somnoboy

Are brand new replacement engines for the first generation LS available from Toyota? If so, any idea of how much money?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

list price for a long block i believe was ~$10,000, with actual prices being in the mid $8,000s.

91LS400LEX

You can buy a like new, low mile gen 1 LS400 for what a new engine would cost.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

or you could do the sensible thing and buy a half-decent 98-00 lol

Asia-H.T.

iTrader: (9)

I would do the same now if I was to buy a Lexus. It will save a lot of effort buying a newer one

... But I just like the first gen very much

somnoboy

I agree with all of you. If I were to buy a new car, I'd buy a 2010 LS.

But here's the thing. I simply love my first gen LS. I don't know if it's the fact that Toyota pleasantly over-engineered the car because they knew that they had to get their debut product PERFECT. I remember before changing my timing belt, that I actually debated whether or not to actually go through with it. Even at 90,000 miles, the car drove absolutely silently and absolutely free of vibration. It was a sublime experience, somewhat akin to driving behind the most perfectly balanced and silent electric motor. I just knew that after having the dealer take apart the engine to replace the timing belt and water pump, that it would never be quite the same.

And it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, the car is still very quite and smooth, but now, post timing-belt replacement, it no longer drives with that "nth" degree of smoothness that I had been so accustomed to.

Anyway, all of the above is just my long way of saying that I love my first gen, and it is doubtful that I will ever replace it. Even if it means spending $15,000 on a brand new silent, smooth engine straight from Toyota.

edtbjon

Hmm, what you're feeling and lacking in terms of smoothness will quite possibly be worn engine mounts and transmission mounts. These rubber mounts are now at least 15 years old and if not broken they are at least very hard and brittle. That together with a good overhaul to the suspension will bring back much of that "new car" smoothness.
Unless the engine shows obvious signs of wearing out, like high oil comsumption or oil being diluted with fuel etc, your engine is probably doing very well. (I take it you're careful about checking service intervals and maintenance.) If you feel that the engine response isn't 100% it could be the spark plugs and/or spark wires. (The plugs are supposed to be replaced every 60000 miles, but maybe the wires are old.) Also, the throttle house could have some kind of carbon build-up which affect both idling and general throttle response.

In short, there's nothing wrong with wanting an LS being the very smoothest car in town. But in my opinion you don't need to exchange your engine every 200000 miles, you just need to maintain the car with both the obvious and see to the things which without doubt wear out with age.

//Björn