My LS400 = A Barge Bargain Success

[nonplussed]

I have a well-used 1999 Lexus LS400, bought last April for not a lot. I did everything wrong when buying it. It was the first Lexus I'd driven, it was raining, and I happily ignored a couple of obvious (if minor) faults. But hey, it was local, it was cheap, mileage wasn't too bad (154k) and it belonged to a former rock star, so I bought it. My first bargain barge.

13 months on, it has been an utter success. I have driven it all over the southern half of the UK, to Ireland, and on one long return trip to Scandinavia, 12k miles in total. It's just had its first MOT in my ownership, which it passed wth no problems, and I've just had it serviced. In addition to the service I've spent about £400 on brakes front and back. Literally nothing else has gone wrong with it. It doesn't drive like a new car, suspension it a little bit tired, but it drives very well indeed for an 11-year old 166k mile car.

It does 15mpg around Milton Keynes (this may sound bad but is considerably better than any of the other V8 cars I've owned), around 22mpg average, and easily 30mpg+ on the motorway. It's obviously very comfy etc., and everything bar the sat nav still works as it should. It doesn't do anything as crass as "handle", but with 280bhp, it goes well enough in a straight line. V8 burble is sadly nonexistent, but in fairness would not be in keeping with the LS400 concept.

Anyway, that's all I can think of - I've no idea if anyone's interested in this sort of stuff, but I always like to read people's own experiences, so I thought I'd contribute my own. All in, considering this was a slightly desperate poverty purchase, I'm massively impressed with the Japanese land yacht. It really is everything it's cracked up to be. It's my first Lexus, but it certainly will not be my last. Go get your own, it's brilliant!

Here's a pic:

[Fire99]

Stirling effort. Well done. Enjoying wafting in true LS400 waftyness!!

Look after it and it'll probably outlive us all. That's my kind of eco-motoring.

[jbi]

Got one myself... only i've got an old 1992 Jap import "celsior" model

Only paid 500 beans for it and i've had many miles out of it and many happy road trips with family and friends.

Not one thing has gone wrong with it in the time I have owned it and I have not spent a penny apart from service items (oil, brakes filters etc)

Being a 1992 car the rubber bushings are on the way out, but i'm looking to upgrade to a full poly bushing kit which should last forever and hopefully tighten up the handling a bit too.

Custom anti-roll bars and strut braces are also on the agenda.

It also has the honour of being fitted with air suspension, which was not available here in europe on the MK1's, and along with the jap lighting cluster and other little oddities it does have a certain air of exclusivity about it.

Always get a wave when I see another LS400 driver about.

Will keep this car as long as I possibly can.

EDIT: the 250hp V8 is a little underpowered, but very unstressed and will run forever...

Edited by jbi on Friday 21st May 22:34

[Libertine]

So, who was the previous owner?

Nice car. I've seen a few on youtube, with updated exhausts..then you can hear the V8 burble

[DJC]

12,000 miles in 13 months doesnt count.

Ive done 14,000 in the 5 months since I bought mine.

[V8mate]

nonplussed said:

I did everything wrong when buying it. It was the first Lexus I'd driven, it was raining, and I happily ignored a couple of obvious (if minor) faults.

Care to elaborate?

[rix]

looks lovely, have certainly aged well IMO

[Luke.]

DJC said:

12,000 miles in 13 months doesnt count.

Ive done 14,000 in the 5 months since I bought mine.

Go big man.

[belleair302]

I run a LS400 (1996) car as my shed....great tanks, wafty ride, not silly money to keep going and built beautifully. Everything works, a/c blows cold and other than a xenon headlight kit everything else is original. These cars just keep on going. A tad heavy on tyres but a serious uber barge.

[jbi]

belleair302 said:

I run a LS400 (1996) car as my shed....great tanks,

not sure I would call it a tank as they only weigh in around 1700kg which is about average for a family saloon these days

[nonplussed]

V8mate said:

nonplussed said:

I did everything wrong when buying it. It was the first Lexus I'd driven, it was raining, and I happily ignored a couple of obvious (if minor) faults.

Care to elaborate?

Suspension was (and is) a bit tired, satnav doesn't work, and it's got a bit of a supermarket scrape on one front corner. This didn't look too bad until I took it through a car wash, at which point much paint flaked off the front bumper. I've left it as it is, it adds character!

I forgot to add in the OP that one other thing that adds to the feelgood factor is the great a/c - in the last couple of hot days (bearing in mind I've not had it regassed or indeed at all touched since I bought it) I've started it up in the morning outside the house, gone back to kiss wife and toddlers goodbye, and in the minute it takes to do that, it's already cooled down nicely. Now, of course a lot of cars would do exactly this as well, but it never fails to feel great.

[MondeoMan1981]

Who was the rock star owner ?

[Dracoro]

Considered one last year. All set to find the right one etc.

Saw one locally at dealer so thought I'd sit in it to make sure it all fitted (I'm 6'3 and was following a back operation so comfort and ease of access etc. all a priority.

I couldn't fit (I'm normally proportioned BTW!), the only way I could not have my head rubbing against the roof was to be in the racing driving position! Not great for getting in & out or for the rear passengers.

So, fine cars all in all, just not for the tall, I have more headroom in my S2000.

Edited by Dracoro on Friday 21st May 23:52

[AdeV]

Dracoro said:

Saw one locally at dealer so thought I'd sit in it to make sure it all fitted (I'm 6'3 and was following a back operation so comfort and ease of access etc. all a priority.

I couldn't fit (I'm normally proportioned BTW!), the only way I could not have my head rubbing against the roof was to be in the racing driving position! Not great for getting in & out or for the rear passengers.

So, fine cars all in all, just not for the tall, I have more headroom in my S2000.

Um, I'm 6'5" & fit in my Mk2 just fine, Dad's 6'7" & fits in his Mk3 without any major head rubbing (he does use a bit of a weird seat position IMHO).

[twazzock]

belleair302 said:

I run a LS400 (1996) car as my shed....great tanks, wafty ride, not silly money to keep going and built beautifully. Everything works, a/c blows cold and other than a xenon headlight kiteverything else is original. These cars just keep on going. A tad heavy on tyres but a serious uber barge.

I hope you didn't buy it from Mike Brewer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyMMrprPNfo
(It looked far better with the original headlights and indicators)

[Dracoro]

AdeV said:

Dracoro said:

Saw one locally at dealer so thought I'd sit in it to make sure it all fitted (I'm 6'3 and was following a back operation so comfort and ease of access etc. all a priority.

I couldn't fit (I'm normally proportioned BTW!), the only way I could not have my head rubbing against the roof was to be in the racing driving position! Not great for getting in & out or for the rear passengers.

So, fine cars all in all, just not for the tall, I have more headroom in my S2000.

Um, I'm 6'5" & fit in my Mk2 just fine, Dad's 6'7" & fits in his Mk3 without any major head rubbing (he does use a bit of a weird seat position IMHO).

That's nice for you both. Doesn't make me fit in one any better though does it?

[J4CKO]

Come on, who was it ?

Nice car, but its not Rock and Roll really is it ?