Another Year Of Ownership - Costs And Another Lexus Has Arrived

[Nick W858]

Hello all

Just thought I’d give an overview of the costs involved during my 10th year of ownership of my 98 LS400 – this site was immensely helpful in my decision to purchase my vehicle so
hopefully this information may help others too.

During the last 12 months I have covered around miles, car has done
around now does around 23mpg round town but most of my journeys are longish
runs when it can get up to 29/30mpg.

Costs (aside from fuel) as follows;

Insurance £354
Tax £225
Annual Service & Mot £1319 – this included new plugs, rear pads a wear wire
(not sure what that is!) plus brake pipes, new top arm and oil cooler – this
was done back in April 2014 so my memory is a bit hazy about all the bits and
pieces.

I also needed a new key and fob etc – this was £198

Refurb of scuffed front bumper and other minor paintwork £220

Total £2316

Annual service was done at an independent – I have found a small excellent
garage around the corner from where I live – the proprietor owns an LS400 and
is very knowledgeable about the vehicle.

Still loving the car and I intend to keep it although it will be used as a
second car now for me (probably a winter vehicle). I have just collected a very
nice 2009 ISF which takes us to a three Lexus household and 12.5 litres between
my LS, ISF and the wife’s Rx450.

Hopefully the ISF will prove to be as good as the LS - I am more than aware
they are quite different cars!

Thanks

Nick

[Cotswold Pete]

Nick,

sounds like your in heaven, as anyone owning an LS.

Only today I was thinking would I get another Lexus and just use the 400 as part time car, but on the way home I could see no reason to do so, also governed by lack of parking where I live to park a spare motor.

Still I might pop off to a dealer in next 12 months and see whether anything else Lexus would take my fancy especially as just made last payment on the mortgage and so maybe some spare cash later on. Oops, just remembered I have a wife, so maybe not!!

[Chris Skelton]

Wives and children = low cash!

Tempted to offer on your car-as you are pretty local to me!

a 600HL would suit you?

[Cotswold Pete]

Chris,

Actually bought this one from a trader near Taunton, even though it seems to have spent a chunk of it's life up north.

On the way home again tonigt, I was thinking what a darned lovely drive it gives and now the missus wants to get the lounge done (totally new floor, full re plaster etc etc, so that'll be a few bob going out this year) so any thoughts of another Lexus on hold.

The only thing I actually hanker after is a good set of walking boots (old ones on last legs) and then a week driving around Wales in the LS, and doing some nice long day walks. But fear it will be hammer and screwdriver in hand and a whole bunch of Effing and Jeffing when the wall paper looks wonky!!

[Nick W858]

Thanks guys - Chris - I did look at the 600h but to be honest I'd rather stick with the 400. Much as the ISF is fantastic I think I will probably run it for a year and then sell it - parking space is a bit tricky for me so I intend to keep the LS at a friends for a while -as I have winter wheels for the LS my plan is to run the ISF until the end of the year and then park it up for three months and run the LS in the worse of winter. I have such a strong connection with the LS I really don't want to let go of it. But then again I really don't want to run two cars so I think next year I might swap the LS and the ISF for a GS450h or may just go back to the LS. After 12 years of driving the LS and not worrying about it, in some ways it's a bit more stressful driving a shiny, sporty car like the ISF - strange as that might sound.

[n4chv]

Good LS vehicles, especially 400s are becoming so rare now

As superb as my LS430 is, the 400 I owned has made an unforgettable impact on me - it was without question the best ever vehicle I have ever owned.

It was powerful, smooth, luxurious, deceptively fast, surprisingly good mpg and had reasonable costs too - nothing else could touch it for reliability either