Lexus LS 400

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $7400.00 from UK

Year / Model Reviewed:
1998 Lexus LS400

Summary:
Outstanding. Perfection. Quiet. Smooth. Performance. All these and more describe the LEXUS LS 400. I have searched wide and hard over the last 12 months to find a car that I can settle with. I have had two BMW 7's (735 and 740), two Jags (XJ6 and XJ8) and a Rover 75 (whoops). The ride, styling and comfort of the LS 400 outshines all of these. Everything about this car proclaims class. The engineers at LEXUS should be congratulated on producing what, for its price, must surely be the best car in the world bar none. Sit down in the driver's seat, turn on the ignition and the fully motorised steering column automatically adjusts the steering wheel to one of two memorised positions. Turn off the ignition and remove the key, the steering wheel is retracted to making leaving the car that much easier - not that you'll want to. The in-dash 6 CD changer is married to a sound system that must surely be the best factory fitted system there is. Pink Floyd has never sounded better!! Ride comfort is the best I have experienced. I drive more that 35,000 miles a year so I know what it can be like getting out of a car after a long journey. Riding in the LEXUS is like being driven on your sofa - only more comfortable. The soft leather seats, with heating front and back, are a pleasure to park your bottom on. Everything about this car has be well thought out. I cannnot recommend it highly enough.

Strengths:
Everything.

Weaknesses:
Fuel Economy. Needs a kitchen sink, microwave and shower, then you wouldn't need a house. No Television as standard.

Similar Products Used:
BMM 735, 740. Jaguar XJ6, XJ8. Rover 75.

Price Paid:  $7.00 from Middlewich. Manchest

Year / Model Reviewed:
1992 ls 400

Summary:
I have owned and driven hundreds (if not thousands) of cars over the past 20 years as it is my job to transport and deliver them. I bought an LS 400 about 5 months ago (having never driven one) and I must say that I am totally in love with it! The interior is roomy and very comfortable, with tons of space for the front and rear passengers. The dash and centre consoles are beutifully set out. The hi-fi is simply fantastic. The V8 takes you upto 60 MPH in around 8 seconds which, for a car almost "two tons" is not bad at all! You can sit at 130 MPH and then press the accelerator and WOW! the Lexus "lifts off" and carries you all the way to around 160 MPH. Beutiful. The build quality is superb with every care to detail. The wipers have a setting that speeds up when the car does. The power steering is "speed sensitive" and gets "tighter" the faster you go. The seats remember who you are! The auto-gearbox learns you particular driving style. The "sports" mode lets you throw the car about like a small GTi. You can do "house removals" in the boot (trunk). I can not think of any other car that I would rather own other than... maybe a Bentley Mulsan. Which is V12, twin supercharged 8.6 Ltr (3 ton) 2 door sports coupe. (prince charles has got one and I delivered it). EXCEPT.... it has not got as many features as a Lexus LS 400! I hope we never have to go to war against the Japanese. AMAZING! and thank you Toyota. Could I also just add one thing?.. People say that Lexus is very expensive when it comes to servicing and repairs... well... Nothing ever actually has to be done to these cars until they are well over 100 thousand miles! Most other cars are about to die at this mileage. The Lexus is almost like a human person, who is looking after you. My brother and me were out on a drive recently and I noticed that the petrol was getting low. My brother said... " I don't think it would ambarrass us so far as to run out of petrol, it will have a trick up it's sleeve".

Strengths:
Comfortable, luxurious, stylish, reliable, practical, inexpensive to maintain (due to the overall lack of maintanence required).

Weaknesses:
You have to buy this car a lot of petrol. But I dont' regard this as a weakness on the part of the car really, more a weakness on your own ability to pay for it.

Similar Products Used:
Spider, Most Rolls, DB7. All Mercs. All BMW'S. Bentley Mulsan V12

Price Paid:  $7.00 from Middlewich. Manchest

Year / Model Reviewed:
1992 ls 400

Summary:
I have owned and driven hundreds (if not thousands) of cars over the past 20 years as it is my job to transport and deliver them. I bought an LS 400 about 5 months ago (having never driven one) and I must say that I am totally in love with it! The interior is roomy and very comfortable, with tons of space for the front and rear passengers. The dash and centre consoles are beutifully set out. The hi-fi is simply fantastic. The V8 takes you upto 60 MPH in around 8 seconds which, for a car almost "two tons" is not bad at all! You can sit at 130 MPH and then press the accelerator and WOW! the Lexus "lifts off" and carries you all the way to around 160 MPH. Beutiful. The build quality is superb with every care to detail. The wipers have a setting that speeds up when the car does. The power steering is "speed sensitive" and gets "tighter" the faster you go. The seats remember who you are! The auto-gearbox learns you particular driving style. The "sports" mode lets you throw the car about like a small GTi. You can do "house removals" in the boot (trunk). I can not think of any other car that I would rather own other than... maybe a Bentley Mulsan. Which is V12, twin supercharged 8.6 Ltr (3 ton) 2 door sports coupe. (prince charles has got one and I delivered it). EXCEPT.... it has not got as many features as a Lexus LS 400! I hope we never have to go to war against the Japanese. AMAZING! and thank you Toyota. Could I also just add one thing?.. People say that Lexus is very expensive when it comes to servicing and repairs... well... Nothing ever actually has to be done to these cars until they are well over 100 thousand miles! Most other cars are about to die at this mileage. The Lexus is almost like a human person, who is looking after you. My brother and me were out on a drive recently and I noticed that the petrol was getting low. My brother said... " I don't think it would ambarrass us so far as to run out of petrol, it will have a trick up it's sleeve".

Strengths:
Comfortable, luxurious, stylish, reliable, practical, inexpensive to maintain (due to the overall lack of maintanence required).

Weaknesses:
You have to buy this car a lot of petrol. But I dont' regard this as a weakness on the part of the car really, more a weakness on your own ability to pay for it.

Similar Products Used:
Spider, Most Rolls, DB7. All Mercs. All BMW'S. Bentley Mulsan V12

Price Paid:  $8500.00 from Private UK purchase

Year / Model Reviewed:
1994 LS400 MK2

Summary:
This car is amazing. Perfect build quality, no rattling. Power oozes from this amazingly quite and smooth engine. 4 Liter V8 DOHC, 241 BHP. Unlike sports cars with this output seeming rather low actually means that the engine will go on and on without burning up. I have seen and heard ones around with half a mill on the clock. I would suggest looking around and ensuring that you get a MINT one. Smallest imperfection in idling / odd noise, must walk away as high bills are undoubtedly around the corner. One annoying this about the MK2 is the dash circuits! Make sure if you intend to get one you inspect the car first thing on a COLD morning. IF the dash is not lighting up, that's about $250 worth of electrical repairs IF you do the work yourself to get the circuit out and get someone to repair it for you ! If I was able to go back, I would gladly buy this car, and recommend it to anyone who wishes to have smooth quite enjoyable motoring :)

Strengths:
Build quality, Power, Comfort Passenger leg room

Weaknesses:
Expensive parts Consumption around town

Similar Products Used:
Peugot 205 1.6GTi VW Golf 1.8 GTi 16v BMW 325i Saab 9000 2.3 Turbo Mercedes 220 Coupe

Price Paid:  $12500.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1995 LS400

Summary:
I wanted a luxury car for a long time, and I quickly realized that buying used was the method. I checked Consumer Reports and found that Lexus did much better than either Mercedes or BMW. I started looking around at LS400 because I wanted a V8 under the hood. I found one in Addison Texas (a suburb of Dallas) and after some "discussion" I got the car at the price I wanted to pay. Overall, I can't go on enough about this car. It drives beautifully, looks nice, and has been ultra reliable; I have never been stranded once. I'm getting about 18 mpg combined city/hwy. The stereo is very good, and the CD changer is in the glove instead of the trunk like some European makes. It's got a 32 valve V8 under the hood, a fully independent suspension, and dual climate control just like it's European competitors, yet it's thousands less, but still holds it's value well. The only other thing I feel it necessary to say is GET YOUR CAR CHECKED OUT BY A LEXUS DEALERSHIP! I bought this car without doing so, and found out on my first service visit that the car had been somewhat mistreated. Some maintenance had been neglected and it showed. Consequently, I had some pretty expensive repairs to do. However, after getting it done and getting past the initial pain of writing that big check so soon after purchasing the car I was VERY happy I did so. I thought the car was nice and smooth BEFORE I did this stuff - boy was I wrong. These cars are simply incredible! 120 mph feels like 50 in this car, I absolutely love it. It's luxurious and heavy, which is why I wanted a car like this. I have a friend who bought a Mercedes E-Class at the same time with the same amount of mileage as my car . They paid almost $10k more than I did and the car won't stay out of the shop for this little thing or that. I love the BMW 740IL, as well as the E430, but I'm sure glad I made the choice I did. This car has been super in every respect, and it's priced well if you shop around a bit. I would buy another one and recommend it to anyone as well. When it comes down to it, unless I'm stinkin rich, the Lexus is the smarter buy. If I had a 6 figure DISPOSABLE income, then it really doesn't matter what car I buy, but I don't so the Lexus LS400 is the car for me right now.

Strengths:
V8 power, wonderful smooth ride, reliable-reliable-reliable. Good value for the money. Fantastic dealer service at Sewell Lexus in Dallas.

Weaknesses:
Somewhat bland styling, less prestige than Mercedes or BMW (if that's what you care about). Other than that....hmmm, can't think of any!

Similar Products Used:
Infiniti Q45, Mercedes E430, Acura Legend