The 1990 Lexus LS400 Was the Beginning of Lexus 

I deserve a higher score.

Doug the type of guy that would complain that a 1990 car has no 2018 features

He's just jealous that his range rover keeps breaking down

My parents owned the LS400 from that very same year and, like you said, it was a VERY big deal in its day. I was 13 when my parents bought the car and they went from a mid 1980's Toyota Camry to the LS400... and boy was there a BIG difference back then! The interior layout may not seem like much compared with today's luxury cars, but I vividly remember my parents taking a friend out to dinner and us all taking the LS400. When the car started up... you couldn't help but notice the dash, with its floating 3D-style lights and how the center console lit up. I vividly remember her saying, "Wow! Are we ready for take off?" Back then it was like sitting in the cockpit of a airliner. It was so sleek in its day and everything had a nice flow to it. You have to remember that many cars we still offering (or just beginning to come off of) that boxy/compartmentalized interior design of the 1980's. So the flowing lines of the LS400 were stunning! The seats were never all that comfortable, but the quietness was very impressive for its day. I remember going on a road trip with my parents, shorty after they purchased the car, to Santa Barbara. At one point, we pulled over on this back-country-like road where there wasn't any traffic or road noise to contend with and my dad rolled down the windows. The car was still running, but the engine was so quite you couldn't even hear it as it idled. My parents kept the car well into the early 2000's, when they sold it to my mom's sister. It was a great car for its time and I have nothing but fond memories of it.

he was complaining about no touch screen in a 1990 car armrest?

Dude ! wtf ?! ...you have no idea... this car is amazing ! The engine is a piece of art, LS 400 was way ahead of its competition like mercedes W126.

Did anyone notice? He DID NOT try the ‘sport’ mode during acceleration testing. ..

If there's an Indian here, This is the same model as Harshad Mehta's iconic Lexus

Fog lights are yellow because they cut through fog better. They are meant for actual fog. The lower wavelength doesn't scatter as much off the water droplets as white or lights with more blue in them do. Seat belts usually have a bit where there is an extra loop built in with stitches that are designed to fail under certain conditions so the seat belt gives a little at a certain pre-defined point to absorb energy and thus lessen injuries. Most cars have these loops if you know where to look, usually at the base of the belt where it attaches to the car. It would be pretty straightforward to put a tag in that loop to let people know those stitches have failed and therefore if the car has experiences crash-level G forces the tag would become visible. That's actually a really clever thing to do, I like it!

That car looks like it's in perfect condition. I would gladly drive that around. I honestly cant believe that interior is from 1990, the styling and everything looks like its from a late 90's car.

Two other items to consider ... when this car first appeared on the road, tests here in the UK revealed that it had the best, most powerful brakes of any car on the road back when it was new. Its stopping power was almost frightening, as if Lexus wanted to make sure that if you needed to stop in an emergency, you STOPPED. The trouble being, of course, that cars with lesser brakes would rear end you if you floored the brake pedal in an LS400 ... Next, some of these are still running over here, and, still running despite having intergalactic mileage counts. When Lexus built these cars, they built them to keep going forever, and some of them are still doing that. A few examples are still running after racking up half a million miles. Including, quite possibly, the dung brown one some tasteless individual bought in my home town when they first appeared back in 1990. Yes, one of the colours in the Lexus catalogue at the time was a hideous dung brown, which literally made the car look as if it had been dipped in a giant vat of diarrhoea. I really wish I'd photographed that car at the time, so I could show everyone just how frankly vomit inducing that shade of brown was. By contrast, the white ones looked elegant, and there were some decent colours in the Lexus lineup at the time, with the metallic emerald green ones looking particularly chic. To put into perspective why Lexus succeeded, they built a bomb-proof, ridiculously reliable alternative to an S-Class, and sold it for something like £15,000 less. They also had a far superior warranty scheme in operation when selling this car. They succeeded because they set out to beat Mercedes-Benz at their own game, and pulled off that trick, which at the time everyone thought was impossible. Once word spread that the LS400 was a better S-Class for 70% of the money, Lexus took off, and did so even here in the UK, where badge snobbery was a particularly hard obstacle to overcome. In short, Lexus, with the LS400, delivered a car that contained so much that was comprehensively right. It was, back in 1990, an object lesson in how to build a car. In some respects, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are still catching up.

21:33 “By today’s standards this car is far short of a luxury brand” This man is saying that a 29 year old car doesn’t have 2019 technology and comfort. He is a “professional” car reviewer and columnist. Let that sink in. Doug is also worth about $2,000,000. He’s a millionaire from California yet he complains that a 1990 Lexus isn’t like a 2019 Lexus. This is why everyone hates mainstream media and critics from every topic. I’m here only for the car, i can’t stand Demuro or his immature unprepared reviews.

Love 90’s Luxury interiors. Simple. Beautiful. Well crafted.

That v8 was revolutionary, it even changed the way America made them

Who is here after seeing harshad mehta’s lexus car in scam 1992

Harshad mehta was smart buying this car as it is super reliable and ahead of its time

THIS...is still more reliable than 70% of the vehicles that are currently on the market.

I must say that i was surprised with the review you made on the LS400. This car was an absolute game changer for the entire luxury segment and the car industry back in 1990. Not only did Toyota introduce a brand, but they shook the market and rattled mainstay luxury manufacturers like Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac with the introduction of THIS car. That V8 DOHC 1 UZ FE engine (again designed by Yamaha) with 250 hp was awesome and even outperformed the BMW 740i of the time. Toyota really did their research with it. Its well known for its reliability when V8s of the era weren't that refined. It has a cult following to this day and is very well renowned in tuner circles for its reliability and ablity to withstand a lot of tuning abuse with some engines modded to produce well over triple the original numbers. Also your other reviews are usually about the car, this one was a comparison with its 2018 counterpart which, probably inadvertently, seems very biased and shows the car in a poor light.

It's crazy going back to Doug's old videos and seeing how calmy he explains everything. It's like he does a line of coke before every video now. He became a true RU-vidr!

Some of Indian comments here are from the web series "Scam 1992" where the protagonist buys this car to show that this was the best imported car the richest can buy.

Doug and 1990 Lexus are almost the same age and yet this car looks Alot younger than Doug

This vehicle is a piece of gold It had a package of technology that isn't located in a vehicle now days

Doug did injustices to that car. He did not once mentioned the advert for the launching of the car which shook the world

2:05 I love how he jumped from one car to the other without losing his spiel, like he was doing a magic trick

My family has owned one of these since 1990. My grandmother bought one "right off the boat" in 1990, and my sister still daily drives it today, 257k miles and still going strong. Its an amazing car, ~20 mpg in a v8 that can get the car up to over 120 mph, tested by a friend ;). One of the most underrated 90s sedan, and one of my favorite cars of all time.

Toyota mechanic here. Just to give you an idea on how reliable these engines are there was a twin turbo variant designed and FAA certified for use in airplanes.

The Japanese cars from the 80-90's were the best, almost bulletproof. It's sad to see they haven't really improved ever since then other than some technological advancement.

Harshad's car The Bull Of BSE.

Doug the type of guy to say November one instead of November first

Dont want to seem like a fan boy, though I work for Lexus , however I feel as if though he undersold this car just a little bit, reliability being one of the major highlights of the car. Not to mention the commercials of the car going 140mph with glasses of champagne on the hood with minimal vibration. In any matter its great to see such a fine example !

Still a beautiful car in my opinion.. I love my 93' LS400 im going on 280k miles on the odo n she's still going without a single issue besides regular maintenence.

Right after harshad meheta Lexus

Im a big fan of your show and you. However, you dropped the ball on reviewing the LS400 so badly, I feel compelled to comment. You didnt compare the $3 million Bugatti to the BMW 850. If you're trying educate people comparatively, you should compare a 1990 Lexus with a 1990 Mercedes, Jaguar, or BMW. Or, you should compare the currently valued LS400 (probably $3000-$4000) to some other car in the same price range. Or, you should compare it to other family sedans. Clearly, it's target audience is different than the G wagon, the Ferrari, and a station wagon. Why would fun, acceleration and looks be even remotely comparable? My dad bought the a Lexus in 1990. I remember test driving it against Mercedes, BMW, and Cadillac. If you werent blinded by the brand names, it was literally no contest. The LS400 beat those cars in nearly every category. I was looking forward to that kind of comparison in this video. What I find most interesting, myself, is that Lexus is more "art imitates life" than the other way around. If the 1990 Lexus looks blocky and simple, it's because that's what customers wanted the most. Toyota researches what people want and will buy and then that's what they build. As opposed to Mercedes, who actually SETS the trends instead of following them. (It seems nearly every mid-range car trend follows the latest Mercedes look) Lexus rarely takes automotive risks: they respond the buyer. Its no coincidence the modern Lexus looks and performs like it does, because that is what people are buying right now. When people want boxy, Lexus builds boxy. When people want leather and wood trim, Lexus adds leather and wood. It's an elegant business plan. Oh, and the recessed knob controls? Those are more than quaint....they are advanced safety features. In the event of an accident...any people not buckled into the back seat will not impale their faces on center console knobs when they go flying forward. What sold me on Lexus is that my dad was a business professor who complained about how everything could be improved. For the first time in my life, I saw him buy a product that made him shut the hell up. He had ZERO complaints about his Lexus. That silence, was worth the price of car.

Jesus christ Doug, I swear you do this shit on purpose. If a car has suspension that can raise and lower, you have to show it to us raising and lowering.

Ohh the Harshad Mehta Lexus...

Harshad Mehta's Car!

I was nine years old and my former stepfather had one of these. I just remember being blown away by the Nakamichi sound system

Anyone knows that a 1990 LS is going to have a different ride quality and menu of technological options than a 2018. Grading a 1990 car model on a 2018 standard is just dumb. You're talking 28 years of working improvements; and the original LS will outlast many new cars on the road even today.

once upon a time in 90s a legend used to own this

Also, the electroluminescent gauge cluster has always wowed me. As for the center stack, Toyota simplicity at its finest. My grandma's Cressida had the ECT and overdrive button as well.

Doug the type of guy to wear two Supreme Tshirts at the same time for maximum clout

Simply the best Japanese car ever. You keep the new Lexus, I'll gladly drive the 1st gen LS400.

Harshad Mehta car❤️

YUPP.......I GOT CURIOUS ABOUT HARSHAD MEHTA TOOO....!!!!!

The "ECT" switch on the center console stands for "Electronically Controlled Transmission" -- setting it to "PWR" gives you more aggressive shift points than the "NORM". Flooring it in "NORM" will shift at about 5k RPM, while "PWR" will go all the way to the redline. On the "Overdrive" button, pressing it actually disables the 4th gear on the transmission.

There's a reason Toyota stuck with the 4 speed auto for so long....they never broke down. Honestly this car was tested on the Autobahn back then and was faster than the same Sclass and 7 series of the day topping out at 155mph. That's not bad for a 4 speed automatic

This car just became veryyyyy famous in India😂

Harshad Mehta's car

Still looks beautiful today...

Dougs score no longer has any meaning to me after this review.. I give this review of the ls400 a 0 out of 5.

In every one of doug's videos, I only watch the quirks and features part. The driving part and the dougscore part are pretty useless.

To my knowledge, it's the most reliable sedan ever made

Doug reads owners manuals on the toilet

I can't believe that gorgeous car was around in 1990. So ahead of its time from a styling perspective. That body is exquisite. My personal favorite LS is the generation from the late 90's

Who came here by ‘scam 1992’ Man cant even kept his lexus till his death 😔

I like the old LS better.

In 1995 I talked my dad into buying his LS400. He loved that car and drove it all the way to his death, and after he died my mother gave me the car I talked him into buying. I am still driving that car today and all my friends tell me it is such a smooth and comfortable ride.

This car is Gold, Perfection A machine that can give a driving pleasure like nothing else, I had a 1998 Model and 2006 LS430, I loved every single thing about it. The Japanese gave us the best Luxury Brand till date, I Love Lexus

5:25 What I like about older cars is how driver-oriented they are. Nothing to really distract you, in the same time you can appreciate the quality of materials better, and they even may feel more luxurious, just because the interior is so simple. 16:54 I think that was called "load-limiter"

I had 1998 LS 400. It was amazing. Handles like a Civic with a great ride. Now I love my LS430.

Oh, and hey Doug, yes, the mirrors are small, it was an era where small mirror = better fuel economy. This is why the 1990s has most of my favorite cars. Power was coming up again, and yet, fuel economy was also increasing, cars were light weight for their size..... I wish I could have been older in the 1990s because there are tons of cars I would have bought new, and kept.

If this had a BMW badge, Doug would be licking its exhaust pipes.

The favourite car of Harshad Mehta🔥

THIS... is a LEXUS! Not these present day things with 20" wagon wheels and a flared grill down to within one inch of the pavement.

Doug forgot to tell us he is 6ft 3" in this video!!!

The 87-93 Acura Legend LS had many of these features also. I loved my 90 and 95 wonderful cars still today

This is the car of the big bull 🐂 'Harshad Mehta'

Yellow fog lights give you better visibility during fog.

Doug the type of guy to stop you mid conversation just to wipe a smudge off your face.

Harsad maheta favorite car🚘🚘

outdate or not, I'll take this car over any of today's smartphone on wheels anyday.

I was 12 yo when the 90 Lexus LS400 came out. I like luxury. I would take the 1990 model over a 2018 model anytime. She’s pretty.

I don't know why I'm still amazed of Doug, the professional car reviewer, having no idea what (common to semi-common) things in cars do or mean.

This car threw all the U.S. and European luxury car manufacturers into a big panic.

Who’s here after watching Scam 1992?

A 1990 LEXUS LS400 IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE GALAXY

When you rate the most Reliable Sedan ever made in Quality a 7/10.

Doug doesn’t know how to drive a Lexus. Perfect one handed drive

The car doesn't deserve your critique. The people behind its development and the quality of the assembly line at that time, was 2nd to none. It is an honor to own a over built LS400 even one with 285000 miles. And NO LEAKS. Mine is 25 years old. My teens have tested mine already. My daughter can fit 6 teenagers in ours. Comfortably. It has four mufflers & two CATs original from the factory. I'm reasonably confident if T-Boned in an accident my loved ones might sustain minimal injury or walk away. How do I know this? No vehicle I ever owned has doors this solid & heavy.

I asked my daughter if she had seen my newspaper. She told me that newspapers were old school and that people use tablets today. She handed me her iPad. That fly didn't stand a chance.

For some reason I think this car is stunning. Easy 10 on styling for me.

I watched it again, it could be the 30th time. This car is so well built and Lexus is such an excellent brand. Lexus haters please free up the surface of Earth.

*Anyone here after the Scam 1992 Harshad Mehta Story*

U are sooo bad at comparing a 1990 car to 2019 car comon dude

Damn, I miss real dials and buttons on cars.

My parents had one back in 92 I remember always trying to start it when it was already running, just soooooo damn smooth.

I dont like the car but i am fan of his owner in india (harshad mehta)

Doug the type of guy to close the fridge door with his hips

I love the simple design of 90s/00s cars. The extreme curves and protruding tail lights these days looks horrible in my opinion.

Fun fact: 90% of people are here after Harshad Mehta

Thanks for doing this, Doug! Brings back memories, I spent a lot of time being carpooled in this as a young girl in middle and high school. My dad bought it for her, he was always pretty car savvy. After your review I remember why I didn't drive it too much, it was a squishy boat! (I was learning to drive, and enjoying on her old the Volvo 760!) But I remember admiring that Lexus. And also destroying it in Street Fighter!

Hey Doug, when you are rating these 90’s relics why do often rate them with newer models? I think you should have a 90’s relics rating chart and compare 90’s vehicles with only other vehicles from that same era. You have enough car reviews of just about every time frame to have an extensive review scoring chart. But what do I know, nice review.

Doug the type of guy to claim he is a car enthusiast and not know what overdrive is.

Harshad Mehta Owned it

Doug: *Compares ls400 with new model* Me: Oh wow, they're like the same size Doug: This thing is just _gargantuan_ compared to this one. It's almost a foot longer than the original ls. Me: Oh.

Some thoughts: --Those "floating dials" were REALLY awesome looking in person in 1990. --That Nakamichi stereo was a really expensive option and considered likely THE best stereo available from any manufacturer of the time. --That tomb-like silence you mentioned was also a HUGE improvement over other luxury cars in 1990

That sunroof reminder tone sounds exactly like my alarm clock

Ibhad a 2000 ls400 and now i just got another one 1998 i love them

damn, 28 years old and only 38k miles.

Foglights were yellow since yellow light provides better visibility when, suprpsingly enough, driving through fog