I followed the link HJ gave to a question in his weekly advice column, Lexus 460 review page, i've always thought the 460 one of the best large saloon cars ever made.

This is copied and pasted from the recalls section

''19-5-2010: As a result of customer feedback, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is preparing a recall of some Lexus LS 600h and LS 460 models equipped with the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS). The precise number of cars involved is still being finalised but initial figures show approximately 11,500 vehicles are affected globally. We are anticipating around 40 units to be affected in the UK market. No other Lexus vehicles are affected by this issue. This matter has been under investigation by TMC since March this year who have received approximately 10 complaints in Japan. No accidents have been reported relating to this issue and we have received no reported cases of this concern in the UK market. VGRS is a feature that enables easier handling during low-speed driving and provides better stability during high-speed driving than conventional steering by changing the gear ratio. The problem occurs at low speed when manoeuvring the steering wheel to full lock position. If the driver then returns the steering wheel very fast, this could lead to a steering wheel off-centre condition even though the driving wheels would be straight. This phenomenon will be resolved automatically in a few seconds and the driver may notice this correction as the steering wheel centre moves slowly by itself to the centre position when driving straight during the correction operation. The driver remains in control of the vehicle as the steering wheel self corrects itself.''

My mind was boggled reading the last two sentences, the car steers normally and the driver has full control as the steering wheel corrects and re-aligns itself, what devious form of black magic is this? now i trust Toyota as an honourable car maker more than any other car maker on the planet, but i want my steering wheel connected to the steering column and then by either a worm or rack to the steering tie rods and i want traditional hydraulics (which no doubt this car has) not some toy electric pump/device that can't cope with full lock, how exactly is the steering of this very fine and handsome (unlike later Lexi) car connected if the wheel can self centre whilst driving along?

Edited by gordonbennet on 27/04/2019 at 18:47