JellyBean

What fun. Thanks for this!

Scratch X is yet another polish which is advertised as an effective scratch remover. In my experience, most polishes do the same thing, which is flatten down the clearcoat on your paint. I have used Mothers scratch remover on my car, and to be honest, it doesn't remove any more scrathes than SRP ( AutoGlym Super Resin Polish ). The trick is in how much work you are prepared to do, its true that some polishes are more abrasive than others, but all scratches can be removed if you polish your car enough, it just might take a few years! The finish on my LS was achieved by using a claybar over the entire car, followed by SRP applied using a car polishing machine bought from Aldi (yes, Aldi ). Then Mothers Sealer and Glaze , applied by machine followed by Mothers Grade 1 Yellow Carnauba Wax. The Mothers products came from USA, I found them to be really good. I applied the Carnauba by hand, its easier to do small areas at a time. There is an enormous amount of choice in the field of polishes, waxes and machines to put them on. I found what I like and you can see the results in my pics. Paul Despite the gold badges, your car looks a million dollars, as they say. But I suspect most of us just don't have the time. Not with tiny sprogs, anyway. Perhaps you have sprogs - and a nanny! The paintwork on the Lexus is a whole lot better than on Mercs. Well, actually, I haven't noticed lately, but Mercs used to be covered in 'orange peel'.

But how long for? A month?

My 1996 LS400 has started to do exactly the same thing - also on NSF. It started about five days ago and I also suspect the weather may be something to do with it. Itwill be interesting to see what someone comes up with...

Interesting & useful info, Pierre. They key line is "I don't drive it like a sporstcar", and that is why your tyres will most probably be just fine - and save plenty of dosh. This is not unimportant when a fill-up is approaching £100. I look forward to your Continental Report on them. Meanwhile, I can detect no area in which my Falkens are inferior to the Dunlop D8Zs, and a few where they are certainly better. I also did not buy an LS to break the lap record around the Nurburgring, so if there is any deficiency of dry-road grip, I have not noticed it.

Makes me wince.

Absolutely. Mind you, Lexus UK still think their LS430 was introduced in Sept 1998. After three attempts, I have given up trying to get them to correct it. (I must have Asperger's or something)

People who don't own a Lexus should not be allowed to be subversive!

I have a 1997 Mk3 which had the same symptoms. It was the motion sensor in the armrest, it had become a bit over-sensitive. Lexus fixed it for less than £50 (I think), so it must have been dead simple!

Well each to their own. And all I can say is that if this is what people are going to do to their LS400s, I'm off...

If you could manage Norwich (a fine city), then Roys Motor Company used to be the official Lexus agent. They are about half the cost of the Official Bandits.

Wrong size !

I hope this doesn't go in your "silly answers" bin, but I would always try to get a second opinion. E.g., my 1996 has now passed two MOTs without any of the £1000+ work that Lexus told me suspension needed.

I fink it's silver - unless they have more than one. Looked pretty unmarked as well.

Well, my Series 3 had a blow in the same place and it was a disintegrating O-ring exhaust gasket which cost £4.11 plus VAT !

Hello LCC. My two questions are: When is the Lexus UK website going to correct the date for the introduction of the LS430 Series 1? (Not Sept 1998) And when can we expect some specifications for the LS430 Series 2 ? Many thanks and I think this development is an excellent idea. Provided you answer my questions, of course ! - JB

It seems as if the price of fuel is rising at about the same rate as the value of an LS is descending. If it carries on like this, my 1996 jobby will soon be worth the same as a tank of fuel. Roys Motor Company in Norwich have a 90,000-mile LS for under a grand!

Coo. I bet pulling out onto a fast main road in wet weather is exciting: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzppppppppppp!

Motorway? Motorway? I live in Norfolk!

And I have just realised that the low-speed ride is a bit better, too.

Howdee Peepul Just had fitted four FALKEN ZIEX ZE-512 R16 225/60 R16 98W tyres, for a total cost of £81 a corner. This was done through Black Circles. Previous tyres were Dunlop D8Z. I detect no difference in grip - wet or dry - but they really are MUCH quieter. Since one of the main attractions of an LS400 for me was its near-silence, the fact that I have made the car quieter than ever (quite probably quieter than when it left the factory), I am well pleased. The Black Circles website has a full description of these tyres and, as I have said in another posting, I was told Falkens were made by Dunlop, although I have been unable to confirm this. Hope this is of interest to anyone about to fit new rubbers.

Howdee I have owned a 1996 LS, for four years. You should get about 25mpg for "mainly motorway driving"; up to 30mpg is possible, under favourable conditions - but not with any traffic jams thown in ! Seems a very good price if the mileage is genuine. People are frightened of the fuel costs, you see. Check all displays on dashboard. Check seat heaters work (especially driver's - mine has just failed for the second time). Listen out for clonks on front suspension. Has car had its timing belt replaced? Are the wee skirts under the front bumper busted ? (I specialise in breaking mine). Other members may have some more to add. But major engine/gearbox/exhaust troubles are rare - providing car has been serviced OK. I bought a Lexus because I wanted to own a luxury car before I popped my clogs, and decided the only way to do this would be to buy the most reliable brand. A pal always drives pre-owned Jaguars. The trouble and expense he has are just depressing. And a bit funny at times. (Hope he never reads this.) Buy it and you will love it. I have no doubt about it.

Seems about par for the course. In my experience, Lexus UK reply with a nice polite email thanking you for your enquiry and telling you how much they value... blah, blah, blah. And then they do nothing at all.

If you are, you are not alone: I am still in love with my 400 (as opposed to just loving it) after four years. Sigh.

FALKEN tyres certainly seems to be worth considering. Apparently, they are made by Dunlop. I may buy a couple in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, on the subject of lesser-known brands, we had two NEXEN tyres fitted to my wife's car - a VW V5 Golf. They seem absolutely excellent and are VERY much cheaper than the two Michelins that were replaced. We are not all racing drivers, of course.