My 89 year old Mother is planning on selling her single owner 1990 LS400 with about 90,000 miles on it. Mechanically the car is very good condition as it has always been well maintained. The interior is original and in good shape. Same with the exterior, with the exception for 24 years parking lot exposure. The only item I am aware of needing repair is the dashboard LCD.

This is a first year USA LS400. There is no LS400 model designation on the exterior of the car, as it was the only model sold at that time in the USA. This car is original, with no know customization I am aware of.

I have no idea what this car is worth, so I'm asking forum members to give me an idea of how to value this automobile.

The automobile is in Southern California and has been it whole existence.

Thanks in advance for any information.

RJB

 

Just use Kelly Blue Book to estimate the value or google it. I'm going to say about 2k though but I've seen them cheaper than that.

 

too many built in problems in the 1990-1994 models to start from scratch, for me 1995-1997 are probably the strongest and best built of the bunch, but my appeal level is 1998-2000.... I love them... I'm sure 2001-2014 are great, but when I see one I think it appeals to women more than men.. and dont ask me why, because I really dont know, they just do (to me) .... but what ever turns you on, go for it... I dont think they ever made a bad one...ever!!

 

Compared it to kellybluebook and edmunds with 90k on 1990 private sale "ok condition" $1,000 for a great condition $1,700 if its showroom quality then $2,000 and up. Compared to both $1,700 will do good.

 

I've got 1995 ls400 for $2000 so I believe this one should less than $1500. First model may have some problems.

 

Actually, the ES250 was sold at the same time as the 90 LS400. It's true that you could not mistake one for the other, but I don't know the reason that the 90-94 LS400 had no model identification trim.

 

Too many problems in first gen? I thought they were the best. Don't the 95 -97's have some electrical things that can be more problematic than 90 -94's? Like the security system?

 

Think of the first year model as the prototype, the car they built without the benefit of thousands of customers telling them what needed tweaking. So they got some things a bit wrong - the wheels were too small, the brakes were underpowered, the headlights were too dim, leather wasn't standard yet. Still a great car, but not as perfected as later editions.

 

As with all cars. Start out bad (comparatively subjective), get better to the point where the car can be considered as perfect as it will ever get (again, comparatively subjective), then realize that perfect doesn't make money and degrade product to encourage upgrading to later editions. Standard business practice across all industries EVER.

They all have their quirks but the 2.5 gens are arguably the best of the ucf's. Better standard options, higher hp engine, 5 speed, etc. These benefits far outweigh the quirkiness of the 2.5's by comparison to the earlier ucf's.

 

Then there is the interference engine after what, 94?

As far as value for the 90, the good thing is the miles big selling point. But personally I would rather a pristine factory paint job and body, interior etc. than the low miles. Paint and body are the most difficult things to fix correctly. And you can only have a factory paint job once. Power train is the easy fix, even lots of nonmechanics seem to get some problems sorted out. Paint and body is an art.

 

I do like how the first gen's did not have the LS400 badge. It was THE Lexus, nuff said.

I still would like to have a 5-speed ES250 though, those are sharp!

 

I thought the ES250 was such an ugly car and should not even be in the Lexus line up. I'm glad they discountinued it.

 

My first Lexus was the ES250,a 1991 to be exact.Ordered it at the end of 1990 from Seattle Lexus.It turned out to be a "special order" because I ordered the five speed MANUAL transmission.My Dad thought I was crazy.Loved that car but it died on black ice in Colorado.Wish I still had it.