The LS 400 is the best stock luxury car ever made. I have a 1999 with 203,000. It runs and looks new with incredible reliability and timeless looks. I would encourage anyone to get one. Cheap luxury and good performance and gas mileage.
Miguel's Garage I got it with 112,000. Regular maintenance. I needed a Y pipe for the exhaust it was about 500 total. That's about it. It can easily cruise over 100 with ease. Just watch for cops. Lol
@@briantickes82 nice. Watch for ignition coil failure around 205k. If it stops all of a sudden and won't restart, check driver side coil. Had that issue on mine last year and took some searching to find issue
The LS engine is also one of the only FAA approved engines, on my 2005 the wood is supposedly made by Yamaha piano company and the seats are designed from first class plane seats, had for 11 years and still looks new and never had a problem with it.
298k on my LS400 this car is a sleeper 12yrs driving it no issues, just the starter,battery, alternator basic oil change, struts and that was during the 8th year. Never had a more reliable car in my life. This car is a frickin tank.
Daaaaang Bro..... I thought I was bad... on my fourth GS. Gonna keep my FSport...... That and a single copy of My Uncle has a County place that no one knows about.... so that in 30 years my nephews will understand.
Thats amazing! Can't imagine all the stories you have with that car. 20 years is a long time! Thanks for commenting and sharing! Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
21.5 happy years now with my '98. I would add that the PS pumps tend to leak. Mine did but a container of Lucas stopped it. A weak battery cell or two will cause all sorts of strange gremlins on morning start-up. If your problems are on first start-up, load test the battery before doing anything else. Valve covers tend to loosen with time. You may never have to change the spark plugs. The correct differential oil is still available from Britain. Clean oil is essential for proper variable valve timing function.
Amazing! 21.5 years is a long time! Thanks for all the advice. Those are all good points! Please consider subscribing if you haven't I really appreciate it!
Thats because by the time the mark 4 was launched in 1998 the LS400 had been in development 16 years the longest period of any single model in the automotive industry.
My dad has a series 3 98 and just about to hit 300,000kms. Has been maintained well and is still buttery smooth. A lot more comfortable than the budget new company cars I use as well. One of the most reliable and solidly built vehicles ever made. Keep up the great content, love your channel mate! :)
I’m a Lexus owner this makes me feel like a proud owner lmfaoo & the host should work as a Salesman for Lexus he damn near made me wanna buy this Lexus
I got this same 95' LS400 unit same color but i actually have Tan Leather interior and engine you could eat off! Got approx 164,000 and all the center wheel caps & badges all look in factory condition, too! Nice car i actually ordered it from Massachusetts and had it shipped by Semi for ($4400) total.
Just got a 99 LS400 last month to serve duty as a reliable 'beater', it's not as handsome as the prior body but the transmission change and horse power increase from the VVTi are totally worth it. It hauls ass for a big car.
Just bought a 08 LS460L I'm in love. All the 400 series Lexus are serious bizzness. I will always have a Lexus in my garage. Thanks for the kick ass video you're right on the money.
When Lexus launched GM bought an LS400 and took it apart to examine and determined that nothing in their manufacturing process could replicate or produce the same tolerances and exact measurements as the Lexus LS400. This is why American quality is crap and why Toyota went on to be number one in the world. Attention to detail and having pride in your own workmanship is ingrained in Japanese culture, and American motor companies were too arrogant, greedy, careless, bureaucratic, toxic management in their organizations to the point GM was bankrupt, Ford sold many of heir assets to avoid bankruptcy and Dodge merged with Fiat after Daimler-Benz dumped them off to some private equality firm. Point is don’t be arrogant and sell crap cars, and unfortunately many Americans bought crap cars that ended up being expensive to own due to unreliability and loss of equity value in the vehicles.
BottleBuzz all roads leads back to Dr. W Edwards Deming. Hes the man behind Toyota's and Japans quality control. Toyota was awarded the Deming Prize in 1965.
IIRC, GM's problem was to sell many cars on the same exact platform. Why would a buyer stupid enough to buy a shell on the same platform is beyond me. And the labor union situation only makes the matter worse for GM. Lexus is by no means fault free. A lot of its electronics are not as reliable as the the mechanical parts. I drove a 94 Lexus LS400, and the legendary light saber instrument panel would fail to light up in colder climate. This led to taking apart the car and solder a brand new capacitor to make it work again. Wish Lexus will reduce its electronic features, but doubt that will happen anytime soon. Lastly, its new front grille is already a major aesthetic turn off.
It was also that they could not compete on price. The LS when introduced, was priced( sticker) the same as a Cadillac. It also was $8000 less than a Mercedes E class Fast forward...and they have not nearly the same amount of LS's they did back in the day. In fact the much more expensive Mercedes S class has outsold the Lexus LS easily for more than a decade
The 96 LS400 beat out Mercedes and BMW in the vibrate test it was the most smoothest engine ever made and believe me I did the test on my own Lexus the water doesn't shake a bit
Lexus to date is the most reliable car brand in the world. Proof they no longer need to poor billions to make a reliable model. That's the real accomplishment of the Lexus brand.
I've run these great cars for 15 years now - my mate bought my last one at 310,000 miles (I was that confident that I would sell it at that mileage to someone I often see) and the '96 I have now is just so quiet, so reliable, so good on fuel, fabulous aircon and original sound system, if you can find one buy it !
Child safety windows is a myth. Real reason the rear windows are shaped like that is because the ergonomics of the rear doors make it difficult to make a completely descended window panel. Great video, alot of people dont know the amount of work that went into developing this car. Plan on doing an ls430?
the child safety issue is not a myth. i remember when they started producing those windows for child safety. the child locks on the back doors were implemented around the same period.
@@dadishappytoo1776 You're full of shit Bruce. It is in fact a Myth. Look at a many Japanese luxury sedans of that era, not just Toyota(Lexus) but Nissan as well especially the ones not available in the US market. Many of them have rear windows like that solely because they full glass plane could not fit in door fully lowered. This mostly because of door position in relation to the rear wheel arches. It was just that styling was popular in that time period among Japanese manufactures.
I have a 2000 LS400.. I just had the two mufflers removed in front of the two rear wheels.. and the remaining 2 are nowl flowmasters. They also adjusted the 2 tips so they can come out and be seen as opposed to facing down
My first car was a 95 ls400 in black. She was the cruiser for the hometown boys. Sister wrecked it and I bought the platinum series one off a guy. This is my favorite car ever
About four years late with my comments but here goes. I think the Lexus LS is the best car ever made regardless of price. I worked for a major auto manufacturer and our engineers purchased an LS 400 for review. They were blown away by the built quality and engineering that went into this car. At that time the admitted they could not duplicate the LS400. Especially for the price. I actually have two Lexus LS cars. I have a1998 LS400 (180 K) and a 2003 LS430 (50K) There is very few cars that I would buy if it had say over 200 K on the clock. That is nothing for an LS. If you find a car that has been maintained and the timing belt serviced buy the car. You know timing belt service is very important but I have never heard of a timing belt breaking. Never! Still why take the chance. If the belt needs to be replaced get it done. Just for piece of mind if nothing else. I enjoyed the video. Cheers!!!!
You are 100%... mine not using oil. I run Mobile 1. It was abused when I got it. But they can tolerate a lot of abuse. No leaks except the rack-pinion. my son bought the car, when the AC quit, he didn't want. So I have it now. Seat covers were made for $500. It rides like nothing else. I'm getting new strut mounts installed as I write this. KYB brand.
Hey, if it comes with the views, I take it! :D On a serious note, I disagree with you, but thanks for sharing regardless. Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
It's just you. Doug doesn't insert factoids with supporting imagery. Also, Doug didn't invent the whole "lets talk about cars" thing. Maybe the title starting with "Here's why" threw you off.
In 1990, Mazda of Japan introduced the first ever GPS system for automotive navigational use. Offered in the top-of-the-line, Wankel-powered Eunos Cosmos cars
Have had a 1997 Ls400 Coach edition for 23 years and only has 68k miles. Still drives like a dream and just effortlessly builds power when you need it to. Love this car till the day I go
Beautiful car. I've owned an identical one same color, year and everything for over a year now. 236k miles runs quiet and smooth. About to take it for a 3 hour drive. My inner wheel caps have no signs of wear like those ones do though. Mine was garage kept lol.
the 1st generation is the best imo. I was lucky enough to come across and buy a 1991 LS400 w 106k original miles off of CL back in 2015. It was (and remains) in pristine condition (rare thing to find on CL). It came equiped w satellite telephone (yea it has a phone inside the arm rest), 6 disc CD changer in the trunk (fully functional 8 speakers total including a 8" sub), a med kit and spare tire changing toolkit. It's been my daily driver ever since. (as of now it has 129k miles). Besides basic maintenance I've only had to replace the power steering pump, the starter (which is located behind at the bottom of the massive engine - a pain in the a$$ to replace), brake pads and 8 spark plugs - which btw were the original ones from factory (!!). Of course I have my own mechanic which gets the job done cheaply as the Lexus dealer charges arm & leg for such jobs. Most of those parts were replaced due to being worn not necessarily fault of production (except power steering pump and temp control display that goes blank - well known issues in these cars). The car remains well preserved, solid and strong and I get tons of compliments on it. You can tell they put a lot of effort and thought in building this amazing car. I LOVE everything about it: the classic box/limo style, the powerful V8 that feels like your're driving a train going effortlessly at 75mph on the left lane of the highway, how quiet and smooth it is, how spacious it is inside, large trunk, the quality paint job (mine is the 2-tone pearl white w grey bottom and it always has this glossy sparkle to it even when i go months w/out washing it) and of course the reliability (pple dont believe this car is 30 years old), overall quality of construction and the amazing history/nostalgia of how this car came about to define one of the best luxury brands in the world. If i even aquire Lambos, Ferraris etc in the future this car will remain my favorite one.
I may pick up a 1997 LS400 to daily drive and complement my MR2. I've always admired the 95-98 UCF20s like the one in the video. Toyota really spared no expense to make an unmatched first impression for its Lexus marque with the LS400.
I had one of these (not sure what year) try to race me in my 370Z through country roads and residential streets topping speeds at over 100 MPH. To make a long story short I dangerously embarrassed the Lexus but was impressed.
If it had a five speed and bolt ons I'm sure the outcome would be much difference. Amazing what a little work, weight reduction, and/or five speed swap brings to these cars. Cars are like bikes. All the good ones are Japanese. 🙋
Well done great video I own that car I forget what year I think 96 and I've owned two more ls430s. Once they're fixed they're fixed for quite a while. Simply an amazing machine.
i own a 2002 LS430 & i bought it 5 years ago its currently at 500,000 Miles & still going & im proud of it nearly at 487,000 miles i changed timing belt & other then that orignal stock engine & tranny no issues & drive's as good as new few days back i put 28 cartons in it had to bring it home each carton was 18 kilo's & while having so much weight it drove so smooth i was never a person that would go for lexus but after owning this LS430 every car im gonna keep is going to be a lexus American & German cars are all about issues they'll only go upto 5 - 6 years hardly without any issues after that u need hard cash avaliable in ur bank account! but if u own a Toyota or Lexus forget about spending a single dime for good 10 years if ur gonna keep it maintained time to time
Proud owner of a 92 LS that recently rolled over 240k and I honestly don't know what other car to upgrade to. It's been my daily driver for 8 years (started at 130k) and I like that fact that I don't have to worry about infotainment touchscreens breaking or engine problems. It has not been to a mechanics shop since I've owned it, I do all the maintenance myself since it is capable of being maintained by any normal person. I've had people say "they'll drive it 'till it dies" but I've had unfortunate experience that this Lexus has survived a couple generations by now.
UFC20 love bro. I’ve had 5...one with 450k one with 100k they both ran identical. None used a drop of oil. I’ve owned a few other legendary modern classics and these are the highest quality cars I’ve ever owned. Even compared to my 95 S600 V12. Btw the satnav was on standard on the millennium ‘00 package.
Excellent video!! I had bought a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 50,000 miles and burgundy red interior. Surely is an amazing car. Glad you mentioned Club Lexus which is a great resource for all models - I'm also one of the moderators on there.
I have a '95 with 88k only . Open road use only but love the silky smooth waft. Still get thumbs up from those you are in the know. Thanks for the vid..
Well all that research is still there for the newer lexus..so people need to stop saying the newer ones aren't as good. They use the same technology and better
Feel free to prove it. Post some facts. Like I said, not counting the LFA of course. But what other Lexus model has receive so much money and attention during its development? I'm not saying the rest of the line up doesn't get research time, or doesn't innovate, etc... I'm just saying the level of engineering is "Arguably" unmatched to this date. I haven't found proof otherwise.
Although I applaud your efforts in making this video, Lexus actually spent One Billion Dollars on the engine development alone! It cost considerably MORE than that to develop the entire automobile. Thank you. I enjoyed your work.
You should have mentioned that the 1998 and newer LS400 with variable valve timing has no EGR valve. The EGR is done by adjusting the exhaust valve timing.
Excellent vehicle! I picked up a 96 LS400 for 65 bucks last year. The customer didn't want to pay 1000 bucks to fix it. It needed an ecu due to capacitor leakage. I picked up a reman unit on ebay for 180 bucks. Been driving it for over a year now. Best car I have ever owned. PAINT THOSE DAMN WHEEL CENTER CAPS! That car looks new until you see those center caps.
Shwalker07 definitely 2006-2010ish was a bit of a wash for Lexus. I attribute this to how much resources they had to invest to build the LFA and the CEO at the time. In 2009 when Akio Toyota became CEO, things started to change. I think we are once again seeing some good results. FYI - Akio is a really cool guy and last I checked him and Andy Palmer (Aston-Martin’s CEO) are the ONLY two CEOs that are also race car drivers.
Shwalker07 my o8 is250 still going strong..had it since 102,000 Miles..now it’s at 180,000 miles..0 Problems ..tho the HID lights can be expensive to fix
Such a pleasure owning the original LS400 I’ve owned at least 3 of them in my lifetime two 91’s and a 93 model. I’ve moved on to 2004 Lexus GS430 the youthful younger brother of the LS.
ArT oF wAr well parts i get from commercial account. But easy fix for diy. Im doing everything I can and changing parts brand new. Just tryna make last haha make run like back in 99’
We have two '98's. One has 150k miles on it and the other has 320k... you can tell which has been a garage queen... both still running incredibly strong.
What a handsome car! This is my favorite gen of LS. And yeah, it's not cheap to beat the establishment at their own game, but Lexus did it, and they did it while maintaining reliability.
I have a 1999 LS 400 here in Italy with over 300k kms. And it’s like a brand new, only bad thing is the over 1000€ a year on taxes, but I gladly pay that for my Lexus.
One of those cars that when you first drive one you keep saying WOW WOW WOW.....the refinement is exceptional..one of the hardest things to engineer into a car...
Great video review. I'm looking to buy a used Hyundai Genesis or Lexus LS. Getting harder to find a clean LS 400 but I'm interested in the 430 as well. Thanks
You can feel them if they are really really bad. Otherwise is best to look in the engine bay while having someone engage the car into Drive and Reverse while holding down the brake. You should be able to see the engine move substantially from side to side.
Nikola S it is very good!! Especially for such an old car!! Thanks for your comment. Please consider subscribing if you haven’t. I really appreciate it!!!
U forgot the power steering pump problem of leaking on to the alternator it kills alternators once car gets passed about 120k u need to replace alternator pump lines and steering rack
That's a very good point! The alternator is located below the power steering pump and it slowly starts to degrade the alternator. Thanks for the comment! Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
great car that I've ever seen so cool and perfect. I started driving this car age 20 now I have latest range rover but ls400 95 is my favorite. is such a great car
You need to do the first generation SC300/400 Z30 chassis and Gs300/400/430 JZ/UZS161 chassis. Both of these car in my opinion just measures up just as well as the 1Gen in terms of impact it made on Lexus/Toyota brand
Great video! I own UCF20 which i got with front end collision, and sat for 4 yrs. I saw huge potential in it and there in Estonia they are very rare. After rebuilding front end, new fuel pump and all brakes, runs like a dream. :) Now at 329 000 km. Never get tired of driving with it. :)
Amazing vehicle and Toyota is still the industry leader in quality. Although the LS400 and LS430 set the bar high even for Toyota themselves, the models they produce currently aren't as long lasting as these two benchmarks. Longevity is somewhat compromised due to ever increasing complexity.
Everybody here is mentioning the 98-2000 model being the best the Lexus LS 400 was best in every year 1990-2000 and the ls430 is rated even better I have the 94 model ls400 and have owned for many years now and it has been rock solid deprndable other than some routine maintenance it has been a great car with now well in excess of 200,000 mi and a Midwest car too boot with no rust at all anywhere and no oil leaks anywhere or burning I get close to 10,000 mi on a quart of oil and use nothing but amsoil synthetic and still pull down 30 mpg on highway @ 70 mph! Being a mechanic since the 50’s I maintain this car myself which cuts down cost a huge amount and yes it’s a difficult car to work on nothing easy but nothing I can replace it with for the money any better a great overall car especially on long interstate drives
I would be honored to possess the original example that challenged the status quo of luxury cars. This vehicle delivered fit to finish smoothness that successfully blended the elegance of Mercedes and the performance of BMW. Even though Infiniti rolled the pinball along the trunklines and doors in its commercials, Lexus could balance champagne glasses on its running engine. I think I’d try that too : )
I ve got the 1995 Lexus LS400 same color finish except i have a tan leather interior, instead. Currently got just (164,000) 9n this puppy mine looks must as pretty condition as this one.
The world's best made and most reliable car to date.
The LS 400 is the best stock luxury car ever made. I have a 1999 with 203,000. It runs and looks new with incredible reliability and timeless looks. I would encourage anyone to get one. Cheap luxury and good performance and gas mileage.
That's great! How many of those miles did you put in and what's the maintenance been like for you?
Miguel's Garage I got it with 112,000. Regular maintenance. I needed a Y pipe for the exhaust it was about 500 total. That's about it. It can easily cruise over 100 with ease. Just watch for cops. Lol
That's great! No problem with the EGR flexpipe?
LuX my gx470 gets 17 in town. That’s a heavy suv with awd.
Mine is a 1994 LS 400 with 185,000 miles.
I have 96 with 220K, runs like swiss watch, drives like a magic carpet
You should be a spokesperson for Lexus. That's some strong promotional language there! LOL
Miguel's Garage I’ve seen people who have them with 400,000 in fact one guy has a million miles on one of them
I have a 91 LS400, with 97k on it. I think it will last forever. I turned in my 2015 c250.... because this car runs smoother and quieter. Amaze
@@briantickes82 nice. Watch for ignition coil failure around 205k. If it stops all of a sudden and won't restart, check driver side coil. Had that issue on mine last year and took some searching to find issue
Wow 220,000 miles and still runs great,I just might get one,thats quite impressive, any major problems so far???
The LS engine is also one of the only FAA approved engines, on my 2005 the wood is supposedly made by Yamaha piano company and the seats are designed from first class plane seats, had for 11 years and still looks new and never had a problem with it.
That's amazing! I did not know that. Thanks for sharing! Please consider subscribing. I really appreciate it!
298k on my LS400 this car is a sleeper 12yrs driving it no issues, just the starter,battery, alternator basic oil change, struts and that was during the 8th year. Never had a more reliable car in my life. This car is a frickin tank.
I started with a LS400. Now on my 6th Lexus a 2017 F sport RX. I really do miss my LS400. So smooth! So quiet...
Daaaaang Bro..... I thought I was bad... on my fourth GS. Gonna keep my FSport......
That and a single copy of My Uncle has a County place that no one knows about.... so that in 30 years my nephews will understand.
Why did you sell it??
It’s 2022 and I still want one. I own a 2011 Avalon. I love it but something about the Lexus LS400 and 430 are the GOAT.
It really is a special car!
I've had a '98 for 20 years. Purchased it on the advice of a Mercedes master tech!!! Hope never to sell it.
Thats amazing! Can't imagine all the stories you have with that car. 20 years is a long time! Thanks for commenting and sharing! Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
How much fuel did it spend?
@@17genc on average, i get 18 mpg on my 90 ls
You were blessed then and still is today.
@@mcdus78 23 yo this month! Still runs and drives beautifully.
21.5 happy years now with my '98. I would add that the PS pumps tend to leak. Mine did but a container of Lucas stopped it. A weak battery cell or two will cause all sorts of strange gremlins on morning start-up. If your problems are on first start-up, load test the battery before doing anything else. Valve covers tend to loosen with time. You may never have to change the spark plugs. The correct differential oil is still available from Britain. Clean oil is essential for proper variable valve timing function.
Amazing! 21.5 years is a long time! Thanks for all the advice. Those are all good points! Please consider subscribing if you haven't I really appreciate it!
Maybe the greatest car ever made, 1998-2000 models at least.
Thats because by the time the mark 4 was launched in 1998 the LS400 had been in development 16 years the longest period of any single model in the automotive industry.
@Stefan Tristian shut up, you are LITERALLY everywhere.
Lol i own a 97
Very true
@@markcorkum8341 Nice, because tbh I like the styling more than the facelifted version after 1998.
I have a 2004 LS430 with 208,000 miles and drives like a new car. Love it so much!
I have a 96 with 194k miles and still love driving it every chance that I can.
These were truly great luxury cars that prove Asia can compete with the best. Extremely well built, quiet, reliable, solid, safe etc.
My dad has a series 3 98 and just about to hit 300,000kms. Has been maintained well and is still buttery smooth. A lot more comfortable than the budget new company cars I use as well. One of the most reliable and solidly built vehicles ever made. Keep up the great content, love your channel mate! :)
I’m a Lexus owner this makes me feel like a proud owner lmfaoo & the host should work as a Salesman for Lexus he damn near made me wanna buy this Lexus
I'll be sure to reach out to @lexususa and have them send me a check! :)
I got this same 95' LS400 unit same color but i actually have Tan Leather interior and engine you could eat off! Got approx 164,000 and all the center wheel caps & badges all look in factory condition, too! Nice car i actually ordered it from Massachusetts and had it shipped by Semi for ($4400) total.
Just got a 99 LS400 last month to serve duty as a reliable 'beater', it's not as handsome as the prior body but the transmission change and horse power increase from the VVTi are totally worth it. It hauls ass for a big car.
skytigress they have surprisingly good gears specially at high speeds
A 99 with the prefacelift front end would be perfect.
E34Benzin yeah, in black finish for me! What’s your color?
My '97 is dark green and I really like how it looks. :)
E34Benzin the 99 is the same as the 2000 lol
Im thinking of getting an LS400 or LS430 as a 3rd car. I have a GX 470 and ES300 and theyre amazing.
Lexus makes the best cars on the road.
Have es 300 myself I want an ls430 for sure
I agree 100%
You mean Toyota makes the best cars but yes lexus is good
Just bought a 08 LS460L I'm in love. All the 400 series Lexus are serious bizzness. I will always have a Lexus in my garage. Thanks for the kick ass video you're right on the money.
I got a 93 with 500 099 on it it runs great
wtf haha
Kilometres or miles? That would be insane
Can you post a picture of your car???
The superb Lexus LS400, best luxury car ever made.
When Lexus launched GM bought an LS400 and took it apart to examine and determined that nothing in their manufacturing process could replicate or produce the same tolerances and exact measurements as the Lexus LS400. This is why American quality is crap and why Toyota went on to be number one in the world. Attention to detail and having pride in your own workmanship is ingrained in Japanese culture, and American motor companies were too arrogant, greedy, careless, bureaucratic, toxic management in their organizations to the point GM was bankrupt, Ford sold many of heir assets to avoid bankruptcy and Dodge merged with Fiat after Daimler-Benz dumped them off to some private equality firm. Point is don’t be arrogant and sell crap cars, and unfortunately many Americans bought crap cars that ended up being expensive to own due to unreliability and loss of equity value in the vehicles.
BottleBuzz all roads leads back to Dr. W Edwards Deming. Hes the man behind Toyota's and Japans quality control. Toyota was awarded the Deming Prize in 1965.
How do you know for sure that GM did this and reached that conclusion? Source?
Same difference between the two countries probably also. Japan probably has healthcare and a liveable wage unlike greedy heartless Amerikkka.
IIRC, GM's problem was to sell many cars on the same exact platform. Why would a buyer stupid enough to buy a shell on the same platform is beyond me. And the labor union situation only makes the matter worse for GM.
Lexus is by no means fault free. A lot of its electronics are not as reliable as the the mechanical parts. I drove a 94 Lexus LS400, and the legendary light saber instrument panel would fail to light up in colder climate. This led to taking apart the car and solder a brand new capacitor to make it work again. Wish Lexus will reduce its electronic features, but doubt that will happen anytime soon. Lastly, its new front grille is already a major aesthetic turn off.
It was also that they could not compete on price. The LS when introduced, was priced( sticker) the same as a Cadillac. It also was $8000 less than a Mercedes E class
Fast forward...and they have not nearly the same amount of LS's they did back in the day. In fact the much more expensive Mercedes S class has outsold the Lexus LS easily for more than a decade
One of the best cars ever made right here
The 96 LS400 beat out Mercedes and BMW in the vibrate test it was the most smoothest engine ever made and believe me I did the test on my own Lexus the water doesn't shake a bit
I had 1990 es 250
1992 LS 400. Great cars
Lexus to date is the most reliable car brand in the world. Proof they no longer need to poor billions to make a reliable model. That's the real accomplishment of the Lexus brand.
Pour*
Shazzkid thank you. Now teach your self to spell your name correctly as well.
I just bought a 2000 LS 400 platinum edition silver color. I also own a 1997 LS 400 inside my garage ✌️😊
Dude i wish i cud b one.old r new man i love toyota brands.best king of autos
I have only 73k on my 97. 👍
I've run these great cars for 15 years now - my mate bought my last one at 310,000 miles (I was that confident that I would sell it at that mileage to someone I often see) and the '96 I have now is just so quiet, so reliable, so good on fuel, fabulous aircon and original sound system, if you can find one buy it !
Child safety windows is a myth. Real reason the rear windows are shaped like that is because the ergonomics of the rear doors make it difficult to make a completely descended window panel. Great video, alot of people dont know the amount of work that went into developing this car. Plan on doing an ls430?
the child safety issue is not a myth. i remember when they started producing those windows for child safety. the child locks on the back doors were implemented around the same period.
@@dadishappytoo1776 You're full of shit Bruce. It is in fact a Myth. Look at a many Japanese luxury sedans of that era, not just Toyota(Lexus) but Nissan as well especially the ones not available in the US market. Many of them have rear windows like that solely because they full glass plane could not fit in door fully lowered. This mostly because of door position in relation to the rear wheel arches. It was just that styling was popular in that time period among Japanese manufactures.
You're just saying stuff.
I have a 2000 LS400.. I just had the two mufflers removed in front of the two rear wheels.. and the remaining 2 are nowl flowmasters. They also adjusted the 2 tips so they can come out and be seen as opposed to facing down
I have a 2000 LS and need to do the same thing. I hate how the pipes turn down and are hidden.
I have a 1998. Wonderful car. Suspension woes are pricey to fix but engine and transmission are 100% even though it was manufactured 21 years ago.
My first car was a 95 ls400 in black. She was the cruiser for the hometown boys. Sister wrecked it and I bought the platinum series one off a guy. This is my favorite car ever
great! do you still have the platinum edition?
About four years late with my comments but here goes. I think the Lexus LS is the best car ever made regardless of price. I worked for a major auto manufacturer and our engineers purchased an LS 400 for review. They were blown away by the built quality and engineering that went into this car. At that time the admitted they could not duplicate the LS400. Especially for the price. I actually have two Lexus LS cars. I have a1998 LS400 (180 K) and a 2003 LS430 (50K) There is very few cars that I would buy if it had say over 200 K on the clock. That is nothing for an LS. If you find a car that has been maintained and the timing belt serviced buy the car. You know timing belt service is very important but I have never heard of a timing belt breaking. Never! Still why take the chance. If the belt needs to be replaced get it done. Just for piece of mind if nothing else. I enjoyed the video. Cheers!!!!
You are 100%... mine not using oil. I run Mobile 1. It was abused when I got it. But they can tolerate a lot of abuse. No leaks except the rack-pinion. my son bought the car, when the AC quit, he didn't want. So I have it now. Seat covers were made for $500. It rides like nothing else. I'm getting new strut mounts installed as I write this. KYB brand.
It's me.. or is he a Doug Demuro's parody?
I know right, a cheap version of Doug lol
Hey, if it comes with the views, I take it! :D On a serious note, I disagree with you, but thanks for sharing regardless. Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
OUCH! :D
It's just you. Doug doesn't insert factoids with supporting imagery. Also, Doug didn't invent the whole "lets talk about cars" thing. Maybe the title starting with "Here's why" threw you off.
Idk hes less annoying than doug. Doug is a smug little bitch.
4:00 has to be the best looking ls400 ive ever seen
I had a 1997 LS400 Coach Edition, I loved that car! Truly the best luxury cars.
I have one now, and I love it.
In 1990, Mazda of Japan introduced the first ever GPS system for automotive navigational use. Offered in the top-of-the-line, Wankel-powered Eunos Cosmos cars
Have had a 1997 Ls400 Coach edition for 23 years and only has 68k miles. Still drives like a dream and just effortlessly builds power when you need it to. Love this car till the day I go
On a side note This car dosnt get enough love for the amazing sound system in this car
I have a 98 LS400 with 300,000miles abd it runs like a charm I’m in love
It's amazing how durable these cars are! Thanks for commenting. Please like, share, subscribe. I really appreciate it!!!!
Beautiful car. I've owned an identical one same color, year and everything for over a year now. 236k miles runs quiet and smooth. About to take it for a 3 hour drive. My inner wheel caps have no signs of wear like those ones do though. Mine was garage kept lol.
There cars are made so well they don't need garaged. They laugh at garages...mine the clear coat has peeled. The paint remains intact after 27 years
I had a 93 LS400 back in the late 90’s early 00’s.... I wish I still had it, it was way ahead of its time
Compared to the Merc W-140 it’s 10x more reliable cheaper for parts and a lot easier to work on, but I really love the w140
the 1st generation is the best imo. I was lucky enough to come across and buy a 1991 LS400 w 106k original miles off of CL back in 2015. It was (and remains) in pristine condition (rare thing to find on CL). It came equiped w satellite telephone (yea it has a phone inside the arm rest), 6 disc CD changer in the trunk (fully functional 8 speakers total including a 8" sub), a med kit and spare tire changing toolkit. It's been my daily driver ever since. (as of now it has 129k miles). Besides basic maintenance I've only had to replace the power steering pump, the starter (which is located behind at the bottom of the massive engine - a pain in the a$$ to replace), brake pads and 8 spark plugs - which btw were the original ones from factory (!!). Of course I have my own mechanic which gets the job done cheaply as the Lexus dealer charges arm & leg for such jobs. Most of those parts were replaced due to being worn not necessarily fault of production (except power steering pump and temp control display that goes blank - well known issues in these cars). The car remains well preserved, solid and strong and I get tons of compliments on it. You can tell they put a lot of effort and thought in building this amazing car. I LOVE everything about it: the classic box/limo style, the powerful V8 that feels like your're driving a train going effortlessly at 75mph on the left lane of the highway, how quiet and smooth it is, how spacious it is inside, large trunk, the quality paint job (mine is the 2-tone pearl white w grey bottom and it always has this glossy sparkle to it even when i go months w/out washing it) and of course the reliability (pple dont believe this car is 30 years old), overall quality of construction and the amazing history/nostalgia of how this car came about to define one of the best luxury brands in the world. If i even aquire Lambos, Ferraris etc in the future this car will remain my favorite one.
I may pick up a 1997 LS400 to daily drive and complement my MR2. I've always admired the 95-98 UCF20s like the one in the video. Toyota really spared no expense to make an unmatched first impression for its Lexus marque with the LS400.
97s are a good year. I like the front end on those. Do you have one in mind already? or you just like that year?
I had one of these (not sure what year) try to race me in my 370Z through country roads and residential streets topping speeds at over 100 MPH. To make a long story short I dangerously embarrassed the Lexus but was impressed.
If it had a five speed and bolt ons I'm sure the outcome would be much difference. Amazing what a little work, weight reduction, and/or five speed swap brings to these cars. Cars are like bikes. All the good ones are Japanese. 🙋
These cars are 💎 gems.
Well done great video I own that car I forget what year I think 96 and I've owned two more ls430s. Once they're fixed they're fixed for quite a while. Simply an amazing machine.
Thank you for your comments! And yes they are great cars!! Do you still have any?
Just picked up a sweet 2000 LS Platinum.
i own a 2002 LS430 & i bought it 5 years ago its currently at 500,000 Miles & still going & im proud of it nearly at 487,000 miles i changed timing belt & other then that orignal stock engine & tranny no issues & drive's as good as new few days back i put 28 cartons in it had to bring it home each carton was 18 kilo's & while having so much weight it drove so smooth i was never a person that would go for lexus but after owning this LS430 every car im gonna keep is going to be a lexus American & German cars are all about issues they'll only go upto 5 - 6 years hardly without any issues after that u need hard cash avaliable in ur bank account! but if u own a Toyota or Lexus forget about spending a single dime for good 10 years if ur gonna keep it maintained time to time
Proud owner of a 92 LS that recently rolled over 240k and I honestly don't know what other car to upgrade to. It's been my daily driver for 8 years (started at 130k) and I like that fact that I don't have to worry about infotainment touchscreens breaking or engine problems. It has not been to a mechanics shop since I've owned it, I do all the maintenance myself since it is capable of being maintained by any normal person. I've had people say "they'll drive it 'till it dies" but I've had unfortunate experience that this Lexus has survived a couple generations by now.
UFC20 love bro. I’ve had 5...one with 450k one with 100k they both ran identical. None used a drop of oil. I’ve owned a few other legendary modern classics and these are the highest quality cars I’ve ever owned. Even compared to my 95 S600 V12. Btw the satnav was on standard on the millennium ‘00 package.
Toyota best brand ever
Excellent video!! I had bought a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 50,000 miles and burgundy red interior. Surely is an amazing car.
Glad you mentioned Club Lexus which is a great resource for all models - I'm also one of the moderators on there.
@@DITUnited i love more minter lexus there are becoming iconic cars
I have my 99 Atlantis blue mica exterior and grey leather interior.The killer combo🔥clocked at 104k miles.Invested 32k plus In total.
I have a '95 with 88k only . Open road use only but love the silky smooth waft. Still get thumbs up from those you are in the know. Thanks for the vid..
Well all that research is still there for the newer lexus..so people need to stop saying the newer ones aren't as good. They use the same technology and better
Feel free to prove it. Post some facts. Like I said, not counting the LFA of course. But what other Lexus model has receive so much money and attention during its development? I'm not saying the rest of the line up doesn't get research time, or doesn't innovate, etc... I'm just saying the level of engineering is "Arguably" unmatched to this date. I haven't found proof otherwise.
Miguel's Garage no not any other model.. Just the LS. I meant only the LS got better using the same technology and even better. Your right
I hope so, I recently purchased a 2014 LS but won't pick it up until the end of August. Working overseas and annual vacation is coming.
6806goats1 yea tell me what your thoughts are once you get it
Miguel's Garage isf
Although I applaud your efforts in making this video, Lexus actually spent One Billion Dollars on the engine development alone! It cost considerably MORE than that to develop the entire automobile. Thank you. I enjoyed your work.
243wayne1 the entire development budget for the Lexus Flagship One was closer to 1.8
You should have mentioned that the 1998 and newer LS400 with variable valve timing has no EGR valve. The EGR is done by adjusting the exhaust valve timing.
Excellent vehicle! I picked up a 96 LS400 for 65 bucks last year. The customer didn't want to pay 1000 bucks to fix it. It needed an ecu due to capacitor leakage. I picked up a reman unit on ebay for 180 bucks. Been driving it for over a year now. Best car I have ever owned. PAINT THOSE DAMN WHEEL CENTER CAPS! That car looks new until you see those center caps.
BIG BODY ROLLER but the 98-00 has the best engine no erg crap aswell a true sleeper
Last good Lexus models were from around 2005 to 2006ish.
Shwalker07 definitely 2006-2010ish was a bit of a wash for Lexus. I attribute this to how much resources they had to invest to build the LFA and the CEO at the time. In 2009 when Akio Toyota became CEO, things started to change. I think we are once again seeing some good results. FYI - Akio is a really cool guy and last I checked him and Andy Palmer (Aston-Martin’s CEO) are the ONLY two CEOs that are also race car drivers.
agree, now lexus putting out those hideous predator grills
Nah I think all Lexus still to this day are phenomenal. Except I prefer everything before 2013 for sure
Shwalker07 my o8 is250 still going strong..had it since 102,000 Miles..now it’s at 180,000 miles..0 Problems ..tho the HID lights can be expensive to fix
You meant 2007 through 2010. 2006 last the last generation LS430.
I have a 2000 GS300 with 320,000 on it m, still rides good as ever. I’ve replaced a few parts here and there but she’s still my baby.
I have a 98' and I love it.
98 is a good year. I believe that's when they did the face lift.
Such a pleasure owning the original LS400 I’ve owned at least 3 of them in my lifetime two 91’s and a 93 model. I’ve moved on to 2004 Lexus GS430 the youthful younger brother of the LS.
i have a 2001 gs430 with 70,000 miles on it. it looks brand new. love it!
Clean car. I got 99 model. Amazing car . 160k on it
ArT oF wAr
If you find one with lower miles even better.
ArT oF wAr well parts i get from commercial account. But easy fix for diy. Im doing everything I can and changing parts brand new. Just tryna make last haha make run like back in 99’
They shoulda kept the Bose suspension on the lexus!! That was an amazing ride feeling man
I have to say I just love the grey streak highlights in your hair!! It compliments the Lexus quite a bit! Very classy!
Glad that I choose the car that I have have ES 300 2003 No matter how people say it all Lexus models are very solid cars and trucks
We have two '98's. One has 150k miles on it and the other has 320k... you can tell which has been a garage queen... both still running incredibly strong.
started it all and is still currently doing it all
What a handsome car! This is my favorite gen of LS. And yeah, it's not cheap to beat the establishment at their own game, but Lexus did it, and they did it while maintaining reliability.
I have a 1999 LS 400 here in Italy with over 300k kms. And it’s like a brand new, only bad thing is the over 1000€ a year on taxes, but I gladly pay that for my Lexus.
It already is a classic. It's the car from the bonus round in Street Fighter 2.
Good job on this video miguel! You made me laugh when you got all sensual talking about the "magical" cupholders.
One of those cars that when you first drive one you keep saying WOW WOW WOW.....the refinement is exceptional..one of the hardest things to engineer into a car...
just bought a well maintained '91....Great Review...Can't wait to get into her
Great! Good luck! Keep us posted!
I have a 2007 LS 460l with 230,000 miles. Love it.
Great video review. I'm looking to buy a used Hyundai Genesis or Lexus LS. Getting harder to find a clean LS 400 but I'm interested in the 430 as well. Thanks
Testing these motor mounts you can feel when you accelerate you can feel in the gas pedal lifting you could feel it reverse and drive as well
You can feel them if they are really really bad. Otherwise is best to look in the engine bay while having someone engage the car into Drive and Reverse while holding down the brake. You should be able to see the engine move substantially from side to side.
Amazing car. I have a “99 ES that I love so I can only imagine how good the Lexus flagship is
Nikola S it is very good!! Especially for such an old car!! Thanks for your comment. Please consider subscribing if you haven’t. I really appreciate it!!!
Subscribed!
Nikola S I had one as well. She had 340k miles and donated her. She still ran as well.
How did you maintain her? I am trying to keep mine for as long as I can!
Love Toyota/Lexus. Thanks for the education !
You bet!
U forgot the power steering pump problem of leaking on to the alternator it kills alternators once car gets passed about 120k u need to replace alternator pump lines and steering rack
That's a very good point! The alternator is located below the power steering pump and it slowly starts to degrade the alternator. Thanks for the comment! Please consider subscribing if you haven't. I really appreciate it!
Unusual to replace the rack. The leak is usually the front pump seal or the return hose.
I love Lexus ❤️❤️❤️
The first generation LS is already a classic.
Yeah I've got a 2004 LS430, it was their 2nd gen update. The upgrades compared to MK1 was huge.
TOYOTA invented the QR scan to keep inventory of their parts
great car that I've ever seen so cool and perfect. I started driving this car age 20 now I have latest range rover but ls400 95 is my favorite. is such a great car
I legit just bought a 90 ls400. 125k miles. Shes runs amazing
NOTHING BEATS TOYOTA/LEXUS QUIET SMOOTH. NO VIBRARTION, NO NOISE
You need to do the first generation SC300/400 Z30 chassis and Gs300/400/430 JZ/UZS161 chassis. Both of these car in my opinion just measures up just as well as the 1Gen in terms of impact it made on Lexus/Toyota brand
I have a 92 with 64 k mint condition for sale. no accidents all original parts. Two tone silver.
Nice! Do you have it posted online? Send me a link!
@@Miguelsgarage photos.app.goo.gl/nKLFYaRCsQ8sLKCw9. No cracks in leather seats.
I have a 94 with 50k miles
WOW!! that's incredible! Very low mileage.
Great video! I own UCF20 which i got with front end collision, and sat for 4 yrs. I saw huge potential in it and there in Estonia they are very rare. After rebuilding front end, new fuel pump and all brakes, runs like a dream. :) Now at 329 000 km. Never get tired of driving with it. :)
I have the same color too, I LOVE MY LS 400
Amazing vehicle and Toyota is still the industry leader in quality.
Although the LS400 and LS430 set the bar high even for Toyota themselves, the models they produce currently aren't as long lasting as these two benchmarks. Longevity is somewhat compromised due to ever increasing complexity.
Levi agreed. They certainly wanted to make sure their initial investment wasn’t compromised.
Everybody here is mentioning the 98-2000 model being the best the Lexus LS 400 was best in every year 1990-2000 and the ls430 is rated even better I have the 94 model ls400 and have owned for many years now and it has been rock solid deprndable other than some routine maintenance it has been a great car with now well in excess of 200,000 mi and a Midwest car too boot with no rust at all anywhere and no oil leaks anywhere or burning I get close to 10,000 mi on a quart of oil and use nothing but amsoil synthetic and still pull down 30 mpg on highway @ 70 mph! Being a mechanic since the 50’s I maintain this car myself which cuts down cost a huge amount and yes it’s a difficult car to work on nothing easy but nothing I can replace it with for the money any better a great overall car especially on long interstate drives
Own 1996 . Now going on 18 years. Do own maintenance .
Which is none hhaaahaa
The Lexus LS 400 was a GAMECHANGER, it shocked the established luxury brands (esp. German) out of their complacency!
The first generation was, not the 1995-1997 models.
You forgot to mention the one piece chrome crown around each doors, which was a lexus signature thing.
True. You can actually see this one is missing it from the front bumper!
I would be honored to possess the original example that challenged the status quo of luxury cars. This vehicle delivered fit to finish smoothness that successfully blended the elegance of Mercedes and the performance of BMW. Even though Infiniti rolled the pinball along the trunklines and doors in its commercials, Lexus could balance champagne glasses on its running engine. I think I’d try that too : )
I ve got the 1995 Lexus LS400 same color finish except i have a tan leather interior, instead. Currently got just (164,000) 9n this puppy mine looks must as pretty condition as this one.