PastImperfect:Many years' research into early powered vehicles on Ireland's roads has convinced me that prior to the arrival of petrol-fuelled cars in 1896 there was a surprising number of steam-powered vehicles operating considerably in advance of this date.
The earliest reference I have found was in the Dublin Journal of November 1768, announcing a demonstration of a vehicle described thus: "The phaeton will travel on the road without horses or cattle, six or eight miles an hour; it will ascend a hill with ease and descend no faster than a rider pleases; it is five hundred weight and set in motion and stopt (sic) with a finger". This may have been an early steam vehicle. Thomas Newcomen invented the steam engine in 1710 and James Watt invented the condensing steam engine in 1765.
In February 1820 an advertisement appeared in Corbett's Evening Post for a steam coach service operating from Dublin to Belfast on the Turnpike roads. There is no firm evidence that the service operated, but in the 1829 Act for the Dublin to Dunleer Turnpike road, a provision is made in the revised toll rates for charging "vehicles not drawn by animals".
In the same year, 1829, Sir James Anderson of Buttevant Castle, Mallow, proposed a route across Ireland for transatlantic passengers, using a steam train to Holyhead, a steam packet to Dublin, and a steam coach from there to Galway, where they would embark for Newfoundland. Anderson commissioned a steam coach from WH James of Holborn, but despite a number of innovative ideas for the design (including a three-speed gear) the money ran out and the project was abandoned.
In 1835, the British steam pioneer, Handcock, brought his steam coach Era, rebuilt and renamed Erin, to Ireland and gave successful demonstration runs in Dublin. The following year, a John Rowan of Doagh "drove proudly into Belfast in his steam coach". The Belfast Commercial Chronicle of January 1836 reported: "Yesterday the public were gratified with the exhibition of this vehicle which was conducted through the principal streets of the town by its ingenious inventor, Mr John Rowan. The coach was crowded, inside and outside, with passengers, some of whom supported two flags, one bearing the name of the coach, Perseverance, and the other the name of the inventor. The conductor of the coach seemed to have it very completely under his control, and though he restricted its speed for fear of accident to the people, it was very evident that it could be impelled with considerable rapidity. The experiment, as far as we could perceive, was quite successful; and we rejoice that it has been accomplished by almost unassisted native genius. We therefore trust that the singularly persevering inventor may reap the benefit of his ingenious discovery." Sadly, there is no evidence that John Rowan succeeded in gaining any financial backing for his steam coach.
Other steam enthusiasts - most notably the Earl of Rosse - experimented on Irish roads and the first vehicle imported into Ireland that we would recognise as a car, was a steam car in March 1896. But it was steam's last gasp, for the future was to belong to petrol-fuelled cars.
Donal Byrne
Since it costs some €117,000 for a new Lexus LS430, then a two-year-old model with 38,000 miles on the clock for €62,450 seems like very good value indeed. It is still a huge amount of money to pay for a second-hand car but the Lexus reputation and the level of standard equipment that comes on the LS makes it a relative bargain.
The LS was the first car in the Lexus line-up that was designed to sway those who could afford them, away from the traditional big names in the luxury class, such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar. It offered a package second to none when it came to comfort and equipment but then, as now, it had a hard job trying to match the appeal of European styling.
The current LS430 was revised in 2003 when it received some cosmetic changes to the bonnet and grille and had an air suspension system added to its list of standard equipment. It is a large and very comfortable car indeed, and it squares up well to the competition when it comes to transporting you in a cocoon of quietness and luxury. The music system developed for Lexus by American company, Mark Levinson, delivers concert hall quality.
While the 430 may be a relatively good buy second-hand, it is an expensive car to run. The Motors road test at the time recorded an average of 18.7 mpg, and peaked at 40 mpg in cruise control mode. The engine is an enormous 4.3 litres but this capacity is required to get its two-tons from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.
The automatic gearbox is quite an experience and the shifts are seamless. Combine this with the silence of the engine and it makes for a benchmark-setting driving experience. Flaws such as a choppy ride or poor handling simply don't come into the equation, although some feel the steering to be slightly light and lacking in feel.
The 430 has pretty much everything you can think of on board, ranging from ABS, multiple airbags, cruise control, leather upholstery, air suspension, electrics throughout to self-locking door and keyless entry. In short, every comfort has been thought of and well thought out. The only valid criticism of the car would be in relation to its looks, but then all Lexus cars have been designed primarily for the American market. However, judging from recent Lexus launches there is a more European feel in evidence.
The LS430 has not been crash tested in the EuroNCAP programme, but there is a very solid feel to it and it is not found wanting when it comes to active and passive safety features. A very small number of LS430s have been recalled for problems with front seat-belt retractors, fuel pumps and parking brakes, but the Lexus emphasis on quality control has been remarkably successful.
The 2004 model we mentioned at the beginning is a good example of the limited numbers of these cars out there. A 2005 model with the same level of specification mentioned and with just 13,000 miles on the clock is on sale at €90,000 - but still a saving of €27,000 on a new one.