What would be considered the most reliable used Lexus made?
11-17-18, 08:43 PM
#1
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What would be considered the most reliable used Lexus made?
I say used as I'm trying to avoid someone saying a new Lexus [of course].
I've never owned a Lexus of any year, but many Toyota's.
For example, IMO, as a mechanic the 93-95 Toyota Camry, and Corolla were the best gen of those cars ever made, and I'll tell you why. Back when most car makers changed over to computer controlled fuel injection, somewhere around the mid '80s, the systems in the cars had to be made very basic otherwise their service dept's wouldn't be able to repair the vehicles. Also, there were bugs to work out with FI when it first came out, but by the early to mid '90s the car makers pretty much had all of the bugs, and design issues worked out.
So, the cars made in those years were still pretty simple, easy to repair vehicles, that got decent power, gas mileage, and reliability. Around 96, or so Toyota started going cheap with making those cars all the way up to present day. I'm not knocking the new Toyota's at all as they are still a fairly well made vehicle, but just not as well made, IMO, as the 4th gen cars.
Again, as a mechanic of close to 40 years now, I see the newer vehicles being made that are overly complex, where everything in the car is all tied together. Something as simple as a blown taillight can send the car into limp mode on some vehicles [I'm not kidding]. Getting a U1000 code can cost you thousands to repair, and that is IF you can even find a shop that can diagnose the problem.
So, I would like to look into buying a really good, simple, well made Lexus that is going to be relatively easy to repair [I do all of my own work, but despise having to take a vehicle to the dealership so that would eliminate any car that requires the dealship for a new key, etc].
What, in your opinions, were the best years, and models, engines/transmissions for these cars? Discuss, thanks.
I've never owned a Lexus of any year, but many Toyota's.
For example, IMO, as a mechanic the 93-95 Toyota Camry, and Corolla were the best gen of those cars ever made, and I'll tell you why. Back when most car makers changed over to computer controlled fuel injection, somewhere around the mid '80s, the systems in the cars had to be made very basic otherwise their service dept's wouldn't be able to repair the vehicles. Also, there were bugs to work out with FI when it first came out, but by the early to mid '90s the car makers pretty much had all of the bugs, and design issues worked out.
So, the cars made in those years were still pretty simple, easy to repair vehicles, that got decent power, gas mileage, and reliability. Around 96, or so Toyota started going cheap with making those cars all the way up to present day. I'm not knocking the new Toyota's at all as they are still a fairly well made vehicle, but just not as well made, IMO, as the 4th gen cars.
Again, as a mechanic of close to 40 years now, I see the newer vehicles being made that are overly complex, where everything in the car is all tied together. Something as simple as a blown taillight can send the car into limp mode on some vehicles [I'm not kidding]. Getting a U1000 code can cost you thousands to repair, and that is IF you can even find a shop that can diagnose the problem.
So, I would like to look into buying a really good, simple, well made Lexus that is going to be relatively easy to repair [I do all of my own work, but despise having to take a vehicle to the dealership so that would eliminate any car that requires the dealship for a new key, etc].
What, in your opinions, were the best years, and models, engines/transmissions for these cars? Discuss, thanks.
11-17-18, 08:47 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
The most reliable Lexus ever made...I would probably say the LX470.
11-17-18, 09:17 PM
#4
Lead Lap
for the most reliable lexus i'd have to go with the lexus, the LS400! probably a 1996 or 1997 since it's slighly more simple and straightforward than the 1998 (no vvti, acis, or electronic throttle)
i drove a 1996 with 980,000 miles and it still felt very nice and smooth, transmission was like buddah, i can't ask for much more than that out of a car
i drove a 1996 with 980,000 miles and it still felt very nice and smooth, transmission was like buddah, i can't ask for much more than that out of a car
11-17-18, 10:13 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Just about any older ES. Less frills means less to break. Based on the Camry, which is about as reliable as it gets. Low miles and younger age trumps all that though.
CT also extremely trustworthy. You asked about reliability....
CT also extremely trustworthy. You asked about reliability....
11-18-18, 03:11 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Welcome to CL, mtraine
You are totally correct about the 4Gen Camry being the best and most reliable one ever built...it was also, IMO,the most comfortable to drive. Can't really say for the Corolla....I don't know enough about the differences between the years.
As for Lexus, I'd have to say, based on my limited knowledge, that the most reliable would have been the 1Gen IS300 (Toyota Altezza), LX450, and the LS430.
You are totally correct about the 4Gen Camry being the best and most reliable one ever built...it was also, IMO,the most comfortable to drive. Can't really say for the Corolla....I don't know enough about the differences between the years.
As for Lexus, I'd have to say, based on my limited knowledge, that the most reliable would have been the 1Gen IS300 (Toyota Altezza), LX450, and the LS430.
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11-18-18, 11:21 AM
#9
Lead Lap
well this has been somewhat inconclusive lol
11-19-18, 06:29 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I say used as I'm trying to avoid someone saying a new Lexus [of course].
I've never owned a Lexus of any year, but many Toyota's.
For example, IMO, as a mechanic the 93-95 Toyota Camry, and Corolla were the best gen of those cars ever made, and I'll tell you why. Back when most car makers changed over to computer controlled fuel injection, somewhere around the mid '80s, the systems in the cars had to be made very basic otherwise their service dept's wouldn't be able to repair the vehicles. Also, there were bugs to work out with FI when it first came out, but by the early to mid '90s the car makers pretty much had all of the bugs, and design issues worked out.
So, the cars made in those years were still pretty simple, easy to repair vehicles, that got decent power, gas mileage, and reliability. Around 96, or so Toyota started going cheap with making those cars all the way up to present day. I'm not knocking the new Toyota's at all as they are still a fairly well made vehicle, but just not as well made, IMO, as the 4th gen cars.
Again, as a mechanic of close to 40 years now, I see the newer vehicles being made that are overly complex, where everything in the car is all tied together. Something as simple as a blown taillight can send the car into limp mode on some vehicles [I'm not kidding]. Getting a U1000 code can cost you thousands to repair, and that is IF you can even find a shop that can diagnose the problem.
So, I would like to look into buying a really good, simple, well made Lexus that is going to be relatively easy to repair [I do all of my own work, but despise having to take a vehicle to the dealership so that would eliminate any car that requires the dealship for a new key, etc].
What, in your opinions, were the best years, and models, engines/transmissions for these cars? Discuss, thanks.
I've never owned a Lexus of any year, but many Toyota's.
For example, IMO, as a mechanic the 93-95 Toyota Camry, and Corolla were the best gen of those cars ever made, and I'll tell you why. Back when most car makers changed over to computer controlled fuel injection, somewhere around the mid '80s, the systems in the cars had to be made very basic otherwise their service dept's wouldn't be able to repair the vehicles. Also, there were bugs to work out with FI when it first came out, but by the early to mid '90s the car makers pretty much had all of the bugs, and design issues worked out.
So, the cars made in those years were still pretty simple, easy to repair vehicles, that got decent power, gas mileage, and reliability. Around 96, or so Toyota started going cheap with making those cars all the way up to present day. I'm not knocking the new Toyota's at all as they are still a fairly well made vehicle, but just not as well made, IMO, as the 4th gen cars.
Again, as a mechanic of close to 40 years now, I see the newer vehicles being made that are overly complex, where everything in the car is all tied together. Something as simple as a blown taillight can send the car into limp mode on some vehicles [I'm not kidding]. Getting a U1000 code can cost you thousands to repair, and that is IF you can even find a shop that can diagnose the problem.
So, I would like to look into buying a really good, simple, well made Lexus that is going to be relatively easy to repair [I do all of my own work, but despise having to take a vehicle to the dealership so that would eliminate any car that requires the dealship for a new key, etc].
What, in your opinions, were the best years, and models, engines/transmissions for these cars? Discuss, thanks.
Now, you can have a stall condition and be told people are flying from Germany to look at your car, and be put into a loaner car for 6 mos. to 2 years. You can (my buddy) be told by major car chains that they can't align your car, nor can they replace the battery, they simply don't have the equipment nor training to do so hahahahahahaha
My hunch is it's the Land Cruiser equivalent, and also, cars in general hit a sweet spot in the mid 2000's or so--it was a time when bean counters allowed the engineers to run buck wild and get their expensive designs into production...
11-19-18, 11:55 AM
#13
Lead Lap
11-19-18, 12:05 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
11-19-18, 12:12 PM
#15
Lead Lap