1992 Lexus LS400 review from North America
"Japanese reliability!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I have owned this car for one year.
When I purchased the car the only thing that didn't function was the display for the heater and clock was not functioning. Apparently a known issue with 90-92's.
For the first year I owned it the only maintenance I paid for was regular oil changes. A few months after that I started to get a power steering leak, just a $2.85 hose and $150 for labor.
Around the same time my A/C stopped functioning. The A/C compressor seized, and the dealer tells me it will run about $1500-$2500 for parts and labour. I have not bothered to get that fixed yet.
General comments?
For a car with over 300,000 KM's it still runs like a brand new car. My goal is to hit atleast 500,000 KM. I bought the car with 292,000 KM for $13,000 + tax Cnd.
The car has great power for a 92, 0-60 Mph in high 7's-low 8's, and even with a V8 still gets respectable gas mileage. It has an 80 liter tank, and I seem to at times get as much as 750-800km out of a tank (highway). For anyone looking to buy a new car in the 15-25 thousand range, why not consider a early-mid 90's Lexus?
The only problem I have with Lexus is the fact that I am 19 years old and whenever I go into the Lexus dealership (Halifax, NS) I get terrible treatment. Their basic oil change costs $79.99, and when I ask them what the difference is between getting an oil change in an LS 400 and a Toyota Avalon, they told me nothing except they give you a car to use and they clean your car when it's a Lexus. Yet every time I have had it in for an oil change neither have I been offered a car to use nor have they ever cleaned my car. I assume the fact is because I'm so young. So I started taking my car to the local Toyota Dealership and getting the same oil change for $24.99.
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![]() ![]() | 1992 - LS400 4.0L V8 MPI DOHC 24v An extremely well made car that delivers a lot of luxury and the best ride of any car. |
![]() ![]() | Best automobile built... if you can't afford a new one just buy it used |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.0 32 Valve V8 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 10/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 292000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 329000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| Date of Entry | 19th August, 2002 |





