I recently found a 2000 LS400 the last year of the icon that started affordable luxury for the masses, and is often imitated, never duplicated by it's German competitors. The VVT-i really helps the car, and the UZ motor is a solid platform, built to last (400k+ forward). The style, and iconic boxy rear/old school Lexus grille truly shine, and it's subtle lines truly look great still today. It's bound to become a classic one day! JDM luxury dinosaur that you can't ignore.
One of the best made cars of the 20th century! I have a 98 with 205k Miles. Runs like a champ! Plenty of power and eats the freeway miles as I commute in it 100+ miles per day. Nice to see a review on this legend. My mom got an LS430 and that’s next for me, but I’m keeping the LS400 as a spare car. Too good to get rid of.
Great review Kirk! All these LS's are sweet rides. I had a 430., and currently own a 460. These are top notch vehicles, no matter the age. As long as you take care of them
I just got an LS430 recently too. Mine is the non-air bag suspension. Drives so well and is such a nice reliable and luxurious car. I thought about the LS400 too, but the 430 looks a bit more modern.
jeb419 I have a UL so I do have the stock air suspension. However I have already purchased aftermarket air ride. I love my ls430 but the ls400 especially 98-00 paved the way for the ls430. I still want one
@@th-mo8fq How much are the aftermarket air suspension parts? You can put regular struts on it of course which is likely cheaper. Mine drives very smoothly with the original struts. But I'll be replacing bushing and control arms soon
I purchased airlift performance. I also had my car inspected by a Lexus tech and told me I won’t need to place stuff for a long time (I purchased it with low mileage and lightly driven)
I still to this day see a good amount of these driving around in amazing condition, still running like a champ! One of the best quality cars ever made!! My favorite model is probably the LS430!
What I like, particularly about this sedans design(which has been there from the first model), is the “Hoffmeister Kink” in the rear door window. I know it’s a blatant attempt at mimicking BMW’s (just like the front headlights remind you of a MB) design queue’s , but it’s a nice touch regardless. Imitation is the best form of flattery...
Man, I had a 93, the drivetrain smoothness was luxurious and the quality for its age was amazing, I bought it for cheap and sold it(I regret it) for double of what I paid(I was 18 so I wanted something faster...). Well done on the review.
Out of the nine cars we have in our small collection, our LS430 is the pick, we love and drive it most often and it attracts the frequent positive comments, invariably with an offer to purchase same. We couldn’t source a decent LS400 at the time but when a tidy example is spotted I gaze with envy, the early model LS 400-430 are guaranteed current and future collectables in my view, that can be both admired and actually driven with delight. In years to come maintained presentable examples will pull real money… if you can extract them from the owners.
I have a black 99 LS400. The rattle in the door can be fixed by using some felt on the inner door liner, where the door panel sits. The inner door panel is pretty easy to remove, though one should review just how to do it prior to attempting. My driver's door was rattling, which would go away when I would rest my elbow on the door sill. With the felt on the inner door liner (where the inner door panel "hooks" on and rests on the metal door frame), the rattle is gone. 30-45 minute fix. Transmissions are strong, though a little sluggish, as you noticed. The radio doesn't go out, but the display does. Pioneer makes the part (as noted by stroock6394 - #CWM5077). Takes about an hour to two hours to do start to finish. (Two hours if you have never pulled the radio before). The front strut rods will need to be replaced every 40k miles. It's a stupid design Lexus fixed with the LS430. The strut rod bushings crack and cause the suspension to pop when going over bumps, and they cause the steering wheel to shake a little when slowing down (not like the rotors being warped, which you would also feel in the brake pedal). Take note of the power steering system for leaks. The pump sits RIGHT over the alternator, so if your pump is leaking, it needs to be addressed quickly. There is a seal kit for about $35 which fixes the leaks at the power steering pump. It is a DIY job, but one you'll want to take your time with. The only time my car has left me stranded is when the fuel pump failed (and it failed immediately). Replacing it involves pulling the back seat out (very easy to do), and the pump is located in the middle behind the seat back. Plan on replacing the starter at 150k miles; however, the starters will "let you know" as they are wearing out. Otherwise, it's a great car. I bought mine with 113k miles, and now have 222k. It drives as smoothly as many new cars, and the 1UZ engine/trans should last a long time.
96-99 Lexus LS are the sweet spot of ultra Japanese kaizen reliability.I owned 2 have 1 left.Best of the best besides the w126 300d Mercedes 1979-85 5 cylinder cast iron Diesel engine.I payed 15k for a 99 with 83k miles and great maintenance history and navy blue.
Well done 👍🏻 and I bet you that the noise in the interior is something loose in the map holder in the door I had one of these. The seats are fantastic awesome. It does wallow in the turns a bit however you do get adjusted to the style required so seeing as a mechanic is buying the gem he made a very wise decision as he could address the handling by replacing the shocks with a different approach now I know they are a special type but I could google the answer in two seconds so that’s really all it lacked in my mind perfect in every way except in the turns however it saved my butt on the interstate on ice easily so I truly fell in love excellent mpg at 80 to 85 so quiet and comfortable you get out after a 500 mile drive feeling better than when you started stopped as well as the same year 911 and accelerated on par with the same year corvette so you anticipate the car and it won’t disappoint I thought I had an engine tick going down the interstate It was a ink pen in the door cubby lol that’s how quiet they are I have a 2004 LS. Yep it handles well and is the evolution of this car That car is the legend that made Lexus as you well know And will go trouble free with only maintenance and care easily for 10 or more years It should be collectible I think and the beauty of it is it’s timeless lines and quality Lexus Slogan it’s theme was The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection and it shows 😛
I got a chuckle from your comment about the pen in the door. My LX is so quiet that I had to put headliner material in the console cubby and glove box because items moving around inside was the loudest sound in the car.
The second generation LS400 was refreshed for the 98 model year, not 97. ;) I have a 1997 (and the 2005 LS430 I mentioned in my comment on your LS430 review). My 97 has the more square/blocky pre-refresh nose. I prefer the pre-refresh angular lines, but like the drivetrain and updated features in the 98-00.
I would be honored to possess the original example that challenged the status quo of luxury cars. This vehicle delivered fit to finish smoothness that successfully blended the elegance of Mercedes and the performance of BMW. Even though Infiniti rolled the pinball along the trunklines and doors in its commercials, Lexus could balance champagne glasses on its running engine. I think I’d try that too : )
The best stock luxury car ever made. The 1UZ-FE engine is certified to be put in airplanes by the FCC. I have a 99 with 230K. wanted to sell it but just cant.
I've had my '98 for almost 21 years and it remains perfect. It replaced 2 new German "luxury" vehicles, which, I admit were pleasant to drive; but, were otherwise maintenance and reliability nightmares...very defective engineering and quality control. I hope never to part with this Lexus. A friend got rid of his Bentley and bought a Lexus LS, too. It seems that, sooner or later, most sensible people come around to the irresistible quality and reliability of Lexus...esp. the LS400 (second gen.) and 430.
