We have 2 LS400's and love them. I drive a 90 and my wife has a 93. Both are very reliable and in great condition.

I will be giving the 90 to my son(he's 16) next year and will be getting something for myself. We love our Lexus' and I will eventually be getting a LS430 when they come down in the 20K range. Until then I would like to satisfy my itch to try another car I have eyed now for a few years. I have been following the BMW 7 series and it's prices for a yr or so, VS the same year LS400.

On Ebay, For about 16K-20K I can get a 97-98 740iL or a 1996-98 LS400. The LS400 is pretty much the same car as I have been driving, especially looks wise. I just want to satisfy my desire to try something different for a while. I figure I can pick up a well cared for 740iL for say 19-20K and keep it for 2 yrs or so and then sell it and buy a LS430. If my strategy is to own it for only 2 years wouldn't it make sense to buy a 1999-2000 for a little more $$$ and finance it for as many months as I can to keep the payments lower, knowing all along I will sell.

Opinions please............................???

Thx, D.K.

 

If you want a luxurious car, comfortable, gas guzzling boat, awful realiabilty(expensive parts), awful resale value then get the 740il.

But if you are set on BMW and want to try something different, then test drive a 1997-98 540i 6spd (4.4 v8 with 282hp, 310trq). This car is a blast to drive. Its a little bit less luxurious than the 740il but it holds its resale value well and more realible than the 740. Just read some reviews on www.edmunds.com and you'll notice a lot of complain from 740 owners, not so with the 540 group.

 

I had a 93 LS400 and not a single problem when I traded it around 95K miles. 98,99 LS400 has 290HP and other options that aren't available in the 90-93 LS400 such as Navigation, HID, wood wheel, ...
Reliability is also the primary reason that I stay with Lexus instead of European brands.

 

I hear where your coming from. After all, the reasons that you alluded to are the same reasons that we own 2!

What I am trying to say is that this would be a temporary (2) year or so, time where I am waiting until I can afford a LS430. I figure I would like to try out a BMW 750IL for 2 years and have some different fun and then sell it.

 

I agree with the comment regarding value on the 540i, Consumer Reports gives the car high marks and it does hold it's resale. Although for no particular reason, I've never really been a BMW fan.

On the financing, I'd never go over 48 months max, really you want to be under 39 months in any financing arrangement that you enter. (that's with a new car, with a pre-owned vehicle I would shorten that by at least a yr)

 

After owning an aging German auto, I think you'll love the LS's even more.