1990 Lexus LS400 4.0 V8 from North America - Comments

Replaced Power Steering Pump at 176,000 miles. Whole operation system for A/C broke at 150,000 miles. Broken driver seat (not strait)

This is the most reliable used car I ever owned in my life. I bought this car for about $3,000. It had a couple of problems as mentions up there. I had no intention for keeping this car, I just wanted to fix it and make some cash. I've been a mechanic for 17 years and never saw a car which was neglected as much as this car was. The previous onwer did not maintain this car in anyway. All he did was change the motor oil. Transmission fluid + Filter, spark plugs, Air filter, Differential fluid, and engine coolant was never changed. Suprisingly this car still handle as if it was new! The transmission was never changed and it still operates in greating running condition, differential is still smooth, and there was no damage to the cooling system. I was also suprised that this car doesn't leak any oil. The interior is like new after 176,000 miles and 5 owners. I also forgot to mention the workmanship on the body. This car is harder to dent then a regular car (chevy, ford, toyota), and the paint still shines like it did in the showroom at 1990. And guess what? The previous owner never waxed the car once. I finished repairing this car in about 4 days. Spent $2,000 total; tune up, new tires, new pump, cooling system, brakes, transmission fluid filter, differential, and other small stuff. After 2 weeks of trying to sell it, (people who don't know jack about cars say "the mileage is too high and its the end for this car"). Oh well I said their loss. I sold my other used car and decided to keep this one.

The car sounds wonderful. So I am intrigued to know why you wouldn't buy another one from this manufacturer?

I have the same car and the drivers seat won't go back straigh, it goes on an angle. what is the problem?

The whole seat assembly inside is messed up. The most you can do is remove the seat and hit it to the position you would like it in, or just put on a seat cushion. Which was what I did...

Its not that I wouldn't buy another car from this manufacture, I just wouldn't purchase a "new" one. The maintence cost for this 14 year old car is high enough, just imagine how big the hole in your wallet is going to be for the 2003.

You won't have those kinds of costs on a 2003 until it, too is 13 years old.

I just picked up a '93 (essentially same car) and consider $1.5k in parts to completely catch up on maintenance a steal (got discounted on purchase price because of work needed, doing the work myself at Advance Auto, it's not trivial work, but it isn't all it's hyped up to be, you don't need a lift to replace any of the above, it's all under hood).

Considering that once you replace the water pump, timing/serpentine belts/idlers/tensioners and plugs/wires it'll run another 100k with nothing, but oil changes is just unbelievable, for any car.

These are the most reliable cars ever built, corroborated fact. Check the consumer reports, nothing to be scared about.

Make sure you get the timing belt AND water pump done at the sime time. I had my timing belt done a 79,000 miles, but not the water pump. At 91,000 the water pump seized and damaged my timing belt. I had to replace both at a cost of 3500.00, but this is the only major repair since buying in 1995. The car just hit 100,000 and still is like new. Make sure you keep the leather conditioned otherwise it will crack.

I own a 91 LS400 with 346000 miles on the clock, & it just refuses to die. Best car ever.