0a's 1999 Lexus LS400 Mk4 (Barge 1-5 Content)

[0a]

After my Jaguar XJ decided to expire a few miles from home, I went back to driving my old mercs for a few weeks. You can't beat an old merc.

However, last Wednesday, I got the old barge itch. The bizarre idea I had of a Jeep Grand Cherokee was fortunately put on hold by a seller that didn't want to sell. This developed to a desperate need to buy another comfy barge on Thursday. Following a suggestion from the 1-5 barge thread, I started the hunt for a Lexus LS400. A barge I had admired from afar but have not yet owned.

At 11:20PM on Thursday evening I received an email from a seller saying his car was still available. I messaged back that I was happy to purchase and collection the next day for the right car, and happy to take a call right now. We spoke and arranged to confirm things the next morning. Then I was on my way on a single ticket, with insurance arranged.

The seller was a nice chap, and the car as described. It is a 72k mk4 LS400. Not perfect outside, but not bad, and very nice inside.

[tobinen]

Great stuff 0a. Will follow with interest. What's the colour called?

[PHPercy]

Lovely 0a.

Any more photos of the interior?

[harrykul]

Lovely, Oa. I was straight on to the classifieds after your post.... Lots of want, particularly with a black interior.

[0a]

tobinen said:

Great stuff 0a. Will follow with interest. What's the colour called?

Dirty-light-metallic-green-shades.

[0a]

PHPercy said:

Lovely 0a.

Any more photos of the interior?

It's a really comfortable place, with vastly more leg room than the XJ in the back.

My first car was a Toyota Yaris from 2000, so I'm trying to look on this as a really, really grown up Yaris. Certainly the steering is as light and un-feelsome, and it's as easy to drive.

I must admit that I gave it a good spanking today with the 'PWR' mode on the gearbox ("POWER", well ok) and the traction control off, and it was far better than I expected. It's a well balanced car, but rather heavy.

I am no photographer but will try and take more pictures tomorrow. I have around 400 miles to drive which I am really looking forward to.

[MorganP104]

0a said:

tobinen said:

Great stuff 0a. Will follow with interest. What's the colour called?

Dirty-light-metallic-green-shades.

Lexus beards will be intimately acquainted with this particular colour.

Top barging, 0a.

[PHPercy]

Lovely.

Despite always being the driver and rarely the driven; I'm a big fan of cup holders in rear armrests.

[0a]

MorganP104 said:

Lexus beards will be intimately acquainted with this particular colour.

Top barging, 0a.

I had it cleaned today by the local shiny hand car wash. Later I did a bit of clay bar on it and the dirt just poured off.

[Benjijames28]

Lovely.

What did you pay for it?

[0a]

Benjijames28 said:

Lovely.

What did you pay for it?

Under the 1-5k smoker thread midpoint with a bit to spend if I chose.

[tobinen]

MorganP104 said:

0a said:

tobinen said:

Great stuff 0a. Will follow with interest. What's the colour called?

Dirty-light-metallic-green-shades.

Lexus beards will be intimately acquainted with this particular colour.

Top barging, 0a.

It could be silver jade pearl, code 6P7 but that's a wild internet guess.

[Heaveho]

0a said:

You can't beat an old merc.

I think you're about to find out you can beat an old Merc, and by quite some distance. A Lexus of that vintage is a wonderful thing.

[0a]

Heaveho said:

0a said:

You can't beat an old merc.

I think you're about to find out you can beat an old Merc, and by quite some distance. A Lexus of that vintage is a wonderful thing.

I am inclined to agree. Driving it about today, all the touchpoints (steering wheel, gear level) felt like old merc touchpoints.

One example, in the XJ, you had a nice leather wheel. But if you reached around the back with your fingers, you could touch nasty plastic. You can't in the LS.

I'm more impressed than I expected to be. And I think it has a bit of character in the way my old Marantz KI Signature Hifi kit did. It has miles more than the old A8 I had.

[0a]

Something that was particularly pleasing was that the handbrake light had decided not to go out when I picked it up from the seller. I negotiated accordingly - new pads, surely. It turned out to be a brake light that had gone. Light now out. £4 from Halfords (oh yes!).

The wipers were noisy and irritating. I replaced them today with bosch items and they are now silent. Interestingly (if you are sad like me) the wipers have a 'wipe' mode, where they go using the usual motion, but when you switch them off they park and get magically sucked in under the dash. Charming!

[Heaveho]

I used to process warranty claims for Lexus in a different life at a time when your car would have been on my radar. Easiest job I'll ever have. Feet up for 8 hours a day for about 5 years.

I worked on the spanners for a Jag Indy for a couple of years afterwards when I moved south. From the sublime to the ridiculous......

Edited by Heaveho on Sunday 1st April 00:47

[0a]

Heaveho said:

I used to process warranty claims for Lexus in a different life at a time when your car would have been on my radar. Easiest job I'll ever have. Feet up for 8 hours a day for about 5 years.

I worked on the spanners for a Jag Indy for a couple of years afterwards when I moved south. From the sublime to the ridiculous......

Great. Just what I'm looking for after my Jag. I really like the Lexus so far.

[anonymous-user]

I hope you get bored in about 1 month when I am looking properly ...

Looks great, nice colour too, enjoy!

[Heaveho]

0a said:

Great. Just what I'm looking for after my Jag. I really like the Lexus so far.

It'll be a great car, Lexus and Toyota were at the top of their game in the 90s. I have amongst other things an '04 plate IS300 Sportcross that my other half treats as a cross between landfill and a dog kennel. We've had it for 8 years, and the only reason I haven't replaced it is because I haven't been quick enough to buy the occasional low milers of the same model that very rarely appear on the market. It originated from the 90s as the IS200 saloon, and I don't believe there's anything current to rival it in terms of reliability.

The engine in yours is a superbly engineered thing. If the water pump appears to be leaking, it's probably a stuck pressure relief valve, I've fixed them by spraying WD40 into the hole the valve vents from. That, and the corrugated pipe from the EGR valve, which very very occasionally splits, are the only things I can remember ever being sanctioned under warranty ( 1 each ). Possibly the most reliable car ever built.

[alec.e]

Looking minty Oa

Sorry to hear about your Jag, I loved that car when I saw it.

Not a huge Lexus guy, but can appreciate the quality and how advanced they were at the time, hopefully this one will serve you well!