farklspark

I keep circling back to the LS when doing my reliability search. Sure the mpg isn't ideal but dang it's appealing. I have my search terms in place for a great one. My question however is what are some of the runner ups in reliability?

Let's stick to 10+ years and model years if you have one to talk about. I need a bigger garage.

Johnhav430

Do you mean only 10 years or older, when you say 10+? Because my 1998 Maxima probably is even more reliable than the LS430, simply because nothing ever broke as far as stereo, power locks, windows, a/c, etc. It was a joke that it had to have gone like 7 years before there was any repair over $400. Because I remember right as my bro got married, I had to have a muffler shop replace the front cv axles, to the tune of $400. Then, the next major service was at 12 years, where it needed a new exhaust. Year 15 I had problems with the starter and replaced 3X due to shoddy replacements. At this time I also paid $450 to have both valve cover gaskets replaced, and another $200 to do the EGR cleanout and knock sensor. At year 16 I ordered a radiator from amazon and put it in. Original clutch at year 19, as well as water pump and 255k. One bad thing about this car are the rear calipers, when you pull the parking brake, it engages the pistons. So even though the front calipers are originals, the rears have been changed by me 3X each side, again, poor rebuilds plus poor design....this car does have a rust issue as it seems many Japanese cars of its time, so I would stick to a cali car if I were to get one. I've looked and used prices can be very unreasonable, and sticks are hard to find....

Trying to find something like the Maxima, more luxurious, and newer than 1998, led me to the LS430. I had to cave in and live with the automatic, I still prefer a clutch to this day.

edit: I remembered an additional thing my uncle did for us probably year 13.5, he replaced the metal clutch hose, I was losing clutch fluid and kept topping off, when one day it went to the floor. I got one on amazon, but turns out it's the wrong section, and OEM is the only one that exists for the first section. I was ready to be floored when he told me the price....$53. I'm glad he did it, I'm ok with bleeding brakes, but for some reason not comfortable with the clutch. I've seen people do it on their BMWs, and they can never get all the air out, never, and now every time they shift they are reminded that it doesn't feel right....

Jabberwock

My friend drove his 1996 Lexus ES330 for 410k miles before he sold it. No repairs whatsoever except normal maintenance per the manual although when he sold it it badly needed shocks and other suspension parts. I'd say the Lexus ES 330/350 series is also extremely reliable if well maintained.

JffGRY706

a few other cars score 100 in the dashboard lights reliability index besides the Lexus LS. they are the Lexus GX, Lexus LX and Toyota Land Cruiser. I'm sure there are others, Nissan Maxima scores a 12.5 Chronic Reliability Issues. my sisters Mini scores a 0 (zero) also Chronic Reliability Issues.

Johnhav430

Nice! I think the 90's were a very good period for Japanese cars....I remember my dad was going to get a '89 Maxima, and he backed out..I was young and was really disappointed I was trying to steer him into a SE 5-spd, not a GXE auto....that was also an era when folks preferred V6's, as they were "premium" to I4's.....not anymore I guess...

BradTank

The Lexus ES300 series would definitely be up there through the late 90's/early 2000s until they changed over to the ES330 model.

Truthfully, I would probably rate it more reliable the LS series as there's less "flagship" options to break. But the ES doesn't that "built like a tank" feeling or the upscale interior. It also looks really dated now.

But they are great cars that you can get for really cheap that run forever. It also helps they were usually owned by someone elderly.

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

At the end of the 80's, I drove a 1979 Datsun Maxima 5-spd diesel. There was a miniature record player under the dash out of which came a female voice when the door was ajar, etc.

2KHarrier

I would say the LX would have to be equal to or better than the LS in terms of reliability. I routinely see 2001-2006 model years with 250K or more on the odometer on Craigslist, eBay or at the Manheim auction. My sister had a 1998 Maxima that did fairly well, but the subframe under the engine rusted so badly that the car could not be driven safely anymore, so she sold it to the garage that worked on it. I don't see that kind of rust issue with the Toyota products around here.

Legender

Toyota Avalons are pretty good second choice if you want a car. Over 250k on my old one and still going strong with only normal maintenance and one starter rebuild.

4Runner would be a good choice if you want a small SUV...

Jkallinen

Could not agree more. Bought a 97 Avalon XLS with 181560 miles on it for $1750 in march 2007 for my wife. We just traded it off with 227850 miles for $400 and bought
2002 LS430 with 138357 miles on it for a grand total of $3636. That Avalon is still going, the lot we traded it off at sold the next day for $1200.

Legender

That was a great deal on the Avalon and the Lexus...good job.

farklspark

Lx is a dream for me but with fuelly showing an average of 12.5 mpg...... yikes

jimisbell

The Lexus makes my Lincoln Town Car feel like a dune buggy. And the average mileage of 22+ MPG is almost as good as the Town Car. But the styling really sucks. But from the inside I dont see the lousy styling.

For reliability, my 2000 Honda Insight Hybrid is out of this world. I put 250K miles with only 12V battery and tires on my first one and sold it to a guy that is still driving it now two years later. I have 150K on the second one (same year, 2000) with only tires replaced. AND, 60 to 100 mpg

farklspark

Towncar mpg beats the LS?

jimisbell

By one to two miles a gallon. On a trip from Corpus Christi to Chicago I got 33 MPG highway in the Town Car. Around town in the TC I get 22 to 24 mpg always.