ScousePaul

I agree. Originally had a 98 LS400. Thought it was the best car I'd ever driven. Some time later got a '95 LS430 and to me it was a big improvement - in looks, gadgetry, quality of materials. Now back to another 98 LS400 which I love but was only because I couldn't find a similarly mint LS430 within my budget. If the 400 ever falls apart (which I hope will never happen - it's a stunner) then it'll be another LS430 for me if any decent ones left. I'm personally not that keen on the LS460 onwards, though they're getting cheap now 🤔

I think the gold logos go well with the darker paints on LS's. Looking good and not too blingy 🙂 

Don't want to be a bore because I know it's been said enough times before, but I still can't get on with the pinched waist grille. And I even have one of the newer styled Lexuses (well, my wife drives it - an IS300h). It does look better in the flesh but I still find it too agressive. IMHO the LS range should retain a modicum of decorum 😀.

I recently bought an S reg ,but not that one (and there were no Category notices on it). Hope the new owner reads this. Always useful to have the service history.

How much damage was sustained and what did they estimate the repair charges to be? 

Aldi has some great beers and fine wines. Well matched with an LS600HL.

My OCD got the better of me and I found a replacement central air vent on the bay for £30. Was very trivial to replace once I'd read some how-tos. The wood strip looks different but it's just down to the new phone I'm using (and not sure where that green tinge is coming from). Looks exactly the same anyway, and now I can sleep better at night.

I think it's the loosening of the lockdown restrictions. Things I'd expect to arrive within a few days or less are taking longer. Service based industries now seem to be having to cope with the unleashed pent-up demand. I booked my LS in for some work at my regular garage and his next available slot is late July! Used to be more often than not "what day this week would you prefer". Good to know businesses are getting back on their feet I suppose (though I'm still avoiding contact outside immediate family as much as I am able). 

Yes I will post some pics soon. Weather's crappy and it's mad at work at the moment. Hopefully by the weekend 😀

I'v'e not taken my dog out in my newly acquired LS400 yet. It's so immaculate inside I know I'll get very annoyed if he makes even the slightest mess. May have to wrap him up in bubblewrap or something. My last weekend warrior vechicle was a Land Cruiser amazon (the silly V8 4.7 litre one) and I just stripped out the third row of seats and threw up a guard rail (though we had to two dogs then). The mess was part of its charm.

Main reason I went back to the LS was we had to let one of them go so it was overkill for one dog (it was overkill for two dogs tbh...). Still considering my options for how to manage my dog in it (current strategy is to use my wife's car  🙂). Would imagine wool would be a nightmare with pets...

(as an addendum to that - we took our dog out to the beach yesterday in the IS300h, and he threw up all the sea water he'd been gulping due to the heat all over the back seat. Was fixed with a quick wipe with some kitchen towels on the leather)

I think it's just a psycological thing in EU/cooler climes. Leather is obviously seen to be the luxury premium option but I'd love to experience a quality wool interior (not the tatty stuff we get in the cheaper brands over here). I can imagine it would feel quite pleasant. Would be constantly worrying about spilling my drive-through milk shake over it though 🙂.

On 6/20/2020 at 9:00 AM, ambermarine said:

The problem here is that this is not a Lexus spec the seats are not leather and it as a couple of other non Lexus additions.

I think I read somewhere once that in the Japanese market they prefer wool cloth in their luxury cars (thinking particularly of the Toyota Century). Supposed to be quieter and more comfortable than leather. Wasn't leather on an LS an option on the early models, even in the UK? Or maybe not. It was a long time ago... Wouldn't mind a decked out Century though - would just remove the lace curtains 🙂

I know, it's trivial but it bugs me :). The car is really in fantastic condition. 80K on the clock, unmarked everywhere (apart from that hairline crack) and every service/mot/maintenance history ever carried out (including 2 cambelt changes and a recent underseal). The previous owner(s) really took good care of it. I've found a matching part on the bay except the wood trim is a different colour, so that would bug me even more 🙂. I'll keep half an eye out for one and work on my OCD...

Thanks,

Paul

Hello chaps,

After a brief hiatus away from LS land I'm back (what a surprise...) with a rather lovely 1999 Mk IV (sat-nav version). It's close to immaculate (and I did pay top dollar for it) but it'll be a keeper for a number of years and with the mileage I do (2-3K/year tops) I intend to keep it looking that way.

The one tiny thing that triggers my OCD is that the centre air vent has two hairline cracks in it. It's obviously been glued back together and is hardly noticeable, but I'm curious if the bezel surrounding the air vents can be replaced separately. I've seen a few on *bay for this model but they're either the whole unit (some missing the wooden strip that goes underneath, others with the wood strip intact but a different shade to mine). Is it possible to just prize out and replace the bezel or does the whole unit need to be replaced? If it's the whole unit can the wooden strip be prized off and replaced with the one on mine?

Here's some pics of what I'm on about

Thanks!

Paul

Nah I wouldn't spend that much either :). Good to have some expert eyes on it though - wouldn't have spotted the wheels. Probably going to settle on an LS430, but I doubt if I'll ever find as nice a one as my last 😞. Anyway, sorry I'm derailing the thread!

[edit]

oh yeah I see what you mean about the wheels now. A lot different to what I remember them being like on mine (though mine was a MK IV). Someone's blinged them up.

Brings back memories of watching The Sopranos and thinking "I used to own one of those..." 

Already started... What do you think? More than I've ever spent on an LS, but looks to be in amazing condition, and fairly local too. I only do 2-3K miles a year so maybe it'll hold its value should I ever sell on again 🙂 

Could get an LS460 for a lot less but after owning an LS400 and LS430 I just think they're when Lexus was at its peak (don't tell my wife, who's just got a fairly recent IS300h...)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS-400-V8/153851099878?hash=item23d23d7ae6:g:YcIAAOSwlsteJYoa

Would feel weird spending over 10K on something that old though...

Ah ok gotcha. 

I'm going to be giving into it any day now once my current vehicle (not a Lexus) sells 🙂 

I found on my 2005 430 that I had a very slight whistling when driver's window was fully up. Dropping the window down just a fraction did fix it. Never did quite work out a proper fix for it though. Sounds like that's what you're describing?

Don't have the car any longer but now in the market for another one (or maybe an LS400). The addiction is strong....

Ha yes my wife says you can get leads or whatever and just have them sit  in the back seat. We'll see. 

I'll never quite leave Lexus. Still have the GS450h, and the land cruiser I think (certainly for newer models) are sold under the Lexus name. Will only be looking at quite old (around 2001+) models as I'm not made of money... Really don't want to let this 430 go as it's so perfect...

Been quiet on here for a while as I've really not had much interaction with my beloved LS430 (pics here)

However things have changed at home, and one of the biggest was adding a couple of working cocker spaniel pups to the menagerie that is my home. So I've decided (probably totally irrationally) to part with the LS. I want something good for the family and carrying dogs around the wilder parts of this country. I've only done all of 1000 miles this year in the 430, and that included a trip to Scotland, so huge engines and associated fuel consumption is not a major part of any decision.

I know a Toyota Land Cruiser is probably way over the top but I don't want to go landy/rangey (you all know why) so looking at getting an amazon (I want something big!). Bonkers decision probably, but I work from home so will only be (off)-roading at weekends/holidays, and am addicted to Toyota/Lexus quality.

Anyone familiar with these beasts? Anyone think I'm daft? (no need to answer that).

It's always fun on here to see an LS for sale and all the potential issues being pointed out and the price maybe too high then someone posts "I've bought it" and then it's all "well done mate!" :). I'd pay that for a great condition 400. like the buyer I've an LS430. Hope i never get any of the known issues that comes with it but for now drives and looks like new and I intend to keep it that way.

Happy motoring Alan! My first LS400 was a 98 and was rock solid.

I need to find a way for the beep to be louder when it goes off if the smart key is away from a running engine...

I know Peter - close call in more ways than one.... Not sure what I'd have been able to claim on in insurance if the worst happened. Absolutely no excuses for me on that one...

Took my youngest to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 yesterday. Car park was packed but found a space at the back of some dumpster. Got back 3 hours later and boy says "dad is your engine still running?". Turns out in the rush to get to the film before it started I'd neglected to turn off the engine and lock doors (perils of using smart key where you never taken them out your pocket). Thankfully all resolved but fuel was at lowest I've ever seen it. Luckily petrol station was only half a mile away. All's well that ends well but could have been quiet embarrassing to say the least...! 

btw - that's the first time I've filled the tank since January. Perk of working from home. Tank should last me now until around August