RE: SOTW: Lexus LS400
Discussion
t out of them and put a *lot* of projects back many, many months.Looks just like mine, well bar the boot spoiler and pin stripes. I guess parts can be expensive, don't really know as I have only needed front discs and pads on mine so far and they came it at about £120. Air and oil filters cost no more than they do for my wife's Fiesta. Fuel economy is not as bad as some may think. 20MPG mixed and high 20s on a run. Not great, but its a 2 tonne car with a 4 litre V8 and an autobox, I think people sometimes forget that.
Anyone rubbishing the 0-60 time is missing the point entirely. It was never meant to be a racer, but it has more than ample power for overtaking and entering motorways etc. Certainly put a co-worker's Astra SRI thingy in it's place when he tried it on one morning.
I paid £750 for my L reg with 127K miles a year ago and if it died tomorrow I wouldn't have a harsh word to say about it as I have more than gotten my money's worth out it. Also 2 tonnes of car is worth near enough £200 to the local scrappy.
Anyone rubbishing the 0-60 time is missing the point entirely. It was never meant to be a racer, but it has more than ample power for overtaking and entering motorways etc. Certainly put a co-worker's Astra SRI thingy in it's place when he tried it on one morning.
I paid £750 for my L reg with 127K miles a year ago and if it died tomorrow I wouldn't have a harsh word to say about it as I have more than gotten my money's worth out it. Also 2 tonnes of car is worth near enough £200 to the local scrappy.
GuinnessMK said:
Did any of these come with a manual box??
Or is there a manual that will bolt up to the V8?
No and Yes.Or is there a manual that will bolt up to the V8?
No manual option but huge easy tuning potential and conversion kits for many manual gearboxes, including for mid mounting.
Remember this engine was built and tuned for comfort so is consequentially massively over engineered. 400 or 500 bhp is no problem with very modest investment with a megasquirt ECU (other aftermarket engine management systems are available) and some second hand turbos, or maybe a Jag or Merc Eaton supercharger. When the engine goes bang go and buy another one because the cars in scrap yards will have working engines because they far out live the rest of the car.
If you want this alloy 32valve V8 for tuning go for the earlier ones as they have the thickest conrods.
Also for all transmission and tuning check out:
www.lextreme.com
large antipodean and US members who have many of these vehicles originally in their markets so now abundance of used to play with. I kid you not, this V8 has been used in Speed boats, planes, drag racers, track day cars, circuit single seaters, sleepers, show cars, oval racers etc etc.
I've actually got 2 or 3 of them in my garage. Definately keeping one for future project, but if any one's interested in having one I could probably do with the space so drop me a line.
Cheers
Mark
Edited by skid on Friday 22 January 17:03
)Great shed!
Had one of these a few years ago and loved it. I still think these old shape ones look the best, with the longest bonnet and best proportions.
MPG tended to be mid 20s.
Some great gadgets for a car this age. The way the dash lights up and the steering wheel powers into position when you put the key in never got old.
Quietness of the thing was totally surreal, it was like some invisible magnetic force propelling you along when you floored it. It was probably lacking a gear or two - the original model was only a 4 speeds, good for 50, 80, 120, 150. This meant that 80-100 took longer than 100-120, so not ideal gearing for private test tracks
Here's a nice example showing what you can do with the engine given a few simple bolt on parts from Halfords:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRU2lDCSfBU
Had one of these a few years ago and loved it. I still think these old shape ones look the best, with the longest bonnet and best proportions.
MPG tended to be mid 20s.
Some great gadgets for a car this age. The way the dash lights up and the steering wheel powers into position when you put the key in never got old.
Quietness of the thing was totally surreal, it was like some invisible magnetic force propelling you along when you floored it. It was probably lacking a gear or two - the original model was only a 4 speeds, good for 50, 80, 120, 150. This meant that 80-100 took longer than 100-120, so not ideal gearing for private test tracks
Here's a nice example showing what you can do with the engine given a few simple bolt on parts from Halfords:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRU2lDCSfBU
Great shed. 
The Gates Cambelt catalogue says it's non-interference until '98. But using the same Toyota engine code for both pre and post 98. So who knows....
The comment about a more European friendly engine? That's the GS300? That's non-interference until the facelift. Autos only
I like non-interference.
That rear wing and those twin aerials as said, lower the tone somewhat.
In the last century I had a slight tear up with one of these away from the lights down the A4 into Newbury once. I was in the NS lane in my Uno Turbo. LS400 pulls alongside. Lights change. I thought 'That Lexus is making some noise'. I was ahead when the 2 lanes became one, and pulled over by that Merc dealership to let him go by.
The Gates Cambelt catalogue says it's non-interference until '98. But using the same Toyota engine code for both pre and post 98. So who knows....
The comment about a more European friendly engine? That's the GS300? That's non-interference until the facelift. Autos only
I like non-interference.
That rear wing and those twin aerials as said, lower the tone somewhat.
In the last century I had a slight tear up with one of these away from the lights down the A4 into Newbury once. I was in the NS lane in my Uno Turbo. LS400 pulls alongside. Lights change. I thought 'That Lexus is making some noise'. I was ahead when the 2 lanes became one, and pulled over by that Merc dealership to let him go by.
Well, I bought one shortly after the LS400 was Shed of the Week last time around. Cost me Shed money, and has been to southern Spain & back twice, trailered a number of cars around the place, including a nearly 2-ton load once. 185k miles done, and it still drives better than the 2000 S-type Jag or 1999 Audi SE that I've previously owned/leased.
In fact, it's the best - for comfort, refinement and general "niceness" - car I've ever owned.
Top shed choice
In fact, it's the best - for comfort, refinement and general "niceness" - car I've ever owned.
Top shed choice
I run a two owner LS 400 with 100K on the clock and have had it since 19,000. Full dealer history and other than tyres, brake pads, a windscreen and some bushes it runds perfectly. Smooth, quiet, reliable, everything works, there is no rust and it makes a change to drive the auto when compared to the M5!
A top car and the newer ones although not great steers are amazing to own and be driven in....5* barge!!!
A top car and the newer ones although not great steers are amazing to own and be driven in....5* barge!!!
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