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This was one of the finest Lexus interiors ever. All LS models were very good. LX470 refresh was outstanding, with the extra details my 01 did not have.
My overall favorite Lexus interior, 98-00 LS400. Great quality materials, just the right amount of wood trim, great quality switchgear and displays...:
My overall favorite Lexus interior, 98-00 LS400. Great quality materials, just the right amount of wood trim, great quality switchgear and displays...:
I wonder what Lexus or Toyota was the last to have the under the steering column A/C vent. So much detail on Toyotas and Lexus back then. Never noticed the LS had the foot brake for parking. I have it in my 4Runner.
Do you recall what the key lock is on under the P lever?
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Jul 7, 2019 at 07:18 PM.
I wonder what Lexus or Toyota was the last to have the under the steering column A/C vent. So much detail on Toyotas and Lexus back then. Never noticed the LS had the foot brake for parking. I have it in my 4Runner.
Do you recall what the key lock is on under the P lever?
Yeah I loved that "crotch vent". Quite frankly I liked that better than cooled/venillated seats. The LS430 also had that until the 04 refresh when they added knee airbags which my LS460 also has. Yep, both the 400 and 430 had a pedal operated footbrake, but a hand operated release (as opposed to a step back down and release parking brake). That was such a high quality feeling dampened action pulling that and releasing the brake.
The keyhole underneath the brake release was for the valet mode. If you pushed that in and gave the valet the valet key they would be locked out of the trunk, You used the master key to turn it to unlock it when you got the car back.
Such a nice car. Everything that was stitched was actually leather, the headrests were so soft when you put your head against them they were like pillows. In the door pulls there was this amazing soft leather that had a squishy almost gel like feel to it when you sunk your fingers into it. Out of all of them I've/we've had, its the only one I miss.
My overall favorite Lexus interior, 98-00 LS400. Great quality materials, just the right amount of wood trim, great quality switchgear and displays...:
Lots more detail I like. I really like how every button on the centre console HVAV has a space between the buttons. There is even a tiny piece of wood between the VSC or heated seat buttons. It only flaws with the paired numbers of 1-2 or 3-4 and 5-6, but minor. I think the steering wheel controls are the only thing out of place. I love how there are four separate LCD screens in the dash. And the power seat belt button is a timeless part of the interior detail.
Lots more detail I like. I really like how every button on the centre console HVAV has a space between the buttons. There is even a tiny piece of wood between the VSC or heated seat buttons. It only flaws with the paired numbers of 1-2 or 3-4 and 5-6, but minor. I think the steering wheel controls are the only thing out of place. I love how there are four separate LCD screens in the dash. And the power seat belt button is a timeless part of the interior detail.
Yep, nothing seemed crowded at all, everything was perfectly laid out. I actually like the old LCD readouts too.
The steering wheel controls looked out of place because they were lol. They added a driver information readout with the 1998 refresh and added those buttons to control it. If you got the dealer installed phone option (which we had) they installed another controller on the other side which was surprisingly well integrated.
1997 cluster and wheel without those buttons:
I think the rework of the air vents and the addition of wood to the wheel helped the interior a lot.
This is what the phone package wheel buttons looked like. The system was $3,000 (that was a LOT in 1998) and it had very early voice activation...which was terrible.
Another thing I loved? The CD changer behind the door in the dash was surrounded by wood, even though it would always be behind a closed door:
Yep, nothing seemed crowded at all, everything was perfectly laid out. I actually like the old LCD readouts too.
The steering wheel controls looked out of place because they were lol. They added a driver information readout with the 1998 refresh and added those buttons to control it. If you got the dealer installed phone option (which we had) they installed another controller on the other side which was surprisingly well integrated.
1997 cluster and wheel without those buttons:
I think the rework of the air vents and the addition of wood to the wheel helped the interior a lot.
This is what the phone package wheel buttons looked like. The system was $3,000 (that was a LOT in 1998) and it had very early voice activation...which was terrible.
Another thing I loved? The CD changer behind the door in the dash was surrounded by wood, even though it would always be behind a closed door:
Wow. That is an incredible behind the scenes detail of wood in the cd box. The 1998 refresh was better I agree.
would be interesting to see what the roof was like for the map and sunroof switches.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Jul 7, 2019 at 08:06 PM.
hard to find a good quality picture. No sunglasses holder, but they did have a great little sun visor that folded down and blocked the area above the rearview mirror:
Another thing I liked was that they didnt use a parts bin Gentex mirror like they do today. The mirrors were color-keyed to the headliner (cars with ivory interiors got ivory mirrors, black/grey interiors got grey mirrors), and they were Toyota designed mirrors you didnt see on other cars. My LS460 has a gentex parts-bin mirror used by many manufacturers.
What the LS460 has, always black. Our Kia Sedona had the same mirror lol:
Agree 100% on that 1998-2000 LS400 interior. I had a 96 and always wished I had the 98-00 due to some of the interior & exterior cosmetic updates. That interior is timeless and perfectly executed. I'd be lying if I said I didn't check online for a mint 98-00 about once/month... My wife would kill me.
They lost their way somewhere lol, they’re getting better though. LC has a stunning quality interior.
I don’t think they lost their way. They have just evolved and spent money in other better places such as powertrain, and platforms and features. Some of the new Lexus models have so many more options for interiors than ever. Any new Lexus is a decent place to spend time in. A new Lexus is not for everyone.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Jul 8, 2019 at 09:51 AM.
I don’t think they lost their way. They have just evolved and spent money in other better places such as powertrain, and platforms and features. Some of the new Lexus models have so many more options for interiors than ever. Any new Lexus is a decent place to spend time in. A new Lexus is not for everyone.
They lost their way there for a while, lots of questionable material choices and interiors that had a lot of looseness and rattles, like I said though they've found their footing again.
They lost their way there for a while, lots of questionable material choices and interiors that had a lot of looseness and rattles, like I said though they've found their footing again.
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