Lexus LS400 | Shed Buying Guide
Discussion
Eazy71 said:
I think they did one of these on “Wheeler Dealers” a few years back. I found it surprisingly entertaining and it piqued my interest in a car that had never really registered with me. Ruined it with more modern alloys and clear glass indicators if I recall correctly.
FTFYThe criticism of car reviewers eh?
In the 00s I had a Mk1 Avensis with a lovely floaty ride and comfy velour seats, it was like driving a front room, the 1.8 petrol engine was smooth not particularly fast not particularly slow. But it was a lovely pleasant COMFY drive. The reviewers slaughtered it, decreeing that the handling was compromised, wallowy. The result was that the Mk2 was much more "focused" for which you can read harder riding and the seats had lost their cuddly velour (probably more a fashion thing to be fair). The point being that hooning a family saloon round a Spanish race track and handing it back to the manufacturer does not mirror the experience of owning and driving one daily. I miss my old floaty Avensis. These were definitely an up market version of the Toyota saloons (my Uncle had a Camry which was similarly floaty) I think floatiness in a comfy car is under rated.
In the 00s I had a Mk1 Avensis with a lovely floaty ride and comfy velour seats, it was like driving a front room, the 1.8 petrol engine was smooth not particularly fast not particularly slow. But it was a lovely pleasant COMFY drive. The reviewers slaughtered it, decreeing that the handling was compromised, wallowy. The result was that the Mk2 was much more "focused" for which you can read harder riding and the seats had lost their cuddly velour (probably more a fashion thing to be fair). The point being that hooning a family saloon round a Spanish race track and handing it back to the manufacturer does not mirror the experience of owning and driving one daily. I miss my old floaty Avensis. These were definitely an up market version of the Toyota saloons (my Uncle had a Camry which was similarly floaty) I think floatiness in a comfy car is under rated.
I'm going to go a bit against the grain....
There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
Jag_NE said:
I'm going to go a bit against the grain....
There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
I agree with the latter sentiment. But having had a BMW 7 series and then an LS460 of similar vintage (both were on sale at the same time) when it comes to being a barge, the LS is better. BMW more sporty, for sure so to say the "German stuff is just far better" simply isn't true. In what way are they "far better"?There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
Ride? No. Tech? No. Comfort? No. Looks? Maybe S class but certainly not the 7 series and the A8 is also a bit dull.
Jag_NE said:
I'm going to go a bit against the grain....
There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
Most of the professional engineers and reviewers at the time have commented extensively around quality control and reliability. Urban legend? I think not. JD Powers quality winner something like 15 years in a row? World car of the year 2007. I could go on, but you strike me as a pub bore.There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
Your post smacks of the superficial, which doesn't surprise me. You cannot "see" quality control, nor reliability. Furthermore, owners of "traditional" marques often find it difficult to admit how much their pride and joy has let them down, as if it is some kind of slight against their decision making, and therefore their intelligence.
Jag_NE said:
I'm going to go a bit against the grain....
There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
I think that may well be the case more recently, but we're talking about 1989 here, thirty years ago. In that context it was way better than a 1989 XJ, 7 or S and came as a huge shock, it was a very big deal back then. I was a Lexus Sales Specialist at launch, conquest sales were a piece of piss, even from some very loyal BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar owners who'd only called in just for a mooch and to see what all the fuss was about, they were properly stunned and any preconceptions or prejudice just fell away. I took a one year old 420SE in from one old boy who'd had Mercedes Benz products for over twenty years, and this was at a time that Mercedes were at the very top of their game in quality, the like of which we've still not seen since.There is always a bit of a circle jerk with the left field stuff amongst us car geeks but I'm not convinced that Lexus were as truly ground breaking as many seem to think. People just love the urban myths. The Germans were already capable of building supremely durable saloon cars before Lexus came onto the scene and they actually look pleasant at the same time. The Japanese have always made rubbish interiors and to this day, Lexus remain relatively niche. I certainly think the LS is a nice barge and will be very reliable, but in Europe at least, despite all the car nerd talk, people have never really taken to them because the German stuff is just far better. When it comes to the buying of big new cars and people putting their money where their mouth is, the S/7/A8 are still the best in class.
Howard- said:
As much as I love these, and as much as they're the reliability champion of the luxury car segment, you'd be naive to expect nothing at all to go wrong with it. It's an ancient luxury saloon with many complex and expensive parts. It's going to need money spending on it, even if it won't be nearly as ruinous as a 7 series or S Class.
Sorry to reinforce the stereotype/cliche, but the '97 ls400 I owned for £850, albeit about 7 years ago was immaculate, silent and faultless. Everything worked, 22mpg round the doors, 34mpg on a run. I owned lots of barges before that, and have never bought one since as I know it would not compare to the ls. The best engineered, most refined car I have ever owned. Once I am more financially secure I will be looking at a ten or twelve year old ls600h lwb as I suspect like the old 400, ownership would far outweigh roadtestsEdited by biggbn on Tuesday 14th January 23:20
biggbn said:
dinkel said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
I have been curious as to how these drive and feel. I'd be keen to find out how they feel compared to my LS460 
It's a 90s car. Try compare it with Merc S-class: 500 SEL and such.TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
biggbn said:
dinkel said:
TyrannosauRoss Lex said:
I have been curious as to how these drive and feel. I'd be keen to find out how they feel compared to my LS460
It's a 90s car. Try compare it with Merc S-class: 500 SEL and such.Epic build quality in the LS400 that modern cars cannot compare to, its a testament to how good they are that they still drive just as good now as when they were new
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/features...
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/features...
Friends have had a few, was my first time driving a pedal operated parking brake .. my foot automatically went for a clutch pedal when pulling up to a junction. Nice cars for wafting.
One had it's engine donated to a mk2 Supra, another had it's engine donated to a lifted Hilux Surf (and then supercharged).
One had it's engine donated to a mk2 Supra, another had it's engine donated to a lifted Hilux Surf (and then supercharged).
ericmcn said:
Epic build quality in the LS400 that modern cars cannot compare to, its a testament to how good they are that they still drive just as good now as when they were new
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/features...
Is that where the author of the PH article found the erroneous information that the LS had "one of the first trannies to get its own ECU"?https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/features...
Even if it had it would have been nothing new, the MkIII Supra, for example, had a separate ECU for the auto.
Edited by gareth_r on Thursday 16th January 10:59
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