After driving Lexus vehicles for almost 20 years, the “soul” of a Lexus is in its quietness and refinement. This experience exudes elegance, peace and confidence.
Kraig, you have summed up the Lexus experience perfectly (elegance, peace and confidence). My wife says it is a "smug" feeling (how rude !!). All I know is that I love driving my 430, whether it is just down to the shops, or 150 miles to the coast.
Chris Pritchard Yes I love my 2006 Lexus LS430 so comfortable driving and the seats are so soft you forget sometimes your sitting if that makes any sense lol and the power of the V8 is powerful and smooth as butter
I have a 1998 LS400, a little over twice the miles of this one, but in just as good shape. best car i've ever owned. navigation adds an early touch screen, and with touch screen controls for the AC, radio, nav, etc. she also talks, so I would argue that the LS400 has a soul
You're not wrong. Ive got an 01 Toyota Crown Athlete VX on 80k miles. Timewarp of a thing so much kit even the rear seats on some models are electric and some have rear a/c (not my model as its the limited edition sporty one) , all working and 1jz gte vvti under the bonnet, by far the best car I've ever had. Cant see me getting rid of it
The quality was on another level still made in Japan those years!! The qc was just insane 500k miles was not unheard of those models not a rattle or a creak inside either
He stated that they changed the engine or modified it in the 98 revision. Is it as reliable as the original? Im looking to buy a ls400 to replace my cadillac deville
I just picked up a 96 LS400. I LOVE it! It is an amazing car that is made for highway cruising. I got mine ridiculously cheap because it needed the ECU and the customer at our shop didn't want to spend the money to repair it. I pretty much paid the tow bill and got the car.
Yes you're right, my brethren! I, too have an gorgeous 1996 Lexus LS400 "Gold Edition" ( meaning its got the built in Air Suspension upgrade and gold plated Badging. Bought it from original owner..ue spent approx ($57,000) and kept up all maintenence records & components. I got it for a mere ($5500) absolute awesome beautiful factory condition paint & leather interior. However, i just had to repair the high pressure hydrolic power steering line. I live in Detroit Lakes, MN and big mistake operating these power steering units for 1995/96 LS400 in extreme cold weather reeks havoc on these 25year old vehicles with their finicky hydrolic power issues such as your PowerSteeringUnits..other than that..its ALWAYS advised to change your oil on these cars atleast by 2000/3000 miles and keep an eye out on your transmission fluid if and when it starts getting even a little slightly brownish...immediately go and get your transmission fluid changed w/filter and Do Not let them ever Power Flush your transmission...it could actually ruin a beautiful thing you were cuŕrently experiencing in an almost flawless shifting. I know cause i indeed have both one owner 1995&1996 Lexus LS400 sedans and also have a beautiful collectors Astral Silver w/grey Leather interior 1987 Mercedes 560SEL (122,000) miles. And a beautiful 1999 Lincoln "Cartier" Town Car (187,000) miles. Reason im bringing up these different car issues is that with the other luxury sedans i have, i can only count on either of my LE400's to quickly get on it when im in a big urgent hurry to get going fast & quickly without them running out of breath and no push back!! I was immediately interested in purchasing this gorgeous 1999 Lexus LS400 to add to my collection but i just noticed this video was done back in 2018..so i know it has to be gone now? (@@)
Yes i get it!! My 1987 Mercedes 560SEL is costing me well into ($7000) to have rebuilt the 122,000 miles on the odometer to repair something as simple as Those damned cheap Valve Guide leakages right onto my valve seats pistons & sparkplug fouling activity not to mention the loss in quarts of oil every thousand miles and air suspension replacement components plus having to recondition those factory stock alloy wheels and now some upholstery work needing done to get interior back to original condition. The guy i bought it from for ($3000) weighed approx 300lbs and literally wore the front drivers & front passenger seat springs out even though the seats still look great..as soon as you jump in you go down too much in the seat suspension and now trying to find a set of original condition front drivers & passengers seat is nearly impossible to locate online!!
@@UltimateForceMarketing Did the fat guy have to sit at a diagonal to drive the car? I saw a fat guy driving a Suzuki Sidekick, who was so fat that he had to sit slantwise to drive the car.
MB had soul when it wasn't in the repair shop. Give me reliability over soul all day everyday. This is a great car. Without all the gadgets of today's car that when they fail they cost you 1000,s of dollars to fix. I'm in the market for a new car and I will be looking at the 98,99 and 00 ls 400,s.
IF you're very lucky to find one that has been cared for, you will NEVER regret it for a minute. I haven't. Avoid dealership "service". German vehicles are utter junk by comparison and, yes, I do know what I'm talking about.
wholeNwon yes ! German cars, although drive solid and are exciting to drive, are EMPTY $ PITS as they age with high mileage (5+ yrs and 50k miles). They’ll bankrupt you faster than COVID19 with all the crap that breaks down
@@shaunbailey4922 how many miles did it have when It started giving you problems? Thank Scotty Kilmer, he convinced me to get rid of a 2013 X5 that was bankrupting me. After a LONG 8 months and nearly $2500 (with an extended warranty) I couldn’t sell that piece of crap privately so I had to trade it in for my 2013 Lexus ES 350 with only 30 K miles at the time. This was April 2019. Unfortunately I didn’t do my research because the X5 specifically the 2013 model was the worst year ever, boy did I learn the hard way. That X5 had 94k miles When I bought it, the exterior and interior looked great. Unfortunately I didn’t get a prepurchase inspection and it had electrical problems, front suspension needed replacing Along with a leaking rear differential. By contrast Lexus doesn’t encounter these problems. Although I did see the LS 430’s had issues with front suspension components, by far their only problem
@@stephendibari5010 yeah mine was a 535i 2013 never anything bad with the engine or transmission but I took care of I I did 3-5 thousand mile oil changes 93 octane gas only did the transmission service but after 120 thousand miles the AC and heater both stopped working because of an electronic issue that 3 shops could not replicate or fix I traded it in
Second generation LS 400 but tweeked... 1997-2000 Lexus LS 400 Designed through early 1996, in September 1997 a revised LS 400 was introduced for the 1998 model year. Changes were a five-speed automatic transmission, increased engine output to 216 kW (290 hp), with variable valve timing (VVT-i), and an added 41 N⋅m (30 ft⋅lbf) of torque. Acceleration times and fuel economy were improved as a result. The suspension and steering also received minor tweaks to improve feel and handling. Bill...your narration is as smooth as butter, sir. Keep on keepin on!
Love these cars! I was a collision repair tech at a Lexus dealership and we had one of these come in rear ended about a year and a half back... we generally didn't work on cars that old but it was super clean and obviously someone's baby. They might've been paying out of pocket, I can't recall. Luckily we were still able to order OEM Lexus tail lights, trunk lid & rear body panel for it, but I bet the stock of old LS parts is getting pretty low!
The LS430 is a very nice car, and one which is about as good as the LS400. It may have been styled by science and blind people (but mostly blind people) and it may have had a weaker engine than the LS400, but ride and build quality were better, and it would have been considered by most to be a better car had it kept this LS400's engine. But I agree that the LS400 blows away the S class and 7 Series.
I did that two years ago. I bought a 1998 LS400 over an early LS430 that was a similar price. I sometimes question why I did that but every time I see the high roof on the LS430 I remember. It really has that Avalon/Grandpa look whereas the LS400 is much lower and sleeker and better looking. No doubt the LS430 is an improvement otherwise over the LS400 but I couldn't get over the looks.
I'd say that especially US citizens understand soul as something loud, colorful, obvious and instantly impressive, while Japanese soul grows on you over the years. In other words, if you're not blown away after the first test ride, it can't have soul. Not many have the time it takes to really appreciate the qualities of this car.
Still have my gold 99 and it is immaculate with only 85,000 miles on it. I get so many compliments on it and offers. I love the car as it originally belonged to my mother who is 94 and cannot drive it anymore. This car rides so smooth and has a lot power, with reasonable gas mileage.
I also have this exact model- 99 Gold with same condition and just broke 102k miles. I bought from an old lady who has baby it since 1999! I have been searching for this color for over a year and it was meant to be mine. It won’t be my daily car but really look forward to it on the weekends taking my daughter out.
My 2000 has just over 200,000 miles and still drives like a dream. I nicknamed her Betsie the day I bought her and all my friends, etc. know me as Betsie's mother! Love that car.
Many more of these cars end up in the junkyard not because of catastrophic mechanical failures, but because of certain repairs costing more than the car is worth. The starter or timing belt being examples. I still daily drive my 91 LS400 and it still runs smooth as butter as it approaches 400k miles.
The LS400's are very rare in "junk-yards" in the south, and most them are in the yard because of front-end collision crashes (w-airbags). There is only 1 LS400 in a junkyard within 50 miles of me in Atlanta. All of the rest of the LS400's are still on the road, going for 1 million miles --> FOR THE WIN !!!
@@Saks5thFrick Miles, I assume. What's been done to it so far? Stealer-maintained? Give me a list and I might be able to tell you what could go wrong in the future. Anyhow, with that many miles, I would be very careful and much more likely to walk away than buy it. There are still much lower mileage examples out there.
Yeah its 282,000 miles... I'm in PA I've found a few with less mileage but weren't in as good of shape believe it or not... this car looks like a cream puff inside and out, timing belt water pump all serviced within last 30,000 miles I dont see alot of these on the road especially in gold with the platinum serious and navi
I have one exactly like this now with 159k miles on it and super clean interior and exterior; looks great too. It rides so smooth, system sounds amazing, and the V8 in it gets 17 street and 30hwy. I recommend it to anyone.
@@BPoweredLove This lexus has the capability to calculate your average fuel consumption for you, there are mode & function selectors on the steering wheel, in that, you can view on your lower dash there is an option to view and monitor your fuel consumption averages, the car constantly monitors your fuel efficiency on a digital display. It's certainly not great around town stop and go kind of driving per-se, but highway it will for sure get 30 mpg. It's interesting because original lexus estimates are lower for highway miles per gallon, but if you owned one that is in good condition you'd see, it can and will do better than what they estimate.
Man oh man.....been super on the fence wanting this car. All I hear is that I'll never go back to any other car, it's reliable, it gets excellent mpg for a V8, etc. Guess I'll continue paying my debt off till I get serious in picking one up
I think it has soul if you’ve been buying them from the beginning (1990)or have driven them through the different body changes🤔. This LS example is very nice 😬.
I've always had a soft spot for the Lexus LS sedan. I like the new glass interior decorations available in the latest LS500, it's something unique in the car world.
The car videos just hit my heart it aches alot when I see cars I love and even if they are not expensive still I couldn't afford it in this point of life
Great videos, Mr. Bill. The funniest part of your videos is how easily you get annoyed by distracting noises. The camera jerks angrily toward the noise . . . :) :) You and I are the same age, and I'm exactly the same way about stupid distractions when I'm trying to talk or teach. Thanks for the informative entertainment on such great cars.
We have a 1998 LS 400 in this exact color combo, with 35,000 miles on it. It was the first LS 400 sold in California with a GPS head unit in it, and have a gold certificate from Longo Lexus for this reason. We stopped driving it in late 2003 when we got an RX 330, it fit the family much better at that time. Thinking about buying a 1997 JDM Toyota Crown, they are super plush and you can get a low mileage example for $10-15 thousand.
It's true they lack soul , but i love how smooth, reliable and affordable they are. I have a bmw and every time i drive it i can't help thinking to myself ....Will it make it to my destination without something going wrong. Great review too.
You're right about Lexus not having as much soul as Mercedes but soul is the last thing I'm thinking about when I have to drop $5000 to convert the air suspension on my S500 to standard suspension because the air suspension is faulty and won't stop leaking and continually deflates overnight.
Lexus is a Road car meaning it will stay on the road; Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes are SHOP cars meaning they'll spend more time in the mechanic's shop, and you get to pay lots of $$$ for the "privilege" of owning such prestigious vehicle. Lexus are the MOST reliable cars in the world, period !!!
I presently have a 1998, silver. It’s one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. The other two were a 1999 and a 2002 ls430. The 1998 has 282,800 miles and it runs like a dream. Of course I’ve done the timing, water pump at 100,000 mile increments,plus routine maintenance. These cars are amazing!
Bill......I bet you loathe that Lincoln zephyr thing in the background that has the congressional roof convertible package! Lol. Go back to the driveway...to damn noisy there. Lol. I had a 93 LS400 that my mom bought slightly used in 95 with 15k miles. I acquired it in 2006 when it had 200k. I drove it to 386k and sold it in 2012 to an aspiring singer in Nashville Great cars!
I'm in Georgia, really enjoy your videos. when I decide to buy my next pre-owned car, I'm coming to you but I own a 2000 LS400. It's a great car. I might just keep that thing forever besides getting something else. This car is old school rear wheel drive / V8.. and because of that, I wanted it to sound like one. I removed the two small mufflers in front of the rear wheels, and put flowmaster 40s as the back 2.. it sounds great in my opinion.. & might have added some extra HP.
kevralph Wow sorry to hear that bro it always hurt more to hear a Lexus getting totaled since they last forever rather it be a German car since it don’t be long before their in the junkyard anyway 😂🤣 but most importantly happy u made it out safely that’s what’s most important material things can come and go and be replaced 👍🏾
The 1UZ-FE was truly the best quality engine Lexus ever used in their cars. The ultimate version with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque was in the GS400. The construction was certainly better than the 3UZ which was basically a 1UZ bored out and with cost cutting measures.
@@pouetpouet941 It's all already available online. Use keyword searches with Google. Simple answer: more overbuilt than any Lexus engine after it (for its output).
I consider myself lucky to own cars with legendary engines. I have a 96 LS400 and a 99 GS300. 1UZ-FE and 2JZ-FE. Both are bulletproof and overbuilt for the power they make stock.
I remember seeing this as a teenager at the Detroit auto show in 1989. Being a car buff since I was a kid I knew the The luxury car world was on alert because it was just a matter of time where Toyota or Honda, was going to come up with a luxury vehicle and a v8 engine being from Detroit and supporting the big 3 i knew we could not compete with this quality and bang for the buck the Japanese could give you I was like this is the quality Inn the feel of a Mercedes Benz at almost half the price
Mercedes are too opaque. These cars are transparent, and have a truly understated character that doesn't get in the way of a wonderful driving experience.
I switched from leasing every 3 years to an 05 LS430 in December, an 05 LX470 in February and want to get my hands on a 98-00 LS400 to complete the collection. Want one so bad lol
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 : )
I have owned several luxury cars in my time like the Lincoln mark and caddy Seville and sts and Chrysler imperial none of them have come close to my Lexus ls400 it’s been the most reliable and best riding quietest vehicle I have ever driven no it’s not the fastest luxury vehicle out there but considering mine now has well in excess of 200,00 and does not use a drop of oil no leaks no burning oil nothing and I can pull down 30mpg at 70 running ethanol free premium gas neither of any of the American ones I had wouldn’t come close to 30mpg and were always needing repair
I just got me a 2000 Platinum Series LS 400 out of Naples, via "Bring a Trailer." I can't wait until it arrives! It'll be more 4th LS, and my 2nd of this revision. I've always liked this body better than the body of the LS430. I had a 430 and loved it, though. Trouble free. Nothing like a smooth V8 and RWD.
The only thing wrong with this car is the lack of curtain airbags. If they had the curtain airbags or at least the side head protecting side airbags, they could be considered better than any brand new car.
"By Soul I mean it's not going to break down in such a way that it's going to cost you lots of money." No sir you were not kidding, you know you meant that
It's a shame they didn't make a stripped down cop car version of this car for law enforcement after hearing that VVTi V8 at full sing. They could have provided different front and rear treatment so as not to sully it's image.
I would like to have one of these older Lexus cars without all the unnecessary technology that all the newer ones have. Like the stupid giant screen in the dash. I don't need parking sensors or any of that other crap either. I don't really like leather seats either but I like the quiet cabin and reliability. I definitely like this car. I don't love it but I wouldn't mind having it. Just because it's a rear wheel drive V8. If it wasn't then I wouldn't be at all interested in it.
I'm not sure if I'm gonna buy a 1997 toyota crown from Japan, or a Toyota Celsior (Lexus ls400) The crown is more sporty, but the Celsior is pure comfort...I can't decide 😫
@@shaunbailey4922 Never owned one and, because of the widely-published experiences of others, I never will. I'll never buy another Benz, wouldn't own a VW product either.
How great will might have been back then, if Toyota gave the LS a 5.0L V12 300hp from the Japan-only Century limo that time? And called it the LS500. And be rivaled to other V12 stalwarts during its time: -Mercedes-Benz S600 -BMW 750iL -Audi A8 W12 -Jaguar XJ12 Among those
I had an LS430 for years. Its a great car but very dull. I have an 1986 420 SEL and still love to drive it. I can't put my finger on why. Its not as powerful or comfortable as the LS430 but its just a great vehicle. I have a BMW convertible and a Ridgeline. But when I go out on the town, I drive the big Benz. Funny how a car that age can still turn heads.
After driving Lexus vehicles for almost 20 years, the “soul” of a Lexus is in its quietness and refinement. This experience exudes elegance, peace and confidence.
Kraig, you have summed up the Lexus experience perfectly (elegance, peace and confidence). My wife says it is a "smug" feeling (how rude !!). All I know is that I love driving my 430, whether it is just down to the shops, or 150 miles to the coast.
Chris Pritchard Yes I love my 2006 Lexus LS430 so comfortable driving and the seats are so soft you forget sometimes your sitting if that makes any sense lol and the power of the V8 is powerful and smooth as butter
Theodore Young I see that a lot on BMWs and Mercedes. But where is Lexus?
I have a 1998 LS400, a little over twice the miles of this one, but in just as good shape. best car i've ever owned. navigation adds an early touch screen, and with touch screen controls for the AC, radio, nav, etc. she also talks, so I would argue that the LS400 has a soul
You're not wrong. Ive got an 01 Toyota Crown Athlete VX on 80k miles. Timewarp of a thing so much kit even the rear seats on some models are electric and some have rear a/c (not my model as its the limited edition sporty one) , all working and 1jz gte vvti under the bonnet, by far the best car I've ever had. Cant see me getting rid of it
@@chappy2121 the crown majesta is 10 years ahead of the athlete/royal and century.
Love these old LS models. Quality is on another level.
Much more stylish than the current LS500 👍
Have a look at the Celsior, JDM model. Looks slightly different and even more kit.
The quality was on another level still made in Japan those years!! The qc was just insane 500k miles was not unheard of those models not a rattle or a creak inside either
He stated that they changed the engine or modified it in the 98 revision. Is it as reliable as the original? Im looking to buy a ls400 to replace my cadillac deville
nothing beats Toyota/Lexus
I just picked up a 96 LS400. I LOVE it! It is an amazing car that is made for highway cruising. I got mine ridiculously cheap because it needed the ECU and the customer at our shop didn't want to spend the money to repair it. I pretty much paid the tow bill and got the car.
Very lucky man.
So how much were you charging the owner?
Yes you're right, my brethren! I, too have an gorgeous 1996 Lexus LS400 "Gold Edition" ( meaning its got the built in Air Suspension upgrade and gold plated Badging. Bought it from original owner..ue spent approx ($57,000) and kept up all maintenence records & components. I got it for a mere ($5500) absolute awesome beautiful factory condition paint & leather interior. However, i just had to repair the high pressure hydrolic power steering line. I live in Detroit Lakes, MN and big mistake operating these power steering units for 1995/96 LS400 in extreme cold weather reeks havoc on these 25year old vehicles with their finicky hydrolic power issues such as your PowerSteeringUnits..other than that..its ALWAYS advised to change your oil on these cars atleast by 2000/3000 miles and keep an eye out on your transmission fluid if and when it starts getting even a little slightly brownish...immediately go and get your transmission fluid changed w/filter and Do Not let them ever Power Flush your transmission...it could actually ruin a beautiful thing you were cuŕrently experiencing in an almost flawless shifting. I know cause i indeed have both one owner 1995&1996 Lexus LS400 sedans and also have a beautiful collectors Astral Silver w/grey Leather interior 1987 Mercedes 560SEL (122,000) miles. And a beautiful 1999 Lincoln "Cartier" Town Car (187,000) miles. Reason im bringing up these different car issues is that with the other luxury sedans i have, i can only count on either of my LE400's to quickly get on it when im in a big urgent hurry to get going fast & quickly without them running out of breath and no push back!! I was immediately interested in purchasing this gorgeous 1999 Lexus LS400 to add to my collection but i just noticed this video was done back in 2018..so i know it has to be gone now? (@@)
@@UltimateForceMarketing also don't power flush the power steering unit either... I learned the hard way on my 95 Gs300
A Benz with a $5,000.00 repair bill has a soul from down below.
Yes i get it!! My 1987 Mercedes 560SEL is costing me well into ($7000) to have rebuilt the 122,000 miles on the odometer to repair something as simple as Those damned cheap Valve Guide leakages right onto my valve seats pistons & sparkplug fouling activity not to mention the loss in quarts of oil every thousand miles and air suspension replacement components plus having to recondition those factory stock alloy wheels and now some upholstery work needing done to get interior back to original condition. The guy i bought it from for ($3000) weighed approx 300lbs and literally wore the front drivers & front passenger seat springs out even though the seats still look great..as soon as you jump in you go down too much in the seat suspension and now trying to find a set of original condition front drivers & passengers seat is nearly impossible to locate online!!
@@UltimateForceMarketing Did the fat guy have to sit at a diagonal to drive the car? I saw a fat guy driving a Suzuki Sidekick, who was so fat that he had to sit slantwise to drive the car.
MB had soul when it wasn't in the repair shop. Give me reliability over soul all day everyday. This is a great car. Without all the gadgets of today's car that when they fail they cost you 1000,s of dollars to fix. I'm in the market for a new car and I will be looking at the 98,99 and 00 ls 400,s.
IF you're very lucky to find one that has been cared for, you will NEVER regret it for a minute. I haven't. Avoid dealership "service". German vehicles are utter junk by comparison and, yes, I do know what I'm talking about.
wholeNwon yes ! German cars, although drive solid and are exciting to drive, are EMPTY $ PITS as they age with high mileage (5+ yrs and 50k miles). They’ll bankrupt you faster than COVID19 with all the crap that breaks down
@@stephendibari5010 you should see the 5 series BMW I just had to sell after putting thousands into I'll never buy another
@@shaunbailey4922 how many miles did it have when It started giving you problems? Thank Scotty Kilmer, he convinced me to get rid of a 2013 X5 that was bankrupting me. After a LONG 8 months and nearly $2500 (with an extended warranty) I couldn’t sell that piece of crap privately so I had to trade it in for my 2013 Lexus ES 350 with only 30 K miles at the time. This was April 2019. Unfortunately I didn’t do my research because the X5 specifically the 2013 model was the worst year ever, boy did I learn the hard way. That X5 had 94k miles When I bought it, the exterior and interior looked great. Unfortunately I didn’t get a prepurchase inspection and it had electrical problems, front suspension needed replacing Along with a leaking rear differential. By contrast Lexus doesn’t encounter these problems. Although I did see the LS 430’s had issues with front suspension components, by far their only problem
@@stephendibari5010 yeah mine was a 535i 2013 never anything bad with the engine or transmission but I took care of I I did 3-5 thousand mile oil changes 93 octane gas only did the transmission service but after 120 thousand miles the AC and heater both stopped working because of an electronic issue that 3 shops could not replicate or fix I traded it in
The way you talk about her, the way you touch her...that’s LOVE.
Second generation LS 400 but tweeked...
1997-2000 Lexus LS 400
Designed through early 1996, in September 1997 a revised LS 400 was introduced for the 1998 model year. Changes were a five-speed automatic transmission, increased engine output to 216 kW (290 hp), with variable valve timing (VVT-i), and an added 41 N⋅m (30 ft⋅lbf) of torque. Acceleration times and fuel economy were improved as a result. The suspension and steering also received minor tweaks to improve feel and handling.
Bill...your narration is as smooth as butter, sir. Keep on keepin on!
Love these cars! I was a collision repair tech at a Lexus dealership and we had one of these come in rear ended about a year and a half back... we generally didn't work on cars that old but it was super clean and obviously someone's baby. They might've been paying out of pocket, I can't recall. Luckily we were still able to order OEM Lexus tail lights, trunk lid & rear body panel for it, but I bet the stock of old LS parts is getting pretty low!
Love the Lexus LS400! I’d certainly take it over a 7 series or an s class any day! Especially the LS430!
The LS430 is a very nice car, and one which is about as good as the LS400. It may have been styled by science and blind people (but mostly blind people) and it may have had a weaker engine than the LS400, but ride and build quality were better, and it would have been considered by most to be a better car had it kept this LS400's engine. But I agree that the LS400 blows away the S class and 7 Series.
nope nope nope , the S Class was and still is the best luxury car on the market , fuck off with your TOYota.
I did that two years ago. I bought a 1998 LS400 over an early LS430 that was a similar price. I sometimes question why I did that but every time I see the high roof on the LS430 I remember. It really has that Avalon/Grandpa look whereas the LS400 is much lower and sleeker and better looking. No doubt the LS430 is an improvement otherwise over the LS400 but I couldn't get over the looks.
@@georgeandruco4888 trash
@@waverunner7063 i've always wondered why i prefer the older look this explains it pretty well
One of the smoothest cars I’ve ever driven
If it lasts and never leaves you stranded or with your wallet pock marked, it has a soul
Idk, a 90s Corolla is just about the most soulless vehicle I can imagine
I'd say that especially US citizens understand soul as something loud, colorful, obvious and instantly impressive, while Japanese soul grows on you over the years.
In other words, if you're not blown away after the first test ride, it can't have soul. Not many have the time it takes to really appreciate the qualities of this car.
will outlast these 2019s
And better looking
Yep i am thinking of getting one
Still have my gold 99 and it is immaculate with only 85,000 miles on it. I get so many compliments on it and offers. I love the car as it originally belonged to my mother who is 94 and cannot drive it anymore. This car rides so smooth and has a lot power, with reasonable gas mileage.
I also have this exact model- 99 Gold with same condition and just broke 102k miles. I bought from an old lady who has baby it since 1999! I have been searching for this color for over a year and it was meant to be mine. It won’t be my daily car but really look forward to it on the weekends taking my daughter out.
My 2000 has just over 200,000 miles and still drives like a dream. I nicknamed her Betsie the day I bought her and all my friends, etc. know me as Betsie's mother! Love that car.
I have a 2000 LS400 also. Her name is Silvie, and boy do I Love her.🥰
Your channel is one of the greatest used car channels on this platform.
I always took "It doesn't have any soul/personality" to mean "It doesn't break all the damn time."
Many more of these cars end up in the junkyard not because of catastrophic mechanical failures, but because of certain repairs costing more than the car is worth. The starter or timing belt being examples. I still daily drive my 91 LS400 and it still runs smooth as butter as it approaches 400k miles.
The LS400's are very rare in "junk-yards" in the south, and most them are in the yard because of front-end collision crashes (w-airbags). There is only 1 LS400 in a junkyard within 50 miles of me in Atlanta. All of the rest of the LS400's are still on the road, going for 1 million miles --> FOR THE WIN !!!
22 years with mine and first repair 2 months ago. Replaced 2 new MBs that were constant problems.
How many miles do you have on it?
@@Saks5thFrick Only 165,000.
@@wholeNwon What's your thoughts on buying a gold 2000 ls with maintenance records and 282k on the dash?
@@Saks5thFrick Miles, I assume. What's been done to it so far? Stealer-maintained? Give me a list and I might be able to tell you what could go wrong in the future. Anyhow, with that many miles, I would be very careful and much more likely to walk away than buy it. There are still much lower mileage examples out there.
Yeah its 282,000 miles... I'm in PA I've found a few with less mileage but weren't in as good of shape believe it or not... this car looks like a cream puff inside and out, timing belt water pump all serviced within last 30,000 miles I dont see alot of these on the road especially in gold with the platinum serious and navi
I have one exactly like this now with 159k miles on it and super clean interior and exterior; looks great too.
It rides so smooth, system sounds amazing, and the V8 in it gets 17 street and 30hwy.
I recommend it to anyone.
Same here with 225k miles! I lol'd at your mpg range, it really do be like that..
There is no chance you're getting 30 mpg.
@@BPoweredLove Actually on the highway it'll get 30 mpg if you're not racing it, I own a 2000 LS400 I average 30 mpg on the san diego freeways.
@@moonshinefuel Not buying it. How are you calculating this?
@@BPoweredLove This lexus has the capability to calculate your average fuel consumption for you, there are mode & function selectors on the steering wheel, in that, you can view on your lower dash there is an option to view and monitor your fuel consumption averages, the car constantly monitors your fuel efficiency on a digital display. It's certainly not great around town stop and go kind of driving per-se, but highway it will for sure get 30 mpg. It's interesting because original lexus estimates are lower for highway miles per gallon, but if you owned one that is in good condition you'd see, it can and will do better than what they estimate.
I literally just picked up a '99 in the silver jade metallic colorway a few hours ago. Such a beautiful vehicle.
How many miles do yours have and how much did you pay for it?
Avoid the dealer. Follow the schedule and you will LOVE the thing...really.
Damn...
This LS400 looks really nice!
👏
My 2008 Lexus es with 2013 es rims drives buttery smooth love it ! 160k miles trouble free
Man oh man.....been super on the fence wanting this car. All I hear is that I'll never go back to any other car, it's reliable, it gets excellent mpg for a V8, etc. Guess I'll continue paying my debt off till I get serious in picking one up
I think it has soul if you’ve been buying them from the beginning (1990)or have driven them through the different body changes🤔. This LS example is very nice 😬.
I've always had a soft spot for the Lexus LS sedan. I like the new glass interior decorations available in the latest LS500, it's something unique in the car world.
Yes, I sat in one of the new LS models a few months ago, and really appreciated the decoration on the door panels!
Really unique...
👍
The car videos just hit my heart it aches alot when I see cars I love and even if they are not expensive still I couldn't afford it in this point of life
Great videos, Mr. Bill. The funniest part of your videos is how easily you get annoyed by distracting noises. The camera jerks angrily toward the noise . . . :) :) You and I are the same age, and I'm exactly the same way about stupid distractions when I'm trying to talk or teach. Thanks for the informative entertainment on such great cars.
We have a 1998 LS 400 in this exact color combo, with 35,000 miles on it. It was the first LS 400 sold in California with a GPS head unit in it, and have a gold certificate from Longo Lexus for this reason. We stopped driving it in late 2003 when we got an RX 330, it fit the family much better at that time. Thinking about buying a 1997 JDM Toyota Crown, they are super plush and you can get a low mileage example for $10-15 thousand.
Your LS sounds like a real gem. A 97 Crown sounds nice too. That would be quite the pair to have in the garage.
I owned a 1998 ES300 up until a few years ago, man they’re smooth cars. I imagine this is navigating in a cloud.
Chris G I own a 2006 ES330, and a 2008 LS460, they’re all amazing!
DIAMLER right on. I bet that LS460 is a complete marvel. I’m now stuck with a GLK350.
I had a 1997. Was unbelievably comfortable and quiet. I miss that car.
Chris G Yes my 2006 Lexus LS430 feels like riding on air like flying a airplane so smooth smooth as butter 😎
It's true they lack soul , but i love how smooth, reliable and affordable they are. I have a bmw and every time i drive it i can't help thinking to myself ....Will it make it to my destination without something going wrong. Great review too.
Of course that's what you think. You bought a BMW (or MB or anything German) and couldn't have expected anything else, right? Everyone knows.
just needs a muffler delete lol
Loved your narration.
You're right about Lexus not having as much soul as Mercedes but soul is the last thing I'm thinking about when I have to drop $5000 to convert the air suspension on my S500 to standard suspension because the air suspension is faulty and won't stop leaking and continually deflates overnight.
Carl Childers LS air suspensions weren’t cheap, and the conversion is about $5K after labor here too.
Have you tried asking your suspension to stop leaking... "nicely"? Maybe Bill can bit*ch -slap it for you? :-p
Lexus is a Road car meaning it will stay on the road; Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes are SHOP cars meaning they'll spend more time in the mechanic's shop, and you get to pay lots of $$$ for the "privilege" of owning such prestigious vehicle. Lexus are the MOST reliable cars in the world, period !!!
I presently have a 1998, silver. It’s one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. The other two were a 1999 and a 2002 ls430. The 1998 has 282,800 miles and it runs like a dream. Of course I’ve done the timing, water pump at 100,000 mile increments,plus routine maintenance. These cars are amazing!
Bill......I bet you loathe that Lincoln zephyr thing in the background that has the congressional roof convertible package! Lol. Go back to the driveway...to damn noisy there. Lol.
I had a 93 LS400 that my mom bought slightly used in 95 with 15k miles. I acquired it in 2006 when it had 200k. I drove it to 386k and sold it in 2012 to an aspiring singer in Nashville Great cars!
Joes Golden Garage I want him to make a video of the Zephyr lol! I’d love to hear what he has to say about it
"I don't know what the hell you put in here..." quarters for parting meters.
And toll roads!
I'm in Georgia, really enjoy your videos. when I decide to buy my next pre-owned car, I'm coming to you but I own a 2000 LS400. It's a great car. I might just keep that thing forever besides getting something else. This car is old school rear wheel drive / V8.. and because of that, I wanted it to sound like one.
I removed the two small mufflers in front of the rear wheels, and put flowmaster 40s as the back 2.. it sounds great in my opinion.. & might have added some extra HP.
kevralph Yes keep that car I know I’m never getting rid of my 2006 Lexus LS430 😎
@@theodoreyoung8777 I also had the matching ES300 but a high school kid ran a stop sign and totaled it
kevralph Wow sorry to hear that bro it always hurt more to hear a Lexus getting totaled since they last forever rather it be a German car since it don’t be long before their in the junkyard anyway 😂🤣 but most importantly happy u made it out safely that’s what’s most important material things can come and go and be replaced 👍🏾
The 1UZ-FE was truly the best quality engine Lexus ever used in their cars. The ultimate version with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque was in the GS400. The construction was certainly better than the 3UZ which was basically a 1UZ bored out and with cost cutting measures.
proof?
@@pouetpouet941 It's all already available online. Use keyword searches with Google. Simple answer: more overbuilt than any Lexus engine after it (for its output).
I consider myself lucky to own cars with legendary engines. I have a 96 LS400 and a 99 GS300. 1UZ-FE and 2JZ-FE. Both are bulletproof and overbuilt for the power they make stock.
You're not gonna say what? What's that little compartment there for? Marijuanas?
My uncle had a 97 LS400. Great car. Very reliable and it was smooth and quiet.
this car is a legend
The best car in the World. TheEnd.
Your voice and sense of humor is absolutely golden holy hell
I remember seeing this as a teenager at the Detroit auto show in 1989.
Being a car buff since I was a kid I knew the
The luxury car world was on alert because it was just a matter of time where Toyota or Honda, was going to come up with a luxury vehicle and a v8 engine being from Detroit and supporting the big 3 i knew we could not compete with this quality and bang for the buck the Japanese could give you I was like this is the quality Inn the feel of a Mercedes Benz at almost half the price
Cool video😎I'm actually buying this car this week
I recently Sold My 99 LS400 That was the car that truly changed my life
how is it so clean man
That car looks better than any 2020 model
Mercedes are too opaque. These cars are transparent, and have a truly understated character that doesn't get in the way of a wonderful driving experience.
You truly love what you do and it shows in these reviews. Best reviews on RUclips hands down. Keep it up!
What a gorgeous vehicle!
That 1UZ engine is top notch
8:25, you can put your weed in there
It's for quarters to feed the meter
@Uz 33 go smell your farts somewhere else you pretentious douche
Best review of a classic LS on RUclips
I switched from leasing every 3 years to an 05 LS430 in December, an 05 LX470 in February and want to get my hands on a 98-00 LS400 to complete the collection. Want one so bad lol
Don’t ever sell your 430. It’s a great car. I wish I had kept mine.
Had a 1998 LS400 for my first car passed down to me. Really miss it.
You came up 4real
Lucky...
That's the one I wanted.. 1999 LS400! In that color!! LOL
You are more like a moving museum rather a seller....like the knowledge I get for the background in every model is been shown here...
thinking of getting this for my first car at 16 and i’m loving it
I love that you're wearing a Japanese-made watch. Seiko SKX009. Indestructible just like the beautiful Japanese built luxury car.
It's 2020 and I'm sitting here watching RUclips videos on a Galaxy S4 about a 1990s Lexus. I'm feeling very content right now. @SaabKyle04
A 23 year old luxury car you can buy without worrying about breaking down or costing much in repairs or even maintenance...
Lexus pioneered Optitron gauges with floating and lit needles
She sure is beautiful.
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 : )
xrmerkur Well spoken about Lexus 😎
One of my alllll time favorites!!! Hope you can do it’s rival aka Acura RL. I have owned 4 of them. Great great cars
I’m debating on what would be a better choice; the LS400 or LS430. I’m not into the LS460 and current rides.
I have a 2006 LS 430 like new
I have only 22000 miles. I’m first owner.
I have owned several luxury cars in my time like the Lincoln mark and caddy Seville and sts and Chrysler imperial none of them have come close to my Lexus ls400 it’s been the most reliable and best riding quietest vehicle I have ever driven no it’s not the fastest luxury vehicle out there but considering mine now has well in excess of 200,00 and does not use a drop of oil no leaks no burning oil nothing and I can pull down 30mpg at 70 running ethanol free premium gas neither of any of the American ones I had wouldn’t come close to 30mpg and were always needing repair
ethanol free? that's kinda hard to come by these days...
I just got me a 2000 Platinum Series LS 400 out of Naples, via "Bring a Trailer." I can't wait until it arrives! It'll be more 4th LS, and my 2nd of this revision. I've always liked this body better than the body of the LS430. I had a 430 and loved it, though. Trouble free. Nothing like a smooth V8 and RWD.
Are you a homosexual?
How much did u have to pay for it?
The only thing wrong with this car is the lack of curtain airbags. If they had the curtain airbags or at least the side head protecting side airbags, they could be considered better than any brand new car.
I would buy this as my daily driver.
Me too
Great choice
You have the talent of speaking non-stop !!
"By Soul I mean it's not going to break down in such a way that it's going to cost you lots of money."
No sir you were not kidding, you know you meant that
Here in UAE its still one of the best car and still expensive
Like how much?
I choose smooth and reliable over soul any day.
I have the UCF20 (second generation 400) with about 250k miles and I just love it.
Man... that car is in great shape.
As a Mercedes guy, this car looks tempting!
عز يا الكزس💔
I just wonder when they will re-introduce the Acura Legends. Another awesome car.
Love lexus
Still looks remarkable.
I think I can overlook the Soul part if we are talking about an LS 400.
Beautiful car!
Good review.. Would appreciate If you start using more cameras fixed on the car from outside while driving giving different angles and better view..
what a legendary car
Great car
One of the best cars you can buy
It's a shame they didn't make a stripped down cop car version of this car for law enforcement after hearing that VVTi V8 at full sing.
They could have provided different front and rear treatment so as not to sully it's image.
I would like to have one of these older Lexus cars without all the unnecessary technology that all the newer ones have. Like the stupid giant screen in the dash. I don't need parking sensors or any of that other crap either. I don't really like leather seats either but I like the quiet cabin and reliability. I definitely like this car. I don't love it but I wouldn't mind having it. Just because it's a rear wheel drive V8. If it wasn't then I wouldn't be at all interested in it.
I'm not sure if I'm gonna buy a 1997 toyota crown from Japan, or a Toyota Celsior (Lexus ls400)
The crown is more sporty, but the Celsior is pure comfort...I can't decide 😫
Driving in 3rd gear 13:14
you do the best reviews
Cars with 'soul' AKA European, break down more often and cost more to maintain.
The Germans are very comfortable to be in while you're stranded on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck...AGAIN.
@@wholeNwon I will never ever buy another BMW just had to sell one after putting thousands into it
@@shaunbailey4922 Never owned one and, because of the widely-published experiences of others, I never will. I'll never buy another Benz, wouldn't own a VW product either.
How much do they pay you to shill.
@@wholeNwon what about you?
I have to say no on the soul question as well and maybe its the color because everything else you need is there.
How great will might have been back then, if Toyota gave the LS a 5.0L V12 300hp from the Japan-only Century limo that time?
And called it the LS500.
And be rivaled to other V12 stalwarts during its time:
-Mercedes-Benz S600
-BMW 750iL
-Audi A8 W12
-Jaguar XJ12
Among those
@ 8:26... Rubber?
If you know, you know....
You perv
I had an LS430 for years. Its a great car but very dull. I have an 1986 420 SEL and still love to drive it. I can't put my finger on why. Its not as powerful or comfortable as the LS430 but its just a great vehicle. I have a BMW convertible and a Ridgeline. But when I go out on the town, I drive the big Benz. Funny how a car that age can still turn heads.