ZedZed

4 minutes ago, MJB18 said:

I agree , brake hold IS very useful.  But I'll admit I was pretty nervous the first time I used it in a traffic queue - can I really take my foot off the brake when I'm two feet behind the car in front !

Haha. I felt the same. Took me a while before I could trust it. Great idea though - I have never seen that in any other car I have owned.

Just now, MJB18 said:

Of course not - there are ninety seven pages of the manual dedicated to the parking system!

I flicked through then tried reading it properly, gave up around page 5!

Though I seem to remember that in the automatic mode only the steering is automatic, you'll need to work the brake. I think that's correct - but best not to have your eyes closed anyway!

Hahaha. I'm glad it's not just me then 🙂 I think I'll carry on parking the way I have done all my life - no pages on any manual neededfor that 🙂

3 minutes ago, toffee_pie said:

I agree but I don't have half a million pounds to chuck out on a motor and even if I did a LFA is not a daily car so that's out of the question 

Actually for sound I think the Maser 4 7 sport GTS would put up a good fight 

I like a good sounding car and my 6 cylinder Subaru with a power flow cat back and modifications to the air intake sounds fantastic,  so no dumbed down 3 or 4 cylinder engines for me, I also believe large NA lumps are less stressed so more reliable which makes sense as less rpm is needed to reach a given speed over a 3 or 4 cylinder engine..

Certainly, one of the main reasons I went for the LS460 as my daily was that the 4.6L V8 is not hugely stressed at just 81 BHP/Litre. By contrast, my XKR comes in at 100 BHP/Litre and has a supercharger to boot! Since the LS460 engine is so under-stressed, as well as being N/A, I imagine that this is a major contributor to its reputation for reliability. Of course, if one is looking for a delightful V8 sound, then the XKR wins hands-down, but for a daily, I value smoothness, comfort and quiet more than rortiness.

The N/A Jaguar XK (not R) makes a good (more exotic) daily IMO. The suspension is softer, so the ride is very comfortable, it makes a lot less noise, but still allows some of the V8 character to come through and the engine is less stressed, so an already reliable unit is made even more so. And, for many people, it is plenty quick enough too. Good value on the used market right now, and set to be a future classic - the last Jaguar GT.

Well, I finally made it through the end of the LS 460 handbook!

Has anyone actually managed to figure out 'Intelligent Parking'? I am dying to give it a go and watch the car parallel park itself while I sit inside with my eyes closed, fingers crossed, saying my prayers, invoking an image of the Pope, desperately hoping it works and I don't wipe out the front of the Mulsanne Turbo behind me and the back of the Range Rover Vogue in front of me.

I read the relevant section of the supplementary manual 3 times, once while actually sitting in the car, but I doubt I am any the wiser. Mrs Zed said I need to try it in practice, but I really don't want to lose my automated parking virginity in a crowded street while the assembled onlookers lose control of their bladders as my Lexus manoeuvres backwards and forwards into a space just 5 cm longer than the car itself and ends up doing 5 grand's worth of damage to itself, and possibly two others.

C'mon guys, tell me you took one glance at the handbook, threw it away, pushed the button and grinned from ear to ear as the Lexus strutted its stuff....

1 hour ago, Malc said:

oh for the blissful simplicity of the old fashioned easy peasy  Ls400  V8 

Malc

Soon, all our cars will be 'old-fashioned' as everything becomes driven by a washing machine motor, fuelled by fifty thousand flashlight batteries. Soulless, noiseless, pointless. They'll have to prise my V8s from my cold, dead hands.

4 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

Have looked with interest at the XKRs and in particular the XKR-S of 2008 vintage but no LSD and a torque converter is not really what I want - I am more interested in a ZF box and having a Subaru for over 5 years which handles like crazy I think not having a LSD would probably be a bad thing, especially on winding B roads

heck, maybe I should just get a LS460

Another reason I didn't choose the 5.0 XKR is that I think it is just too powerful for a rear-drive-only car. If you drive one in a spirited fashion on anything other than a perfectly dry road, the back end is out all the time, and it gets tiresome. It really needs all-wheel drive. The 4.2 XKR with 'just' 420 bhp doesn't suffer this problem. But over 500 bhp on the 5.0 model is, IMO, too much to put through just the rear wheels. Now the XKR-S is all this in spades with over 550 bhp, so I tend to agree that you need all the help the car can give you. But the 4.2 V8 is the sweet spot IMO and gives huge power that you can actually get down onto the road. And the ZF auto box in it is really pretty damn good, especially on the paddles.

My wife's Cayman has the PDK gearbox and, for me, that is the ultimate cog swapper.

6 hours ago, Phil xxkr said:

Welcome to the club Zed. I too have an XKR and RX450H, so very different driving experiences! In the future I predict they will have the XKR at Alton Towers when they are no longer to be found on the road😒. There, you will pay £50 for 10 minutes to know what real driving used to be like! I do find the RX modifies my driving behaviour as does listening to Mozart. But in the Jag and Janis Joplin, well that's a quite different story 😎. 

Pretty much exactly how I see it too! 👍👍👍

6 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

Sorry to derail this thread but is that Jag the 420bhp version? you have piqued my interest here a bit..

Yes. The 5.0L version is more powerful, but I deliberately went for the 4.2L as it is a more proven engine, with years of experience behind it. Benefit of the 5.0L - you can get a newer model.

16 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

What I mean is that I found my IS250 a bit too sedate, the LS460/400 would be in the same league.

IKWYM. It's not so much about speed, or even acceleration. It's more to do with the way it gets there.

I am impressed with the sheer grunt of my LS460, and it can get to highly illegal speeds in a remarkably short time, but it doesn't give the sensation that the XKR gives when doing so. The XKR growls and howls through its (modified) 4 exhausts and, of course, the roadholding and handling is vastly superior.

The LS 460 is way more refined, infinitely quieter and, in Comfort mode, insulates me from the worst surfaces that UK roads have to offer. Both cars are good for long-distance trips - the XKR is surprisingly quiet at high motorway speeds - but the Lexus offers a huge degree of comfort.

Also, in the Lexus, I tend to relax and let the car take most of the strain, whereas in the XKR, I am almost always 'driving'. If I could only have one or the other, I'd take the XKR all day long. But being fortunate enough to have both, I think they complement each other beautifully.

17 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

I am going to get a V8, I just do not know which one...

Have been considering 

LS460

XFR

XFR-S

Maserati QP

So quite a varied list...

 

The 4.2L Jaguar V8 is generally regarded as bulletrpoof if you are looking more for a sporting coupe. In naturally aspirated form (XK) or in supercharged form (XKR) it is a stupendously good engine. The later 5.0L V8 had teething troubles soon after it was introduced (2010) so it is better to go for a car later than that, or check that the work needed was done (eg water pump).

And, of course, the Lexus V8s are also regarded as highly reliable. The engines are understressed which no doubt contributes to their long life.

Although I love the looks and sounds of Maseratis, I personally avoid them, for two reasons: first, they don't have a stellar reputation for build quality or long and reliable life and second, there is a shortage of independents who are experienced in these cars. Also, their rarity makes for very expensive replacement and service parts, which can often only be obtained through the official dealer network. Jaguars, of course, are plentiful, which gives you a lot more choice when buying, and also when it comes to finding a good, local independent to take care of it.

Porsche also make a good V8 which you can find in the Cayenne and the Panamera. I came close to buying a Panamera, which is a genuine 4 seater, to replace my XKR, but then I realised I could keep the XKR and buy a nice LS 460 cheaper than swapping the Jaguar for a Panamera, and this would give me a real 4 seater, luxury car for when I was in the mood for wafting, and a red-blooded sports coupe for when I was in the mood for plenty of beans. Two fabulous, but very different, cars!

8 hours ago, McShmoopy said:

Congrats on the car it looks great! I took my mums newly purchased CATD IS250C to a lexus specialist based in Colwick called A&M and they did a nice job sorting out the seized callipers but it may be worth speaking to them and seeing if they're well equipped to handle an LS.

https://www.aandmnottinghamltd.co.uk

29 minutes ago, eric skerritt said:

Dave Wrigley(ex Lexus) at Lex-Tek autos in Wales,Sheffield. Close enough for you. Last 4 services done by him and used by other members on here.

Thanks guys. Plenty of choices coming in. Appreciate it! 👍👍

3 hours ago, steve2006 said:

It was on the news last week, Nottingham City Council are considering making all the city centre a 20MPH zone to improve safety.

I’m thinking of starting a new business hiring people to walk in front of customers cars waving a red flag, if it’s a hybrid or electric car they will also have to sound a klaxon.

If you’re still looking for a decent independent garage Zed I would avoid Nottingham, it would probably take you 4 hours to get there. 😀

Yeah, I read that too. Fortunately, I rarely drive in cities these days.  Nottingham has always been fairly anti-car.

Here's your first employee 🙂

3 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

same conundrum here, not sure whether to get a V8 or not before everyone is driving even slower with restricted vehicles and EVs in masses of government controlled sheep

Go for it. There's nothing like a V8. And soon they will be extinct.

"You're never late with a V8" 🙂

21 minutes ago, toffee_pie said:

someone with 2 x V8s deserves some respect, especially nowadays.!

🙂  It's a sort of last fling before the entire world goes all Thunberg. 🤣

2 hours ago, j8pfc said:

Can recommend Japanese Vehicle Specialists (formerly Toyotek) in Lincoln as an independent to look after your motor.

Thank you very much. I will check them out.

EDIT: Their website looks great, and some terrific reviews. Bookmarked and added to contacts. Lincoln is about 55 minutes from me, but they offer a courtesy car, so no problem. Thanks again.

2 minutes ago, Malc said:

if you buy yourself a Bentley S3 then I will be a little envious !

Malc

Hahaha. I have always fancied a Continental GT but the totally awesome cost of parts and service if/when they go wrong has put me off. Like with all these sorts of cars, it isn't the purchase cost that is the issue - it's the running costs. Both the XK-R and the LS 460 are about as bulletproof as cars of this type can be, with proven engines and drivetrains. The XK-R is all aluminium too, which helps. Very different car to drive than the Lexus, but that was the idea.

2 minutes ago, Tulpen said:

Hi Zed,

Welcome to the club. Your 460 looks identical to mine - except that mine is LHD. Malc is correct about the fuel - you must use E5. Another thing you might like to think about is having the radiator replaced, if it hasn't already been done. The 430/460 range can have problems with contamination between cooling water and cooling oil. I had mine done at about 100,000 miles/12 years.  The mechanic said that there were signs of corrosion on the radiator.

Hi Brian, thanks for the welcome and the tip. Mine has done 69,000 miles. I will get them to check it over thoroughly when it goes in for service. I like to keep on top of everything and have things fixed when they need fixing. These lovely cars deserve to be treated well. I am of the view that cars like my XK-R and LS 460 will pretty much go on forever if they are looked after and serviced properly and regularly.

This is one of the other cars - Jaguar XK-R, 4.2L V8 Supercharged. I do love a V8! 🙂 The XK-R is a nice counterpart to the LS 460.

1 minute ago, Malc said:

just make sure you use the correct E number fuel for your specific model and the radiator / gearbox leak issues have been sorted ok too

Will do! I always use V-Power anyway for the other cars. I don't know if it makes any real difference, but IMO a lovely car deserves the best fuel 🙂

The car came with a comprehensive 3 month all-in warranty, so I will be keeping a close on everything for the next several weeks. After that, if I can find a good local independent, they will be doing the regular services.

1 minute ago, Malc said:

best wishes with her ....  yes I've noticed a huge number of Ls460s for sale these past few days ...  heaven knows why, they seem to be terrific value for money methinks

Malc

Malc

Yes, there were a few around. I had to travel quite a way to get mine, but I am very pleased with it. I especially wanted a silver one with the cream leather and dark wood interior, which I think is a nice combination. I love the look of the LS 460 in black with cream leather, but life is too short to clean a black car every time you take it out! 🙂

11 minutes ago, Malc said:

she looks woonderful 

Malc

Yes, almost mint condition. I last owned an LS 400 years ago and that was such an amazing car. The LS460 is terrific value for money, I think. I imagine a 4.6L V8 puts a lot of people off these days, but I have a couple of other cars and will only be doing about 5,000 miles a year in the 460, so fuel costs aren't really an issue.

Hi everyone. New member here. Just bought a lovely 2007 LS 460 and am delighted with it. When the time comes for servicing, I usually take my cars to independent specialists rather than the main dealer network. Anyone got any suggestions for the Nottingham or Leicester areas?  Any help gratefully received. Thanks!

This is the beauty!