RE: Shed of the Week: Lexus LS400
Discussion
I've not posted here in years, can't even log in using Garlick!
This tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
This tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
PaulGarlick said:
I've not posted here in years, can't even log in using Garlick!
This tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
Nice to see you back - when I saw it as SOTW I wondered if you'd commentThis tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
Surely with your connections to PH you can at least recover your original log in ID? Good God - three years since you last posted!!!
PS don't we have some rules on here about multiple log in profiles
Edited by B'stard Child on Tuesday 31st October 23:57
PaulGarlick said:
I've not posted here in years, can't even log in using Garlick!
This tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
Welcome back. This tale isn't quite right. I did the suspension early into my tenure, then enjoyed it for a while after that. It certainly wasn't the reason why I sold it! It was a great car once sorted, really liked it...still have fond memories.
LewisR said:
Boring to look at and boring to drive.
I got to drive one of these when they were new as a competitor vehicle to the then new XJ. The Lexus was quiet beyond belief and comfortable but that's about all I could say good about it. When I got in the XJ it felt alive, even if you could hear a lot more but one of those sounds was the engine. So much more fun and characterful.
On the contrary, I bought an XJ8 and wish that I had bought an LS400 instead. I got to drive one of these when they were new as a competitor vehicle to the then new XJ. The Lexus was quiet beyond belief and comfortable but that's about all I could say good about it. When I got in the XJ it felt alive, even if you could hear a lot more but one of those sounds was the engine. So much more fun and characterful.
Late to the party here but amidst all the love for the Lexus I'd like to add that it's a dreadful steer.
After a run of XJ8s (which were surprisingly reliable and all got to around 200k before rust meant failing MOTs) I let my head rule my heart
and bought a ratty old LS400 for £700. It was indeed reliable and I became quite fond of the old thing; it is vast and comfy and has a real presence (and a truly fantastic stereo). It was a great companion on long motorway journeys (particularly at 30mpg)
But the fact remains that you don't so much steer it as aim it hopefully into corners.
Eventually a bunch of problems coincided (sounds awesome when the exhaust is blowing!) and in proper bangernomics mode I sold it for £400.
That's £300 for 18 months and 20,000 miles.
I've bought an e38 7 series, which handles brilliantly and is considerably more refined - and feels that bit 'more Pistonheads'.
After a run of XJ8s (which were surprisingly reliable and all got to around 200k before rust meant failing MOTs) I let my head rule my heart
and bought a ratty old LS400 for £700. It was indeed reliable and I became quite fond of the old thing; it is vast and comfy and has a real presence (and a truly fantastic stereo). It was a great companion on long motorway journeys (particularly at 30mpg)
But the fact remains that you don't so much steer it as aim it hopefully into corners.
Eventually a bunch of problems coincided (sounds awesome when the exhaust is blowing!) and in proper bangernomics mode I sold it for £400.
That's £300 for 18 months and 20,000 miles.
I've bought an e38 7 series, which handles brilliantly and is considerably more refined - and feels that bit 'more Pistonheads'.
mintyminty said:
Late to the party here but amidst all the love for the Lexus I'd like to add that it's a dreadful steer.
After a run of XJ8s (which were surprisingly reliable and all got to around 200k before rust meant failing MOTs) I let my head rule my heart
and bought a ratty old LS400 for £700. It was indeed reliable and I became quite fond of the old thing; it is vast and comfy and has a real presence (and a truly fantastic stereo). It was a great companion on long motorway journeys (particularly at 30mpg)
But the fact remains that you don't so much steer it as aim it hopefully into corners.
Eventually a bunch of problems coincided (sounds awesome when the exhaust is blowing!) and in proper bangernomics mode I sold it for £400.
That's £300 for 18 months and 20,000 miles.
I've bought an e38 7 series, which handles brilliantly and is considerably more refined - and feels that bit 'more Pistonheads'.
Is it possible, and indeed likely, that your £700 example just had knackered dampers and bushes on all four corners, hence the wayward cornering behaviour? I drove a well sorted one last year and while it was not a ride and handling match for an XJ with the suspension in good fettle it was no worse than a contemporary S-Class.After a run of XJ8s (which were surprisingly reliable and all got to around 200k before rust meant failing MOTs) I let my head rule my heart
and bought a ratty old LS400 for £700. It was indeed reliable and I became quite fond of the old thing; it is vast and comfy and has a real presence (and a truly fantastic stereo). It was a great companion on long motorway journeys (particularly at 30mpg)
But the fact remains that you don't so much steer it as aim it hopefully into corners.
Eventually a bunch of problems coincided (sounds awesome when the exhaust is blowing!) and in proper bangernomics mode I sold it for £400.
That's £300 for 18 months and 20,000 miles.
I've bought an e38 7 series, which handles brilliantly and is considerably more refined - and feels that bit 'more Pistonheads'.
Been tempted in the past and potentially a great choice for a cheap barge to waft along the motorways when work dictates, as opposed to flogging the posh “new” motor to the tune of 30,000 miles a year.
Iirc, aside from the odd rust issue around the rear arches, airbag suspension that (like all airbag suspension) will likely need new airbags and a bit of a thirst, they are bulletproof. I believe that they have had cars with 150,000 miles on one set of belts and never had a reported failure. It’s a glorious engine and possibly the best screwed-together car ever to come out of Japan.
Iirc, aside from the odd rust issue around the rear arches, airbag suspension that (like all airbag suspension) will likely need new airbags and a bit of a thirst, they are bulletproof. I believe that they have had cars with 150,000 miles on one set of belts and never had a reported failure. It’s a glorious engine and possibly the best screwed-together car ever to come out of Japan.
cybertrophic said:
Been tempted in the past and potentially a great choice for a cheap barge to waft along the motorways when work dictates, as opposed to flogging the posh “new” motor to the tune of 30,000 miles a year.
Iirc, aside from the odd rust issue around the rear arches, airbag suspension that (like all airbag suspension) will likely need new airbags and a bit of a thirst, they are bulletproof. I believe that they have had cars with 150,000 miles on one set of belts and never had a reported failure. It’s a glorious engine and possibly the best screwed-together car ever to come out of Japan.
One of the best screwed together cars ever. I respect them enourmously; not sure I love them though.Iirc, aside from the odd rust issue around the rear arches, airbag suspension that (like all airbag suspension) will likely need new airbags and a bit of a thirst, they are bulletproof. I believe that they have had cars with 150,000 miles on one set of belts and never had a reported failure. It’s a glorious engine and possibly the best screwed-together car ever to come out of Japan.
Oh and the LS400 doesn't have airbag suspension, just normal shocks and springs.
EarlOfHazard said:
One of the best screwed together cars ever. I respect them enourmously; not sure I love them though.
Oh and the LS400 doesn't have airbag suspension, just normal shocks and springs.
Odd. Could have sworn the rear suspension was one area where they needed checking. Maybe that was the LS430 and I am mixing them up.Oh and the LS400 doesn't have airbag suspension, just normal shocks and springs.
I remember that Lexus used to track the service and repair data and once knew of a car on 250,000 miles on its first set of belts and had never had a single reported failure of a cam belt.
Engineering wise, Lexus are phenomenal, it’s just that they did things like researching acoustics to add rubber dampers to make the doors sound coachbuilt and heavy, rather than actually making them substantial like an S Class. It’s also in how they radius the curves to make it look like thick metal.
The DFS sofa leather aside, the fact is they were the best car on the road in terms of actual build quality. Big soft spot for them.
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