New To Lexus, Buyers Guide To Ls400?

[Jacques Wood]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for an LS400. I'm 23, 6ft 8 and need a big car. I've always been attracted to the LS, and I was hoping to probe you guys for a buyers guide to an LS400.

To clarify, I'm a freshly graduated student on a tight budget, I'm a competent mechanic and have the space to work on a car.

With this in mind, I'm keeping a close eye on the sub £1000 LS400's as a potential buy, and would like to know what in particular are the weak areas of these early LS400's? Are there any workshop manuals floating around? do I need special tools to work on the car? if so, where do I buy them, or how do I make them?

Basic questions that I would greatly appreciate answers to are:

What are the minor/major service intervals? and when do the timing belts need changing?

What are common areas of MOT failures?

What are key areas of the car to maintain/look after?

When test driving, how should a car ride? (are the gearboxes slow to react, and there any clunks/bangs I should listen for/ignore? etc)

Has anyone seen benefits from LPG conversions in terms of costs recuperation with LPG prices on the rise?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated, and hopefully I'll be a fully fledged LOC member soon.

Kind regards,

Jacques Wood