bossman

I use Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner. I have been happy with the results - especially that the product is absorbed quickly and does not leave a residue or leave the leather seats/armrests feeling oily.

I use a product called No Touch Tire Care (original satin finish) made by Permatex. Just spray on and allow to dissolve - no wiping. The instructions specifically say not to use on motorcycle tires (or seats!). More info at www.permatex.com

Hey Branshew, I have a set of 4 OEM Replica wheels for a 1994 LS400 for sale. These are the Anniversary Wheel (7 spoke) and are made by Enkei. They are cast aluminum in a bright silver colour. The wheels are 16" by 7" with a bolt pattern of 5 x 114.3 mm (4.5") and an offset of +45 mm. They are brand new in boxes, never mounted on a vehicle. I bought them off e-Bay some time ago for my 1997 LS400, but they do not clear the larger brake calipers on the 2nd generation LS. Contact me at bossman@alumni.uwaterloo.ca if interested.

the front amber lenses reallly seemed to date the look of my 97 LS, so I switched them out with the clear lenses/amber bulbs and they look way better. I bought the clear lenses on eBay from somewhere in California as my local auto parts dealer could not get them for me. It was a nice and easy installation just having to remove a few screws. Well worth it for a fresh updated look.

Where are you buying your gas? Although you are putting premium in, is it from a reputable dealer? You may want to only get gas from a well-known chain. Also, best not to fill up your car when there is a tanker truck filling up the station's pumps as this will stir up all kinds of sludge in the storage tanks.

As a first time car buyer, you may want to consider other expenses (other than costly parts/repairs on older model Lexus). What will insurance be like? And with the cost of gas rising daily, can you afford to put premium fuel in a LS that averages 18-23 mpg? I started out with a used 82 Celica, moved up to a used 88 Celica Turbo 4WD, then a 97 Camry CE and now have a 97 LS400. Best to start out with something that will give you reliable transportation, has a good maintenance record and will fit into your budget. I would have loved to have had a Lexus as my first car, but some things are also worth waiting for :)

With a 4.0 L V8 engine producing 260 horsepower and rear wheel drive, the combination is not the best for winter driving. I have TRAC on my '97 LS400 combined with Kumho Izen Stud winter tires and this gets me through the Canadian winters just fine. The TRAC kicks in if I'm too heavy on the gas. The snow tires make a big difference, as I did try a winter with just all seasons and it was a bit too slippery for my liking. I certainly don't see too many corvettes or mustangs with similar horspeower out in the winter up here :)

Hey Tote, Check out my problem with a trunk leak in my LS400 back on July 5, 7 and 15, 2004 in this forum. We did the guy in the trunk deal with no real luck. We had the trunk gasket/weatherstripping removed and reglued and this solved the problem. Bossman

Had my Lexus in to the local Toyota dealer for an oil change recently, and mentioned the trunk leak to them. With all of the "detective" work I had done, my suspicion was back on the trunk weatherstripping. Although there was no visible cracks or tears, I suspected that there was a problem with the glue/sealant used. The dealer removed the weaterstripping and reinstalled it with new sealant. With a few heavy rains since then, no water has appeared. Problem solved! And they did not charge me anything. They have always treated me great ... as I have moved from Celica GT, to Celica Turbo 4WD, to Camry CE and now to LS400.

Thanks 1UZ-FE - I'm hoping for a backyard fix at this time. Don't worry ... I won't be resorting to duct tape to make the repairs :D Thanks mbpgawest - there is no crack in the bumper so bodyfiller or body shop work won't be necessary, but I do plan to seal the gap between the bumper and the body with silicone. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

Thanks 90LS400Lexus - the tailights are in perfect condition, as is the weatherstripping around the trunk. We did the garden hose test tonight with someone in the trunk and found the water coming in from below the trunk latch/lock. The water was being sprayed directly at the gap between the trunk lid and the body (under the license plate). Thanks VMF - there does appear to be slight impact marks on the bumper that may have caused enough of a separation between the bumper and the body to allow water to enter. Any suggestions on how to proceed with repairs?

I have a 1997 LS400 with 167,000 km that I bought used this past December. I have recently discovered (to my surprise) that the trunk takes on water. I have searched through some of the other LS posts about trunk leaks, but cannot find any explanation as to the specific cause. I completely dried out the spare tire well and carpeting/mats this past weekend. Last night we had a heavy rainfall and the water in the trunk returned. The water was isolated to the center of the trunk, and did not get into the two smaller side compartments. After some investigation, it seems to be coming from the area below the trunk closure/lock - where the bumper meets the body. Anyone alse have a problem with this? Am I on the right track? What have you done to stop the water from getting into the trunk? Is there a secret warranty from Lexus regarding this problem? Any help would be most appreciated ... as this annoyance is driving me crazy.