D Thanks a lot for that! I just got two wheels out,(cos previous owner had 'greyed' them, to put alongside the car. LS400 wheels look more solid--bigger flat surface area to show paint/alloy--think it looks good, especially if I can get the wheel refurbisher to match the Lexus paint. It's only important (to me!) when the car's parked, after all. Moving....i'm just a blur? Would be more obvious on a coloured car; Maroon for example? Or green? Grey shows off the 'L' logo. :)

ahaa.. lol... what you have not sen in that pic(as it is quite an old pic) is that i have resprayed them... dark graphite grey.. I was in the drunken void last night of being bored so lots of things seemed a good idea..lol Does you mean you sprayed the WHEELS Graphite? JUST what I'm considering for my Graphite LS400!! Can't decide if I could get used to it after so long with Alloys on cars! Smooth........or naff? (NO!! Not ME! The wheels!)

Het!! Is that why you're in the 'Super-duper Member' group? Special car cleaniing technique section? ( Or is it your Super duper member...like me?) It ain't just size but technique (in car washing, obviously!)

:D ....OR....you get in car and race off at 70/+ to wind-evaporate all the water? LS400s are BIG! Takes an age to polish etc! (But don't they look good when done!?) B)

my van has air con and electric sunroof and cd player and auto gearbox and its 14 years old and its japanese although a nissan :D :D THere you are, folks!! TWO of us with Nissan S-Cargos. Who said Lexus drivers were conservative? :zee: B)

No chance, mate! It's too 'cool' here! Lovely view of fields across the Avon; National Trust land adjacent to my house; Big old estate with 6 miles of bridle paths just across the road..... Just found a WIND POWERED trickle charger (I live on a hill!) It's only £249 !!! Praps not! :zee:

Colin! I'm following you around in the 'ether' tonight! Do you know if the LS400 has its cig-lighter 'ON' this way? (Lazy sod, Chris! Just go outside in the rain and check!)

Well, it depends on what the business IS! How much space do you need? Doing only local tootling, or longer journeys? Giz a klue? I can recommend my own Nissan S-Cargo! (no, I'm NOT selling it! ), if you need a small van. It's worth it's weight in astonished looks alone! And people see your name in big letters on the side while they're standing there laughing! But it wouldn't do for fast M-way stuff. SLOW M-way stuff yes, but not in windty times, it's 6 feet tall, but only @ 10 feet long! NOT streamlined! Just friendly (like the owner!) :D

And sure enough!! HERE'S COlin! What a lovely community this is! :zee:

Hi Jff! Noticed you were reading your input aJUST as I was!! Noticed the 'Liverpool' bit. Was there-in my LS400 only 2 weeks ago (I'm originallyfrom Walton!) Good luck with search! Chris Skelton

B) Hey! So was I!!! I traded a BMW 850 (V-12, no less!) for my LS400 (V-8 50k miles; nearly as fast, MUCH more comfortable, and FAR less regular repairs needed!!) I'd put in a pic too, but, not being too techie, don't know how to attach it!

:D Way back when (20 years ago! ouch!) I used to look at my beloved Citroen DS23 Pallas, and try to think of mods to 'improve' it. Never could; thought the whole concept was SO good, style wise. Why take a hint from a MERC??!! I think you have to study the whole LINE of the car and subtly enhance it. (NOw; if you had an LS400...which ALREADY looks like a Merc....?) Paint the wheels black.....?

Well.......it depends on the traffic density,obviously; but, in my LS400, even at 90mph, some prat comes up....you just put your footdown; the car kicks down a gear and suddenly the car behind ISN'T behind anymore! The Lex is cruising even at 90 with loads to spare (and it's smooth as silk even at 120+ On an aerodrome, obviously!!! )

Todays news story on Iraq says that 'intelligence in the US is fundamentally flawed'. Must be all those sugary foods and drinks making the brain obese too? (Just thought I'd take the pressure off you, Harlowrog! After all, it's only Dubbyer and Bigears-the-blair that are allowed to start wars for no reason!! There's too much REAL intelligence in this club to use 'intelligence', here, as an excuse! :zee:

:P In today's Telegraph, on convicted Cocaine dealers; "Whiteway-Wilkinson,...lived in a £300,000 house in Shoreditch, AND HAD A BMW!!! No standards these rich coke dealers. I thought the LS430 was the car of choice! Obviously only in L.A. (thinks....£300k in London? Only a studio flat then?) Out of my head...

Whoops! No idea WHERE to find one! Just in my head to look! Read/saw SOMETHING recently though! (Forgive the ancient memory failing.......? Someone will know, I'm sure; that Maneesh-are you there?....or Besty''''? :zee: )

Well, know how you feel! Mine did same recently. (Then the replacement-self fit- had terminals wrong way around; Saturday....shop shut 'til Monday....Arrgh!) But, if it's eight years old, then definitely had your use. Mine is guaranteed for 4 years. Alarms apparently are a constant drain on batteries and, if you only do --say--under 10 mile trips, the battery never regains its full charge (Stereo, lights, air-con, etc.....) I think a Solar constant-trickle re-charger would/will be a good investment. You just plug them into your lighter socket and they solar power recharge the battery while it sits in the sun! :zee:

I guess you IS drivers are used to a hard ride........ AND just think how the fuzz will be attracted! Cruise in a Soarer; be unnoticed, select....

B) I;m having my spare set of Series 3 wheels (16 inch) refurbished soon, so, if you're not in a hurry, you can have the spare old set when I have. Will only be about £75 for all 5, plus fetching from Bristol. Add £50 per wheel for re-finishing and....say £300 altogether. Comfort AND smart too. Call me on 0117 9824228...or answer here. :zee:

Seems to me that the Insurance Companies should DO something in this type of situation. IF you can get the name/address of the person (big IF!!!) then the company should sue on your,i.e.their, behalf for reparation (having paid you, without damage to yours 'claims bonus'. Last night on BBC the figure of 30,000 hit and run accidents per year was mentioned, half of which were never traced! So.....how many other less injurious situations,like yours here, happened. My logic says that if you get into a car, KNOWING that it's illegal (no tax; insurance; banned driver, et al) then it's deliberate assault and should be dealt with as such. Better use of police time than catching illegal parking-say-or minor speed infractions. (Ah; but much HARDER !) :yack: :tsktsk: :tsktsk:

:P Get in line! He's going to send the girl he has bouncing about as his mascot to do me-sorry- mine! first!

B) Keep up at the back! (Maneesh!) The supposed new RX300 from Lexus is going to be......a hybrid! So you can have a big minster AND be economic/ecologic! You saw it here second! :zee: :)