Blavatsky

^ agreed.....but even if you get a dirty as hell one (swirls, needs claybarring, ect) its not too much to detail it back to life. My 99 was pretty damn nasty on the outside when I got it, but its come a long way with elbow grease. You can use that as a negotiating tool.

steveski

Not to beat on the 95-97 but the 98+ offers a handful more bells and whistles. If I was buying now I'd go for the 98+ but I currently own a 95 and have had it for years - trouble free.

415ua5

im going to take my time and make sure i get the right car. i really want a 98+ ls400 in the two tone silver, or maybe black.

also, i like the brown woodgrain, but i love the grey woodgrain from the ls430s, do they have a interior woodgrain kit to swap out this?

and 2002 ls430 wheels can fit on this car direct fit yes??

Iansaltes

Agreed... I love my 92, but the 98's+ are incredible rides for the money...

Sanpete

I'd go for any of the first three options in the poll minus the part about paying over $10K (and I was also open to a clean Acura RL at a good price, but I'm interested in quiet and reliability more than power, looks and luxury). My impression shopping in SoCal has been that the first gens in fine condition have asking prices over $5,000 (even over $10,000!), while sellers of 95-97s mostly want $6,500 to $10,000, and the 98s start at around $10,000.

I had trouble finding a reasonably priced first gen in really good shape, but would certainly have considered one, and would have probably gone for a 95-97 if I had found one I liked. But I found a 98 instead, and needed to get a car already. 145K and dealer service records for $9,200; asking price was originally over $11,000 (before I saw it), lowered to $9,950 before it started drawing inquiries. There was a 99 with 120K advertised as in excellent condition sold here a couple weeks ago, I assume for the asking price of $9,500, if it was as advertised. A not-so-clean 98 with 146.5K and fair service records in Alabama sold on eBay a few days ago for $8,100. A SoCal eBay seller with zero feedback has twice failed to sell a 99 with 130K for $10,000 (very poor description, and has only had the car a few months). It's remarkable how many cars don't sell on eBay--the bad influence of Kelley Blue Book, maybe.

Spacepig

I'm also shopping for an LS in the 10k or less range. I've been convinced in part by discussions here to stick w/ '95 and up, although I'm not sure I want to spring for a '98. Is there a discussion here or elsewhere that summarizes the year to year improvements between '95 and '98? I know about the hp increase, but I know there are a variety of other changes as well.

415ua5

wow there are some clean ls400s in socal. a 98 silver in my color combo with 19s, nav, tints, for 13500 obo. also a clean black on black for 12.5k obo. im tempted to fly down there and pick one up and drive it back.

Blavatsky

http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html

Best summary of the differences in the 3.

Spacepig

Blavatsky- thanks; that was exactly what I was looking for. Clears up some hearsay misinformation and also keeps me from asking some stupid questions.

All: In my experience on prices, KBB seems artificially high, Edmunds seems low. I look at both and figure something in the middle is about right. KBB pegged the '94 LS w/ 60k that I recently looked at at 10.8K; Edmunds at 5.6K private party and 7.2k dealer. That's a pretty broad range!

415ua5

wow theres a couple black 98 ls400s for sale in my area for around 8,500, one has 105k but tan interior, the other has 150k but its black interior.

i wont be able to buy anything for another month or so, but im really hoping i can find the two tone silver with black leather interior.

REELhybrid

for that budget i would go with the updated 98. you just got to wait and pounce. I have a clean 95 which I got for $5k a couple months ago, my dad has a 98 that he bought for $20k a couple of years ago.

Looking at the two side by side not much difference at all. Body lines and everything look very similar and the only obvious difference is the headlights.

The other option is look for a low priced 95-97 and spend about a grand on the parts for a 98-00 conversion.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

parts for a pre mc to post mc are a lot more than a grand.

you need:
Fenders
Hood
Headlights
Front Bumper
Fogs
Grill

+ Paint and install.

415ua5

well i want a 98+ not only because of the front end, but because it has the 290 hp engine and a nicer interior. if i did get a 95-97 i would not do the front end, the change in looks is not enough to justify a couple thousand, unless i get into a front end accident and insurance wants to pay.

tbilisi79

I am selling my 98 for 10k . But in February . New ting belt

gengar

More power, too.