Buy an old Lexus ls 400?

Question

Well i've been looking for a good and reliable car to drive as an everyday drive and i came across this 1990 lexus ls400. I didnt end up buying it but ive been looking at ls400's since and i have to say i like the price they are going for. For a car with a little less or a little more then 100k miles is going from anywhere between $1000-$4000. I like that price and one person told me that the engine on that car is fantastic. He said you can put 300k miles on it. Now is that car on heck of a deal or is something i should know? The only thing im worried about im only looking at the 1990 t0 1994 models. Are they too old to still be reliable?

Answer 1

Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Since Lexus' debut, four generations of the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive Lexus LS have been produced.

Lexus LS range from $61,500 for the standard wheelbase LS 460 to over $104,000 for the newly produced hybrid LS 600h

Answer 2

I bought a pre-owned 1991 LS400 in 1997 with 44,000 miles.  It currently has 178,000.  The engine is great but I have had plenty of other problems.  Power steering - $400.00.  Power steering (again) and rack and pinion - $1,100.00.  Alternator - $400.00.  Air Conditioning - $2,100.00.  Driver's side security system (door would not open) - $800.00.  Currently my overdrive light is flashing which means a transmission problem.   My temperature and time display is out and several dashboard lights do not work.  The car still looks good for being 17 years old and handles well.  Just be prepared for expensive repairs.

Answer 3

darth..... these engines and transmissions can go over 600k miles without rebuilds. be careful where you are getting these facts my friend. The 1uzfe in the lexus powerplant in japan has over 1.2 million miles on it on the single set. I dare say its one of the best engines ever made.

Answer 4

Thing with 100K mark is that it's not high for an LS of any year, but when you go back 15-20 years it then comes down to more age than mileage.  Over time, rubber dries, rots, and hoses just break or tires crack and things just need replacing.  There is also rust and corrosion under the body to consider that you don't necessarily see easily.

I would say, before buying anything that old, take a good look and get it inspected by our mechanic first to see how good everything is.  $4000 at first glance might seem like a good deal, but the LS is also expensive to maintain, so you might easily run up $4000 in repairs if things start going.

Engine, the LS is bulletproof.  The transmission, like any transmission, just will not last as long as the engine. I'd say engine 300K easily, tranmission will probably always require some "rebuild" at around 200K or earlier.