nickd

Your car looks great and I'm sure well worth the effort. Will do mine when back off holiday from Cornwall, it's covered in dust and flies!

I'd only recently found out about the Saris, didn't know it had been around so long. Yes taking my pedals off certainly helped avoid scratches. I used the wrap held on with cable ties. Next time I think i'll use large pipe lagging foam. Certainly worth bring the bikes down, been out a few time and tonight cycling to Penberth. Lovely spot. Have to say I didn't bother with another plate. Most cars with a rear boot rack didn't seem to either. However to be safe next time I will. I'm glad now I didn't pay the extra £170 or so for the Thule Raceway 992.

Yes I should have taken some, so I will take some when I return in a couple of weeks and post.

For anyone who might fancy sticking on a bike rack to the rear of their LS I can definitely recommend the Saris Bones rack. The rack is well made, tough yet very light. I attached it easily to my LS and put on two 29" MTBs. I came down to Sennen, Cornwall on Saturday from Sheffield and the bikes were stable and I felt confident driving up to 80 mph. (max recommended speed for the rack) I removed the pedals and put bubble wrap on the forks of one bike and I can happily report that the boot suffered no marking form the six straps that attach to the lid. In fact I thought the car looked pretty cool with them on the back. What does amaze me though is that I didn't see another LS on the entire journey. Certainly very rare cars. Nick

Just had my LS serviced at Lex Tek, Sheffield. £143 for 90K service, which included new wiper blades. Dave doesn't mind me hanging about and showed me again all underneath the car. I didn't know what a catalytic converter looked like, so he showed me the two. Explained what does what etc. So I can recommend Lex Tek if anyone is close enough to use.

I wonder how long all these in dash LCD's will last? Bound to very expensive to replace.

Quite agree, Porsche, Land Rover and Bentley all at the bottom of the reliability index. When I recently bought my LS, my modest budget would have allowed for a nice 7 series or S Class. No I wanted the LS as i have always wanted one and because I know it is and will hopefully be the most reliable car in its class. The biggest fail I can see is the air suspension, which I think can now be fixed for a reasonable cost. My business partners Audi Q5 MMI sat nav unit has failed and the dealer in Sheffield has quoted £2,500 for a new one, bonkers. Just for a 7" screen and a few adapters. Buy a 27" iMac for that, or indeed a LS430.

Ah thanks Graham!! I thought no one cared!!!! No seriously it's useful to know as when i took the car in for a check over at Lex Tek, the front tyres had more tread so switched them round and I immediately noticed a difference. It did indeed tram line and could feel it through the wheel, nibbling as you say. I will try the Avons. I love the car, the kids love and my wife loves it. I've forgotten about the MPG and view the car as a whole. I'm so glad i bought one.

Morning! My LS came with nearly new Bridgestone Portenza on the rear and Bridgestone Turanza on the front. I believe the car originally came with one of the two. Is that right? I need to replace the front, so should i go with Portenza or Turanza, what does any one think? Had the my car for 10 weeks now, it's been faultless and i'm so pleased i eventually bought one. Cheers Nick PS Gave the car a wash on Saturday. Definitely king of the street! (well to me)

Looks fab. I use to have an IS Sportcross and loved it. There is something about a Lexus which just out shines other premium brands and still quite rare on the roads. Happy motoring!

He might if you ask!!! However they have a pork pie Friday and shared it with me. A most excellent idea and you don't get pork pie at Monty's.

I would just like to recommend Lex Tek services run by Dave. I know have been mentioned on here before but a further recommendation won't hurt! Yesterday I took my car to him for a thorough once over and fortunately it seems my car is a very good one. Dave showed me the car underneath, explained issues as regards to the radiator leaking, leaking rear air con pipes to the back and the air suspension. He also had a silver LS / cream leather in the day before, anyone on here? Dave was at Lexus Sheffield for 20 years so know his stuff and while there I met a gent called David. He was a now retired director at Lexus, Sheffield and told me a lot of fab facts about Lexus and there inner workings and discussed our shared love of cars in general. For the going over and replacing rear pads he charged me £125 inc vat, I was very happy with this. My car does have full Lexus history but I'll definitely be taking it to Lex Tek from now on. Very easy to find as he's located just two minutes from the M1 junction 30. By the way I'm loving my Lexus,

Very nice indeed, the joys of motoring!

Morning, Returned from Cornwall on Friday night. What a pain that was coming back. A junction on the M5 was cloesd so a detour there, then junction 5 an 6 closed on the M42 so another detour and then junction 29 closed on the M1. Along with road works on the A30 it took 10 hours. I dd though a tank average of 31.8 miles over the whole holiday which i think is great. The Avantime is no better and my old Espace was about 36. Anyway, so I need a cycle rack, any suggestions? I see a roof rack is out of the question, as I cant find one. I would use a tow bar but they too seem thin on the ground. If I can sort this then the Lexus is for me truly a great family car. Despite the above journey back being 10 hours the car was comfortable to the extreme and effortless. Superb. Thanks in advance Nick

Yes I know!!! and that's what Sally keeps telling me but you know that first weeks or two when you park it right carefully and don't want dirt anywhere near it, that's where I am right now. Does he, well I hope he has the roll back roof model as he can keep his Papel hat on.

Not as yet!! However did have tea and cake at Porthgwarra about 2 hours ago and about to go to the Old Success for a couple of pints with my good Lady and the kids.

Yes Norman and Piers, They are the Next Base ones. I have removed the leads in the pic as only use on way here and back. Once home i take them out. Quality wise there a bit pants and do seem fragile. One i had replaced under warranty and the remotes are very fiddly. But Leo at 7 can now operate himself. I appreciate having two different players so different films can be watched simultaneously. Also they came with wireless headphones, which eventaully i swopped over to corded headphones, Sony's at about £16 each. Much less hassle. I think the player was about £120. The air con works well I think, but next weeek its going to Lek Tek for a once over. (or is it Tek Lex?) I will ask they check that, not that it should need it as the garage was very good in getting the car ready.

The mileage is now just over 87,500. It still feels like a new car. A shame I had to bring it straight on holiday, sand, dirty clothes, kids in back for hours...... cream leather.

The mpg doesn't say that now, as i've been tootling about the back roads to Porthcurno, Lamorna and Penzance. Now is on about 28. Have been driving like the pope though, (if he drives)

Too right!

Yes Paul they did. The car was as they said it would be when I arrived to see it (which was not washed etc as only just come in) but still in very good shape and upon collection a ten out or ten. The detailer, Desmond had done a superb job and i can't believe it's nearly 11 years old. More or less like a new car. As i mentioned my photos don't do it justice. I read the comments about the dealer and noticed you'd left one and I'd guessed it was you!

So after years of want a 430 I finally have one. I collected the car Friday lunchtime and drove down to Sennen, setting off early Saturday morning from Sheffield. The car is as I expected, wonderful. The pictures can't do it justice and as Paul said when he posted pics of his car, you've seen it already. My car really is in fantastic condition and it was superbly detailed to a very high standard. The drive down was supremely comfortable and relaxing. I felt king of the road! I never took the car over 80 and when I refilled at Hopwood services it was still a further 275 miles to Sennen and from there I averaged about 31.8mpg, my Espace never managed more than 37 so I'm very happy with that. Again I realise you all know this, but the smoothness, combined with the subtle but effective power is astounding. Of course cream leather with the kids is not the best option, but as one of the pics shows I have done my best to protect the car, however I will at some point buy a rear seat protector. I don't think the rear seats have hardly been sat in and fitting the isofix seat was a real struggle. Despite the car's weight and size I think it handles well for what it is. Today we drove to Penzance via Lamorna and Mousehole and it was such a lovely thing to steer, like a yacht drifting along the narrow lanes. The few times I've stepped on the loud pedal it has astounded me..... my decision not to go down the A8, 7 and S route has been justified in these last two days. Engine, ride and rarity apart my favourite thing has been the stereo. Talking Heads have never sounded so good. So glad to be part of the forum!!!

Of course I will, hopefully by the sea in Sennen. Unless I get the car Thursday.

For the pasty! Pengellys in Tintagel, St Ives. Super My car, well I paid top whack for an LS, not the one Coventry Lexus had though. That has sold for 10k. I bought from a dealer in Radcliffe in Manchester, it may still be on Autotrader. I paid under the asking price, 4 matching tyres, 15 months warranty, silver, cream leather and it all works. 86k, 1 owner plus Lexus, full Lexus history, last service in July 16 when the belt was changed. I'm very happy with the car. I spoke with the Dave (I think) at Lex Tek and he will look after the car for me. I live in Sheffield and he did 20 years at Lexus Sheffield. the difference between this and the one I saw last week was night and day, just from looking at it from 10 feet away you could see it was a better car.

Ah sorry no. I meant on holiday. Family has a place in the village above Cove.