Shaffer

My aunt has a 1990 LS400 and it has been a excellent car. I really like the 90-97 LS400s, as well as the 95-98 Avalons. I know the LS has a V8 and the Avalon has a V6, but aside from that, is there anyone here that has also owned a Avalon (1995-2003) that can list any quality/ride differences between the two? I had ridden in my aunts 90 LS400 and I know it has a super smooth ride, but I have also heard that the Avalon has a excellent ride. I am not really concerned with the power, as I know the Avalon will be plenty powerful enough for me. I have also heard that the ride with the Avalon, is as good as the LS, but has anyone ever owned both that has any opinions about this? For the money- if you could get a 1995 Avalon with 80K, for $8000 or a 92 LS400 with 120K, for $8000, which would be the better value. not according to the value guides. Is the LS400 really worth the extra money, when it is a decision between a 90-93 LS 400 and a 95-96 Avalon? I am considering buying a 95-97 Avalon, 90-94 LS 400, or possibly even a 93-95 Land Cruiser. Any advice appreciated.

retrodrive

There is a world of difference between two cars. I have driven Avalon as a rental a few times and it is louder inside, not as smooth and the ride is not as gentle or smooth as LS. I think ES300 compares better with the avalon/camry but it is still way more luxurious and smooth then either of the Toyota cars. Just my own experience.

theomms

i think the avalon is pretty good. it is the flagship of the toyota badge in america.

it is true though the 1995 avalon has a smooth ride but is more like an ES. the 2000+ avalons are way better! i think that the 2000 avalon is coparable to 1998 GS300. in fact i think that the avalon is a little cooler because it has a bench seat in the front!

as for the choice between the a 1995 avalon and a 1992 LS400. i prefer the LS. the 95 avalon is a boring car. i would rather have an ES.

retrodrive

I drove pre 2000 avalon. I never tried latest ones.

Lvangundy

Family has a 1995 Avalon and it is nowhere as refined as the LS..but thes seats are 2x more comfortable compared to my worn out (but re-stuffed and still unfomfortable) LS seats.

The Avalon has a lot more engine noise, but the car is very nimble compared to the LS. Decide on what you want a more sporty/quick off the line car or a big luxury cruiser built more for the highway. The Avalon will get better gas mileage.

There has been a few independant internet reviews stating that the Avalon has a very boring interior, which I agree on.

502husla

having the pleasure to be driving either at any given time, i own a 94LS400 and my girlfriend owns a 96AVALON ES( THE ONE WITH ALL THE TOYS) and though its an enjoyable and sporty(had the spoiler installed for her birhtday) vehicle with a nice ride. It is not comparable to the Best Luxury Sedan ever made for the money. The ride is as smooth as it gets and i've drove everything from the Big Lincoln to The big body Benz. The lex400 has got to be the overall champion on the smoothest ride short or long.

azari

They are both excellent cars. But the feeling that you get once you get behind the LS400's wheel will be missing in the avalon. In the LS400, there is this solid/heavy feeling that is combined with luxury, and that leather seat smell, wood, quality of materials used and many other little details make it a better car. Not to mention the gorgeous V8, which is a whole different world in itself. Also, the styling of the LS400 is timeless and classic; people will mistake it for a '97!!! Well, here is what I would do: first make sure the cars are both well taken care of (oil changes, etc.); If they are both well taken care of, then the 40000 miles difference is really nothing for the Lexus, as these cars run past 200000 miles easily. Also, make sure you test-drive them both, because all of the above was our opinions, maybe yours will be different! In the end, it's a matter of which side weighs more for you and which one you feel is better for YOU.
Good luck, let us know what you'll do.

tenpointed

Something to remember is that the LS400 is it's own car and doesn't share any platforms with any other models. It's also rear wheel drive which will give you a MUCH nicer ride than the front wheel drive Avalon. The Avalon is basically a stretched Camry. As mentioned earlier, the Camry/Avalon share the same basic architecture as the ES300, which as you know is the entry level Lex. If the cars are in similar condition, definitely opt for the Lex. I have to admit that the 2000+ Avalons are probably the ugliest cars Toyota has put out. They have the ugliest roof line of any passenger car I've ever seen. They look all out of proportion. Prior to 2000 they were very attactive cars, styled much like a Lexus, so at least the one you're considering is the nicer looking Avalon. Just my opinion.

azari

tenpointed,
I'd have to agree with you on the new Avalons. I mean, what were they thinking specially with the back?! It's as if the back of the car was from a different car and the front was also from a different car and all they did was just welched them in the middle! At least the front is better with the headlights; but the back is totally out of proportion!!!

Texas

Well, the Avalon is very nice, (a co-worker has an 2001 model, and even then, it doesn't ride nearly as nice as my Fiance's 1995 ES 300).
I've noticed that the engine noise is very pronounced even on mild acceleration, compared to the ES300, and the ride is not nearly as smooth, but still a nice car for the money.
I don't care for the styling tough (the new Camry looks way nicer IMO).

Tex

azari

The one other thing that I've noticed is this: My love for my LS400 has been taking a cumulative effect in relation with time, lol. In other words, after 4 months of owning this car, I'm even more in love with it now than day one... something that I couldn't say about my mother's 2000 Camry (owned 3 years). The more I drive this car, the more it feels like I couldn't drive any other car. There is just something about getting behind the wheel of this car that makes driving other cars an extremely inferior experience in comparison with the LS400. Again, it's a feeling, a solid, luxury feel!
I love my car.

Texas

I know what you mean.
I got to ride in someone's rented brand new Nissan Maxima yesterday, and the ride left a lot to be desired.
Really bumpy ride, and ugly interior styling IMO.
Now, had I still owned my lifted 4WD truck, than I would've thought that the Maxima was decent, but now that the benchmark is my LS, everything else seems irrelevant...

Tex

Maeve

iTrader: (2)

AMEEEEEENNNN

Lextreme

Like i always tell people my 13 years old LS400 (1990) rides better than a brand new Camery/Avalon. What make my car rides better is the Air Suspension. Smooth as silk and as fast as a Mustang GT and with Twin Turbo, its as fast as Stock Twin Turbo Supra (MKIV).

gs400998

I have owned a 93 LS400 and a 2001 Avalon XLS. Both have soft quiet ride. 93 LS400 V8 is only 250HP and 01 Avalon has a 210HP V6. The 93 LS400 is several hundred lbs heavier than Avalon thus the 0-60 and 1/4M time is about the same. The LS400 gets about 25MPG highway and Avalon is close to 30MPG. LS400 uses better leather and real wood. LS400 is RWD thus not very good without snow tires in the winter. The maintenance fees and parts for the LS400 will be higher than the Avalon but you get a free loaner for major service at Lexus and better service than Toyota.