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the fact that i still see them fairly often around my area speaks of this truth!
There are 3 regulars that live in my area. They're all ratted out in terrible states of repair. Peeling window tint & paint, collapsed rear suspension, crash damage, etc, etc.
Still on the road - yes. But they're hurtin' for certain.
I've only ever seen one in-person that was actually a really nice clean car. Tan UCF10, driving on the interstate a few years ago. Totally stock, looked very clean with really fresh clear coat. Two young guys driving it.
oh yeah the ones i've seen in my area are not in the greatest shape/disrepair too but despite that they are still running which plainly attests to the reliability of the car after all these years.
1997–2000 LS400 is probably the greatest vehicle ever built. I have to disqualify previous years because they had distributors.
And honestly the VVTI+ACIS cars, despite the added complexity, really have held up so I'd narrow that down to 98+. Less prone to ECU failures too due to the node-shrink on the board producing less heat. And you get a 5 speed instead of the 4 speed. AND an enormous torque under the curve gain (like 10-20% in the low\midrange). And you have the power steering nuking the alternator problem fixed by Toyota (I forget in which year, but it was around then). And, despite being aesthetically inferior, you get the headlights moving to projector lenses in plastic housing, greatly increasing their effectiveness (and you get optional even better HID's).
And honestly the VVTI+ACIS cars, despite the added complexity, really have held up so I'd narrow that down to 98+. Less prone to ECU failures too due to the node-shrink on the board producing less heat. And you get a 5 speed instead of the 4 speed. AND an enormous torque under the curve gain (like 10-20% in the low\midrange). And you have the power steering nuking the alternator problem fixed by Toyota (I forget in which year, but it was around then). And, despite being aesthetically inferior, you get the headlights moving to projector lenses in plastic housing, greatly increasing their effectiveness (and you get optional even better HID's).
you forgot the biggest upgrade of all, wood on the steering wheel! and shifter!
also having the multifunction display with instant mpgs, average speed, tank avg, etc... is a really handy thing to have... as is VSC which works very well! in a wet parking lot i've tried to get the car to step out and it does a great job of simultaneously cutting the throttle and applying braking to an individual wheel to get the car straightened up again
Oh I didn't know the wood option wasn't available until that late into the run. I do love it in my car.
Early cars had TCS as an optional add-on (literally a physical box ontop of the engine), but you're right full VSC got implemented in 98'. I've gone drifting quite a lot in my car, so I know quite well what it handles like with the system on and off. While the traction control is... very rudimentary and often completely over-reacts to wheel spin, the VSC system is pretty impressive for what it is. While not nearly as sophisticated as modern systems, which intervene in varying levels of severity gradually depending on a million factors, resulting in a nearly invisible magic hand that catches you... the LS400's system is not that sophisticated lol. It's still very much a "on, off" switch. It can "get behind" pretty easily though, I've found situations where I was testing it that it took a split-second longer than I'd like to detect slip and correct for it. Also, I wish the traction control weren't so ham fisted. Plenty of situations in the snow where you actually want a little bit of slip to make sure you're applying 100% of all possible power.
yes the traction control portion of of the VSC is definitely quite primitive lol... the goal is clearly prevent a crash AT ALL COSTS and not lets allow the driver to have a bit of fun
you forgot the biggest upgrade of all, wood on the steering wheel! and shifter!
also having the multifunction display with instant mpgs, average speed, tank avg, etc... is a really handy thing to have... as is VSC which works very well! in a wet parking lot i've tried to get the car to step out and it does a great job of simultaneously cutting the throttle and applying braking to an individual wheel to get the car straightened up again
Yes, I can attest to "Lexus LS400 Is One of The Most Reliable Cars From The 1990's" as I still own 2 & love both of them. A 1997 purchased when it was a year old, now at 270k miles (put car seat covers on the front & re-wrapped the armrest) & a 2000 purchased about 7 years ago with only 48k miles. It still looks & smells like brand new (see below pictures).
Stroock- Is that your LS' interior? I hope it's yours as it looks amazing. Here's my 1997 & 2000 LS400's. I gave the 2000 to my oldest son but the title still under my name . My son also takes great care & baby it so it still looks brand new inside & out.
Stroock- Is that your LS' interior? I hope it's yours as it looks amazing. Here's my 1997 & 2000 LS400's. I gave the 2000 to my oldest son but the title still under my name . My son also takes great care & baby it so it still looks brand new inside & out.
no that's from wikipedia lol... but my car has been exclusively garage kept from the time my grandparents bought it in 1999 and ever since it was passed down to me in 2011 so it's basically just one quick detail away from being that pic
your LS's look amazing as well! i'm always thrown off by the lack of 2-tone paint on your 2000 though haha, it's weird seeing an LS 400 that does not have a gray lower ⅓ below that piece of diving trim... but that's great to hear your son continues to show it the attention it deserves
but a dead giveaway it's not my car is there's no valentine one plugged in! an essential tool for both of my cars lmao
01-16-24, 09:09 PM
. My son also takes great care & baby it so it still looks brand new inside & out.
