Bought a 1996 Lexus lx450
01-20-12, 02:27 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bought a 1996 Lexus lx450
I drive an 04 Honda S2000 (lots of mods, custom paint...it's my baby) and after this first snowfall I realized I needed a second vehicle. I found a 96 lexus lx450 for pretty cheap. It's not the best looking car, but the engine and trans seem strong. It's got the diff locks.
The bad:
Seats are worn, backrest driver side power seat doesn't work, rear blow motor rattles badly (either it needs a new motor, or a kid stuck a toy in there, I'll find out soon enough), brake pedal is a bit soft, probably needs a fluid change. It still brakes just fine. Needs a serpentine belt, when the wheel is turned to locks the car idles a bit rough. I'm guessing power steering pump or the fluid. Bumper has a few scrapes and driver rear door has a dent.
The good:
All of the options, strong engine, viper alarm, tinted windows, plenty of tread on tires, DVD player installed on ceiling. Best of all, it's a lexus!
I'm hoping I don't regret this buy, but I doubt I will. I got it for such a good price, even it something major goes wrong, a part out should still render a profit.
The bad:
Seats are worn, backrest driver side power seat doesn't work, rear blow motor rattles badly (either it needs a new motor, or a kid stuck a toy in there, I'll find out soon enough), brake pedal is a bit soft, probably needs a fluid change. It still brakes just fine. Needs a serpentine belt, when the wheel is turned to locks the car idles a bit rough. I'm guessing power steering pump or the fluid. Bumper has a few scrapes and driver rear door has a dent.
The good:
All of the options, strong engine, viper alarm, tinted windows, plenty of tread on tires, DVD player installed on ceiling. Best of all, it's a lexus!
I'm hoping I don't regret this buy, but I doubt I will. I got it for such a good price, even it something major goes wrong, a part out should still render a profit.
01-22-12, 03:59 AM
#3
"It's not the best looking car"
I personally have not seen one looking better yet. The LX470 is not looking better (perhaps a bit more modern and different, but not "better"), not many like the 570's looks to put it mildly. The things are not much different with the competition either. The TCL80 has already taken its place in the hall of fame as a clean and purposeful design. Pretty much a text-book example by now. All Toyota has to do is to offer a next evolutionary design that keeps all the good things that were present in the TCL80, and have a winner. Think Mercedes Geländewagen here.
I personally have not seen one looking better yet. The LX470 is not looking better (perhaps a bit more modern and different, but not "better"), not many like the 570's looks to put it mildly. The things are not much different with the competition either. The TCL80 has already taken its place in the hall of fame as a clean and purposeful design. Pretty much a text-book example by now. All Toyota has to do is to offer a next evolutionary design that keeps all the good things that were present in the TCL80, and have a winner. Think Mercedes Geländewagen here.
01-22-12, 11:13 PM
#4
Moderator
Congratulations on getting a first generation LX. It's based off of the Toyota Landcruiser and you can't go wrong. Would love to see pictures if you get a chance to post. Happy driving...
Last edited by Trexus; 01-28-12 at 06:14 PM.
01-30-12, 05:59 AM
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry guys I've been pretty busy. No pictures yet , but ill get them soon. I realized the belt mistake the next day but never got on here to correct myself. I need the v-belt on the alternator. Not sure how long I'm gonna keep this. I'm tempted to keep it through winter and by then it will be as close to excellent condition as I can get it, sell it, and use the money to buy yet another "fixer upper" and work my way up, getting a nicer vehicle. Maybe ill be able to get a newer lexus eventually 
I'm not sure if that will work out the way I want though
I'm not sure if that will work out the way I want though
Trending Topics
02-01-12, 02:51 AM
#9
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bumper has a few scrapes and driver rear door has a dent.
02-01-12, 09:12 AM
#10
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just don't catch the catalytic converters on a rock if you take it off-road, those little suckers are EXPENSIVE (especially the front one, since it's part of the down-pipe from the cylinder head). Just under $2K for the front one with pipe.
02-01-12, 09:21 AM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Almost forgot, search Google for "Pesky Heater Hose" and buy the silicone hose kit. There's a short section of rubber coolant hose on the back end of the engine, between the block and the firewall. It eventually fails on all 1FZ-FE engines, and is a freaking nightmare to replace.
So you want to change it NOW, in the comfort of your own driveway when you have plenty of time, so you don't have to deal with it during a family vacation to some faraway place. This engine doesn't have many weaknesses, but this hose is definitely one of them.
So you want to change it NOW, in the comfort of your own driveway when you have plenty of time, so you don't have to deal with it during a family vacation to some faraway place. This engine doesn't have many weaknesses, but this hose is definitely one of them.
02-01-12, 11:21 AM
#12
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the note about the heater hoses. I'll be ordering those once I'm done with everything else (since they haven't failed yet). Other things I found to be bad: Few bulbs (ordered), brake lights weren't working - FIXED, splice behind fuse block was broken, EGR Valve stuck partially open (ordered), Passenger seat goes forward at an angle (missing the white cap and the gear is stripped) - found the website to order those but gears are out of stock until 2-11)
02-01-12, 11:50 AM
#14
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MO
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Um... You have a rear heater? Odd, I thought all LX450 had the 6 disc changer and I was under the impression that you couldn't have both the 6 disc and the rear heater. (Until I realized how insanely strong the 450's heater is, I was asking about this over on IH8MUD) On the other hand, nothing stopping an enterprising owner from removing the 6 disc and fitting the heater...
I have an aftermarket cd player up front so I have no use for the 6 disc changer anyway.
