Buying Ls400

[Pawel]

Hi guys.

I am looking for a first car for me and my wife (and our daughter). Recently I've found Lexus LS400 review as the best car of 90s that is why I've decided to start looking for this car, to buy.

I've found model of 1994 for $2000 (about 190 000 km). What do you think is this a good price. What should I look after before buying. What is the most common fault in this cars?

And I think, most important question: How expensive is the maintenance of this car?

I would be very appreciate for any suggestions.

Best regards

Pawel

[Zoidberg79]

Be prepared to spend another couple of Thousand $$$. You will be needing new bushes in the front suspension, engine mounts, transmission mounts. Probably best to see if the car has a service history. A well serviced example will be a better buy.

In saying this, $2000 for a roadworthy LS is cheap. Have you got any pics?

[artwalk]

I have owned a LS400 simce new in 1992, best motor car I've ever owned and that includes BMWs and Jaguar XJS (say no more). I've only done 105,000km which is extremely light for a '92 LS400, so the engine is as solid as the day I bought it, in fact it is unbeleivable. Have had few mechanical problems, none whatsoever in the engine, just a leaking power steering idle valve which was fixed by eliminating it for $130 and it made no difference to the steering. I doubt there is a car to match the LS400 for quality of finish and performance, the inside of mine (light tan leather) looks the same as the day I bought it and I'm not dastidious about looking after a motor car. The one thing you DON'T do with a Lexus after it's out of warranty, is take it anywhere near a Lexus dealer, they rob you blind.

[artwalk]

I have a 1992 LS400 and have had it since new, 22 years. The LS400 is an exceptional motor car and the motor is without a doubt its greatest feature, virtually trouble free for 22 years. The biggest cost I have ever had related to the mechanical side of the car was with what is called the idler valve for power steering. It's an added feature on the LS400 but not need in anyway. When it started leaking it caused huge amounts of white smoke to come out of the exhaust pipes. Found a solution on this website and had it fixed for $130. I have NEVER spent a penny on the motor other than routine maintenance and I certainly DON'T use Toyota or Lexus for that, way too expensive. I have probably under-used my Lexus running up only 110,000 city km in 22 years. Only had the breaks done for a first time last year. You have to watch the front tyres on a LS400 as they can chop out quite quickly if they get out of alignment. The only reason I have kept this car for so long, three times as long as any other car, is the fact that I've never seen anything like it for value for money, considering I paid $115,000 for it 1992, that would be around $300,000 today. Buy a Lexus - you will not regret it so long as it's reasonably low km's.