Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]
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E90_M3Ross said:
Fair enough, maybe they've changed and whilst it was far from bad, the use of switchgear felt no more premium than my old E65. Except, ironically, the traction control button on the Lexus had broken 
And I have seen a few LS430 and LS460 adverts where the twisty knob thing for the heated/cooled seats have broken/fallen off.
I am shooketh And I have seen a few LS430 and LS460 adverts where the twisty knob thing for the heated/cooled seats have broken/fallen off.
It is hard not to love the LS400 for what a statement of intent it was in any case.
GeniusOfLove said:
I am shooketh
It is hard not to love the LS400 for what a statement of intent it was in any case.
I bought my £800 LS400 from its second owner. Everything worked. I asked the seller about the air con and he said 'it's so cauld it's sair'...he was right. He told me if I came to see the car and didn't buy it, he'd refund my petrol money. I bought it. Best car I've owned, most thoroughly, thoughtfully engineered, most refined, most fit for purpose. Spoilt all other barges for me. Haven't owned another barge since. That 10k one is tempting...It is hard not to love the LS400 for what a statement of intent it was in any case.
tobinen said:
Did they come with red brake calipers as standard? Not sure I could live without not being able to adjust the steering column.
tobinen said:
I have never noticed how Merc like in appearance they are until seeing that one. Very classy looking and a lot of car for the money.Edited by MightyBadger on Sunday 11th January 11:17
tobinen said:
After saying in an earlier post I don't like the 430, I must conceded that looks like a nice car. MightyBadger said:
I have never noticed how Merc like in appearance they are until seeing that one. Very classy looking and a lot of car for the money.
The slab sides seem very W140 like to me. I prefer the looks of the original LS400.That LS430 looks great. Is that a dent on the leading edge of the OSR rear door below the driver's, OSF, door?
Edited by carinaman on Sunday 11th January 11:53
I bought a 1997 LS 400 in a dark green colour (so not Werthers) with the same mileage and for the same money as this one is.
Difference is I bought it 24 years ago, at 4 years old.
But in a mad way that makes sense of the price they are asking.
Loved both my LS400s, did about 150,000 miles in them with few problems. I would have one again if I didn't have a 37 kg dog to consider.
Difference is I bought it 24 years ago, at 4 years old.
But in a mad way that makes sense of the price they are asking.
Loved both my LS400s, did about 150,000 miles in them with few problems. I would have one again if I didn't have a 37 kg dog to consider.
E90_M3Ross said:
GeniusOfLove said:
E90_M3Ross said:
And yet I've been in a 216 CL63 and CL600 and they felt a significant step up inside than the LS460. The seats were nice but all the switchgear didn't feel anything special.
I thought the switches in the W221 and C216 looked lovely and much more "premium" than the flat plastic tiles in the Lexus but to actually operate the Lexus ones were 
. It's very common to see W221s with those pretty climate switches missing like a missing tooth too, I don't recall ever seeing a Lexus where buttons had dropped off
I wasn't expecting to be as bowled over by the Lexus if I'm honest, too many years hearing nonsense and fictions from the UK motoring press about Japanese cars. It was all very low key but the depth of quality felt really apparent.
And I have seen a few LS430 and LS460 adverts where the twisty knob thing for the heated/cooled seats have broken/fallen off.
1) the looks of an early-2000s Lexus are bland in comparison to an early-2000s Mercedes. Some of the details and angles have grown on me but you really have to look to find the bits where the designer misplaced his straightedge and had to freehand things.
2) the seats in the Lexus are a grade or two higher. Ok I'm comparing an E-class with an S-class equivalent, but the Lexus seats have withstood my bulk and are still looking great at 110k miles. No broken knobs on my heater controls
3) the Merc had more "thoughtful details", at least that I found useful. Single pedal driving, flop down headrests, AC rest mode, tunnel close etc. The Lexus has more features, but they're not as well thought out. For instance, the feature where the steering wheel moves away when you turn off the engine, I don't want that. I turned it off in the Merc. Can't in the Lexus. And the rear seat adjustment controls are in the armrest, the heating/cooling under the cover. Why? Put them on the door.
4) Lexus build quality Vs Mercedes build quality is the same as Mercedes build quality Vs Friday-afternoon-before-a-strike British Leyland build quality. Oh I've just jinxed myself for sure, but when you are dismantling road-facing exposed fasteners on a 16 year old daily driven all-weather car you expect to be cutting them off. Not on the Lexus.
5) the E500 feels faster in a straight line, the LS460 feels much more nimble on the corners when making progress.
As I've said before, nothing is a true cockroach, they all take maintenance and repairs. I know a chap with a 30 year old LS400, and a few years ago he had a snapped spring,. leading to him replacibg all the springs, bushes, balljoints and dampers. Cost him more than the car was worth but it's worth it to him. I know another who has two, with the plan being one will end up a parts car one day. I've spent much less on repairs for the LS460 than I did for the same mileage in the E500.
biggbn said:
tobinen said:
After saying in an earlier post I don't like the 430, I must conceded that looks like a nice car. Late Friday licence, double thread Alfa 159 3.2 (not Busso?) w AWD/4WD.
Dull colours, and coming from afar.
Barge mindset rather than actual barge. Plenty of bork potential to keep you awake at night, and Spanish gears for the driver in you.
If you went for it the anticipation would build
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-alfa-romeo-159...
Dull colours, and coming from afar.
Barge mindset rather than actual barge. Plenty of bork potential to keep you awake at night, and Spanish gears for the driver in you.
If you went for it the anticipation would build
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-alfa-romeo-159...
Edited by anotherswifty on Sunday 11th January 15:22
anotherswifty said:
Late Friday licence, double thread Alfa 159 3.2 (not Busso?) w AWD/4WD.
Not a Busso. A General Motors Holden made in Australia block with Alfa Romeos heads and VVT.Fast Bug said:
That's a dangerous website!
It's interesting to see what the price at Southampton would be but they'll still costs on top of that. carinaman said:
It's interesting to see what the price at Southampton would be but they'll still costs on top of that.
Many years ago I used to buy JDM stuff fresh off the boat, I was tempted to buy something from Japan when I bought a car last month. Still tempted to go down that route next time. Just don't know any reputable places in Japan to go through
R129 500SL with 20k kms looks like a bargain to me:
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-mercedes-benz-...
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-mercedes-benz-...
carinaman said:
Fast Bug said:
That's a dangerous website!
It's interesting to see what the price at Southampton would be but they'll still costs on top of that. If you’re W of London he’s based near Henley (on AT or I can DM details)
His site says he can source specific vehicles, or else he seems to regularly bring over low mileage Volvo, BMW, Audi and Ups as first cars as well as light tractors etc. JDM I think he does less regularly as there tend to be less buyers over here.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1997268
People often joke about the sales disaster that was the Avantime, but don't spend enough time talking about how the world is a better place for it existing.
W00DY said:
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1997268
People often joke about the sales disaster that was the Avantime, but don't spend enough time talking about how the world is a better place for it existing.
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