thatfatbloke

My insurance renewal is coming up later this month. Not yet got a quote from current insurer (Saga) but have tried the three major 'compare' sites. The cheapest range from £234 to £294 for Privilege on two different sites!. I've never paid anywhere near this amount before. As some of you may remember, my last LS was written off last December after being rear ended by a 1967 Mini. My car was parked by the side of the road legally and I was 20 miles away at the time. I have always had protected no claims bonus,but feel I am being loaded for this 'no blame' incident. Seems pointless asking the insurance company if I am in fact being loaded because of this,because I know I won't get a straight answer. Also,when entering the cars value onto the compare sites,a box comes up saying that the 'maximum forecourt screen price for this car is £595' and 'that would be the maximum an insurance company would be liable to pay out in the event of a claim'. Combine that with the £500/£600 excess and it would make a claim completely pointless. I can see why so many people try to get away with having no insurance. I would never try it as I would get about 200 yards down the road before I saw the flashing blue lights in my rear view mirror!. Strangely enough,I was recently considering buying a Saab 9000,and the quote for that was £150.01. Are any other LS owners experiencing high quotes like this?. Is it the car or is it me?. Sorry for going on,but my blood is now nearing boiling point. Ta.

I'm a bit like Toad of Toad Hall in that I absolutely love cars (wife uses the word 'obsessed') so after about ten weeks of owning my most recent LS400,I thought it was time to move it on. Found a car on Autotrader that I quite liked the look of,so set off in the LS on a 30 mile trip to take a look this morning. I had done around four miles before I realised that I couldn't get rid of her,so we headed back home the long way round. The car I was going to look at was 11 years newer,an economical diesel and looked clean etc. But the LS is on LPG,so probably no gain on the economy side. The LS is extremely comfortable,quiet and raises her skirts nicely if asked and has a 'banging' sound system. I probably wouldn't get half of what she owes me either. If only I lived somewhere I could store cars. I found a lovely Saab 9000 on Autotrader yesterday for mere pennies. I would have loved to buy her,but the LS would have to go to make room. When I win that £17 million tonight,I will buy somewhere where I can keep all these beauties. Don't care how big the house is,that's the wife's department,but it would have a huge storage area for them all with a couple of four poster lifts and a fully kitted out workshop to keep them all in fine fettle. We can but dream.

My theory about the round thing is as follows. When the LPG system was fitted in 2008,the installers put the gauge in that position,the owner didn't like it there and had it moved to where it is now,behind the lights/indicator stalk (where you can't see it when driving!). It doesn't rotate or pull or push,so assume it was the nearest thing to hand to cover up the hole that was left behind when the gauge was moved.

Ah, I understand now ambermarine. Was assuming auto lights meant headlights as opposed to dash lights. Thanks.

I may stand to be corrected here. I was assuming the sensor would be in the middle of the dash. I've just taken a pic of one I found on the nearside (the black domed one,fourth pic) and there's another one in front of the driver (third pic). Still no option on the light switch for auto though. I know the thing by the gear stick is irrelevant,but don't have a clue what it is.

There is certainly no light sensor on my dash,nor is there an option for 'auto lights'. Perhaps only MK4's upwards had it. I'll take a pic later as I've got to go and change the bonnet struts anyway. There is a strange round 'thing' by the gear stick which I'll also take a pic of.

Strangely enough I did tend to notice it more when going under a bridge,but put it down to coincidence. I didn't realise I had an automatic light sensor,there is certainly nothing like my wife's M**c which has a position on the light switch for 'auto' lights. What is the job of this light sensor then please?. And no Malcolm I didn't use the fog lights.

Before anyone suggests it,I will of course check the battery connections when SWMBO deigns to let me have my car back!. Battery was disconnected a couple of weeks ago for cambelt replacement.

No.

Just done a 600 mile round trip to Somerset and noticed something I hadn't seen before. On leaving for home on a foggy Thursday morning I used the headlights for the first time since owning the car. Every now and then the dash lights,clock and outside temperature gauge would flicker. Just for a split second. I suppose I noticed it around 10/12 times in the two hours I had the lights on. Was it on here I read that it could be a sign of a battery starting to die,or was it on the M**c***s forum?.Ta.

Thanks Mike. I've phoned them,and they will get back to me soon. Change of number to 01273 508606.

Lexus main dealer saying they are unable to replace cambelt due to car being fitted with LPG. Will try elsewhere of course,but others seem to want a fortune to do it on a car even without LPG.

Never had a Camry,but did have a '73 Crown Custom estate like this. My mates had the likes of MK1 Escorts at the time,so this made me feel like a Lord.

This'll be OK for tooling around in. Nice set of seat covers from Halfrauds and off you go. http://www.lmcmotorsales.co.uk/used-car-toyota-camry-saloon-5002

Seller has now refunded me. That's handy.

Thanks folks. Struts now ordered from the above company. £13 cheaper for the pair too. Just have to wait now for refund from Paypal.

Ringmer is the nearest I could find Mikey. http://www.greenautopro.co.uk/ http://www.sussex-autogas.co.uk/

or bigger wheels......

...or shall I go Burgundy?. Or midnight/dark blue......

A list of to do's. Respray in same colours, as bonnet and fuel flap are different shades to the rest of the car!. A few minor scuffs here and there,stonechipped bonnet. Going in to be done in a couple of weeks. Will try and chase that bit of the front bumper that goes at the bottom and was missing on all three of my LS's. Low kerbs in car parks I suspect. Bonnet struts. Both mirror glasses need replacing and nearside mirror up/down not working. Get LPG system safety checked. That's it really.

Only had a chance to take a few pics,started peeing with rain after the third one. More soon. The observant among you will notice the change of number plates. I'm afraid the number appealed to my somewhat strange sense of humour (I'm an Aquarian you know),thought it was fitting for the car,so I bought it.

There is a pole in the boot for this purpose!.

Ordered a pair of bonnet struts for £53 from seller called 'mattt77777' last Wednesday with delivery date of last Friday. Nothing arrived by yesterday (Wednesday),contacted him through eBay,he replied wanting me to phone him. I did so,straight to answerphone. Left message to call me,no reply all day. Now in the hands of eBay/Paypal,but they can't do anything about refund 'til next Thursday!. He probably wanted to use phone as he didn't want to admit to anything in an eBay e-mail. There is another seller on eBay who has some (car_chrome). Not desperate as most of the time the struts are OK,but if windy they will start to drop.

Price seems about right,as I was quoted about £600 to replace all four springs on my dear departed MK3 about five years ago. Hope you get her sorted.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lexus/left-hand-drive-lexus-ls400-auto-facelift-uk-reg-top-of-the-range-model-1995-lhd/1177583550