Faults:

Minor electrical faults, oil pressure warning light, bulb blown warning light, both false alarms.

An auto electrician fixed the bulb blown warning light, but traced the oil pressure warning light to the instrument panel. $2000 to replace, plus $500 to reset the speedo. No thanks! I disconnected the oil light and installed an after market oil gauge and warning light.

General Comments:

I call it the satin sledgehammer - smooth and powerful. I was a bit hesitant to buy a 17 year old car with 360,000 km on the clock, but $6,000 for a $150,000 limo seemed like a bargain.

It's turned out be the best car I've even owned. I thought my old E Class Merc was good, but the Lex has been better in every way; smoother, quieter, more comfortable, faster, more economical and more reliable.

My mechanic hates me! The only time he sees me is once every 5000km for an oil change, once a year for registration check, and once every 150,000km for a timing belt change. That's a $2,000 job, so check the log books if you're thinking of buying one.

The stereo is awesome. I installed an FM modulator to play MP3s, but ended up ripping all my vinyl to CD because the quality is so much better.

Faults:

Fuse blown due to a loose cigarette lighter.

General Comments:

I was very happy with my two previous LS400s, both Mk 2s, but I saw this immaculate low mileage Mk 3 and bought it the same day - for what you get it is so cheap.

I have owned some nice cars (Rolls Royce - a bit flash, and over complicated; Jaguar - mobile fluid leak; Bristol - over-rated and noisy; Mercedes - reliable but rust prone.) but the LS400 combines the best characteristics of all of them - quieter than any, fast enough, comfortable and roomy, smooth ride, but most importantly everything always works, and given good servicing and regular use, goes on working.

I've seen some say that the handling is not to sports car standards, but to me the car feels safe and stable, and I don't like making my passengers ill by hurling them about on corners.

In my 40 years of driving, this is the best car I have owned; only my Volvo 760 estate that I have owned for 13 years rivals it as a good buy.

Faults:

The car stalls when stopping at an intersection or stop sign while driving on the open road. Seems to be a common fault with the '95/'96 model.

Has slow idle at all times, once the engine is at normal operating temp (400 RPM or slower).

Stereo lost illumination at night. The problem was there when I purchased the car, and have had to fix it two times since (dry solder joints).

Front suspension upper control arm bushes worn (knock from front end going over bumps). Cannot buy bushes on their own; they're only sold as complete arm $$$!

Diff mount bushes also needed to be replaced.

Sun roof drain hose came apart and would leak water down the "A" pillar and on to the floor when it rained. Easily fixed, but you need to drop the head liner to reattach the hose.

General Comments:

I am disappointed at the wear of suspension components at a reasonably low mileage. Issue first started around 100000km.

The car is comfortable and very quiet to ride in.

Will do 150mph stock standard! (Checked on YouTube)

There is a lot of leg room for rear seat passengers; I never have to move my seat forward.

All the room in the cabin, and the position of the fuel tank behind the rear seat, makes for a small boot (trunk).

I do love this car, despite its faults, and would like to upgrade to the LS430.