0a's 1999 Lexus LS400 Mk4 (Barge 1-5 Content)
Discussion
TonyF55 said:
Lovely
Tell me about the Mark Levinson stereo, is it any good.
Does it have such a thing?! Radio 4 sounds fine to me in any case. Tell me about the Mark Levinson stereo, is it any good.
cornershop said:
Do get the springs/ball joints etc checked - the coil spring fractures on mine shook me up a bit, especially as i normally transport the family at motorway speeds. Ball joint failure would be much worse i imagine.
Tell me more. Over the last few days I have noticed There is a bit of a clonk on the left hand side when you drop the wheel into a pothole. Googling this I have ordered new strut rods. I will get the rest of the suspension checked out though. CharlesdeGaulle said:
Nice-looking example there 0a.
I wonder if you'll get bored with it, or whether its' unwavering reliability (one hopes) becomes exciting in and of itself?
I keep thinking about trying one but 4-door saloons aren't really my thing.
I'm quite interested to find out the same myself! I actually think it's a nice feeling old thing, not that boring at all really. We shall see. I wonder if you'll get bored with it, or whether its' unwavering reliability (one hopes) becomes exciting in and of itself?
I keep thinking about trying one but 4-door saloons aren't really my thing.
I love 4 door saloons, they are completely my thing.
Xtriple129 said:
I used to be a serial Mercedes botherer but fell out of love when the quality went (sob!) my last one I loved was a 95 SL 500 and that was fabulous, the SL 500 that replaced it (2005) was not 'quite' as good! So since then I have been bobbling about in old British bruisers which are fast and comfortable and dreadfully expensive to maintain, in fact, cripplingly so! 
I have a watch list full of Lexus cars now and one will be gracing my disabled parking spot shortly (I hope). I want an LS460 but fear tha they may be as expensive to run as my current heap so I am looking at 430s but the looks are a challenge... The LS 400, is a car I have long admired and I had a friend who ran one to about 300K miles before he changed it for another, lower miles mk4. There was nothing wrong with the old one, he just started to worry about the mileage!
I;m also thinking about the newer shape GS300 which seems to have a similar spec level and build quality but rather more handsome (as am I - properly gorgeous me
). So if I may say, well bought and keep up the reports please though I think you may struggle for things to write about... another report with : Car has been totally reliable, may have to wash it for the ninth time this week later, is not going to thrill readers
Was your 1995 SL a r129? I love my 1991 500SL! I have a watch list full of Lexus cars now and one will be gracing my disabled parking spot shortly (I hope). I want an LS460 but fear tha they may be as expensive to run as my current heap so I am looking at 430s but the looks are a challenge... The LS 400, is a car I have long admired and I had a friend who ran one to about 300K miles before he changed it for another, lower miles mk4. There was nothing wrong with the old one, he just started to worry about the mileage!I;m also thinking about the newer shape GS300 which seems to have a similar spec level and build quality but rather more handsome (as am I - properly gorgeous me
). So if I may say, well bought and keep up the reports please though I think you may struggle for things to write about... another report with : Car has been totally reliable, may have to wash it for the ninth time this week later, is not going to thrill readers I'm rather fond of the LS. It feels a bit like an older Merc. There are clear elements that they simply copied - the foot brake, the mini visor between the two sun visors, the stitching on the steering wheel (really - it is just like my 300e!).
0a said:
Tell me more. Over the last few days I have noticed There is a bit of a clonk on the left hand side when you drop the wheel into a pothole. Googling this I have ordered new strut rods. I will get the rest of the suspension checked out though.
Knackered drop links will sound like the floor is about to fall out. It isn't that big a deal though. If there's a creaking or groaning from the steering, it would indicate ball joints. I'd deal with that sooner rather than later, the consequences are potentially hazardous.0a said:
TonyF55 said:
Lovely
Tell me about the Mark Levinson stereo, is it any good.
Does it have such a thing?! Radio 4 sounds fine to me in any case. Tell me about the Mark Levinson stereo, is it any good.
cornershop said:
Do get the springs/ball joints etc checked - the coil spring fractures on mine shook me up a bit, especially as i normally transport the family at motorway speeds. Ball joint failure would be much worse i imagine.
Tell me more. Over the last few days I have noticed There is a bit of a clonk on the left hand side when you drop the wheel into a pothole. Googling this I have ordered new strut rods. I will get the rest of the suspension checked out though. There is a lower ball joint and a ball joint as part of the Upper Control Arm or UCA - I believe the lower one is more critical from a safety perspective.
Heaveho said:
0a said:
Tell me more. Over the last few days I have noticed There is a bit of a clonk on the left hand side when you drop the wheel into a pothole. Googling this I have ordered new strut rods. I will get the rest of the suspension checked out though.
Knackered drop links will sound like the floor is about to fall out. It isn't that big a deal though. If there's a creaking or groaning from the steering, it would indicate ball joints. I'd deal with that sooner rather than later, the consequences are potentially hazardous.I have also ordered these and new dampers.
0a said:
Ones from ebay.
When I first got the car, it would open the boot from the remote. Now it doesn’t. This suggests it is something I have done. Any ideas?!
Sounds stupid, but are you holding it long enough? One quick press on the door button lock/unlock opens the doors, but then it’s a press&hold for the boot - at least on the 7 series.When I first got the car, it would open the boot from the remote. Now it doesn’t. This suggests it is something I have done. Any ideas?!
Come to think of it, it’s similar on most things I’ve driven. Seems to be the accepted way of doing things. It’s also possible you did it originally with the car ‘open’ and are now trying it ‘locked’ & that’s why it doesn’t work?
Failing all that common-sense stuff, the Prinny guide to troubleshooting would suggest checking;
- does the internal release button work? If yes, then it’s the key/transponder. If no, then it’s the lock itself.
- A half hour with the battery disconnected resets all manner of electrical gremlins.
My Dad had one of these, from new. I remember the nearest Lexus dealer was in Brighton, and we lived in Portsmouth. He wanted an S Class but the salesperson was so take-it-or-leave-it that he was pretty disgusted and swore off Mercedes.
I think it was H-reg so 1993? Anyway it was brilliant, as far as I could tell being a passenger and too young to drive. He has had Lexii ever since, not really being a petrolhead, but this was the car that sold another 10 to him.
I think it was H-reg so 1993? Anyway it was brilliant, as far as I could tell being a passenger and too young to drive. He has had Lexii ever since, not really being a petrolhead, but this was the car that sold another 10 to him.
Robbidoo said:
My Dad had one of these, from new. I remember the nearest Lexus dealer was in Brighton, and we lived in Portsmouth. He wanted an S Class but the salesperson was so take-it-or-leave-it that he was pretty disgusted and swore off Mercedes.
I think it was H-reg so 1993? Anyway it was brilliant, as far as I could tell being a passenger and too young to drive. He has had Lexii ever since, not really being a petrolhead, but this was the car that sold another 10 to him.
My old Merc 300e was 1991 H, so I think that would be either 91 or early 92. I can understand why he kept on buying them. Mine is very smooth and easy to drive. My colleagues that I take in the car started by laughing at the alan partridgeness of it all, and now love it. It's really comfy. Toyota's version of an S class, with the bad bits as they saw them fixed. I think it was H-reg so 1993? Anyway it was brilliant, as far as I could tell being a passenger and too young to drive. He has had Lexii ever since, not really being a petrolhead, but this was the car that sold another 10 to him.
The Internet states the interiors are rubbish, and I was prepared for this when I purchased this car. However, I now think that's nonsense. There are japanese buttons, that are just buttons. A bit Corolla. But the leather on the steering wheel, gearnob, on the door cards and so on is really well done.
Edited by 0a on Saturday 14th April 00:19
Percy. said:
Looks great 0a!
I have visions of the Lexus wafting along without a care in the world.
I keep trying to persuade SWMBO that we should do a roadtrip around Scotland around September, but it's not going down very well.
The scenery is fantastic, the roads great, there are some great hotels, and wonderful food. What's not to like!I have visions of the Lexus wafting along without a care in the world.
I keep trying to persuade SWMBO that we should do a roadtrip around Scotland around September, but it's not going down very well.
Here is where I stayed on Skye, and it was magnificent: https://www.duisdale.com/
They have a lovely little (ie not too long, but interesting) wine list if that's your thing - I enjoyed a nice Chateau Musar. The staff could not have been nicer, and the setting is tranquil.
Edited by 0a on Tuesday 17th April 21:48
I thought I would post on the things I don't like about the LS.
1. The indicators. Sounds small. They are pretty much the only bit of the car that you touch that feel really cheap and flimsy. I think my 2002 Yaris had better quality and 'clunkier' indicator stalks.
2. The fuel cap which needs to be opened using a button near the steering wheel. Why can't it be unlocked when the car is unlocked like in a merc. People are not going to open it and steal my fuel while I am on the move, Lexus.
3. The looks, maybe. I am getting on with the way it looks better. And when you sit inside it you can't see the exterior. I'm even starting to think that it looks OK in a large, long car kind of way. A work colleague summed up the car today as being 'ugly as sin, but smooth as a baby's bottom'. Hmm. He does drive a mini convertible diesel.
1. The indicators. Sounds small. They are pretty much the only bit of the car that you touch that feel really cheap and flimsy. I think my 2002 Yaris had better quality and 'clunkier' indicator stalks.
2. The fuel cap which needs to be opened using a button near the steering wheel. Why can't it be unlocked when the car is unlocked like in a merc. People are not going to open it and steal my fuel while I am on the move, Lexus.
3. The looks, maybe. I am getting on with the way it looks better. And when you sit inside it you can't see the exterior. I'm even starting to think that it looks OK in a large, long car kind of way. A work colleague summed up the car today as being 'ugly as sin, but smooth as a baby's bottom'. Hmm. He does drive a mini convertible diesel.
Just read this thread with interest. I have never had a LS400 but after years of driving 2 Jag xj's and 3 Audi A8's, I bought a 10 year old LS460 last year for £6k. It had 150,000 miles on the clock. 12 months later it has 170,000 miles on the clock and has been 100% reliable. Could pass for a much newer car. No squeaks, rattles etc.
Brilliant build quality. Will probably keep forever.
Brilliant build quality. Will probably keep forever.
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