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WoodieGuthrie

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    Totally Stock:-)

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  1. I finally managed to get a video made with a wee review of this- on the way down to trade it in for the Alfa... https://youtu.be/oe83dU-Yf60
  2. Aye its not a bad time at all, significantly faster than the Fabia, but 1.3 secs slower than my brothers BMW
  3. Took this drag racing the other week and it did pretty well.. 15.59 was its best @93mph. It fairly gulps fuel running flat out, but managed 14 passes with no issue. The exhaust on it makes a funny noise- A proper whistle as you can hear on the vid below https://youtu.be/xegvkKW2f-w
  4. I changed the oil again on this today. The filter was 13 weeks and 5700 miles old.. I wasn't particularly impressed with the state of it, so set about taking apart the EGR to see if it was blocked up. It wasn't too bad, but gave it a bit of a clean and will see how we get on.
  5. The Front of the Sill (I'll need to clean the mudflap with thinners later) Both patches were cleaned up much further, but the photos didn't come out:(
  6. Bearing in mind I've schlepped 12000miles on this in 6 months, and all its had is 1 service, 2 fuel filters and a couple of tyres I thought I better show it some love. Today, I cracked out the Vactan and the drill, having at the copious quantities of surface rust to be found at the lower extremities of the car. I did the passenger side first, as it was the better of the two (All being relative!) If I'd found holes on this side, then there was no way I'd be attempting to get it through an MOT in Sept. Luckily it appears solid:) Each patch was stopped, treated with Vactan, and then primered with Poundshops finest.. Totally Giffer. I'll get some actual paint mixed shortly and tidy it up- the key thing was getting it stripped and protected Rear Arch First.
  7. My latest acquisition for pocketmoney - a 1995 Lexus LS400 lovingly known as “Mason”. The intention is to fix some foibles and enjoy! Having had such a fine beast for almost a month, allow me to share some observations with you regarding ownership. Where to start.. Ah yes! The Engine I’ll be the first to admit that I like a v8 to be a gazillion litres and fed with as big a carb as one can fashion out a conveniently nearby dustbin. Safe to say I like coughing, snarling, spitting cast iron hulks hell bent on putting you through the nearest hedge backwards. On paper, then, the modest 4.0 1UZ-FE doesn’t sound like my kind of v8 – too many valves (32 of the blighters!) and the usual Japanese clinical precision seem at odds with what I’m after.. Let me tell you though- WHAT AN ENGINE! It revs like a ******, hurtling the big saloon forward with suprising ferocity, yet maintains a dignified silence at idle, or on a steady cruise. |https://thumbsnap.com/rlMOxMaL Putting out between 250-260bhp (i’m not sure if mine is earlier or later spec) it never seems to labour, and makes short work of flattening hills. The wide torque curve is also ideal for the mating to an Autobox – both work in harmony to provide a smooth and serene transition along the road. The super-duper multivalve nonsense and modest capacity has another advantage- on a recent work trip, this Leviathan Lexus returned a most pleasing 28.48 mpg (imp) over 500 miles. Phenomenal for such a large car cruising at the legal limit. Driving Designed specifically to compete with the 7 series and S class offerings from the pesky Germans, the LS400 had to do several things competently. On the motorway, progrress is swift and assured – the car feeling stable and purposeful as you waft along on Cruise Control. Its easily as composed as an e32 7 series. Overall visibility is grand- this was the tail end of the era when designers were able to use thin a/b/c pillars for better visibility, as opposed to thick ones required for modern crash structures. On A roads, the bumps are soaked up as you thread between bends – the auspicious grunt allowing for the “slow in, fast out” technique to serve up repeated v8 howlings with no discernable impact on progress. The gearbox performs well here- eager to kick down and spur on. On B roads, the width and weight of the car becomes a touch telling, as does the disconnection in feel betwixt driver and controls. Keen to hear the v8 scream, I’ve found myself fast approaching a corner with a touch more pace than grace. Thankfully, its a docile big bugger and helming it in is no hard task – I’m working on being slightly more sensible when on the Duke’s Pass though! Its not quite as comfortable as an XJ40 Jag, or as nimble as the BMW e32 but it is definately a compromise that does not leave you feeling frustrated! A large exec saloon you can schlep 400 miles in, and then play with down the lanes on the last few miles to home is a wonderous thing! Exterior Again, the LS400 is not my normal cup of tea – indeed it apes much more of the slab- sided drudgery of the e38 BMW 7 series, over the the “Cad in a good suit” looks of the earlier e32. |https://thumbsnap.com/WTIXbGEY However, where Lexus have suceeded is in creating that sence of imposition that apes the menacing presence of a good exec saloon. If Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels was filmed in Tokyo, then “Big Chris” would have driven an LS400. A v8 and heavy doors are key to his requirements. The rear of the car is superbly bland, giving little away of the nature of the Beast, whereas the front wears its scars with pride. The straight lines convey a certain arrogance and appear mightily effective at chaperoning those sans v8 out the way. I’ll get those gawdawful talepipes rectified ASAP! |https://thumbsnap.com/H5ARdelJ Interior Interiors are a very important thing to get right in an Exec saloon – after all, they’re where your buyer (and their driver!) will spend most of their time. Here’s where the old Lexus falls a bit behind. If I’d paid £49k in 1995 for one of these, I’d expect to get something a little better than Carina E/Avensis indicator/wiper stalks and wood so plastic, it looks like it came out a pound store. Additionally, it’d be bloody handy if the cruise control stalk was to be found in the one location, rather than orbiting like a demented moon in relation to the steering wheel. The leather is not as supple as you’d like, but has stood up to the passing of time incredibly well, so I’ll let it off. The seats are well sprung, and electrically adjusted in the front. Combine this with an electrically adjustible (reach and height) steering column and it is easy to get a comfortable driving position. The cupholders blocking the ability to open the lower storage compartment in the armrest is a minor irritation. The ultimate “cool gadget” award is split between the Dashboard and the electrically adjustable Seatbelt height (yes, really!). I think the Seatbelt adjustment just shades it though,as the dash is woeful at communicating any extra information the driver may need. You get 2 trip ODOs and the main car Mileometer – no trip computer. |https://thumbsnap.com/tQBvFrST Verdict A worthy contender for your hard earned bargain barge cash – strongest point is definately the engine, luckily the chassis and ride comfort back it up, taking your mind off the less than glamourous interior.
  8. Nup, often happens first start of the day and randomly if the car has been sitting warm..almost as if the fuel has ran back down. Double cycling the pump (key o, wait 2 sec, off then on again) seems to stop it
  9. Took it Drag Racing today.. How did it do? Well, stock it ran 17.59 seconds (vs 18.001 that the Octavia managed) so a good 4 tenths quicker in stock trim. The decent Dunlop's and traction control are a boon for getting off the line. We put a map on - only a tenth quicker.. WTF?? Turns out there are 5! Smoke limiter maps, and my software was only showing me one- the one for -20 starts.. This meant that at operating temp, the car was reading a stock smoke limiter map. A swift copy/paste saw significant progress:) https://youtu.be/dArXac_CmK8 Upshot of this was a 16.921- much better but still not right.
  10. So far I have been unable to get the time to get a proper look at the sills- It was intended to happen today, but as is often the way in Scotland, we've had Biblical rain all day. Additionally, its had another new fuel filter, which solved the reluctant starting and increased fuel conssumption, but the reluctant startin is occasionaally back now (no noticable drop in consumption, and filter is 600miles old). Any ideas?
  11. I dunno- previous filter gave horrible cold starts as was drawing in air. Filter was replaced at 158600, now on 162800. That said, it was a golf filter with feed and return at different angles from fabia one (only one I could get and needed urgently for early morning departure the next day). I've got the correct filter now and will fit it during my week off. I think its likely a small air draw. Hopefully the filter will rectify.
  12. 7 miles after filling the tank, this was being a total ****** to start. Looks like another fuel filter change is required.Its done 11k miles in 23 weeks, and cost 14.4p per mile inc fuel/servicing/purchase. I think you'd struggle to do it cheaper:)It's getting a well deserved rest, and the Lexus is on Fabia Replacement Duty this week.I have a week off at the start of may, so I'll get around to deciding what to do with it then.
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