0a's 1999 Lexus LS400 Mk4 (Barge 1-5 Content)
Discussion
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.
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.
PHPercy said:
Lovely 0a.
Any more photos of the interior?
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.
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.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.
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!
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 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. 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......
I haven’t but will soon!
The car was very comfortable on my long trip and got 31mpg which is good considering I didn’t hang about.
The car is in with my The Man to have the wheels refurbed and tyres replaced (I didn’t like the look of them). It turns out that they are at least 12 years old, which backs up the low mileage for the period.
The car was very comfortable on my long trip and got 31mpg which is good considering I didn’t hang about.
The car is in with my The Man to have the wheels refurbed and tyres replaced (I didn’t like the look of them). It turns out that they are at least 12 years old, which backs up the low mileage for the period.
r129sl said:
Marvellous acquisition, Oa. I like that a lot. Keep us posted, although I bet you have little to report on it.
I’m hoping that this will be my reliable, comfortable car which allows me to indulge my old merc passion. For the money I paid it is a lot of capability. I have to say though - go out in the wet, use the “PWR” mode on the gearbox and turn off traction control... the Lexus responds well enough. The normal gearbox mode whispers around and makes the throttle really unresponsive. Deliberately I guess, for refinement and comfort.
It is. I'm rather impressed by the interior. Not the prettiest design, but it feels like it will last forever and is of really good quality. One example: the Jaguar looked lovely, but reach your fingers around the back of the steering wheel and there was nasty sharp plastic. Not so in the Toyota (sorry, Lexus!). I even like using the sat navigation, as it tells you what has changed since 1999.
I did note that the key is identical in format to my Sister's slightly later Yaris key!
I did note that the key is identical in format to my Sister's slightly later Yaris key!
Edited by 0a on Sunday 8th April 23:10
I don’t mind the look of the 430.
In many ways it’s very easy to forget how old the 400 is. It’s a bit blobby, doesn’t have too much feel, is easy to drive, and heavy. It therefore has a modern car feel in many ways.
Yet I was revising for my GCSE mock exams in 1999 when my LS rolled off the production line for its first owner! That is a long time ago. A 430 could be significantly younger.
Everything still works bar the boot seal seeming to leak a little, the bonnet struts, and on this cycle the washer fluid low light (will run it down to see if the float moves). Fairly impressive.
In many ways it’s very easy to forget how old the 400 is. It’s a bit blobby, doesn’t have too much feel, is easy to drive, and heavy. It therefore has a modern car feel in many ways.
Yet I was revising for my GCSE mock exams in 1999 when my LS rolled off the production line for its first owner! That is a long time ago. A 430 could be significantly younger.
Everything still works bar the boot seal seeming to leak a little, the bonnet struts, and on this cycle the washer fluid low light (will run it down to see if the float moves). Fairly impressive.
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!).
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.
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