ls400geek

I remember in the early 80's my dad buying up 1965-1966 v8 mustangs because they looked cool, were easy to repair and were fairly reliable cars. He owned probably 8 of them over a 15 year period from 1980 on.

Now I kind of feel the same way about the LS400.. It's a 13-23 year old car that just looks too good inside and out--nice lines everywhere! It drives very nice and is super reliable. And mine feels pretty sporty--my 98 driving in ECT mode.

I can't help but feel these cars are going to be collector's items later on--ones that are kept in great condition. But maybe I just like them too much. Anyways it would be nice if my $8000 1998 LS400 is worth at least $8000 15 years from now Because I plan on keeping it that long!

Old rusted mustangs (almost 50 years old now) are worth crazy amounts of money these days.

Arguably "the best luxury sedan ever made" -- makes me think collector's item later on.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Nope it follows the "half your value every four year" rule. 1998 60k, 2002 30k, 2006 15k, 2010 7.5k, 2014 4k.

Maybe it beats the rule by just a little but close enough. By this rule an average 1998 ls400 is worth about 5 to 6k

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

except kbb for a '98 is ~7-9k...

also there was a period in the 70s/80s where mustangs were worth peanuts.

YoshiMan

It would be nice if there were remembered, but I honestly think that they will eventually go one of two ways:

1: the way of the Cressida... Those cars were quite talked about back in the 1980's, but today a pristine one will go for $1500, and they have almost been totally forgotten about.



2: the Way of the original Toyota Coronas: Probably considered just a regular car back in the day, with most of them serving their owners and being sent to the salvage yard, but the survivors now adays are pretty highly sought after and collect buku bucks!!!

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

I said average price. And certainly was not talking about used car lots or dealers but private sales

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...rch=true&Log=0

http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/ls-400/...e-results.html

3800 according to edmunds for a private sale of a white 1998 ls400 with 180k mile, moon roof, and cd changer.

6300 according to kbb

http://www.kbb.com/lexus/ls/1998-lex...11563025042400

ExpoGeorgi

Hopefully my 94 LS400 5th Anniversary edition is worth a good bit in a few years but even if it isn't I still plan to drive it and rack up the miles! Nothing else on the road looks like the 1st gen LS, the lines are so classy and many of the car enthusiast at work think it's newer than it is

Yamae

This is the story here in Japan. UCF10 and 11 are mostly gone to junk yards or crushed. I see UCF20 and 21 sometimes but they are getting less and less. I see them sold with a tag of 150,000Yen or $1600. They are not collectable classics here.

Those old cars with full of mechanical components tend to be collectable classics here but cars with full of electronics are not. It may be hard for collectors to maintain them. But those who are good at electronics, it is on the contrary.

omarg

wish i could buy a 00 celsior for $1600. Oh how i wish they were legal to import her in the US! Those Celsiors had radar cruise control!!! in 98!!!!

Shigen

Who knows? The LS made a kind of a comeback in the VIP scene in America,
If enough enthusiasts are interested, I can see the LS being a popular car in the future.

Mugen_1

Ah, but the Cressida seems to be experiencing at least a mild resurgence, albeit in a slightly different manner than perhaps intended...

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

well mine is a classic and collectible, I will drive my 99 'til I'm gone, that aint saying much, I turn 80 next year.. but I love that car...................... still looks good..

j2b4o

IMO there are too manny around for it to be collectable.
most of the high value classics have limited production numbers and didnt sell very well. old hemi's are a great example of this.

ls400geek

There were like what, 1 million 1965-1966 mustangs made? They go for over 20k now restored (new they were 3k).

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Mustangs were an iconic car and ushered in the entire ponycar (and some would say, the musclecar) era. They were a turning point.

The LS400, while a significant leap for toyota and greatly turning up competition in the Flagship segment, did not have a similar impact.

DertyDOH

I think they will be more of a "cult classic", not worth a ton but maybe a decent bit if you find the people looking for one