RamAirRckt

My 98 GS got hit last week and I am concerned that it will be totaled from the damage. Mainly because I have high miles on it (264500). Took a hit in the left rear, broke taillight and pushed in quarterpanel at bumper cover.

Any +'s or -'s on an LS? I am leaning towards the 98-00, I like the looks and the drivetrain, I know the GS400 well, being same driveline, would like to keep what I know.

djamps

Personally, I prefer a softer more compliant suspension and quieter ride of the LS to offer a break from the harsh ride in my track-prepped G35. If it were my only car or DD, I'd probably take a GS with better handling over the LS, but I get my kicks from the G35 instead. Each to their own!

pmarr

+'s. Smooth and quiet. Up to 30 mpg freeway@ 80 mph. 98-00's are fast for a 3000 lb car. Seem to always pass smog (side note), I have had 4 and they have been perfect.
-'s. Power steering leakage, front suspension wear

hotdawwg

good decision. come to the master race!

RamAirRckt

Getting my GS was the first time in a LONG time since I have NOT had the flagship car from a brand. But the GS has been a great car. Same issues as the LS so it seems, leaks on ps pump (not enough to fuss with) and suspension wear. The GS is just wonderfully easy to work on. My GS has best 28.3 mpg, averages 22-24 back and forth to work, never seen worse than 18 no matter what.

I've had a 00 Buick Park Ave Ultra SC 3800, ok car, but I loath front wheel drive. And just cheap stuff GM likes to do to cut costs is a big turn off.
94 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with the rare 7000 V4P Tow package. Great car, but alas, its a GM Flagship on a 1973 chassis with a Chevy engine. Still fun in its own right, but it isn't a Lexus.

I'm hooked on Lexus V8 cars..... The 1UZFE is one for the record books.

Losiracer2

I love driving my 97 LS400, its so smooth and effortless and a great cruising car. For a work car and DD, its the best and most luxurious car for the job. You can pick up a 98-00 model for under 5k if you look at little bit or a 95-97 model for 1500-4k. I would've preferred the newer models UCF21, but at the time, there were none in the area that cheap, so i settled on my 97 for 2700. The 98+ have a 5spd tranny and a VVTi 1UZ V8 so 30 more hp and slightly better fuel economy and look more modern and cleaner.

But my 97 has 273k on it now and it doesn't have any issues. Its a pretty rock solid car. I think these were handbuilt in Japan as well so the build quality is amazing.

Things to look out for:

-strut rod bushings (people say they wear out every 60k)
-EGR Tube develops a crack on all of them eventually, I had mine welded for 20 bucks so it shouldn't happen again.
-Starter is pretty tough to fix as its under the intake manifold.
-lower balljoints and sway bar endlinks wear out. Mine didn't appear blown at 255k, but there was tons of slop when lifting up the tire/wheel assembly when in the air.
-PS leak onto the Alternator, just get an o-ring kit and refresh. I had a PS return line leak on me since the rubber was hard and brittle.
-Make sure the T-belt is done otherwise dealer charges over 1k in labor for this job. I got mine done for 400 at and independent shop and bought an AISIN TB/WP kit off rockauto for 200 which uses all OEM high quality Japanese parts.

RamAirRckt

I wish I could get a 98-00 LS400 and get the 3.92 gears from the GS300 (LS and GS share differential, so its a bolt in), with the 6 speed in the 04-06 LS430's.