My New DD (Warning: Extreme Luxo Content... also faster than your sports car....)

I drive 80 miles a day. OK, well, in <2 weeks I start a new job closer to home, so my commute will be about 74 miles a day. I got tired of the 20v AE92 for this commute. Not exactly plush and a bit tiring. I was thinking of a GS400, RAV4 with a 3SGTE (may still get/build one of these) or a LS400 and I've been shopping CL, eBay, Autotrader and all the other web sites for months now. Last Saturday, I found 3 possibles in Tulsa, about 120 miles away. We loaded up our 99 LS400 (Dr.Linda's car) and went over. Got there and called the GS400. Just sold. Found the address (eventually) given for a business selling a 01 LS430. Total POS. Left rear door looked like it had been painted with a spray bomb, speaker grills replaced half the door panels with black pookie sticking out at the seams, etc. Teh Ghetto Special. Last was Lexus of Tulsa. They had an 00 LS400 that was real clean but out of my price range. The 98, though, I could afford. After some wheeling and dealing, they replaced the motor mounts and $7250 later, it is my new DD:

111K miles, new timing belt, battery, brakes (pads I assume, more on that later.) Pretty clean for a 16 year old car. For you non-initiated, these cars are really fast and really comfortable. Driving one is like sitting in your living room, except that the seat is more comfortable, it's quieter and the stereo is better. They are about as fast off the line as my Elise. I think my Esprit (RIP) could have taken one after about 50-60 MPH, but up till then, the LS would probably had got it. We'll never know on that one. Oh, and at 75 MPH with the AC off you get a tad over 26 MPG. Drop 1 for AC on.

Driving home was quite comfortable. We had to take the Camry over to pick it up, as the driveway was covered in ice/snow. So, fair comfort on the way there, fair comfort for Dr.Linda and extreme comfort for me on the way back. I'll have to replace the front brake disks. When they get warm, they vibrate a bit. It is pretty common. Our 99 did the same thing at about the same miles. Got O'Reilley's getting them in for ~125, LT warranty.

Anyway, I'm happy, and I'm planning on being comfortable in my commutes.

Do want LS400. You've done well, sir.

has it got the air ride? Also wheels make a huge difference in the appearance of that bodystyle, maybe some 430 wheels?

mndsm wrote: Do want LS400. You've done well, sir.

Yes I have a thing for those year LS400s too.

Is $7200 pricey for a 14 year old luxury car or is it because of the dealer profit margin?

No air ride that I know of. If it does, the one on the 99 hasn't been a problem.

$7.25K is a tad pricey for the car, yes. But, this one has 111K miles on it and was from the Lexus dealer, not a Buy-Here-Pay-Here lot. I expect a better quality car from the Lexus dealer. They felt the motor mounts were too loose and not up to their standards, so they replaced them, for example. I have been looking at these for a while, and one with 190K on it in OK shape will go for 6 from a private party, so to me, the extra 1 large was worth it for low miles and good condition. I've only been looking for 98-up's because I wanted the VVT motor. At 4K RPM when that thing starts breathing, it is pretty amazing for a 4000 lb car.

The air ride is cool, you can buy a controller for it (i cant remember the name of the company that makes it) and you can control ride height like 8" just plug and play. It'll go from monster truck to laying frame stock everything but the controller.

Also that isn't bad money for that body style, they hold resale much better than the first gen ones.

That's awesome, well done!

Thanks. After 12.5 years of making this commute in an RN Truck or a AE92, I'm ready for some comfort. Still need something for ice, though.

LS400 is the new P71. I've been contemplating a step up from my corolla, but I think I'm just going to quit life and buy a prius.

carbon wrote: The air ride is cool, you can buy a controller for it (i cant remember the name of the company that makes it) and you can control ride height like 8" just plug and play. It'll go from monster truck to laying frame stock everything but the controller. Also that isn't bad money for that body style, they hold resale much better than the first gen ones.

i'd like to see that

Let's backup a little . . .

Faster than what? Ummmm, I don't think so . . .

Glad you like your car, though.

MMmmm aluminum V8

I have christened her the QE2.

Luxoboat for the good doctor. No fire extinguisher required

Well-bought. I enjoyed my '97 Coach Edtn for the time that I had it. They do everything well, as you know.

I think the '98 - '00 LS400 is the pinnacle. They got heavier and slower afterwards. They're amazing cars.

I like the handling of my GS430 a lot better but the interior room and materials are nowhere near the LS. Not even close.

@DavidinDurango: Sure, but not all of us have Panteras. These cars are stupid fast for what they are. They're faster in a straight line than all but the fastest stock Panteras and will even give those a run for their money. (But then, so few have remained stock..)

That looks like an awesome ride.

Are they really that fast? I thought 1/4 mile was high 14s.

super slow 0-60 evidently but 160mph from the factory!

Well done. I love that year/style of LS400. You are also lucky to find one with a black interior. A lot of them came with light interiors which just aren't my thing.

Congrats! Still quite a classy looker. Those cars do drive so smoothly, not a bad place to eat up the miles. I pine for an LS430 UL Edition.

Dr. Hess wrote: Thanks. After 12.5 years of making this commute in an RN Truck or a AE92, I'm ready for some comfort.

Bob Costas!

Eh. I'll still take the RN Truck on trash day and the Elise when the weather is nice....

DavidinDurango wrote: Let's backup a little . . . Faster than what? Ummmm, I don't think so . . . Glad you like your car, though.

X2

Congrats! I'm still searching for mine...