Ls 400 What Are They Like To Own And Run ?

[Bluesman]

Bought my ls400 mk4 lpg last June , thought I would find something that wouldn't work on it with all its electrical gizmos and I was right .

The electric arial had stopped working which I fixed with a new insert of eBay 20 quid .everything else worked and I went right through it.

I'm an x mechanic and it is without doubt the smoothest car I've been in , quick when it has to be .

Lpg means it's cheap to run as well .

It's not the type of car I normally go for as my previous was an Alfa gtv v6 , and I own a mk1 and mk2 escort , so for somebody with my tastes shows how versatile the cars are , also my missus loves it from my usual noisy bone shakers , and she gets to spend more time with me now that I'm not under the bonnet of the Alfa all the time . The common bonnet gas struts becoming weak can only be through lack of use .

Get one you will enjoy it .

Do you happen to know which fuse box holds the aerial fuse? Mike

[bigjap]

joe, i think you may of misread the mileage when the cambelt was changed ,looks like 140k to me.due again at 200k or 2017,if you use the old rule of thumb,i know people have different takes on this.the red one does look a good car

[runsgrateasanut]

I'm trying to hard to love this car but after returning in the wee hours this Morning from a 600 mile drive in France I have to query this as being a comfy cruiser.
I never had a feeling of an aching bum in my W140 or W1 26 Mercs but with this car not only on the out 600 mile journey but when coming home found I was twisting and turning to get comfortable. Also, when I got out I had a severe hip joint ache on my left side. Now this could be because I have had back problems in the past? I had fixed the seat reclining trouble. I do notice the floor pan is angled at the side that may have caused my leg joint to ache after my foot has been at an incline for hours and hours of driving - 14 or more to be precise. Despite repeated moving of the leg within the limited space I was hobbling about at the last pit stop just beyond Rouen and climbing the Ferry Stairs. When I got home I could barely stand up.

The Merc has a wider body and floorpan and I never had any problem of this nature.

Built with the Japanese stature in mind if you are six one size or broad in the beam this aint for you.
Don't really know how the yanks found them comfortable.Maybe they were more popular with women and now the trim youngsters?

Apart from the fortune I've spent on parts and labour since I bought the car (comparatively speaking - about twice times the purchase price £1000 and rising) I feel the car has a wonderful Engine and good MPG.
I like the status feel of the car and for its age the bodywork looks nice if not immaculate, but its because of the very expensive maintenance parts and labour that there are so few on the roads, of this I'm sure. I've said I'll stick with this and see it to the end, but if I'd had foresight I wouldn't have touched the car with a bargepole. Only need the Starter motor to fail to throw in the towel I fear, even though the part to repair is cheap.I don't like doing my own mechanics.

I really hate being a whinger but this is my experience FWIW.

[Malc]

....... the Ls400 is absolutely the only car that I know I can drive for hours and hours and hours and emerge with zero back pain or other aches and pains ...... feeling as tho' I've just stepped out of a comfy armchair.

And I'm a fat old bugger only 5'10" tall.

Throughout my driving life of 48 years, of which 14 have been Ls400, I speak with some experience......... not always so rotund tho' but I did have aches and pains with other cars when I was " smaller "

Malc

[Tulpen]

Stuart, I agree with Malc. I've been driving 400 and 460 for 18 years now and, with all the seat and steering wheel adjustments that are possible, I think you just haven't found the right combo for you.

Even on VERY long journeys, I get out wishing I still had further to go.

[Titch LS]

Stuart, sorry to hear that you find your LS uncomfortable as I've never come across anyone saying that about one of these cars before. I've taken mine on the Continent a few times now doing some really long trips and I have been amazed at just how comfy the car was after many hours at the wheel. Perhaps you need to experiment with the seat settings a bit more to alleviate any muscle strain or tension. My lad has driven my car a few times and he's very tall, but to my knowledge hasn't experienced any discomfort with the driver's seat.

[Spacewagon52]

I did read that Sir Harvey Jones hated being driven in his Lexus LS 400 - he preferred a Volvo for comfort. Just goes to show you can't please all of the people all the time!

It is still the best car I have ever owned - and one of the cheapest to buy!

[hihihi]

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[runsgrateasanut]

I'd like to thank all who have commented on my last post. I did wonder if it had anything to do with the trousers I was wearing. Cargoes do have back pockets but I don't keep anything in them. Just maybe the stitching on the pockets could sit on a nerve? Never had to think about it before. I did try changing the driving position on a few occasions to try to get more comfortable. For the first few hours I had no problem . May also highten the wheel slightly. I can't move my leg under it and maybe its too low?

There is a crease in the leather on the drivers seat left hand side cushion area and maybe I need check this out. didn't appear to be raised. I would add my wife also doesn't find the seat quite as comfortable but she didn't get any stiffness.

Although praising Merc seats, I did have an earlier Merc W123 series where the seats were like Granny's old spring bed and were killers for backache. Once a spring twanged as I was returning from Stansted airport and by the time I got home to North Essex my back was in agony. In my W126 it had similar spring seats covered with MB Tex and I used Gorilla filler to give the seat a better and more substantial cushion as I recall.

I'll check the various options as it must be me or just poor setting. Didn't see a single LS400 or 430 during our fortnight in France - very exclusive Car now! . I'll find a way around this dilemma.

[Bluesman]

My son always says that they are the most comfortable seats he has ever sat in and from him that is high praise indeed. Mike.

[runsgrateasanut]

doing a bit of research on seats and watched this video.

Perhaps he didn't try the Lexus range?