1994 LS400 vs. 2000 AVALON XLS
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 348
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From: Nebraska
1994 LS400 vs. 2000 AVALON XLS
i have the LS400 and a guy wants to trade straight across for his Avalon.....both cars run fine and both have 200000 miles on them.....is this a good deal?
the 3.0 engines are susceptible to sludge issues if they haven't followed certain guidleines for OCI and correct oil. just letting u know,nice cars but if they haven't been routinely maintained then u just are getting into something u might not want to be getting into. u already know what u have..i would keep your car myself unless urs is trashed...why does he want to trade? something he isn't telling u?
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Nebraska
he wants a rear wheel drive lexus he can modify into a 5 speed....your right, i do know the lexus and its in great condition, cosmetically an mechanically.....except a power steering leak and also possibly a lifter issue......i just did the cam seals,crank seals, timing belt, water pump, thermostat....
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From: Colorado
Transverse mounted V6s, especially the 1MZ-FE, are horrendously difficult to work on, and have very high labor costs because of this as well.
I know numerous people who own cars with that horrid engine, and they end up shelling out a small fortune for things as small as a bad ignition coil, because it requires you to dismantle half the intake manifold just to get the stupid things out. There has been numerous cases where they come to me asking if i can fix some small problem, which ends up being a significant tear down issue that i am not willing to do on someone's car i barely know.
Just did the belts on a friends wifes RX300, and it was rather unpleasant. Most of the tools couldn't fit between the front of the engine and the frame of the car.
I know numerous people who own cars with that horrid engine, and they end up shelling out a small fortune for things as small as a bad ignition coil, because it requires you to dismantle half the intake manifold just to get the stupid things out. There has been numerous cases where they come to me asking if i can fix some small problem, which ends up being a significant tear down issue that i am not willing to do on someone's car i barely know.
Just did the belts on a friends wifes RX300, and it was rather unpleasant. Most of the tools couldn't fit between the front of the engine and the frame of the car.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 348
Likes: 4
From: Nebraska
i actually prefer rear wheel drive.....as well as the V8 over the V6......i was pondering if a Avalon was better car comparing a 2000 vs. 1994 LS400........i had someone tell me (he claims he is a certified Toyota mechanic) that the Avalons are cheaper to work on, however nonetheless, i did install genuine toyota/lexus parts along with toyota red coolant and a full synthetic oil change with bosch filter....
Last edited by OMAHA; Feb 8, 2014 at 11:08 AM.
I owned & modified a 01' XLS. To sum it up you tell it was built in America. No comparison to chassis or anything on the inside. Mine rode terrible on JIC's. You could really feel the poor 60/40 weight balance even after I added a RSB. The 3L is prone to sludge but I couldn't hate on regular gas & low 20's MPGs all day. Interior was massive & trunk was cavernous.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 348
Likes: 4
From: Nebraska
I owned & modified a 01' XLS. To sum it up you tell it was built in America. No comparison to chassis or anything on the inside. Mine rode terrible on JIC's. You could really feel the poor 60/40 weight balance even after I added a RSB. The 3L is prone to sludge but I couldn't hate on regular gas & low 20's MPGs all day. Interior was massive & trunk was cavernous.