ck90211

Look at every Nissan (and how many used are still running still) and you will be disappointed. Sentras, Altimas, Quest vans, trucks, and they just don't last like Toyota and Honda comparables. They do have sportier cars (Z's, Infiniti G's) that look nice, but in their regular passenger cars they just don't last or hold values like their Japanese bro's. I totally agree with Och about Nissan's problems in the 90's, but they only fix surface problems (made cars looking good); they never fixed the quality problems. Check their build quality on Consumer Report and you will find several models (especially their big SUV's and trucks) to be awful.

j three

Don't be in such a rush. Take your time and you will find a nice 90-93 or 95-97 ls that is in your price range, maybe if you get lucky a 98-00. Just remember, although the maintenance will cost a little above average, Lexus reliability is way above average at #1. Once all major maintenance is up to date you should have a trouble free ownership with just regular maintenance to worry about.

Lsportline43

Thanks for the words of advice. I really am such a impluse buyer...

There are a few '95-'97 LS400s in my price range that I may look at this week. I feel confident that I would prefer LS400 owernship over the Q45t, but we'll see what I find. Thanks everybody for your concern and comments. Always helpful and insightful!

RA40

iTrader: (6)

We'd look briefly at 2001+ Q's. I wanted to like them and found some aspects that were appealing. Largely though, they were Let me qualify that by saying I've driven Toyota's since pop's '68 so I'm accustomed to what the Toyota designers have done. Quite similar layout in all of them for the most part.

Wife sat in the M and Q, took all of a few seconds to tell me she'd rather have our aging LS over these newer ones. Put her in the 3-GS or 4-LS...almost have to pry her out of them.

Lsportline43

I think I know what you mean about the Toyota "design." There's definitely a consistant form/function thing going on. There's since of reason why they place things a certain way or design things a certain way.

Still thinking...

omarg

i would get an es300 or avalon and put some sportier springs and some nice 17's. sporty but still smooth and relatively cheap.

Lexus has spoiled me, i'm so unimpressed with most vehicles today.

amcdonal86

Honestly, although Lexuses are reliable, they have a lot of nagging things that are very expensive to repair, if you care that much.

My LS has never left me stranded, but it's more expensive to maintain than most cars.

omarg

I could never recommend ANY BMW to somebody on a budget. Older german vehicles are cheap because repairs are so costly, and more frequent.

i drive a lexus because it has the lowest "true cost to own" (edmunds.com speak) in a wide class range.

my current 95 LS400 has two previous owners. I checked the service records and the only thing the most recent owner did(besides reg service) was replace a battery, in 5 years and 60k miles. The most money he spent was on the 90k service that ran him $1500 3 weeks before he sold it to me. It needs some brake pads now. final service figure is about $2600 (incl me replacing pads).

My friend has a 2002 benz c240. She has a thick pile of service records. Her dad bought it used because "It was cheaper than a civic!". I looked through the records. They spend about 2k a year in upkeep(tires not incl). Granted they take it to an MB specialist FOR EVERYTHING with no DIY stuff.

Even if took my 10 year older ls400 to a shop for everything, my repair bills over 4 years(80k mls) would be around 3k.

its not completely an apples to apples comparison but you get the idea.

I bet she could be driving a 2002 LS430 right now and her parents still would've spent less.

Just to top it off... both my ls400's are superior in every way to her c-class, EXCEPT handling. mpg is about the same.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

did you test drive the first generation avalon XLS yet?

amcdonal86

That's nice, but I have not had the same luck. Or maybe I'm just really **** about noises in the car (particularly the suspension).

I've spent about $2000 in 1 year maintaining my '97 LS400. And it already had the 90k service when I bought it! (I've driven it about 20k miles and it now has about 112k miles.)

Edit, BTW most of this is DIY work!

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Yeah if you are going to have an old car you better have a lot of money or do the work yourself.

Lsportline43

I have not test driven any Avalon yet. Anyone care to give comments about its driving characteristics?

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

The Buick Buick never made. Very smooth shifts (the smoothest shifting tranny I have ever had) . Smooth V6 (a little underpowered about the same as the 1st gen ls from 0 to 40 a little slower after that, zero to 60 in the mid 8 seconds ). Handles ok but its set at luxury mode but better than a Buick it is front wheel drive so you will get the front wheel drive plow at the limit. Very comfortable. Quiet (except that from years 95 to 97 they all have an air leak at the front windows unless you change the window seal) Call it a ls light. More agile in the city but not as much of a highway cruiser as the ls. More leg room in back seat but car is narrower. Seats are soft(and in my opinion very comfortable) . Interior is nice but not of the same quality as the ls. some road noise from the rear (like all camrys but not as loud). descent stereo but not as good as the Nakamichi on the ls. Cd player will only play cd's that are absolutely perfect (has 3 cd cartridges fed from the front of the player). Any scratches and it will skip.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

BTW I tested some older maximas and they are not in the same class as even the avalon if you like the effortless cruising. They are set up to be more sporty. The nissan straight six engine is a very good engine. The v6 are not as good (durable)

willhickey

iTrader: (1)

The bmw 740 has the worst reliability of any bmw ever made ( I cant remember where I read it but I DID READ IT) I have a 97 camry lev6 ( cloth , no moonroof) and I love it as a dd. 25 miles to the gallon silky smooth engine and transmission. The only thing is the strut mounts are notorious for going bad and you think the suspension is falling apart but it isnt. And for around 4k used i would vote this to all and any who want a cheap reliable point a to point b car. Just my .02 though