mikeyv

Clever marketing and the general sheep like behaviour that seemingly sensible people exhibit - i.e. it is more important to keep up with the neighbours than do something different and sensible. So they by Mercs, BM'ers and Audis, Bren Long may it continue. Because of this badge snobbery, I have been able to buy some wonderful big Jap saloons, at knockdown prices over the last thirty odd years......... none of which have needed major repairs, The LS has been the best of the bunch of course.

I will get in touch with Sir David Attenborough and see if he can get a new series looking for this rare creature. Mike If he finds one, he'll have to fight me for it. I'd absolutely love an estate version of mine.

Sorry Beejay, I hadn't noticed the Plexus post was yours, and that you'd already sorted your problem. Agreed about shiny finish underbonnet, always makes me suspicious on a car for sale.

I once had a car that I guess must have had a resprayed boot. It was a metallic bronze Ford, and it used to "spot up" after rain or washing, but it seemed as if it was under the laquer, and polishing had no effect. This only happened on the boot, hence my guess about being resprayed, and disappeared eventually, until the next rain/wash. Maybe yours has had new paint?

Just don't use any sprays if you're worried, I always used to give the engine bay a quick wipe round with an oily rag, or a rag with wd40 sprayed on it. This gives a more natural look than the shiny sprays, whilst getting rid of the dust.

They are an impressive looking car aren't they? Bit worried about all the gizmos though, as the car gets older, similarly with the 430.

deleted as I messed up quote

Probably somebody lost the original bits when working on the brakes, and reached in to their rusty parts bin for something close enough to do the job. Not that I've ever done such a thing.....obviously.

Lovely stuff JPJ and Michael - I can get 272 miles from 65.39 liters but usually quote 250 from 65 - the tank in my 430 is 82l and I can use about 65l - a little more in the summer and less in the winter. I see you have a 400 - what size tank do you have and how many miles do you get from its usable volume? I was looking to compare the 400 to the 430 - my gas system is a BRC. It looks as if you chaps get about 4.3 miles per litre and I get about 4.15 from the back of my fag packet. Does this sound correct? On petrol I get 4.8 miles per litre - looks like getting on for a 40% saving as well. Very cool. Cheers Bren Hi Bren, if I'm honest, the figures I posted are about as precise as I get on fuel consumption. I've never been one to worry about consumption, as long as it doesn't suddenly change for the worse, in which case I'll investigate. If you choose a Ford 3 Litre Capri or Granada, as I have done previously, let alone a 4 Litre V8, you're buying for pleasure over economy, so LPG is just a bonus. I once bought with economy as a priority - a Sierra diesel - never, ever, ever again - truly dreadful car - mogaddon on wheels. Life is too short to waste large chunks of it driving boring cars. Enjoy your big petrol engines while you still can is my motto. Oh, nearly forgot, my tank is 68L I think, and struggles to take 60L from bone dry, more usually 55 ish. Given my time again, I'd have accepted a slightly raised boot floor for a bit of extra fuel capacity.

I've just filled up at the Shell garage for 65.9p/Litre, also around 30 quid and also around 200 miles worth, so roughly 35-40 mpg equivalent, which is fine by me, given the size of engine and performance of the car. That said, I do think the lpg conversion industry has a long and patchy history, with many things glossed over in the sales blurb, along with exaggerated claims and a lot of poor workmanship. I'm also doubtful for their future, given the complexity of the latest vehicles. It's very important to get the job done properly, by a good converter, so I welcome the presence of Profess on this board, and was very impressed with the service they provided when a recent job went wrong. I didn't use them for my conversion, but would certainly consider them for any future work.

Some things are worth stumping up for, door mirror glass for £380 is not one of them imo. That said, mine came with a stick on repair on the nearside, which was a constant irritant, due to poor visibility and fit, but I bought a complete s/h unit, with damaged housing, off ebay and just fitted the glass.

Hi Jonathan, I always use a proper locksmith, and also park nearby, as they often need slight adjustment to work perfectly.

Looking good mate, well done.

Sounds like you had a similar experience to me, but you're right of course about heating up the waxoyl, I'd forgotten about that. I did the job on a hot day, so just left it out in the sun for an hour or so.

Hi Joel, before doing any mods, even a simple wheel change, check with your insurance. Failure to do so, or worse still not notifying them, could cost you dearly. Well done though on having such a nice car as your first.

I hope the sprayer thingy has been improved over the 1980's version. Obviously my memories are a tad vague from 30 years ago, but I do recall hurling it in a skip with a cheerful farewell message. I then used a borrowed compressor and shutz gun to apply thinned (white spirits) waxoyl where a brush couldn't reach. I did all this over a few opened out cardboard boxes, covered with plastic sheet, as there is an awful lot of spillage (you can re-use it if you're careful). The smell lingered for ages, and the job was so enjoyable that thirty years have passed without the faintest urge to repeat the process!! Enjoy

I think you're probably right about the visibility, it's a question of balancing that vs the protection offered against the average useless parker. Pity we have to constantly battle against being blatantly and shamelessly ripped off.

Mike, on your other thread I posted a picture, and it is a detachable, though as I also posted, I'd double check before ordering, rather than rely 100% on an ebay photo.

I'm moving to Eastbourne soon, and must admit to fancying a grown up convertible like a SC430 as a summer runaround, so will follow this thread with interest. I've read some variable press reviews, but then some of my favourite cars, like Toyota Crowns and Datsun Laurels had a dreadful press, so would value actual real world owners opinions much more. I mean, who in their right mind would listen to a tool like Clarkson, for example?

I'm always wary of coming to any conclusion, based on ebay pictures Mike. But yes, the ones I looked at seemed to have a rectangular receiver which accomodates a detachable part, which in turn receives a tow ball, fixed by a single vertical bolt. Here is an example. There was mention of not being compatible with some models (full sized spare wheel was a consideration), on the auction that this picture refers to.

Ebay.com has plenty of pics if you search for a highlander tow hitch. Your post gave me the idea of looking there to see what the yanks paid for LS towbars, and whether a Toyota equivalent existed............seems not.

Two things I always look for, sat nav and clear indicator lenses at the front on the later cars - I think MKIV started in 98.

Standard wheels are 16", so no, your tyres won't fit those 18" wheels. Nice looking rims though, especially at that price including tyres. Must resist!!

Don't assume there's anything wrong with the car. Ebay is full of idiots who bid with no intention of completing the sale Too true and I may have a punt myself then - there were plenty of bidders last time and the went above £12K I think - which is too high because there are models at dealers for the same or less. Usually if the winner does not want it then the next highest gets the opportunity to buy. Bren The cheapest 460 at a Lexus dealer is just shy of £18K. This car fetched around £12k first time, then £11k last time IIRC, so bearing in mind it has a problem with cruise control, and balancing that against a fsh and 40,000 miles, but without the main dealer warranty, it's probably not far off the right money at £12,000 - bit of a gamble though, but what a motor. I see they are also selling a high mile SC430, that makes about 5 Lexus they've had in recently.

Try threatening to cancel, having obtained quotes from other companies as a bargaining tool. My late father was with Saga about ten years ago, I halved his premium by switching to a different company, even though he was a long term customer. I've also come across the dreaded administration charges for minor changes to the policy - as others have said - it's just a nice little earner for them, by screwing a existing customers for all they can get. It seems common policy these days to draw people in with low prices, but then charge everything possible as "extras" - bit like the airlines with luggage etc.