Malc

............ the answer is to wear your slippers ........... haven't you seen them on the Lexus peripherals for sale page ? Malc I jest ( or do I ? )

if this is a rubber type high pressure hose then maybe a bespoke one could be made for not much cost ? I remember ( when i had a car sales business ) a Rolls Royce we had burst a like hose and from RR was ££££000s and locally prepared cost £85 . a few years back but......... Malc

.................... you know the car you have now so why not see if your employer can sell it to you at an advantageous price etc ? is it a Lexus ? or is it really time for that change and to spend your money and take your chances ! Malc

............you might need to change the radiator for peace of mind but first check there are zero gearbox oil leaks into the radiator etc Malc

I remember my parents had a set of Xmas tree lights by Mazda ( from maybe 60 years ago now ! ) Malc

Tax Band lottery is one of the great joys of owning an elderly car ! Malc

Yes, BUT the Hunt's insurers NOT yours are fully liable for your loss in all respects Malc

I don't quite understand why you aren't in a position to claim from the owner of the dog, the Hunt, or whtever and avoid your car insurers totally Malc

overseas Nordic country Ls400 owners do manage ok from posts I have read on here in the past ...... with special winter tyres. I have only found that the safest option is just to leave the car at home during snow and icy conditions. I've never successfully, easily, confidently and safely driven anywhere in any of my Ls400s over the years .... on ordinary tyres anyway. My 1994 Mazda 323 f is brilliant in the snow 175/70/13 tyres and the SH-AWD Honda Legend will I'm sure be BRILLIANT Malc

aaaw c'mon, he's a journalist ............ Malc

I'll buy shares in the battery recycling companies Malc

I doubt you'd be driving it anywhere Malc

...... but it will last another 100k miles / 10 years before needing doing again Malc

............ beautiful looking beast I agree BUT who on earth would be able to afford one after a few years with all that gizmo etc stuff to repair ....... they all have built in obsolesence I guess and the longevity must surely be very limited by 2nd and 3rd / 4th owners never being able to afford the repairs etc. ... and the values just simply collapse much like the Ls600 ....... what price a Bentley ... drop @£200k in 5 years ! Nice to see and drive I'm sure but only a very rich man's toy methinks Malc

if it's just the Y pipe mild steel area blowing then that can be the subject of a quick and cheap welding fix. Mine was done some years ago now and, touch wood, is still silent .. cost about £30 Malc

I would suggest that if you're not using Lexus / Toyota to preserve the main dealer FSH stamps in the book then use a good and recommended local to you, independent. My only experience of Halfords was some years ago asking them to change a headlamp bulb in my Mazda 323 f ( poppy up headlights ) and the operative just couldn't do it ! He gave up and refunded the charge they make for such things ( it's NOT free ). A good independent should save you a fortune on main dealer prices. Malc

on the Ls400 Mk 3 the wheels are actually directional, the slope of the holes can be seen quite clearly BUT as you say, the ignominy of that 5th wheel being at the wrong slope if ever used, and in 50% of cases, is more than many could bear ( I only know this from an earlier comment years ago when i was corrected on here and after careful looking did agree ...... but so what ! ) Malc

point 3 heated seats .......... they rarely work at this age now and require a total seat replacement I read on here ..... best leave alone and accept the occasional cold bum ! Malc

these are probably the equivalent of " goldust " tbh Malc

looks good, so how much was it ?? £££££ Malc

mid to late 90's i think ( probably ) but not everyone had it fixed ! ... and it's never too late with a recall ............ it's a safety issue usually I've just had an official recall from Mazda on my 1994 323f and the ignition switch was replaced just before Xmas ... free of course. Malc

hi, shame you hadn't joined the forum earlier times. I mentioned a while back that the 1995 Ls400 starter motor was the subject of an official recall and if your's hadn't been attended to under that scheme you might have had it done for freeeeee Never mind, too late now eh ! Malc

wow, 3 hrs is amazing and probably follows Lexus " book " time guidelines..................... an indy might naturally take much longer to complete the job, my Mk2 took about 6 hrs or more many years ago. I'm expecting my indy to charge me about £500 plus Waterpump cost and starter motor attention..... he's said he will want the car for a whole day. The starter motor is also in that challenging area too ! see this ! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aisin-TKT-001-Complete-Water-Kit-Timing/dp/B00AFYE6B0 Malc

I think the issue might be that they are impossible to just " inspect " and take the best part of a day to get to, to view and change ! Others on here with greater knowledge will advise I'm sure. Malc

for many cars yes i agree. 5/6 or 7 years and much lower mileages are the norm and with relatively inferior rubber belts. The USA Ls400s recommend a cambelt change at 100k miles ( not the UK dopey 63k miles ) and 10 years........ it's the same set-up so no reason for it to be less in the UK apart from some screwy idea that UK cars are more susceptible to ???? what I can't imagine.... and Ls400 cambelts are known to probably be likely to fail only at 150k miles plus ( as one reads .............. but you never hear of one failing !! ) The early Mk1 Ls400s had no time or mileage change recommendation at all, the belts were made of seemingly indestructible Kevlar compound ! I don't doubt that subsequent Ls400s have longevity built into the cambelts and their OEM replacements too........... but it's entirely down to you when you change it of course. I suspect if you change it now you will find an almost pristine " like new " belt. My car will be on it's 3rd cambelt change ( the first two with a prior owner and at Lexus ) in a years time at 204500 miles, some 100k miles and 10 years after the last belt change.. at which i suspect i shall have the waterpump replaced and the contacts in the starter motor looked at..... together then with a decision on what peripherals might also need attention ( pulleys and whatever ) However the timing of belt etc replacement is your decision alone, just letting you know the prior thoughts of members here ... and mine too of course. Good luck whatever Malc