they still turn heads, whenever I see a old one and in really good condition I give them tumps up. Its usually older guys driving them though

 

Absolutely agree.
While waiting to catch the train to the Auto Show this weekend (as the platform to await the train is raised but adjacent to one of the major expressways here), I saw a 430 cruise by, and it was in remarkable condition. High gloss paint job, very clear head light lenses, extra white beams, very clean wheels and looked very smooth flowing along the expressway. It absolutely caught my eye-older body style and all...
Very classic and handsome looking vehicle.

 

I love seeing a nice 400 in great shape. I think that car is still a good looking design and fits right in with modern cars.

 

I'm one of the few who disagree with the styling of the older LS's. I find them to be very dated looking in comparison to anything else of that vintage (BMW's Audi's etc). I never drove one, but apparently they drove very nice and obviously dead-reliable. That said, I admire anyone who keeps one of them and manages to keep them running. An obvious testament to how great a car they were. But again, (IMHO), homely as heck. That was the lament of Car & Driver, R&T, etc. "lack of styling", "bland", etc, but those same pubs admired the luxury, ride, and quality.

 

There's a difference between "homely" and bland. IMHO the only generation LS I would ever call "homely" is the 01-03 LS430. Certainly the LS has always been fairly bland, but not ugly.

 

You wanna see bland, take a look at the '18 LS...now that's bland!

And Chris-I generally agree with you, as I, overall, am not a huge fan of the pre-2007 body style, however, I do occasionally see an older LS where it is apparent that the owner takes great pride in the vehicle. I find them to be quite handsome and dare I say-classic.

 

I admire any vehicle that is well maintained long after it's "shelf life". It's a testament to the owner. Styling is subjective I know, I just never found it to be an attractive vehicle. As bad as my 7 series was, I couldn't bring myself to trading it for the 400 or 430 because f the styling. That resulted in going over my budget and getting an early 460.

 

Those poor bastards going to spend all that money on that steaming pile of garbage! If only they were smart like us!

*because tone doesn't convey on the internet. This is satirical lol

 

LOL!! Absolutely got it!

 

Oh no- I completely get what you were saying! I don't think I would have either. I wasn't coming from another makes flagship as yourself, but had I been looking a few years earlier than I was, and had the '07+ LS not even been brought to my attention, im nearly 100% positive I wouldn't have traded in for a 400/430, simply due to the fact it "looks/looked" outdated, and for me, to boxy.
But yes, any older car past it's aesthetic/introductory "shelf life" that looks as though its been cared for, is a car I can truly admire.

 

And you think THAT will save you from the moderators? Just wait 'til I tell them......

 

No need to tell, we're always watching

 

I agree that the 430 crowd probably enjoyed stirring the pot or maybe throwing some gas on the fire but there is truth in that there was some serious issues with early 460's. Not to mention the interior material quality. Particularly the leather. The 430's leather clearly is higher quality. Just take a look at the used market. Heck, I still see low mileage 05's and 06's going for 15 - 18 thousand. I know my old 430's leather really held up a lot better then I was seeing in many 460's I was test driving. Even models only a few years old. I'm not trying to take any sides but the 430 overall was a more refined car, in my opinion. Dated and lacking in tech sure, but the fact that they are holding their value so well is a testament to how well Lexus made them. The 460 definitely looks better. Put some decent wheels on a ls400 and it still looks pretty sharp as well.

 

I dunno, theres something about the 98-00 LS400. I don't know if it was because I had no experience with Lexus, or if the car was just worlds better than cars we had previously, or if it was because it was my dad's and was that teenage car you drove and washed and waxed and wanted...yet was never yours...but there was something intangible about that car that even my LS460 which I love doesn't have, neither did the LS430. Something about how simple it was, and how it lacked features that many other cars have but that didn't matter because it was just such an incredibly well made car. Not one questionable material inside, perfect paint and trim, incredible supple ride that was unlike anything that you could get back then. New tech like HID headlights that were really different and special. The LS430 was great, as was the LS460...but neither is as "special" as that first LS400.

If an opportunity to buy a really well preserved 98-00 LS fell into my lap one day, I would buy it. I'd probably even spend 5 figures for a really really nice one. Don't know what I would do with it...but I would buy it...



It depends on which leather you have. The basic leather was definitely better in the LS430 and LS400, but if you have an LS460 with the semi-aniline leather then its as good as any thats been offered in the LS. The LS400 having only one leather option was very similar in quality to the semi-aniline leather you had in the LS430 and LS460.

Thats the one option I wish my LS460 had. Having had the semi-aniline leather in my GS, as well as the LS430, the basic leather in the LS460 isn't what you would expect to have in an $80,000 car I agree.

That said, well cared for the basic leather will age just fine, but if you let it go it will feel like hell quickly. My 2010 ES also did not have the semi-aniline leather, and the leather in my LS460 is exactly the same, which isn't right IMHO. The napa leather in my Kia minivan is also considerably better.

On the LS, the semi-aniline should be the basic leather, and then have an even better option.

 

I had a 98 400 and you are right - that thing was awesome. I put some SC430 wheels on it and boy was it sharp. Still miss it to this day.

http://www.andersontoyota.com/auto/used-2000-lexus-ls_400/14901038/