I like the channel, but the amount of work and $$ on this thing is crazy. I wonder if a lower mileage car could have been brought back to "near new" (the apparent goal) for fewer overall $$. He said he'd reveal costs at end, but bumpers, trans, complete removal of interior, driveshaft, headlights, now the door locks... For any mortal I'm guessing $40,000 of work, just to take a stab at it. Maybe more At least he doesn't have air struts! If there were a service to pick and choose restoration options, Id consider it. I could use new bumpers etc. But gotta be real. $10000 or $15000 won't get you to brand new as a retail owner.

 

Well a lot of things didn't have to be done, if you're putting new bumpers you're pretty much repainting the whole car and it's $$$

 

The Car Nut is doing all this work for no other reason than to bring viewers to his channel. Of course this is absolutely not cost effective and for the most part OVER THE TOP. However, it's still interesting if an LS owner is curious to see the intricacies of our cars.

 

Yeah he coulda just bought a low mileage example, even a very clean one, for 15k and then replaced some bushings and be done with it. This is primarily for the views.

 

Great advertising for all the work he is able to do on your car. He's not paying labour charges but definitely an over the top restoration. A lot of insight into things that go wrong and the intricacies of the car . And here I am, concerned about removing some old PPF !! Almost scary!

 

Doing it for views? I would sure hope so..! That's like saying a T.V. show is only on air for views, that's the point. It's for entertainment purposes. Who would want to watch him buy a super clean example and just replaced a couple nuts and bolts? The cool part is that he's completely restoring an LS430 that has over 600,000 miles! Why aren't you overjoyed that he's keeping it on the road and not letting it rot?

 

Being an old guy I generally have little time for self promotion in the age of insta ego. However I am really grateful for this guy taking on this project. It's a great resource for any of us that own these things to learn many things about the vehicles and of course how to fix many odds and ends. Sure it makes no sense other than for the views/clicks but at least he is providing valuable information and I will take all of that he's willing to provide. Half the "car guys" I have looked at on insta face are providing little more than pics of their better halves in booty shorts with a car in the background. Maybe it's a sign of my years but I would much rather there were more guys doing repair/restore videos. YMMV

 

 

$45,000!!

 

I know I am stretching a bit here, but I also like to think he is showing Toyota in Japan that there is love for these cars and a market to keep at least many parts available???? I hope, I hope. And maybe even take note of some things they used to do amazing and have slipped on a bit? Every company these days has marketing people who look around the internet to keep track of their brand. "Brand" in marketing terms is a larger term referring to how people think of you.

 

I went down to the car care nut youtube meet last week and saw this car in person. Looks great.

 

1:43:00 He states "The real reason why I restored it!"

 

Couldn't agree more. I love non-classic classics. Anything preserved looks cool to me. In the early 2000's I worked in an office building where a woman drove a sparkling 1981 Honda Accord sedan in that classic pale green. One of the most non-collectible cars, and it was beautiful. I agree the $63k 4500-mile UL was under-used. However, since I do not have his talents, I would still be afraid to drive because these are disappearing. People will say, "oh there will be another car just like it..." but will there? The way things are going with all the outsourcing and cheapening of things...not sure.

 

I had two LS400's, a 95 and a 98. I really liked the two tone paint scheme. Now I have a pristine LS430, 2003, in Parchment that I think I will keep forever. With 185K miles, it has been incredibly reliable.