My father owned one the first gen ones ( a 1994...my favorite) and 2 of the second generation. I think he had a 95, and a 96.

To say he loved them would be an understatement. He now drives a 2006 MB E500 4 matic, and always compares it to the lex.

Guess what one loses?

The benz.

Almost a perfect car, if you are not into driving.

1st gen:

As for the driving, in my younger days I dialed one up to 150 on the highway at night. It felt like I was going 85.

We sold that one to my neighbor, who drove it to 350k with *only* suspension and brake work until it got totaled by some jerk running a red light.

Classic Japanese styling too. So clean.

Dang, now I want one.

 

Thanks Palmer. Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. The first Gen's can be had for cheap, but low mileage is rare. I prefer the looks of the 95+ cars. if I can swing a 98 it has a bit extra grunt at 290hp.

The Lexus drowns out road feel and feedback, I know. But the Viggen gives plenty at this point. I am ok with what this car offers. The A8 would be nice, but it could be a nightmare to maintain.

For $10k, its really hard to argue with the virtues of the LS.

 

Audi FTW

 

You're married now so you need an old mans car?

Lex-i are nice and comfie to ride in.

 

Not so much the married part. More the move up job wise. The $600 beater thing is no longer needed, with being married brings dual incomes ftw. So with the new job title, I can't have the Vig in the same state so taking buyers out in beaters sends the wrong message.

 

lexus, because all the ones pictured are SPGs.

 

Yes, this is what you need:

 

Wheres the **cream**turbo**filling**?

 

Right here:
http://www.lextreme.com/st.html

 

Lexus and make it VIP style. 8)

Then you need to dress Yakuza style.

 

wowzers!

Can Jameson has?

 

My problem with the LS400 is that its just too "plain". Yeah, its nice to drive (or ride in, my only experience), but kind of boring to drive. For me, I see no soul in the car. Now the Audi, and Bimmer have enough personality to give them soul. Now why haven't you considered a newer 9-5? Its a very solid vehicle if you want to add some sport to your luxury box.

 

Too similar to what I already have. I don't want to deal with FWD or Turbo's in my cheap DD. I also want a car with an exemplary reliability rating too. I also like the idea of a V8 with RWD that still gets 25-28mpg on the highway.

The Lexus is plain. But in black and gray with some deep lip 19's and 265's in the back it looks pretty damn good. Like I said, the German's are the drivers cars, but hearing people taking about 3-5k in repairs at a time is a deal breaker.

 

Oh, and you don't need to worry about a stereo if you get one with the Nakamichi system.


It sounds amazing.

 

Oh, and you don't need to worry about a stereo if you get one with the Nakamichi system.

It sounds amazing.

Thats really good news. Don't even need to add a sub? That good?

Tire rack has an amazing selection of wheels. Great stuff like BBS LM's and multi piece SSR's and OZ's and Volks. They show fitments of upto 20"s and staggered deep lips. I am scared of 20's making it look a bit too, how do I put it.....ghetto looking. So I think 19's wont over power the car. I want a 9" rim in the back with some 265's. I am hoping to get some Eibachs or something to lower it a bit. I think that will update the car and make it a bit more aggressive.

Thanks again for the info, so far you are the best resource around here on the topic

 

Not to be contrarian, but $10k would buy an awfully nice 3-4 year old Crown Victoria. Or $5k, plus $5k in mods.

Or lease a new Dodge Charger. Warranty = cheap maintenance.

 

Not to be contrarian, but $10k would buy an awfully nice 3-4 year old Crown Victoria. Or $5k, plus $5k in mods.

Or lease a new Dodge Charger. Warranty = cheap maintenance.

Crown Vic, no thanks. Do not want American, closest would be an STS. I have had nothing but bad Ford product experiences.

Only other car I am considering is the Q45. It matches the LS in many regards and depreciates a bit worse. My friend had a 94 and the engine made great noises as it revved to 7k. It has a similar reliability history to the LS, just avoid the tourings electronic suspension.

 

What was your new job Jameson, I must have missed the update? Sounds like real estate or sales?
Are you back with your wife now in Jersey?

I like the Lexi ! Personally for Jap I really like the old Acura Legend too, not for your case but I think the coupe can be made to look very modern and aggressive!

A BMW 740 or 35 would be much less expensive to maintain than the 750. My vote even though you didn't name it ... e34, any motor but the 2.5L ! Best looking 'old man' car evah

2 cents.

 

I wasn't even considering a 750. There is no point, the V12 just drinks more gas, adds more complexity and has very little power over the V8. I like the 5 series a lot, but its not really any more reliable then the 7. The cold hard fact is, the Japs make more reliable high end luxury cars.

I like the older Legend, but it would be too old. I would be looking at the RL which is more boring than than LS with a V6 and FWD, so that is of no interest to me.

I got a job at a toy company called Mammoth Toys/NSi International. They made me the Product Manager and Lead Designer which is uber cool. I have my own office which is a first. Its in Long Island NY, where we moved and rent half of a nice two family house.

 

or maybe this is more Jameson style, fits your criteria and budget too!

 

SS is damn cool. But nothing was made past 96, and I am trying to avoid American. The interior of a Lex is lightyears away from any 10 year old American car. I would also be too tempted to mod the crap out of it since it has a 350 LT1.

 

I have no experience to relay, but I have heard the same things you mentioned when I was in my VW/Audi phase. The Audis are great performers and driving machines, but be prepared for expensive fixes. Since you already have a decent performance car, getting the lux touring car sounds like the way to go.

 

my uncle has a 2000 lexus 430 and he love it to death. He's up on all kinds of finding the best consumer goods and is always going on about it. He owns one for the same reason, to keep his S4 nice.

I drove it a few times back and forth on the 40 min commute when i shadowed him at work.

Palmer is definitely right about the stero, they put a beautiful sound system in that car, his model i think even has a single stock 9 in sub. They ride beautifully even under full acceleration you can barely feel the car shift. Every thing is right where you want it. Ive talk to him about it and he backs up all the claims of nothing but routine stuff for fixing.

It isnt a "fun" car but there are plenty of gadgets and a fancy lady voice that talks to you when you get in to keep you entertained. As im sure you know it is made to get you from point a to point b comfortably, conveniently, with every thing you need, and no problem doing 90 with out noticing if need be and it does just that. It is the perfect daily driver really. Id rock one any day if i could afford it.

If you have any specific questions i can give him a ring and find out first hand im sure.

 

Thats great info.

But the thing about you rocking it, if you could afford it?

I am finding nice 50-60k mile 97-98's for $9-10k. Basically, thats absurdly cheap.

I know its not a drivers car. I am ok with that. But I already saw H&R and Eibach springs along with Bilsteins for the car. Those combined with some sticky wide summer tires(snows for winter) and I think the car will respond far better to driver input.

 

The Nakamichi has a a 8-9" inch free-air sub on the parcel shelf.


It's not something that you would bump fitty on or anything, but it's so fresh, and so clean, clean.

 

my friend had that lexus for a little while until he got another acura to rice. he gave the lexus to his parents and it still runs well with well over 200k miles on the clock.

i've ridden in it but i don't care too much for it. i mean it's a decent car and if you want something that will last a while, you won't go wrong with that, but it's so boring. it's like a jp crown victoria. it screams retirement at boca raton. or asian soccer mom.

but if you're deadset on something of those three, i know for a fact that the lexus is a better quality car than the A8. the A8 looks cooler definitely, but is a royal PITA to maintain.

but you know what, who cares what i think. if the lexus fits what you're looking for, then it's a good buy at those prices you gave. plus sometimes those old people cruisers are a ton of fun - luxe, comfy, terrific sound system, fly like a bullet and leave a wake of surprised drivers. if you get one though, you gotta pimp it out now that you're in ny. gold chrome FTW.

 

BMW 7 series FTW!!

 

 

I've driven and worked on all of the cars you're looking at here.

The Lexus is certainly the reliability champ, I only ever did oil changes and tire stuff to them.

The Bimmers and Audis always had funky electrical problems, A/C problems that took a long time to diagnose, and the air bag systems that need to be replaced every 10 years because of the biodegradable wiring.

I recently drove an SC400, which is a bit smaller and lighter than an LS400, but the V-8 is buttery smooth and the trans still shifted smooth for 200k+ miles.

IMO, get the Lexus.

 

Yep, you get what I am saying. The Two German cars would be more fun, but I am looking for a car that I will have to put very little into. I still think the Lex with the right wheel/tire/suspension setup will make it a lot more fun.

 

Q45

 

if you want big, reliable, RWD, and fun to drive....

get a Q45

They're as reliable as the lexus, while being more powerful and sportier AND for less money

 

Actually my local dealer had one in silver and put it on ebay. It has 59k and had a 9500 obo buy it now. Its highest offer was $7k. As I drove by he still had it, I bet he would take $8-8500. But its not the right time.

I am going to drive both the Q and the LS and see which one I like better. The Q is a grand cheaper just because it doesnt have the same name cache as the Lexus.

 

Jameson, I think you're confused. The LS looks like ASS. Get a 3.2 TL.

 

FWD, V6, big Honda and the 3.2TL is $14k with 50k miles. Pass.

 

What about a Lincoln LS V-8?

 

Passing on American. The LS is also $14-16k with 50k miles. The Lexus and Q45 give a LOT of bang for the buck at the $10g mark.