SOTW: Lexus LS400

Shed takes a lesson in luxury from the land of the rising sun

Shed’s got its eyes on a German luxo-barge with a twist this week – because it’s not German at all, but rather A Lexus LS400, the first serious luxury offering to come from Japan.

For Toyota, a company whose products have often had more than a whiff of the ‘white good’ about them, taking on the European prestige establishment was a brave move, and one that elicited more than a few titters from commentators and rivals alike.

But Toyota, a company that started life making sewing machines didn’t become one of the world’s largest, most profitable and most powerful car companies without knowing what it was doing. It was therefore perhaps inevitable that the LS400 really rocked the world of luxury cars when it was revealed back in 1989.

It might have shamelessly copied Mercedes styling cues, but the levels of refinement were of Lexus’s own devising. At the time of its launch, this was the quietest car in the world at a steady 70mph.

The 241bhp, 258lb ft 32-valve V8 gave decent performance, too, with 60mph arriving in 8.3secs and acceleration continuing until 148mph. Suddenly the MErc S Class, BMW 7-series and Jag XJ had some serious far-eastern competition.

The accolades poured in, too – even though the LS left some reviewers a little cold, it racked up plenty of scalps in magazine group tests both in the UK and the US.

Twenty years on and Lexus’s first offering has dipped into Shed territory. Lexus is still a brand that many don’t put in quite the league as Mercedes, Jaguar or BMW, but when you get into the murky world of sheds, badge snobbery is less of an issue than reliability. And reliability is something that Lexus has built its reputation on.

This particular Lexus is up for £991 and has been taken in part exchange, so we reckon you could knock a ton or so off the asking price. It’s quite low mileage, having racked up just 130,000 miles in its 17 years on the road, but even so the interior looks pretty darn tidy. We particularly love the early 1990s coachline and the boot spoiler, too.

This one's just £595...

You can get into a Lexus for even less, though: we also spotted a G-reg example (right) with 144k miles up for £595, but it only had one picture, and Shed doesn’t trust ads with only one picture…

Both the £991 Lexus advert and the £595 example are reproduced below.

1993 LEXUS LS 4.0 V8 (£991)

1993 (K reg)
Saloon
130,000 miles
Automatic
4.0L Petrol

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 130,000 miles, Blue, MOT-04-2010. ABS, Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Alloy wheels, Anti theft system, CD Multichanger, Central locking, Child locks, Climate Control, Colour coding - Body, Colour coding - Interior, Computer, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Electric sunroof, Foglights, Front armrest, Full Service History, Electrically adjustable seats, Headlight washers, Folding rear seats, Heated screen, Heated seats, Leather upholstery, Lumbar support, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Radio/Cassette, Spoiler, Rear headrests, Tinted glass, call 01132456898 or. Insurance Group:18, Excellent condition inside and out for year and mileage, cambelt fitted last year please ring 07772606347, £991 p/x to clear

1990 LEXUS LS 4.0 V8 4dr Auto Saloon (£595 ONO)

Saloon
144,000 miles
Automatic
4.0LPetrol

144,000 miles, Grey,4 Door Saloon,Petrol,Automatic,looks and drives good,mot til end june 2010,e/w,leather interior,6 disc multiplayer,c/l,memory seats. £595 ONO.

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