Stereorob

Threw the windscreen. -Dating the LS400.

Those of you that clicked on this thread with autosexual fantisies well, sorry to dissapoint! haha but As we all know Lexus built the Ls 400 from 1990 (23 years ago) till 2000 (13 years ago). The interiors changed alot over the years the front ends didnt change too much till 98, and aside from the tail lamps being a little smaller on the second gen and ditching the chrome tipped dual exaust after 94, from the sides it's kinda hard to tell what year is what even to the trained eye, exept for the stretched out rear windows on the second gen models and the wraparound rear glass on the first gen. (That always gives it away) and of course the factory rims changed over the years but most people ditch those for nicer ones.. -but what about the untrained eye? What do they see, when they look at these cars? One thing ill give Lexus among many others, is MAJOR cudos in cosmetics, these cars really have aged gracefully, and don't act, or look there age at all! People ask me about my car sometimes, complimenting on how clean it is, what a nice ride it is.. Than I ask them.. "What year do you think it is?"..

Back when I had my 90 in 2006 people used to say "idk 1999?", "2002", -wow.. Then I'd take them for a ride not telling them it's age, mashing the gas and swerving around, punching it on the highway bringing it to 120-130 in seconds, then the ride would be over, and they would be green with envy.. I'd ask "what year do you think it is again?" "2002/03 for sure right?" They would say.. I'd reply with, "haha please just keep thinking its a 2003" ...."it's a 1990." -that jaw dropping hole in the head deer in headlights stare I'd get from this and that person was just priceless! That alone was worth driving the car for, just for the shock value of its age! Same goes for my second gen 95, everyone thinks its a 03, 05, one guy even thought it was a 09! The Ls 400 can really play tricks on the common eye. The only thing that really dates these cars are the factory rims on them, and the silver power antenna and especially the little squiggly cell phone antenna if yours is equipped with one. Then, throw a set of current style 18"s on one and forget it! You're driving a 1990, 2013 Ls 400!! Some people even thought my 90 was newer than my 95! Maybe the chrome tipped exaust ports did it idk.. So how bout you guys? Do people you know think your car is 5, 10, even 20 years newer than it actually is?

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

i agree! i've received 2000, 2002 but they aren't too far off. i do love they way the car ages, all weather stripping rubbers still malleable, doors close solid, windows close with ease, etc. it def is hard to tell the car is 17 years old.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Given the time it takes people to figure out what my car IS most don't bother trying to figure out the year lol.

Got me out of a couple parking tickets

LScowboyLS

it really tricks their mind if you have the clear turn signals/bumper lights

dengman

I personally just want LED tail lights and I'd feel like I have bought my self a brand new car. LS400 has always been advanced in the "technology before its time"

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

LOL.

I don't own a LS, but now that I got my new trunk, its debadged and I've caught people walking by looking at it all clueless.

Stereorob

Nothing like a Ls 400. Over engineered timeless design, still impressive after so many years. Good stuff!!

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Except for fellow LS owners and/or Toyota fans, most won't know the model year. We use ours enough for driving clients around and most don't know what year it is. If they ask, they are pretty surprised how old it is. For fellow car nuts, the lack of the embossed SRS type logos on the interior give hint it lacks the massive deployment of airbags that current cars have. Same with the analog dash but it varies on car nut.

LED lighting is a nice update as well as the clear lenses. For those of us with baffled DOT lenses, it is a big giveaway of the vintage.

Overall, built like one would expect from a high-line Toyota product.

Mugen_1

I frequently get comments on my car and most don't believe it's a '97, much less with just shy of 180K on it. For some reason, I've had several people ask if it was a Benz...

But what throws people off more about my car is the "T" in the grille and the "T" and "Celsior" out back (and at car shows, the "T" on the engine block), then I have to give them the whole Lexus-didn't-exist-in-Japan-at-the-time spiel. It's also gotten me a few puzzled looks when I pull on to car lots...one even told me I had a nice Camry

One of my favorites came at a local car show (I was the only non-American car there...) when some kid, probably 12-ish, looks at the back and calls it a "Celestial"

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

i've got a shaved trunk, a 3pc spoiler that has no badges on it, and a shaved front grill.

There are no lexus/toyota emblems visible from the outside of my car unless you try to read the glass emblems or maybe the scripting on my wind deflectors

anesthesia

You guys are so silly. It's an old car and people know it
Friends actually laugh at me when I tell them I drive a grandpa car, but I don't care, it's the smoothest car ever, the built quality and engine is among the best in the world. My original 91 NSX is the other car that has a timeless design, people are shock when I tell them is 21 years old, like the Nsx, the ls400 has a very timeless design as well.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

i can see how people can mistake this car for a benz. after all it has a lot of styling cues from an old s-class, just engineered to last ! i've had coworkers tell me why i am driving my parents car...

now to mistake it for a camry?! SMH

ReySC

Just going two weeks on my 99 and friends and family cant believe it's a 99!" You got to be kidding" is a common comment..

midwest2

Last year I had the bumpers sprayed and a few dents pulled out of my 96... When I went to pick it up it was completely detailed and I asked the owner what year he thought it was---his guess was 02 or 03.

shaft1

Couple of friends at work thought my '99 was '05 - '06. Another guy that works at a car detail shop could not believe that a 14-year old factory paint looks as good as new -- my next door neighbor had the same comment.