"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
05/02/2014 at 12:26 • Filed to: Daily Turismo
9
22|
"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
05/02/2014 at 12:26 • Filed to: Daily Turismo | 9
| 22 |
The Lexus LS was first introduced in 1989 but it took a few years before buyers were willing to accept an executive class sized offering from a Japanese manufacturer. Ironically just as the second generation LS was getting into production, Mercedes was going into the dark era of Daimler-Chrysler when quality went out the door like scruples on Wall Street.
As Mercedes mortgaged its extensive history of building bulletproof sedans with plastic and poorly assembled junk, Toyota was paying it forward with a line of maintenance free luxury automobiles that have stood the test of time. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
currently bidding for $3,950 in Effers, PA with 4 days to go via ebay.
The LS400 is an obese pig of a car tipping the scales at 3900 lbs, but if you are looking for a big luxury cruiser, it really packs some decent credentials. MSRP when new was just a bit over $50k, but today you can find them for less than $5k with plenty of life remaining.
Under the hood is Toyota's fantastic and underrated 1UZ-FE, a 4.0 liter DOHC over-square 6-bolt crossmain V8 that puts out 290 horsepower and 300 ft-lbs of torque. The post 1997 examples feature variable valve timing, 10.5 to 1 compression and will last for decades with simple maintenance.
The engine & transmission might be a worry free part of the LS400 experience, but you will find little failures with common electrical components like power seats and radio buttons. However, if you want a car that is cheap and luxurious to just drive, drive, drive and you can ignore the constant illuminated idiot lights on the dash, an older LS is a great way to go.
See a cooler big barge? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
newton
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:28 |
|
These cars are cool and all but I have no idea how people can drive something so soft. When I drove one I wanted to rip my hair out.
Bad Idea Hat
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:30 |
|
I swear to Christ that this car, with a white upper and tan lower, is the official car of Kentucky. I see those every time I'm in the state, they are all over I-71 between Louisville and Cincinnati, and every one I see north of the border has Kentucky plates.
Good car, though.
CalzoneGolem
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:31 |
|
*obligatory comment about sponsored posts*
duurtlang
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:32 |
|
A nice car for someone on a budget wanting a large plush cruiser, sure. But a family man on a budget? It guzzles gas, there's no hatch and I can only imagine the cost when something does break.
Leadbull
> Bad Idea Hat
05/02/2014 at 12:33 |
|
No, the official car of Kentucky is Horse™.
RacecaR
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:34 |
|
You have piqued my interest. But I am afraid I'd JDM VIP it. Then my kids would be TOTALLY embarrassed by me.
|
Bad Idea Hat
> Leadbull
05/02/2014 at 12:34 |
|
I think Horse is the reason I see so many of these cars in that state.
HammerheadFistpunch
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:34 |
|
"The LS400 is an obese pig of a car tipping the scales at 3900 lbs"
The LS400 WAS obese when new, Lithe as hell now.
daveIT
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:35 |
|
I tried very hard to find one with traction control when I was looking for cars several years ago. Hard to find in Colorado...
|
DailyTurismo
> HammerheadFistpunch
05/02/2014 at 12:35 |
|
That is Road Hugging Weight (TM).
|
Leadbull
> Bad Idea Hat
05/02/2014 at 12:36 |
|
I *bet* it is.
|
DailyTurismo
> daveIT
05/02/2014 at 12:38 |
|
TCS was an option when new? Its a Toyota, I'm shocked it didn't come with a device that automatically closes the throttle and hits the brakes every 30 seconds....just because. Even the MkIV Supra had undefeatable traction control.
Slave2anMG
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:42 |
|
A fellow I've worked with for years buys Avalons. Duller than dirt he admits but he does about 60,000 miles a year in sales in Florida, Georgia, SC and TN. Each of the last Avalons he's had saw about 325K before he retired them...cheap to run, cheap to own, and still worth a bit more than pocket change when he sells them off...
|
HammerheadFistpunch
> DailyTurismo
05/02/2014 at 12:44 |
|
It certainly wasn't the heaviest Lexus of the time; The land cruiser based lx450 weighed 4900 lbs curb (about what the 2014 4runner trail weighs).
For reference, a BMW 3 series GT weighs more.
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> duurtlang
05/02/2014 at 12:45 |
|
Gas is cheap and the boot is large. They don't have a reputation for being particularly costly to maintain, but it is a 16 year old car now. Quite frankly, I'd be most worried about falling asleep while driving this thing with my kids in the back. They're wonderfully comfortable vehicles, but if you can take comfort too far, this and the later Toyota Avalon are likely candidates.
Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too)
> DailyTurismo
05/03/2014 at 21:23 |
|
Steel wheels! Imagine buying a luxury car without alloys these days, it's almost unheard of.
mike in So Cal
> Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too)
05/04/2014 at 00:16 |
|
ad claims theyre alloys, and a closer pic shows it looks like theres a center cap that pops off. but they really do look like some tire rack winter tire takeoffs.
|
Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too)
> mike in So Cal
05/04/2014 at 00:49 |
|
Now that I look at again I think they may actually just be really boring alloys with centre caps. I thought I could see a steel wheel behind, but it must just be the inner part of the alloy.
Turkina
> RacecaR
05/06/2014 at 23:25 |
|
Lace doilies over the headrests? Remote door opening? Stock up on white gloves!
Dean
> DailyTurismo
05/07/2014 at 17:07 |
|
Etters, PA. Not Effers, PA. Daily Turismo got it wrong, too. It's north York County, between Harrisburg and York City. Or a 5 minute ride up the road for me.
|
DailyTurismo
> Dean
05/07/2014 at 17:17 |
|
Those effers are always making mistakes!!
pmendoza502
> DailyTurismo
05/07/2014 at 19:18 |
|
Id also like to Nominate the 1999-2004 Acura 3.5RL (because i has one) GOOGLE/WIKI IT!