Just a few 98-00 LS400 Q's
01-13-05, 06:59 PM
#18
Lead Lap
In the midwest, 98-00 LS with Nak are apparently not rare. There are currently three 98-00 LS in our company parking lot - two with Nak and one with the standard audio system. I was not looking for a Nak (I actually preferred the standard radio) but a nice LS with Nak is what a broker happened to find for me. I was more particular about color, condition and miles.
A coworker of mine bought a 99 LS with Nak in October, 2004 ago and he didn't care which system he bought either - the LS he bought just happened to have a Nak. He paid a little over $20K for it (59K miles) although the car has a few scratches and the chrome wheels are badly pitted. In November 2003, I paid a bit less than $31K for a nearly flawless 00 LS Platinum SF (original list $61,770) with 38K miles and brand new Platinum Series chrome wheels -- only 210 from the end of the LS400 run.
I guess I am too old for the concept of lowering an LS. I did this to a few cars in the 60's and 70's and really messed up the ride quality and p1ssed off my wife -- she whined every time she rode in those cars. But the pot-holed roads here in the Midwest are probably far worse where we drive.
Perhaps you can find a 98-00 with air suspension and lower it with a modified controller? https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=144716
I excluded air suspension from my search but now wish I hadn't. Air suspension on 98-00 is apparently more reliable than on the earlier LS.
A coworker of mine bought a 99 LS with Nak in October, 2004 ago and he didn't care which system he bought either - the LS he bought just happened to have a Nak. He paid a little over $20K for it (59K miles) although the car has a few scratches and the chrome wheels are badly pitted. In November 2003, I paid a bit less than $31K for a nearly flawless 00 LS Platinum SF (original list $61,770) with 38K miles and brand new Platinum Series chrome wheels -- only 210 from the end of the LS400 run.
I guess I am too old for the concept of lowering an LS. I did this to a few cars in the 60's and 70's and really messed up the ride quality and p1ssed off my wife -- she whined every time she rode in those cars. But the pot-holed roads here in the Midwest are probably far worse where we drive.
Perhaps you can find a 98-00 with air suspension and lower it with a modified controller? https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=144716
I excluded air suspension from my search but now wish I hadn't. Air suspension on 98-00 is apparently more reliable than on the earlier LS.
01-14-05, 11:41 AM
#19
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: CA
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well ebay never seems to have any platinum editions, and autotrader.com does not allow you to actually search for keywords like "platinum" so that's not great. Would a lexus dealer be able to find me one? How about some sort of car broker? Any experiences?
01-14-05, 03:51 PM
#20
Lead Lap
I just checked eBay motors and I was suprised that none of the 2000 LS400's are Platinum. There were several last time I checked. I don't see any in California in the Lexus CPO inventory.
I found quite a few Platinums on CPO last time I looked.
I found two Platinum Series LS400's in Washington state:
http://www.lcpo.com/cpo_podetails.ps...0400&year=2000
http://www.lcpo.com/cpo_podetails.ps...0400&year=2000
You could check the CPO for other nearby states.
When looking at photos you can tell a Platinum by the side badge to the rear of the front wheels. You can't tell by the presence of LS430 wheels since someone could have added them to a non-Platinum.
I notice that Platinum Series LS400's are often not advertised as Platinum. The broker I bought from did not know any difference - the car just happened to be one. Of course I did not care if it was Platinum or not - I mainly looked for color, mileage and condition. I have found, however, that I like the maple wood more than the walnut - it is more to my taste and matches my furniture.. Many people prefer the walnut.
The broker I used was a friend of a friend who runs a Lexus repair shop and it took a few hours for him to deliver the car to me. I was probably lucky.
The supply of 2000's may be drying up a bit for now. Many people who bought or leased them when new have turned loose of them and the new owners may not be selling them for a few years. You could always place a "wanted" ad in a newspaper.
I found quite a few Platinums on CPO last time I looked.
I found two Platinum Series LS400's in Washington state:
http://www.lcpo.com/cpo_podetails.ps...0400&year=2000
http://www.lcpo.com/cpo_podetails.ps...0400&year=2000
You could check the CPO for other nearby states.
When looking at photos you can tell a Platinum by the side badge to the rear of the front wheels. You can't tell by the presence of LS430 wheels since someone could have added them to a non-Platinum.
I notice that Platinum Series LS400's are often not advertised as Platinum. The broker I bought from did not know any difference - the car just happened to be one. Of course I did not care if it was Platinum or not - I mainly looked for color, mileage and condition. I have found, however, that I like the maple wood more than the walnut - it is more to my taste and matches my furniture.. Many people prefer the walnut.
The broker I used was a friend of a friend who runs a Lexus repair shop and it took a few hours for him to deliver the car to me. I was probably lucky.
The supply of 2000's may be drying up a bit for now. Many people who bought or leased them when new have turned loose of them and the new owners may not be selling them for a few years. You could always place a "wanted" ad in a newspaper.
01-23-05, 08:38 PM
#21
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: CA
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow! Thanks for that site! But do I really have to search in EVERY state? Cause I'll ship this car from ANYWHERE in North America. Do you think a lexus dealer would do a search for me across NA?
PS: I never actually thought about this, but are there any known issues with the 98-00 LS400?
PS: I never actually thought about this, but are there any known issues with the 98-00 LS400?
01-23-05, 09:09 PM
#22
Lead Lap
I did not have any success with having a Lexus dealer search for a used LS for me. They seemed interested in selling only what they had on there lot. The profit margin on a 4 or 5 year old car really is not much. But it doesn't hurt to try.
The only TSB on 98-00 LS I remember is a minor one with the Miles Since Refuel function on the trip computer.
The only TSB on 98-00 LS I remember is a minor one with the Miles Since Refuel function on the trip computer.
01-24-05, 06:02 AM
#23
Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: MD
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
woow only that problem. I too am in serious search for a 98-00 LS 400... I am still eyeing the ls430 but don't know if i can afford or want to pay that much for one as of yet. I plan on keeping which ever one i get for atleast +7yrs or so i think 
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
