Advice on LS460 please

[ALBA]

Hello folks.  Owned over 100 cars, but only one Lexus!  I had a ES330h Takumi and probably one of the best cars I've owned. One criticism was slight lack in ooomph compared to what I was used to. Only changed it to free up some funds.  Currently in same situation again!  At present in a BMW 520d X drive.  Decent motor and £12k of factory options and under BMW Warranty but need to change and release some capital...

Never even been in an LS but read plenty on this forum and watched enough 'youtubers' to form a picture of ownership.  Probably like all in same position have my concerns regarding buying a bad example that is a potential money pit.  Owned many Jags in past and have considered a X350 XJ but keep coming back to mainly the LS460.  Would also consider a 600h but feel there may be added concerns regarding age and hybrid batteries etc.

Just wondered if anyone (possibly previous owner?) is familiar with the car advertised in link below?  Also, any opinion on the example I've flagged would be warmly received.  I do like the spec, colour scheme and sounds like the correct maintenance has been applied.  I will get in touch with the dealer advertising the car and see if I can sight receipts to confirm exact work carried out in the recent £5k spend mentioned.  First comment would probably be 'go and view it'.  I'm in NE of Sunny Scotland so not quite in the vicinity 🙂 

 

2007 Silver Lexus LS 4.6 460 SE-L 4d 376 BHP MERCEDES SPECIALIST for sale for £8,600 in Blackburn, Lancashire (autotrader.co.uk)

 

Part of me says I'm mad buying a V8 with current fuel prices continuing skyward but I still want to own a luxury car that is a pleasure to get in and drive.  It will be a daily driver and probably kept for 12 months.  Would be garaged every night and used for a 20 mile round trip most days.  Stating the obvious that applies to us all but I want the best example I can find mechanically with as much as the expensive concerns as possible already addressed, in my limited knowledge things like control arms, other relevant suspension components, and all other bits mentioned throughout the forum!  I appreciate it is an older high end car and some expense is to be expected.  I don't actually think I have even seen a LS460 in the flesh! 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and for any feedback, advice and opinions. 

Drive safe.

 

[The-Acre]

10 minutes ago, ALBA said:

Hello folks.  Owned over 100 cars, but only one Lexus!  I had a ES330h Takumi and probably one of the best cars I've owned. One criticism was slight lack in ooomph compared to what I was used to. Only changed it to free up some funds.  Currently in same situation again!  At present in a BMW 520d X drive.  Decent motor and £12k of factory options and under BMW Warranty but need to change and release some capital...

Never even been in an LS but read plenty on this forum and watched enough 'youtubers' to form a picture of ownership.  Probably like all in same position have my concerns regarding buying a bad example that is a potential money pit.  Owned many Jags in past and have considered a X350 XJ but keep coming back to mainly the LS460.  Would also consider a 600h but feel there may be added concerns regarding age and hybrid batteries etc.

Just wondered if anyone (possibly previous owner?) is familiar with the car advertised in link below?  Also, any opinion on the example I've flagged would be warmly received.  I do like the spec, colour scheme and sounds like the correct maintenance has been applied.  I will get in touch with the dealer advertising the car and see if I can sight receipts to confirm exact work carried out in the recent £5k spend mentioned.  First comment would probably be 'go and view it'.  I'm in NE of Sunny Scotland so not quite in the vicinity 🙂 

 

2007 Silver Lexus LS 4.6 460 SE-L 4d 376 BHP MERCEDES SPECIALIST for sale for £8,600 in Blackburn, Lancashire (autotrader.co.uk)

 

Part of me says I'm mad buying a V8 with current fuel prices continuing skyward but I still want to own a luxury car that is a pleasure to get in and drive.  It will be a daily driver and probably kept for 12 months.  Would be garaged every night and used for a 20 mile round trip most days.  Stating the obvious that applies to us all but I want the best example I can find mechanically with as much as the expensive concerns as possible already addressed, in my limited knowledge things like control arms, other relevant suspension components, and all other bits mentioned throughout the forum!  I appreciate it is an older high end car and some expense is to be expected.  I don't actually think I have even seen a LS460 in the flesh! 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and for any feedback, advice and opinions. 

Drive safe.

 

A member on this forum mentioned his 460 for sale, yesterday I think it was, same year, less money, less mileage.

 

[Tulpen]

Speaking as someone who was brought up in Stonehaven, it's nice to see the name 'Kincardineshire' being used.

I've owned my 460 for, almost, 10 years now and have found it to be as reliable as the 400 I had before - and that was nearly bullet-proof. The best thing to do is to find one and have a test drive........you will be amazed. The LS is a very special experience.

[ALBA]

34 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

A member on this forum mentioned his 460 for sale, yesterday I think it was, same year, less money, less mileage.

 

Thanks.  Will perhaps give him a shout and get some more background on his car.  Always good when dealing with a forum member👍

[ALBA]

4 minutes ago, Tulpen said:

Speaking as someone who was brought up in Stonehaven, it's nice to see the name 'Kincardineshire' being used.

I've owned my 460 for, almost, 10 years now and have found it to be as reliable as the 400 I had before - and that was nearly bullet-proof. The best thing to do is to find one and have a test drive........you will be amazed. The LS is a very special experience.

Evening.  Fit like! and many thanks for quick reply.  They do sound like a fantastic place to sit, even with a few years on them.  Last bigger 'saloon' type car I was in was a BMW 640d Gran Coupe followed by a Panamera.  Both good cars in their own rights and even on smaller A-roads could cover ground remarkably swiftly and progressively.  I suppose the LS would ensure I would not be going TOO fast on such roads!?  As mentioned before, slight reservation is any large bills buying an older car with bigger mileage and if privately, no warranty.  But I also appreciate not all cars need money going out on maintenance every month of the year (he said hopefully!).

Aye, Stonehaven just down the road from me.  Great wee place and I walk the boards on the sea front couple of times a week and soak up the clean air.  Shame you're no longer there, I could have perused your LS😁 Don't see any advertised in Scotland and never see any on the road here.  But, that to me is all  part of the appeal.

Have you ever had to replace any of the main items discussed on the forum, i.e. suspension parts, radiator or suchlike?  Just wondering what overall costs are for such things and if parts can be sourced from specialists (OE) or if it is mainly Main Dealers.

Cheers, S

[Devo]

51 minutes ago, ALBA said:

Hello folks.  Owned over 100 cars, but only one Lexus!  I had a ES330h Takumi and probably one of the best cars I've owned. One criticism was slight lack in ooomph compared to what I was used to. Only changed it to free up some funds.  Currently in same situation again!  At present in a BMW 520d X drive.  Decent motor and £12k of factory options and under BMW Warranty but need to change and release some capital...

Never even been in an LS but read plenty on this forum and watched enough 'youtubers' to form a picture of ownership.  Probably like all in same position have my concerns regarding buying a bad example that is a potential money pit.  Owned many Jags in past and have considered a X350 XJ but keep coming back to mainly the LS460.  Would also consider a 600h but feel there may be added concerns regarding age and hybrid batteries etc.

Just wondered if anyone (possibly previous owner?) is familiar with the car advertised in link below?  Also, any opinion on the example I've flagged would be warmly received.  I do like the spec, colour scheme and sounds like the correct maintenance has been applied.  I will get in touch with the dealer advertising the car and see if I can sight receipts to confirm exact work carried out in the recent £5k spend mentioned.  First comment would probably be 'go and view it'.  I'm in NE of Sunny Scotland so not quite in the vicinity 🙂 

 

2007 Silver Lexus LS 4.6 460 SE-L 4d 376 BHP MERCEDES SPECIALIST for sale for £8,600 in Blackburn, Lancashire (autotrader.co.uk)

 

Part of me says I'm mad buying a V8 with current fuel prices continuing skyward but I still want to own a luxury car that is a pleasure to get in and drive.  It will be a daily driver and probably kept for 12 months.  Would be garaged every night and used for a 20 mile round trip most days.  Stating the obvious that applies to us all but I want the best example I can find mechanically with as much as the expensive concerns as possible already addressed, in my limited knowledge things like control arms, other relevant suspension components, and all other bits mentioned throughout the forum!  I appreciate it is an older high end car and some expense is to be expected.  I don't actually think I have even seen a LS460 in the flesh! 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and for any feedback, advice and opinions. 

Drive safe.

 

Hello sir, I purchased an LS460SE about 2weeks ago and can tell you that they’re a really special car indeed! 
I was lucky in the fact that my neighbours A short walk away are a local Toyota Lexus sales and repair, they had looked after the car for the last 10 years for an elderly gentleman and he had only clock up 20,000 miles in that time and serviced it every year, so the car has only done 39,000, it’s an awesome v8 and a pleasure to drive. I have put a Race-chip xlr throttle chip on, to improve lag and throttle response( beware of R+ mode) as the Ls becomes a real beast from the east! In Sport mode it’s really great, without the chip or in the neutral setting there is slight delay in the throttle or the feeling of having to press the throttle Quite hard for response. There is a bit of wind noise at high speed,  but nothing to worry about if just cruising. I don’t think the control arms are an issue, probably the Americans doing to many donuts! I asked what oil they had used and they said the 5w30, so I think I’m going to get them to put the liqui moly 0w20 in with the ceratec ceramic coating, should work a bit better as the climate will allow a thinner oil. Mine has the 18 inch allows so not sure if I’m going to change for the 19inch alloys that the car your looking at has. The only other thing is I’m considering is a ever so slightly louder growl from the exhaust, I might be sounding like a boy racer but I’m really not! Just like the small tweaks to get a bigger smile as I drive the ss enterprise! One thing I will say Is that it’s not the filling up it’s the speed at which the fuel gauge goes down! But worth every penny me thinks! The Japanese really do make a masterpiece of a drive. Good luck with your purchase 

[ALBA]

Evening Devo.  Great to read your message, obviously enjoying the car.  I'm also no boy racer, but appreciate what you have done regarding the chip.  I've done the same to numerous cars over the years and concur with the enjoyment of improved throttle response.  I am also in agreement regarding exhausts.  I think just a subtle 'burble' would be appropriate when you have a large V8 under the bonnet!  I owned one of the very last Jag XKs' (A rare Artisan model) and it was similar.  5.0 V8 and hardly a sound from it.  Just a smaller back box each side made all the difference without being tacky and you could hear better what the engine was doing when 'progressing'.  It also warmed the heart when starting it up in the garage with the doors closed and was music to my ears being an out and out (somewhat mature) petrolhead!

Out of interest what cost was the chip? I wonder if it may improve mpg even just a tad as you may not be so heavy with the right foot when moving off or gaining momentum for a pass etc?

Good luck with the new motor Sir and enjoy🙂

[Tulpen]

The only problem I've had with mine is: a failed front wheel bearing, caused by hitting a large, rain filled, pothole on a visit to Scotland.

I've changed the radiator as a precaution at 100,000 miles (you can find references to radiator/oil cooler problems on the Forum).

Apart from that, just scheduled servicing.

I haven't done any modifications because I think the essence of the LS is rapid, luxurious, almost silent transport..........coupled with incredible reliability.

[ML EXUS]

Had my LS 460 2007 for about 5 years, loved it every drive since.  Previous Merc 320. Chalk and Cheese.  Takes E5 Petrol but only 18MPG around town.

Check tax rate