Well folks

I've decided to upgrade my 1991 Honda Accord daily beater. It has ~190k miles and is not too smooth anymore and a little too small for those quick trips with the family (wife has an Acura MDX, but it's a gas hog). My daily commute comprises of 22 miles each way, about 90% highway.

Therefore, I've decided to purchase a 1995-1996 Lexus LS400. It's the perfect size and the hwy gas mileage is pretty darn good from what I've read.

I've been lurking a little recently but am gonna go full blast on my search now. I can't wait! Now I just need to try and not mod this thing like my SC! My wife is gonna kill me, but it's inevitable. OH well!

I'll keep you posted on my journey. Not in a rush so I'm waiting for that creampuff.

 

y not just go for a 97? price cant be that much different

 

why not go for the 94? its the best of the first gen =P

Good luck to ya!

 

i guess i have to rep the 98 -00 it has the most power reliability and best gas mileage .

 

Alot of opinion, and alot of personal likes between the Gens.

I like the 90-94 Body style better than any of them. It is just my preference. If I could get a 2000 with a First gen body style, I'd love it.

Now on reliability,.. They are all stone cold reliable from 90-2000 -- Anything above that hasn't proven itself due to not being old enough.. but I'm sure they are great cars.

I with the other poster, If you run across it.. Get a relatively low milage 1994 -- hard to find though,.. But The difference in 96 and a 97 is large. If you like the looks of the 96 go for it.. but if the 97 is 'as good' or better.. Find a 97 of course.

You are taking your time, so you'll be able to find what you want. On your terms.

I personally think the 90-94 is the most reliable car ever built on the planet... Just my opinion and its an old enough generation with the miles to proove it. Of course the 94 of the 90-94 is the most refined of the First gen, and is 'newer' per se.

That said, again, they are all great.. Fantastic even.

You are right with the gas mileage, they will perform well over 20mpg -- Especially 2nd gen or better.

My 94 averages 23-25 mpg.. ~500 before gas light comes on. Others get 17-19 -- Depends on condition of engine and how the person drives. I drive in a very hilly/mountainous area.. Northern Alabama (Birmingham and points north).. So it isn't like driving down the coast

Anyhow, post what you find, with description/pictures and price. We'll help you in your decision =)

 

Wow guys, thanks for all the opinions. I definitely wanted to get some feedback from other LS owners in my decision.

I haven't written off a UCF10 at all. Remember, this will be my daily "beater" that I drive every day to and fro work. I'm trying to keep the insurance low and get something older. There is not much difference in price between the UCF10 and UCF20 for insurance. Therefore, my options are not fixed. I actually like the interior on the 95-96 much better than the 90-94. I really don't like the clutter of the center stack, ala Gen1 GS300. However, I'm in the same boat about body style as most of you. I do like the 90-94 body style better than the 95/96.

I will definitely keep an eye out on the 93-94 Gen1s also.

BTW, I had found a creampuff 1990 LS400 with 60k miles for sale by its 90 year old original owner, showroom condition only serviced at Scottsdale Lexus. I just missed it by one day but it would have been a great car to own.

 

Good deal -- your open to them all. Just shop and take your time -- You'll find the 'deal' and 'steal' out there.

Don't settle for anything less than immaculate. Check for typical problems, PS - LCD, Instrument cluster and so forth. Climate is almost impossible to not go bad -- unless it has been fixed.

What kind of money, price range, are you looking to work with?

A 90 Gen I with 60k miles is hella rare! That would have been awesome. I would pay top dollar for say a 93-94 Gen I with under 50k miles. It would be a basically brand new car,.. aside from age. Would be a steal, and would last FOREVER, literally.

With what you have in mind your going to keep it in the 90-2000 body style which are all 'similar' - I really think Lexus went a little to far with the redesign from the 30 on to 45.. Thats the 'new' look -- All bubbly like a stretched Mazda 3.

No offense to people with new LS's -- That is the look now, it is fashionable. But it isn't timeless like the 90-2000 look. That bubble look will look dated in 10yrs or so when the next look comes around, which is usually a retro look modified a touch.

Something like the 90 style with HID's, and some modification on the body panels, but the overal same frame for the say, 2015 model. By then it will have 500hp hehe.. kidding. Hopefully they will be really saturated into economy savings, while keeping power with ingenuity over the coming years.