95 LS400 ... what to expect?
08-01-05, 10:31 AM
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95 LS400 ... what to expect?
Hi out there ...
I am new to the forum and just wanted to present my LS400 as a case study ... hehe.
For financial reasons, I had to get rid of my 2003 E320 Mercedes. I really loved the car ... but I had to get rid of it as I decided I wanted to go to nursing school. I had been looking at older ES300's but a local Lexus shop here in Dallas convinced me to look at an older LS400 after brining them a 1996 ES300 that was sludged.
The mechanics found me one of their customers car - a 1995 LS400 white/tan that I purchased for $8,000 with 119,000 miles. These people bought this car from an owner who bought it new at a local lexus dealership.
The mechanics told me the second owners took excellent care of it and had been customers since 2001. Upon review of service records ... all oil changes and fluid changes had been done, balljoints replaced, front struts replaced, waterpump/timing belt replaced etc as well small things here and there. After I purchased it, the shop did a complete review of the car and I went ahead and did some more work they suggested (even though they said most of it I could wait on) because I didn't want to have to keep taking it back and I wanted some peace of mind.
Here is what I did:
power steering pump re-seal
valve cover gaskets replaced (seeping oil but not leaking on the ground)
120,000 mile service - all fluids, spark plugs AND wires
new drive belt
bushings in rear suspension replaced
radiator plastic housing cracked -- replaced.
I also took it to a radio shop and had the radio display repaired for about $300 dollars - display was going out.
New wiper blades.
The interior is in very good shape ... the worst of it is the tan leather looks a little aged but its not cracking or anything and I keep tons of lexus leather conditioner on it!! Most people who see the car thinks it looks almost brand new.
I have it seen since February 2005 and have done nothing (since all the repairs above) except my tilt wheel motor needed to be reshimmed as it stopped going up and down. My mechanics did it for $150.
I need to keep the car for four more years as I am planning on going to nursing school (my fourth degree) and the mechanics have said the car should hold up -- things might come up here and there but they most definitely think it will continue to run without too many problems.
The car runs very smoothly and is quiet (I can hear the A/C compressor a bit but the mechanics said they have heard louder ones than mine). The worst of it are some rattles on the interior and I really don't want to spend money trying to track those down.
Mainly, I am hoping nothing major will go wrong except for having to do the basic maintenance --oil changes, interval services, brakes and tires.
I know its a machine and things can go wrong ... but given the service history on this car do you all thing that it is a possibiliy the car won't need too much stuf and/or what else do you think could go wrong/need replacing?
Also, overall the experience has been pretty good for buying an older car. I am not one that really wants to spend tons of money on a new car anymore considering the depreciation so I am hoping when I am done with nursing ... the guys at the shop could try to find me an older GS430 (I'd be looking in 2010).
Thanks so much,
Jason
I am new to the forum and just wanted to present my LS400 as a case study ... hehe.
For financial reasons, I had to get rid of my 2003 E320 Mercedes. I really loved the car ... but I had to get rid of it as I decided I wanted to go to nursing school. I had been looking at older ES300's but a local Lexus shop here in Dallas convinced me to look at an older LS400 after brining them a 1996 ES300 that was sludged.
The mechanics found me one of their customers car - a 1995 LS400 white/tan that I purchased for $8,000 with 119,000 miles. These people bought this car from an owner who bought it new at a local lexus dealership.
The mechanics told me the second owners took excellent care of it and had been customers since 2001. Upon review of service records ... all oil changes and fluid changes had been done, balljoints replaced, front struts replaced, waterpump/timing belt replaced etc as well small things here and there. After I purchased it, the shop did a complete review of the car and I went ahead and did some more work they suggested (even though they said most of it I could wait on) because I didn't want to have to keep taking it back and I wanted some peace of mind.
Here is what I did:
power steering pump re-seal
valve cover gaskets replaced (seeping oil but not leaking on the ground)
120,000 mile service - all fluids, spark plugs AND wires
new drive belt
bushings in rear suspension replaced
radiator plastic housing cracked -- replaced.
I also took it to a radio shop and had the radio display repaired for about $300 dollars - display was going out.
New wiper blades.
The interior is in very good shape ... the worst of it is the tan leather looks a little aged but its not cracking or anything and I keep tons of lexus leather conditioner on it!! Most people who see the car thinks it looks almost brand new.
I have it seen since February 2005 and have done nothing (since all the repairs above) except my tilt wheel motor needed to be reshimmed as it stopped going up and down. My mechanics did it for $150.
I need to keep the car for four more years as I am planning on going to nursing school (my fourth degree) and the mechanics have said the car should hold up -- things might come up here and there but they most definitely think it will continue to run without too many problems.
The car runs very smoothly and is quiet (I can hear the A/C compressor a bit but the mechanics said they have heard louder ones than mine). The worst of it are some rattles on the interior and I really don't want to spend money trying to track those down.
Mainly, I am hoping nothing major will go wrong except for having to do the basic maintenance --oil changes, interval services, brakes and tires.
I know its a machine and things can go wrong ... but given the service history on this car do you all thing that it is a possibiliy the car won't need too much stuf and/or what else do you think could go wrong/need replacing?
Also, overall the experience has been pretty good for buying an older car. I am not one that really wants to spend tons of money on a new car anymore considering the depreciation so I am hoping when I am done with nursing ... the guys at the shop could try to find me an older GS430 (I'd be looking in 2010).
Thanks so much,
Jason
08-02-05, 09:23 AM
#3
Are we talking about Davenport here?
Sounds like you have already put in some money & effort to get this LS up to speed.
It should reward you with many years & lots of miles of service. When the CL Forum gets a power buy on the Leather interior replacement going again you may want to consider it.
good luck, damon
Sounds like you have already put in some money & effort to get this LS up to speed.
It should reward you with many years & lots of miles of service. When the CL Forum gets a power buy on the Leather interior replacement going again you may want to consider it.
good luck, damon
08-06-05, 02:08 PM
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You can expect years of driving a car that will defy it's age. I bet you will never miss your E320, the LS400 totally outclasses that car even though it is much older - good job on choosing an LS! I have driven many new luxury cars and feel the old LS's still stack up very well against them. Reliability is unmatched, ride is great and performance is good. I own a '93 and I have never had an issue, all original car - I have 120 000 miles on mine.
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