Monday, August 21, 2006 - 05:48 pm, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
As of last Friday (after a year or so of trying to decide between an LS or a 7 series Bimmer) we're now official members of the Celsior/LS400 club having taken delivery of a lovely gold 1995 20 series Aussie delivered LS400. Having issues with pic uploads on my PC at the moment so will upload some pics from work tomorrow.
Have to say I now CAN see what all the fuss is about with these things. Beautiful smooth, quiet ride with just enough toys to keep me smiling. Despite being an 11 year old car it still drives like a new one. Came with all the original gear like 2 sets of keys plus the credit card emergency key, first aid kit, tool kit, valet and car care kits in the spare wheel well, plus the OEM emergency triangle. Almost immaculate exterior and absolutely mint interior.
It's no sports car that's for sure. More like a mobile lounge suite, but that suits me just fine. I can highly recommend these as a top notch family car at about the same price as a recent model Commodore or Falcon. Build quality on the LS is just superb. So far I have nothing but praise for these superb vehicles. Just a shame our narrow minded government closed the door on Celsior imports beyond the 1990 model. Would have been nice to get ALL the bells and whistles. You're a lucky man to have access to them Baggs!
Monday, August 21, 2006 - 08:59 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
I have looked into those cars in the last couple of years Ollie and they look like outstanding value. I could have been richer and happier if I had thought about one of those instead of the Volvo in 2000. Waiting for pics.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:34 am, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
Here are a few pics although the pic quality is rubbish. Photography has never been a strong point of mine, and I didn't notice the shadow of the light pole until afterwards (Doh!):
The 16" wheels look positively tiny. Might have to go to about an 18" provided it's not going to impact on the ride much. The ride height is also very high, although that's part of why it rides so comfortably so I don't think I'll mess with that. Clear indicators for the front bumper and guards are already on the list. Apart from that I think we'll leave it as is because it's such a great package already.
So far the only thing I've found that doesn't work exactly as it should is the LCD screen for the radio/CD player. The unit works fine, but the display is cactus, and this looks to be a common fault.
The car also came with a full set of OEM mats. Bonus! Looks to have been well cared for. The boot looks like it's never even been used to cart stuff around. Remember this car has 190,000Kms on the clock. Despite this, not one rattle or squeak in the whole car.
The thing that really impresses me is the amount of rear passenger legroom compared to the early LS400/Celsior. It's a huge improvement. The pic above is with the front seats in the normal position for 6' driver and passenger. Not wound all the way forward like you see in brochures or car yard pics to exagerate the space. It still leaves tons on space for 6'+ rear seat passengers, and despite the sunroof there's tons of headroom all round.
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Ollie, Good move! Glad to see you still with the Toyota/Lexus products. Very nice and quite! Oh I might had driven this car before it was delivered to the dealership back in 1995, when I worked for Precar Services. The motor would just be run in too. As these car are the best on the market. When we had many Lexus LS400 despatched never had a problem with any of them, But I can not say that for BMW! Love to catch up on the next cruise. So happy driving in that new Lexus! Plus I love to colour too.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 02:26 pm, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
Was that you the other day that waved just outside the airport Tim? Spotted someone in a green Soarer going the other way just as they passed and didn't get a chance to wave back before they'd passed by.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 04:39 pm, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
Thanks Ken. Not rude questions at all mate. 190,000Kms on the clock and $19,500 for the car. Seen a few others with less Ks that didn't look half as good but because of the Ks the sellers were looking for much more money. Most of those on Carsales and Carpoint seemed to be between about 140,000 and 170,000 Ks and were asking between $23,000-$25,000. We figured we'd rather a car with a few more Ks but in better condition and which looked like it'd been looked after. Particularly when we have someone like Neil only a few Ks down the road in case anyone goes. :-) Besides which, it's a well known fact with these things that they do high Ks standing on the ear. Had a read on the LS400 forums on Clublexus and the general consensus was that at 150,000+ miles most of them still drive like new.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:15 pm, by: Greg Nikitiuk(Jestr)
Well done Ollie. She is beautiful!! Close to 200,000km and look how perfect the interior is. Not like the series 10 celsiors from Japan with 110,000km (Supposedly) that look like $uked pigs.
I'm with Neil on the mods, all except the wheels. 20" are too big
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:26 pm, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
Greg,
The pics don't do the interior justice mate. Apart from a couple of really light marks on the centre console near the seat belt receptacle (that I haven't even tried to get off yet, and I reckon they'll come off with a mild cleaner), the interior is P.E.R.F.E.C.T! It did have a stain in the carpet on the driver's floor but it came out when they detailed it the day we picked it up. Woohoo!
Seriously, to look at the car in the metal you'd probably estimate about 60-80,000Ks. Did I mention I'M STOKED!???
One other thing. I don't know what the leather is like in Celsiors, but the leather in the Soarers I've been in (including our 31) seems to be lacquered with something and as such, feels a little stiffer or harder than you'd expect leather to be. It's still nice, but not what you'd call really supple. The leather in THESE things is beautiful! Really nice and supple and luxurious feeling. Mmmmmmmmmm.
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:40 pm, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Neil Griffiths wrote on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:02 pm:
It has enough room in the back for 115kg fat bastard as well...hahahah
S'funny, I don't remember being in Sydney at the weekend...
Ollie Ernst wrote on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 07:26 pm:
the leather in the Soarers I've been in (including our 31) seems to be lacquered with something
I remember Rob Hayden saying that in fact the Soarer (and presumably, Celsior) leather seats are actually finished in a thin coat of plastic for longevity, which gave rise to me calling it "Pleather".
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 08:44 pm, by: Neil Griffiths(Aussiesc)
Bagg's...You and Me could easily sit in the back and eat our Red Rooter in comfort..Use the rear console as a tray holder ( And still have the radio controls handy )
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have WAY less Soarers than Hayden :-(
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 06:35 am, by: Ollie Ernst(Oli_g)
The 97+ is definitely an improvement again as it got VVTI and stability control, but you're looking at $29,000 or more which makes it about $10,000 more expensive than this one. We DID think about it for a while though. Not sure about the front end styling on the 97+.
Previous
