LSPiNoY

iTrader: (1)

I am in the market for one. I own a 90 LS400 and it is a very nicely built platform. It has around 250,000+ miles on it now and it is still running strong! So I would like to get another LS.

Well my questions are:

Is there anything I should stay away from?

What year is the best to get? and why?

Any other input, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Alex

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

a price range would be nice.

as would the area in which you live.

and any specific options you want (like nav, nak, tc, etc.)

LSPiNoY

iTrader: (1)

well 13-22,000 price range. i live in virginia. options don't really matter as much as reliability and as long as everything is functional and working. unless they have heads up display, heated seats, massage chairs in the rear, a mini bar. lol but heated seats would be nice, tc, and that's about it. maybe air suspension but not neccessary. thanks

Sunseek

Hello,

$13-20k is a rather broad range. For comparison, last week I bought a 1998:

120k miles
Factory HID headlights
Air Suspension (thrilled with the ride)
Heated Seats
Traction Control
Moon Roof
Nakamichi Radio

--Did not have wood wheel/shifter or Nav.

All service records including the 120k, tranny fluid is a light shade of red, and car is in excellent condition inside and out.

Car was located in Atlanta and never saw salt. $11,900.00

The car has a few more miles than I was looking for but the only one I found with air suspension. The condition of the car is what sold me over the miles. After searching the US for a '98-'00 I can safely say you should be able to spend $14-$16k and find a turn key car. If you get specific on colors and special options good luck, that's another ballgame. I took a chance and flew out to inspect the car with a cashiers check, after explaining that they took my offer. I feel I got a respectable deal.

NADA & KBB are a little optimistic on the values of these cars depending on miles and area of the country. Manheim of course is what the dealer market will pay.

As far as differences between the '98 - '00 the board has some fantastic blow by blow differences in the years. Search and you will find. Once you step into the '98 you're going to have the important revisions and features you need.

Good luck on the search, run Carfax on everything you consider. Amazing how many cars from the flood states in the south are making their way to the northern states where you can wash car titles.

James

Kansas

As others have advised, search for information on this forum to find information about the 98-00 LS.

Although the 98 through 00 LS400's largely look the same, there were numerous minor enhancements along the way and some problems were resolved with changes at the factory. Beginning with the 99 model year, the wood wheel and shift lever were made standard and options were offered in packages rather than individually. Many 98's did not have HID headlights but most 99's and 00's have them.

Sometime during the 99 model year, the trip computer problems were largely resolved with modifications to the instrument cluster and the gas tank sending unit. Daytime running lights were added in 99.

The major improvement for the 2000 LS400 was "brake assist" -- something I doubt that can be appreciated unless experienced.

The 2000 model year has the most variations of the three model years -- there were the "normal" models (with dark wood and standard upholstery and wheels) which came wth various option packages.

Beginning in about February 2000, there were three variations of the "Platinum Series" -- SE (standard audio), SF (Nakamichi) and SG (Navigation). The SF and SG came with heated seats. All Platinums came with 2001 LS430 wheels, light maple wood, HID lights, CD player, textured leather upholstery, and a few other minor enhancements including "Platinum Series" emblems on the exterior.

The 98-00 navigation is "old school" but Lexus surprisingly issued another update in 2005. Examples with nav cost about the same as non-nav models -- industry figures show that OEM nav has a lower value at resale than almost any other option -- it should be "free" if you can find one with nav.

98-00's with air suspension are rare -- I excluded air suspension from my search but, looking back, I think it would be nice to have since I sometimes carry lots of people and luggage. Air suspension was an inexpensive option on the 98-00 LS.

By the way, the HID headlights are self leveling -- the halogen headlights are not.

If I can reference another Lexus forum, here is what my 2000 "SF" Platinum Series LS400 looks like: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...req=si&img=815

Sunseek

Kansas,

Stunning LS400 with those rims & tint.

James

blange400

The finest LS400 you have there Kansas.
I have a NEW shopping list with one item on it.
If you, or anyone , sees another 2000 "SF" Platinum Series LS400
as close to yours as possible, and doesn't buy it themselves, please contact me ASAP,
my banker still likes me.

I believe you may have ...no, you do have, the ultimate automobile ever built.

Im selling my SC400 and my MR2 and goin hunting tonight!

Best wishes -

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

the 98-00 owners are now big in the pie chart. We make the 2nd biggest group in the LS forum...

Who knew? We were the least just a couple of years ago.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

yea, i remember when i first joined lookin for stuff to do to my dad's (then new) 2000 LS400 (Plat. Ed.) and was utterly flummoxed and had no idea what to do with it, neither did anyone else (major mods aside from wheels and mild kit-motor, ecu, etc.)

i may be doing the UCF21 front end conversion in the next few months, depending if i can get the front end parts relatively cheaply. (used preffered). dont want the motor or trans, tooo hard to mess with and nobody has done anything with a VVT-i 1UZ motor.

Geremology101

the 98 that I got:

84,000 miles
Regular maintenance
Wood steering wheel
Wood shifter
HID lights
Heated seats
Traction
$11,500

To put things into perspective.