Late20 Guide: Lexus LS400

"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker) 02/02/2019 at 10:55 • Filed to: late20, late20guide, lexus, ls, 400, ls400, toyota

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Lexus LS400
289,000 produced

Drivers: $3-5k
Garage Queens: $8-12k
High sale: $27k on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in November 2018

Tonight we kick off Lexus in grand style with the car that was their Kool-Aid-Man-through-a-brick-wall entry into the marketplace, the LS400.
It’s become cliché in amazingly short order, but there really are no bad cars being made as of 2019. Maybe a few not great cars, but every car on the road is competent. That wasn’t the case in 1990. America’s marquee brands were still feeling the effects of the maelstrom that was the malaise era, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was a slightly more fledgling concern than you likely recall, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was a non-factor in the US, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! had a strangehold on the luxobarge market reflective of all of the above. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), was taking its last steps as a padawan and entering the realm of master. Its doctoral thesis? The first generation LS400.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! stated it best in a 1997 road test of the updated LS400: “The original LS 400's success was based on a compelling combination of Mercedes-like styling and solidity, American-mellow suspension and steering, plus renowned Toyota ergonomics and reliability, all topped by a Blue Light Special introductory price. The result prompted extensive rebuilding programs (after some extensive rethinking programs) at every luxury carmaker, especially those on the far side of the Atlantic.” ——————————————
What’s the best one to buy? If you’re really into the historical significance, a low-mileage 1989 model. A host of mild upgrades arrived for the 1993 model year, but the first series of LS400 is generally regarded as a tank. Sheetmetal was slightly tweaked for 1995, but the biggest change was a 200 pound reduction in curb weight. Sheetmetal changed once again for 1998 along with the most significant upgrade in the LS400's run to the 290 hp 1UZ-FE. If you’re in this for a driver, the 1998 - 2000 models are your ticket to ride, although some suggest they’re the most homely looking iteration of the LS400.

Nibby > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/02/2019 at 11:02

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Loved the 98-2000 facelifted LS400s... so cool!

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Nibby 02/02/2019 at 11:15

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I’m currently driving around my dad’s 2012 A6 while I sell it for him and had started to think about just buying it for myself. Then I wrote this post and realized that my commission from selling the A6 will pay for a serviceable facelifted LS400, so I’m probably just going to go that route .They’re great cars.

dogisbadob > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/02/2019 at 11:25

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The LS400 is an awesome car like all 90s Toyotas, but this one is the pinnacle of luxury and prestige with Toyota Quality!

And sadly, yes, there are still bad cars being made in 2019 *cough* Fiat/Alfa *cough*

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > dogisbadob 02/02/2019 at 11:27

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Wow , those Alfas are not bad cars, they are CARS WITH CHARACTER

Okay the Fiats are just shit. But they’re pretty competent shit!

djmt1 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/02/2019 at 11:58

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I would love to have a UZ Yota at some point. Preferably a SC400 but I could see myself in an LS one day. Hopefully they’re still £500 bargain barges by then.  

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > djmt1 02/02/2019 at 14:20

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God, I envy used car prices in the UK. The cheapest running LS400s are $2,5 00 here, and any one you really want to own is going to be $3,500 at minimum.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/06/2019 at 10:27

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The facelifted UCF20 is my favorite. The softer look is far less dated IMO.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/06/2019 at 10:38

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Absolutely agreed, and it doesn’t have the too much junk in the trunk look that the 430 has.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/06/2019 at 10:52

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Yeah the 430 is king of sheer amount of luxury features but it does look... frumpy. The LS400/SC400/IS300 era between ‘96 and ‘05 really is Peak Lexus. It kinda went downhill since then.