wnyjazz

Newbie here looking to learn.

I like the look of the '93-'94's a lot better than the '95-'96's. No offense meant to all the '95-'96 owners of course.

But for a little bit more maybe, am I significantly better off getting a '95-'96?

Max I want to spend on an LS this age is $5000.

Thanks,

Skip

Kansas

I'd say do some reading about both and drive a few examples of each.

I owned a gen 1 LS (1990) for for over 13 years and have owned my current gen 2 LS (2000) for over five years. I had both cars for about one month before I sold the 90 LS and did a lot of comparisons and alternated driving them.

IMO, there is a huge difference between the two generations. The gen 2 is bigger, more powerful, and lighter. The interior seems much larger and there is way more rear seat legroom. The gen 2 has infinitely better headlights and dual climate controls and the CD player is in the dash instead of in the trunk. I might as well not repeat the changes because there is an excellent summary here: http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html

Here is a link to the specs for the 95 LS - change the year in both places in the URL to see specs for other model years: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1995/1995LSspecs.pdf

wnyjazz

Thanks Jim.

I was aware of the many changes, but its good to here firsthand info from someone who has had both. Yes, I should drive both gens.

Chilkoot

FWIW I love my 1ls, and knowing it's non-interference makes me not feel bad about my intentions of running it into the ground. It also means I can do my own timing belt without worrying about bending valves if I F it up.

Also, depending on what state you're in, going just 1 year older might mean you never have to pass emissions (here in NC, anything '96 and newer must be tested with every inspection).

With a '93 here in NC I get a $10 basic inspection, and never have to worry about my EGR.


But, as previously stated, the headlights suck, and for being such a big car the interior is a little smallish. The interior is still dead silent though, and I agree about the 1ls being particularly sexy.

wnyjazz

Thanks for the info on your 1st gen.

I run a lot of miles out in the country in not well lit areas.

Suggestions/links for a headlight 'fix'?

Thanks,

Skip

Kansas

Watch this LS400 forum to see if the Eagle Eye aftermarket headlights work out for python on his gen 1 LS.

If I had kept my 90 LS, I was going to cut out a bit of the lower grill, install a set of low profile auxiliary lights and wire them to operate with the low beams.

I think the best solution would have been to install headlights and fog lights from a European gen 1 LS400 -- but when I checked in 1990, it would have cost thousands of $ to do that and I might have never have been able to get it all to function properly. The Euro lighting system on the gen 1 LS is very different than the lighting system on U.S. models and includes a dash mounted beam level control dial to keep the headlights from pointing to the sky when the car is heavily loaded -- a beam control switch similar to the one on the recent Toyota Sienna Limited minivan with HID. The Euro model gen 1 LS also has driving lights/high beams where we have foglights and their fog lights are mounted below the bumper like in my 00 LS400.