Very relaxing to drive and even after 15 years they can still drive very nicely. They are comfortable, quiet, smooth, etc. The engines and transmissions are some of the best engineered units durability wise on the planet. I've owned many cars, the LS400 is the -only- automatic I've ever owned and it's not coincidence. I hate trasmission issues and as far as I'm aware it has the strongest auto transmission of any luxury car. I had a 91 several years back that drove more or less like new.

Be warned though-this is not an old acura, honda, or toyota. They are very expensive to fix and although the drivetrain is rock solid, expect little problems here and there that may or may not be 1k+ to fix. For instance, mine had some starting and wiring harness issues. I was quite fond of the car, I even took the time to do the timing belt job myself as a challenge since I hadn't previously owned a japanese v8 car before. Again, a 5k LS400 still has expensive brakes etc. that can surprise you especially if you haven't owned a lexus/mb/bmw before. I did the TB job myself and it was about 600$ in parts.

Also, the starter is a 1500-2k job. If the car has its original starter I'd run away. Changing the starter on that engine is the biggest pita job I've ever witnessed, my car's starter died a week after I sold it, close call!

 

I owned a 93 back in 2002. Needed something bigger for the carpool. In hindsight a ragged out 80s conversion van would have been better. In my 1.5 years of ownership:

Leather turns into concrete after a while

Drivers seat motor failed.

Guage cluster failed

Rear window motors failed

Power steering pump failed, not once but twice.

Various and random warning lights on a frequent basis

16MPG

Don't believe the hype above, slow as piss but quiet and pleasant to drive.

Overall the car was the biggest piece of junk I've ever had, but I did enjoy driving the car more than I disliked it. Lexus builds an isolation chamber and they do that part very well.

 

HMM. thanks for all the info guys. but after doing a TON of research on LS's, i think its not smart to buy one for under 5k. the new the better with them is what ive found.

 

So whatcha gonna get?