Malc1

quick quick ....... there's a guy on another forum here with a 2006 car air suspension problem ( not sure which forum, hope he reads this ) that's about to send his car to the scrapper because his have failed and the cost to sort out is far far greater than the value of his otherwise good car. Maybe that's the fundamental problem with any needed repairs, the cost to do so on older cars does often outweigh the actual real value and the cars just never get fixed, and then end up scrapped. Maybe that's why there are so few Ls400s left. Values dropped, cambelt and waterpump needed replacing and " bang " that was more than the value of the car ( to most people ). Likewise a simple tiny insurance accident prang and wow, the car's a gonner It's sad, but economics I'm afraid. Malc 1

SGS are brilliant, made bespoke replacement struts for my 1994 Mazda 323f hatchback lid and didn't charge the earth. Malc1

any of you guys fly Easyjet, brilliant colour ( for them ) LCC Low Cost Carrier ( in the travel parlance ) Lexus Colour Combination in the other Malc1

when I had a car sales business we always had a similar but slightly larger " pack " that was brilliant for quick jump starting cars that were on the forecourt for sale after a cold night. However, these packs too have to be able to be recharged and retain their charge ...... and after a fortnight unused in the boot of a car .... not so sure they would be ok for that ! SOLAR power back-up might be the best way to go and I'm sure somewhere on the Ls400 Forum there's words of wisdom about these that's encouraging ! Malc1

my Lexus does seem to fly along at times Malc1

True about driving in the eu.. Last year on my Grand Tour of Italy in my Ls400 I purposefully went outside the compulsory winter tyre shod or having to carry snow chains period, which I believe was sometime September to April .. it's legally compulsory on some roads but you don't know which until you're on it driving Malc1

I feel the same tbh ................ when there's a hint of ice or snow my Ls400 gets abandoned and the 323f Mazda takes over, which performs well in those conditions, and then when it's not so treacherous on the roads, the Ls400 comes back. The Honda Legend SH-AWD we also now have promises to perform brilliantly in the worse road conditions but have yet to find that out for sure. Kent isn't renowned for long spells of snow and ice. Buggering about changing tyres and wheels for a few days a year in most of the UK seems to me to take some of the joy from driving our wonderful cars. Malc1

hope you enjoyed a free cuppa coffee or two and a good read of an upmarket newspaper too .......... and the wash and valet ? Done while you wait maybe ? Malc 1

maybe if you could find out the extent of the damage that caused the Cat C then that might put your mind at rest. Insurers write cars off for many relatively minor issues that make the car insurance-wise uneconomic to repair .............. a busted headlamp and a crunched bumper will probably be sufficient for that alone But it does affect the re-sale value hugely. Malc1

OMG that sounds a fortune, should it have " gone " at just 104k miles ? Just out of interest Steve, what's the possible cost for an indie to do this on an ancient Ls400 ? ( like mine if heaven forbid one ever needs doing ) Malc1

I always click mine about half a dozen turns Malc1

it will be a shock for us all too ................ what mileage has your Ls600 covered ? Malc1

does that mean it's under SORN do you think ? Malc1 mine's 26th October 1995 ( I think ) I mentioned before that it was it's 21st birthday at the time

I was just watching a Lexus comparison to a S320 Mercedes video on You Tube or somewhere today and they were both brand new 1995 cars ( Lexus N450PPJ .... and I can't do a DVLA/MOT check here in Delhi due to High Security and it being a Govt site ! ) and the upshot was that the earlier air suspension was no more comfortable than the springs on this latest model. ( I think that was the video I mentioned above, I've watched a few today ! ) Malc 1

They look smashing cars, I really like the look of the Ls600 and it's just hit me that the lower front lip under the bumper, that we have on our Ls400s isn't there ....... mine isn't either, I had the fragments surgically removed after many bashings on high kerbs ............. so mine's like a Ls600 now Malc1

Guys, being on here more often these past two weeks and whiling away some of my twilight hours here in Delhi ............. the TWO major issues very common to the Lexus Forums seem to be AIR SUSPENSION and DPF OIL FILTER and diesel engines. Essentially, Lexus probably should never have tried to develop a diesel engine and for heaven's sake, the Air Suspension is a woe right across the different Lexus models and the cry that, " Oh for conventional springs !" Us oldie Ls400 owners with conventional springs might well have the best of all worlds ..... the diesel oil filter issues throwing up those Christmas tree lights on the dash, pretty they might be but cheap they ain't Just some thoughts Malc1

hahahahaha ....... nope, the needle's stuck ( I jest ) Malc 1

Are you worrying too much about the oil ? Maybe the Ls400 is completely different animal but I have no problems driving europe for say 6000 miles over a month in hot/cold/freezing temps, fast and slow roads, eating up the miles on the autoroutes and country mountain traversing ....... with zero worries about my semi-synthetic simple Wilko oil ! Italy springs to mind really, freezing in the north and the mountains, quite hot in the south and autoroutes to dash along before you come to a full stop and a diversion around a country mountain ! Enjoy your trip. Malc 1

I'd thought the 2nd one is worth maybe 1500 with a body like that ! If everything else stacks up, she sure looks immaculate Malc1

hmm ............ seeing the cost of the pipe coils is so small and the likely cost of paying an indie to do the whole job .. I know which way I would go for peace of mind ! Malc

In 2007 I bought a 1994 Ls400 with just 8,542 miles and a very patchy service, but a Lexus cambelt change at at 10 years. A brilliant car in all respects, knackered tyres though, original and worn edges, used in Ascot and Kensington all its life. I would have it today if it hadn't been vandalised to write-off status, If it looks good and drives well and you feel good about the car, and the price is right ............................ I should go4it Malc1 and Malc

I think it's quite amazing, keep getting to do all the issues before they arise and you should have a car that might last another 27 years, Well done. I admire your dedication but know there's a tremendous economic argument here too .............. you will have brilliant comfortable and reliable motoring for decades to come and at almost zero cost. And I'm sure petrol fuel will still be available too ( hopes ) Malc1

gbp 1995 is more than enough with all that body repair to be done ...... guess it really SUX at that price eh ! Malc1

..... I think you might find that a car of such vintage is usually worked on by an indie and much trust is put into those guys by the cars owners that even on this forum the owners themselves aren't specifically knowledgeable ( apart from Steve 2006 who is brilliant on most stuff with Ls400s ) I know I have had some brake pipes replaced from time to time on my cars over the years, my indie doesn't treat brake pipe renewals as anything other than a comparatively simple task and probably knows his way around commonality of sizes for unions, flexi pipes etc..... probably holding a selection of whatever in his limited stock................... brake pipe renewals is something I wouldn't hesitate to leave to a consummate expert to do ...... bit like tyre changing, it's simple for an expert but amazingly challenging for someone not so used to doing it ! Good luck whichever route you take but I certainly wouldn't consider using Lexus for anything so mundane ( or anything at all really with the criminal prices they charge, even for spares, apart from batteries ) Malc and Malc1

IMHO the Mercedes on-going maintenance costs will be horrendous and a big hole in your pocket. Lexus lulls you into a false sense of bonhomie for when you change marque .. especially to Mercedes or BMtroubleU Malc1