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Found on a sale post! (THIS is how to sell your LS?) 'The Lexus LS400 is one of the World's most elegant saloons. In my experience, there is quite simply nothing that matches the reliability, workmanship, comfort and value that a Lexus can give you. Lexus is not just a brand to me. It is a mind-set. They have a philosophy of doing things right, first time round, and I admire that. Lexus is still a relatively young brand considering they have only been producing cars for the past 25 years. However, as some of you may know, Lexus is the creation of Toyota and it was there aim back in the early 1970’s to create a brand that was the best of the best. The first Lexus that was launched was the LS400 back in 1989. This was the end result of nearly 20 years of research, time and thought that went into the creation of the first Lexus. There are a lot of interesting facts regarding the LS that many people are unaware of. One thing is for sure, Lexus went out of their way to create a luxury car and I will briefly explain a few out of the many reasons why. For example, during the creation of the engine for the LS400, Lexus called in Yamaha to acoustically tune the engine note of the original LS. To show how refined and well-tuned the LS400 was, as a demonstration to customers, Lexus would fill a glass of wine and place it on top of the engine. Then someone in the driver’s seat would start the car and then rev the engine, even to its peak, and throughout the process the glass of wine would simply not spill. Amazingly, Lexus still stand by this. Believe it or not, the LS’s 1UZ-FE V8 engine (the 4.0L V8) has a six-bolt main and is the only automotive engine of the era to be FAA rated. That means it’s so durable, the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America says you can put one in an aeroplane, no problem. And people have done it. The leather used to upholster Lexus seats is made from the hides of cows that are kept without the use of barbed wire, to ensure perfect quality. During production, the Lexus LS received more coats of paint than a Rolls Royce of the same age. In fact, Lexus paint inspectors are required to pass an examination of their skills four times a year to continue working on the line. When it comes to the smallest and finest of details, during the development of the original LS, one team member was assigned to ensure the feel of each and every button and switch was perfect. He carried around three sets of fake nails to ensure buttons were suitable for all types of customers. This was unheard of then, and still is now.'

Jesus , John - you need to get out more!

Today is the day. Outgoing. Incoming.

Ok guys, so we all know about dealership valeters. Tonight when I went to fill the car up, I did see some very light scratches on the car in places, there are about three on the bonnet but you can only really see them under artificial light. I always find this is the norm, I don't think I've ever had a new car without them, I know a lot of people who are very picky with their cars ask dealers not to clean the car after a service because of this. Usually I would just cut and polish them out as best you can. My question is, what is this self repairing paintwork about that it talks about in the handbook ? I have read that people reckon the Lexus paintwork is very soft. Is cut and wax the best option still, or just leave it till after a few washes to see as the paint settles ? Not stressed about it, like I say, pretty usual unfortunately.

Couple of quick ones :) The S4 is pretty hard on running costs, but has half the annual road tax. Tyres are probably cheaper too as they are 235/40/18 on all four corners. Fuel is about the same, as I average about 23mpg round town and about 28-30mpg on a calm long road trip. The problem for the S4 is parts are quite a bit more expensive, and doing fairly basic general work is alot harder. Wheel bearings are a nightmare, suspension is very difficult (they use a pinch pin on the fronts which is made of mild steel in an aluminium upright which corrodes into place) to work on too. Overall, the running costs will probably be fairly similar if not less as the Lexus is a lot easier to work on / maintain. And it has more power! :D

just a few words to thank MATT C for his help just purchased exactly what i needed

Damn, I forgot to say, with regard to that ad, the walk round video is an excellent idea, I wish more people would do it.

Look and learn all those Wallys that stick half a dozen words all of which are miss spelt and an upside down fuzzy picture of a car that's a different colour to one hes actually selling but looks almost the same. They say you cant have more than 100% but Jim Marshall made amps that went to 11 and this guy has gone to 101% for all the effort put into that advert and all the pictures. I hope he gets what hes asking for it or near as we all benefit from cars like this being sold as it ups the value of our cars thats how the market sets itself. Mike That reminds me of an episode of storage hunters, where a bloke bid on a storage locker containing Marshall amps. He was all excited when he saw them, and remarked on them having eleven over the controls, only to be a tad deflated when they turned out to be fridges!! Only in America eh?

I've been looking for a wing in blue since some scroat kicked a big dent in mine two halloweens ago. Gave first choice a go, and a couple got back to me with quotes, though not the right colour. Also 24/7, which produced one reply from somebody wanting over £200 for wrong coloured, and giving a premium rate number to ring. Ended up getting one in Basildon, on my way back from Yorkshire last night for £50, in red. His advert has been on ebay for ages, showing the car mine came off, apparently he regularly buys and breaks LS and other Lexus.

The whole VAG reliabikity issue raises its head once again. The perception of the general populous could not be more wrong regarding VAG reliability. The cars characteristics is a personal thing as you day. The m4 seems a bit more yob like and the RCF more refined. Let us know if you but one, then drive to my house and let me rag it for a bit :0)

I'll be along to this meet. Look forward to meeting everybody. Mike

ChrisM, for parts check the new electronic parts catalogue: http://www.japan-parts.eu/lexus/eu/1994/ls400/ucf20r-aepgkw/3_431220_005_/body/5102_suspension-crossmember-under-cover

The M4 promised to be much of what it is. I love coupes, and after the 323i, 328i, 330i, 335d M Sport, Alpina B3 BiTurbo, Alpina B3s BiTurbo and M3 (V8, Competition Pack), the M4 seemed a logical progression (my experience was that turbos were no issue on the Alpinas, with bags of torque DELIVERED APPROPRIATELY for road or track). Where the M4 isn’t ideal is in the delivery of the incredible torque that the engine delivers – it is in no way progressive. There’s no build up at all. The M4 has actually made me better appreciate the beauty of the M3 V8 engine with its lower, more progressive torque delivery. It’s difficult to get a quick getaway on anything but warm, dry surfaces without the tyres and back-end wanting to rip itself free, bounce around and tyre-squeal whilst the nanny controls do their best to keep things in check. Some will love those characteristics and the way they are delivered, but it’s the case that many of the formal respected automotive journalists / reviewers are stating that the M4 has an issue in that it doesn’t deliver it’s power down so well, even on the track, and it’s for this reason amongst others that the RCF makes up its ground and keeps on the M4's tail, and on some of the twistier closed tracks, beats it. If only the M4 was a little heavier(!), this might not be such an issue, but then its all about compromises and the goals of the designer and marketing teams… Interestingly, the new Mercedes C63 AMG, with its twin turbos has an engineering countermeasure for this issue; the torque generated in the first 3 gears is limited by the ECU to improve traction. Because the RCF doesn’t have turbos and has a progressive torque delivery, it doesn’t suffer with these issues, and where traction could become an issue on the limit, the TVD pretty much takes care of that. I really like the M4 in so many ways – it’s not about taking sides or liking only one 'ultimate vehicle' (where forums often seem to end up going for some reason) but I just preferred the overall feeling of solidity, the smooth and un-burstable progressive power delivery and soundtrack of the RCF V8 (not to mention the Lexus customer experience, whereas the M4 hasn’t exactly been fault free, and BMW aftersales service in no way reflects the fact that you are treated like a king until you’ve signed on the dotted line… The M4’s been in for 5 issues since November, and there’s a whine from the engine bay that’s getting progressively louder that is apparently ‘a characteristic of the model’. Really? And it gets louder with time (just before failure?)? Well, no such whine from the RCF. Now - where’s that piggy-bank…

All the reviews on the RCF I have seen (to repeat earlier comments) are that it is too heavy, doesn't handle well and doesn't match the competition. Personally I think the NA approach is a plus, it is more likely the bulk the car has to haul around that creates so much of a gap with the turbo'd German rivals. Two door sports coupe (or 'coup' as the yanks say) = 911 or GTR IHMO, Lexus making the RCF a heavy two door seems an odd choice rather than just doing a straight ISF replacement, but then Lexus has done some awful cars in the past in the genre (remember the IS coupe and convertible). I think we may all have lucky to own the 'wild child' car of its generation from Lexus for the masses before they went back to type...

hello and congratulations on your purchase. To be honest i would look into the essential range of servicing options at the dealers as because of the age of your car it is not worth having a normal full service and the essential major and minor services are specific for cars older than 5 years so i would look into that. I had a minor essential service last year and this year a major essential service. This year mine came in at £349 which is quite reasonable i think and i had a courtesy car as well.

I don't really get the whole "no soul" thing, but the lexus is just too refined, perfect and quiet to be honest. I can easily make the lexus have a soul, just lower it slightly on quality springs/shocks and stick a nice SS exhaust to make the v8 grumble a little. If it had a BMW badge, I'm sure people would not call it soul-less. I guess it depends on what people classify as "soul" in regards to a car though. I also like the styling, it has an american look to it that most cars in Britain do not have, it has even attracted unwanted attention from the police for me.