as im looking for a beater in prep for my s2k selling ive just about shot the gamit of cars. just want something half fun, dirt cheap, reliable, decently quick(sub 17 sec 1320's and 0-60 under 8sec). i know thats and odd combo or beater requirements, but bare with me.

so far ive looked at, BMW 2002, Datsun 510s, Camaros, stangs, trucks, civics, tegs, accords, SC300's, 540i's, e30's, and as of tonight ls400's.

i like the VIP style(more toned down version of it) and love lexus, and love the ls400. i didnt know they fell into my price range(5k+/-) and they seem to be a good value.

so far in researching them, they seem to have VERY few problems. P/S probs, and gauge cluster problems. thats about it. does anyone else know of any problems with them? i would just do minor mods lower it, tint, wheels,custom exhaust, intake. not looking for a racer, but more a nice DD beater. ill have a Vette for the go fast addiction.

thanks

Louie

 

the LS400 is a very nice ride. Keep in mind though that it is a huge sedan, but the interior is very nice.

 

ya its big, but at 3500lbs is really not that heavy. it is lighter than the new GTR afterall......i kid, i kid.

i drive 9miles round trip to work, and NEVER use the hwy for my daily driving or daily routine, so its just got to be a nice around town car. looks like the average about 17-19 in town and 25-28 on the hwy. no worse than any othet V8 out there. an old road test showed 7.4 to 60 and the 1320 in 15.6@90, more or less on pace with most stock spocom cars, RSX, celica, civic ect. best of all its RWD. all id have to do is weld up the spider gear and instant LSD, and wet drifting fun.

 

I had a friend who bought a couple w/ over 100K miles, and I was very impressed w/ how well they held up and rode. They seemed almost like new!

 

friend had one and he had to replace the airbag suspension. wasnt cheap.
other than that he loved it.

 

I guess theres a way to install standard spring/strut suspension on cars that have the air ride go bad, i guess TOMS make a air ride controller too for the air ride cars that lets you have total control over ride hight and a bunch of other stuff too. of course it JDM expensive too.

 

i used to drive a 96 ls400. never gave me any problems. nice quite smooth ride.

although it does drink gallons and gallons of premium. and the maintainence costs a lot ($1000+) at the dealerships, but they treat you nicely and provide you with a lexus to drive around, while the work is being done.

 

ls400 was a fine car... for its time.
my friend had one b4 the p/s fluid leaked and caused a lota repair damage.
the older models look a bit dated now. if you can find a clean one thou, it can still look pretty good. the interior leather likely is rock hard and cracked by now. very few gauage clusters are still working these days (annoyin since u stare at it all the time). the car drinks fuel like no other, drinks more now than when it was new.
the key to cost of ownership is maintenance, part/labor cost can still cost like a brand new lexus - unless u can do the work urself. and even tho it doesn't have alot of issues, it still is a 12-15 yr old car
but i will say this tho, the LS4 drives very nicely, smooth and great DD - especially as a highway cruiser. i'd take that on a long road trip over most brand new cars today short of $30k.

 

We had a 1991 that we put more than 100,000 on before trading it in on a 1994 that we also put more than 100,000 on. We then traded that in on a 1997 which I still have. I drove it to work this morning, as a matter of fact, since it was raining and it now has 139,500 miles on it.

My parents now have a 2006 LS430 with about 32,000 miles on it.

We have never had a problem with our LS cars. They are rock solid, smooth as silk, quiet and comfortable. They are not fun to drive. They are soft and put a serious emphasis on smooth over sporty but they are dead reliable and make a safe, comfortable commuter.

Our 1997 is technically not a Gen 1 car but it was the last year of the 4.0L V8 and 4 speed auto. We avg. 20 mpg in mixed driving and get significantly better if we actually get it on the highway (I took it to Spring Training baseball in AZ a few years back and avg'd something like 27 mpg over 1,000 miles in a long, 3-day weekend).

Some automobile experts have argued that the 1st Gen LS was one of the best executed, most reliable cars ever made. The only problems that I've heard about relate to the gauge cluster and the air suspension. We've never had an air suspension car so I can't help there.

Find a good mechanic (Lexus dealerships are great but very, very expensive) and a solid 1st Gen LS and there's no reason you can't get 200,00+ comfortable, safe miles out of it.

BTW - there's a great online article about buying a used Gen 1 LS400

http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/Lexus1s...Lexus1stGen.htm


Good luck.

 

GREAT POST! thanks so much. i saved that link, very imformative.