Best year for the LS400?
#16
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
LOL Lavrishevo, if the pickings around here keep looking thin, I might just have to take a trip down to GA! The main thing I'm staying away from is the factory air suspension. The other quirks such as steering column, headlights, I can live with/deal with. I've also seen some decent priced/low mileage LS430's around but honestly, I like the 98 - 00 body better.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=701910
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 07-21-13 at 03:56 PM.
#17
Lexus Champion
Now if I had a wife, I think an LS430 would be the finest choice money can buy, incredible car, just not masculine at all!
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 07-21-13 at 10:53 PM.
#18
LOL Lavrishevo, if the pickings around here keep looking thin, I might just have to take a trip down to GA! The main thing I'm staying away from is the factory air suspension. The other quirks such as steering column, headlights, I can live with/deal with. I've also seen some decent priced/low mileage LS430's around but honestly, I like the 98 - 00 body better.
Do the research, make your list of what's important to have and your gut will tell you which on to get. If the decision to buy is too hard, then walk away. Should always be a no brainer... then you know you'll be happy in the long run. It's worked for me. Good luck.
#19
Lead Lap
Agreed!! - I hate those girly-looking LS430's - when the time comes to get something newer than a 2000 - I am going to temporarily defect over to an Infiniti M45, say around the 2006-8 model, and then later come back to LS460, skipping the first two years and the valve train issue and jump back in with a 2009 or 2010
Now if I had a wife, I think an LS430 would be the finest choice money can buy, incredible car, just not masculine at all!
Now if I had a wife, I think an LS430 would be the finest choice money can buy, incredible car, just not masculine at all!
I have no experience with the M45 but I sure HATED the M35 we rented for 10 days in 2007 while on vacation - rode like a truck (yes, I checked the tire pressure) on standard 17" tires. I commented about it in this thread from 2007: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...the-ls400.html
#20
Well we are on this topic, what is this Valve train issue you speak of? is it on the 1UR-FSE?
#21
Legend - great advice!
Kansas - I've never driven a car with the pre-collision but I've heard good things about it. Is it an option on all new models now, special order?
Cowboy - I'm also interested in what the valve train problem on the 460's are. I haven't done much research on the 460's but they look really sweet!
Kansas - I've never driven a car with the pre-collision but I've heard good things about it. Is it an option on all new models now, special order?
Cowboy - I'm also interested in what the valve train problem on the 460's are. I haven't done much research on the 460's but they look really sweet!
#22
Lexus Champion
There was an issue with the valves, a serious deep down in the engine issue, affecting all 2007 and 2008 models. Most recalls and/or TSB's on cars involve a fairly simple fix that the dealership can knock out in a few minutes, and is an easy repair that many folks could do under their shade tree, but this required very invasive engine surgery and it went beyond what I would want any mechanic to have to attempt on a brand new car, the repairs got done, but the engine will never be the same on those cars in my opinion. This is something that I wouldn't even want the Lexus engineers in Tahara doing to my new car, and certainly not typical American dealership mechanics, of which the ones at Lexus dealerships are far better than most, but still, it is just not good. The 1UR-FSE valvetrain is just too complex and tight tolerances for anything short of robotic assembly, if you want the legendary LS durability and quietness.
This was the only black mark in the LS's 24 years of production, a very sad day indeed!
The great news is, the 2009 and newer models are back to good as gold! - yay!
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 07-23-13 at 04:16 PM.
#24
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jun 2013
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I own a 99 LS400. Hands down, the best car I have ever owned. I have nearly 160K miles on it and it's still the smoothest, quietest car--and it's still beautiful to me. I recently test-drove a brand new top-of-the-line Camry and was appalled by the noise. Guess it has spoiled me. Getting ready to do a 150K service and I'm figuring for what is costs to make everything right I will save about 5 months' worth of very modest car payments. Plan to keep it--that is a golden year!
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