henryhill

been a fan of LS400s and finally decided to get one. i found that the UCF20 95-97 is the perfect fit for me and price range. anything that i should look out for and what mileage i should be looking for? on a tight budget also.

i found a white ls400 97 for sale that has 178k on it. should i pass? it has original owner and all records of service. it is clean inside and out. asking 3800 only... is it worth looking at?

deanshark

Check the service records for when the timing belt was changed last. It's recommended every 90K. So if he did it at 90K then it's due to be done now, which is probably why he's selling it. If you can't do the wrenching yourself it can get VERY expensive in labor charges. Check out the FAQ thread, that will answer most of your questions. Very informative.

henryhill

yeah will most def check everything. but is 178k okay for these cars? or should i move on for something lower. i checked the FAQ and it was pretty helpful

YoshiMan

If high mileage doesn't bother you, then go for it. It's common for these to go to 300k without any magor ovehauls so long a they have been maintained properly.

LScowboyLS

I would not spend my last dollar on the price of the car, these vehicles are incredibly reliable, but you are talking about an 18 year old car that likely needs tires, a timing belt, a transmission mount, ECU caps, and strut bars etc. you need to put back at least $1500 for after when you get the car home!

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Tight budget and LS400 is a tough combo. Depends on how well serviced it has been in all those years. They are great machines when given the love.

Most the issues are fluid related so that means PS and tranny get the bulk of discussion. Then all the deteriorated rubber mounts in the suspension. Check the FAQ for the common discussions that occur. You'll have a good idea what the LS goes through as age sets in. May be easy to buy but get back into to top driving shape can be a wallet draining issue to be aware of.