Looking At Buying An Ls 400 - Advice Welcome!

[Chris CPT]

Hello guys.

I've just joined the forum after finding it through a quick Google search.

Been wanting an LS 400 for a long time now, and I think it's the best time to buy one as they are such good value for money.

I am after a gas converted one though, as fuel prices will leave me begging for mercy after a month or so otherwise. ;)

I'm taking a bit of a gamble in selling my current car (Seat Toledo 1.9TDi), which has amazing fuel economy and is generally a good car all round, and I've

only had one problem with it in almost 3 years of driving, which will be sorted soon anyway.

I'm a little bored of it now and it seems that a Lexus LS 400 is the answer to my luxury-with-reliability wants and needs.

After researching them on various survey sites etc, I am weighing up the negatives and positives of owning an LS 400.

+ Totally reliable car with virtually no, if any, problems for most owners it seems.

- Fuel will be a sting, going from 45 - 55+ mpg currently, to about 25mpg (I do 95% of my driving around town).

So, I need some advice. I will have a budget of about £2,000, which is plenty of money for one it seems- and it's got to be gas converted but:

- What (if any) problems should I look for on an LS 400?

- What should I look at when buying one with an LPG conversion?

- What sort of price should I pay for one without paying too little or getting ripped off?

All the best and thanks in advance, :)

Chris.

[floggit]

Hi and welcome, £2000 will get you a very nice ls400. Certainly a nice mk3 , but you really should wait it out for a mk4 which should be possible for that money with lpg.

Servicevhistory is a must, more main dealer the better. Must have master key and at least one ordinary, check all electrics and LCD screens are ok and also needles on dash instruments. Run your finger under the power steering pump and check for leaks. Balance the mileage against last cam belt change to work out when your next big bill is lol

Check the forums for sale section,, members cars are certainly good buys as we fix any problems as they arise.

Hope that helps

Steve

[Chris CPT]

Hi and welcome, £2000 will get you a very nice ls400. Certainly a nice mk3 , but you really should wait it out for a mk4 which should be possible for that money with lpg.

Servicevhistory is a must, more main dealer the better. Must have master key and at least one ordinary, check all electrics and LCD screens are ok and also needles on dash instruments. Run your finger under the power steering pump and check for leaks. Balance the mileage against last cam belt change to work out when your next big bill is lol

Check the forums for sale section,, members cars are certainly good buys as we fix any problems as they arise.

Hope that helps

Steve

Hello Steve. Very informative. Thank you! :)

A couple of questions though if that's okay.

- What are the differences between the marks? This may be slightly obvious to owners, but I can't really see the physical differences between them, so

what years did the different marks start and finish, and what are the benefits or negatives of each one?

- Are there certain LPG makes that are good/bad that I should look for when looking at a system already fitted?

- Are there things I should look for on the LPG conversion where I can either walk away from the car, or buy it?

Thanks again Steve, all this is going to be mega-helpful to me! :)

Best,

Chris.

[floggit]

Sorry can't help you with lpg info but people seem to favour multi point.

Mk4 had redesigned front end ,different alloys, more efficient engine ( just lol) sat nav in the dash and I think traction and snow mode control.

Do a search on google and you'll a site to let the differences I'm sure, I had a page saved but I've lst it lol. Mk3 95-96. Mk4 97---

The mk4 also had a "DHP" special which had tweaked suspension to make it firmer and DHP alloys. You'd have to drive both to see which you prefer. Personally I like smooth.

[Bluesman]

Hello guys.

I've just joined the forum after finding it through a quick Google search.

Been wanting an LS 400 for a long time now, and I think it's the best time to buy one as they are such good value for money.

I am after a gas converted one though, as fuel prices will leave me begging for mercy after a month or so otherwise. ;)

I'm taking a bit of a gamble in selling my current car (Seat Toledo 1.9TDi), which has amazing fuel economy and is generally a good car all round, and I've

only had one problem with it in almost 3 years of driving, which will be sorted soon anyway.

I'm a little bored of it now and it seems that a Lexus LS 400 is the answer to my luxury-with-reliability wants and needs.

After researching them on various survey sites etc, I am weighing up the negatives and positives of owning an LS 400.

+ Totally reliable car with virtually no, if any, problems for most owners it seems.

- Fuel will be a sting, going from 45 - 55+ mpg currently, to about 25mpg (I do 95% of my driving around town).

So, I need some advice. I will have a budget of about £2,000, which is plenty of money for one it seems- and it's got to be gas converted but:

- What (if any) problems should I look for on an LS 400?

- What should I look at when buying one with an LPG conversion?

- What sort of price should I pay for one without paying too little or getting ripped off?

All the best and thanks in advance, :)

Chris.

I have used LPG for the last 16 years with all mine and my wifes cars and all the cars I have ever gone to see with LPG already installed have had big problems.

Most LPG installers will not fix other installers problems so your left with having to install another LPG system.

You will need fairly new Safety Certification for your insurance company as they will ask for it and check if your present insurance company will accept a converted petrol car some wont go near them.

My Mk IV averages around 32/33 m/way and around town about 24ish

Good luck

Mike

[floggit]

Type. " ls400 series" into google and select the 1st entry. Wikipedia. It lists all models and specifications.

I've really got a learn how to post links with an iPad lol.

Steve.

[Chris CPT]

Thanks for the info guys.

Regarding the LPG - they can't all be bad surely, especially if you buy them with a proper LPG service and fitment record?

I just haven't got the money to get LPG fitted, even if I buy a cheap LS. I've read that it should cost at least £1,500+ for multi-point LPG to be fitted,

so it's definitely not an option to buy a Lexus and have it fitted later unfortunately.

I've looked at getting one without it fitted but I really couldn't afford to run the beast on petrol. :(

I guess it'd be best to buy an LS 400 with LPG from a member on here?

Cheers,

Chris.

[Chris CPT]

Anyone else got any advice on buying LPG-converted LS 400?

Cheers,

Chris.

[Bluesman]

Anyone else got any advice on buying LPG-converted LS 400?

Cheers,

Chris.

The most important things to check when buying an LPG car is to make sure they have a proper invoice to cover the installation and make a note of who did the installation and check them out on the INTERNET, find out from your insurance company how old can the certification be and also will they cover you for an LPG car, some wont touch them.

Check for any smell of gas at all and if you can smell it walk away. No matter what excuse they come up with keep walking.

If you get past that and you get to drive the car check to see that the change over from LPG to gas is seamless and that there is no difference in performance, also keep smelling for gas, if you can smell it stop the car and get out as you are driving a bomb.

If the drive goes well check the installation out from the tank to the engine bay and see if you feel comfortable with what you see.

I am sorry to be such a doom and gloom merchant but I cant express strongly enough how important all these points are for your enjoyment of luxury motoring at escort MPG and your safety.

Mike

[Chris CPT]

Anyone else got any advice on buying LPG-converted LS 400?

Cheers,

Chris.

The most important things to check when buying an LPG car is to make sure they have a proper invoice to cover the installation and make a note of who did the installation and check them out on the INTERNET, find out from your insurance company how old can the certification be and also will they cover you for an LPG car, some wont touch them.

Check for any smell of gas at all and if you can smell it walk away. No matter what excuse they come up with keep walking.

If you get past that and you get to drive the car check to see that the change over from LPG to gas is seamless and that there is no difference in performance, also keep smelling for gas, if you can smell it stop the car and get out as you are driving a bomb.

If the drive goes well check the installation out from the tank to the engine bay and see if you feel comfortable with what you see.

I am sorry to be such a doom and gloom merchant but I cant express strongly enough how important all these points are for your enjoyment of luxury motoring at escort MPG and your safety.

Mike

Hi Mike. Nah, it's not 'doom and gloom' stuff at all. I'm a realist, especially when it comes to buying cars, so this info is simply what is realistic and unless I'm an idiot, I'll heed this advice! ;)

Cheers,

Chris. B)

[pete-]

As background info. The Sunday Times 08.05.11 has an in depth answer to a reader's question on converting a second hand car to LPG in their section of In Gear, Car Clinic, page 10. As other LOC members have pointed out the payback time seems to be too long if you convert a second hand car to LPG unless you do a high mileage [an example is given in The Sunday Times] A worry mentioned in the Times was 'When fuel duty rises again next January, it will go up by 1p a litre more for LPG than it will for petrol and diesel:according to HMRC , this is specifically "to reduce the differential with main road fuels". So LPG may not be so much cheaper for ever.'

[Bluesman]

As background info. The Sunday Times 08.05.11 has an in depth answer to a reader's question on converting a second hand car to LPG in their section of In Gear, Car Clinic, page 10. As other LOC members have pointed out the payback time seems to be too long if you convert a second hand car to LPG unless you do a high mileage [an example is given in The Sunday Times] A worry mentioned in the Times was 'When fuel duty rises again next January, it will go up by 1p a litre more for LPG than it will for petrol and diesel:according to HMRC , this is specifically "to reduce the differential with main road fuels". So LPG may not be so much cheaper for ever.'

They were talking about doing similar things when I had my first car converted 16 years ago. It hasn't happened yet.

The problem the government have if they do that they will shoot themselves in the foot regarding all the green propaganda they manage to throw at us by the ton amd most of it lies.

Mike.