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I bought a set from abcmarts off Ebay. Unfortunately the quality seems poor. I took them to a local garage to have them installed for me. [i'm a klutz and wanted to be absolutely safe.] Well, I watched the guy install them and when he did, the first one was ok. But the second one's bolt (or screw) BROKE off as he was tightening the nut (the lower part of the shock that connects to the car body). He wasn't exerting undue force and it all seemed very normal. It's obvious that the quality of the metal for the screw parts is vastly different between the generic and the original. Abcmarts denies that there's any defect and will only send me a new screw. Now we have to fish the screw out of the car body and still replace the hood shock. So, buyer beware. Next time I'll learn my lesson and only buy the real thing -- either from Lexus or Toyota. I'd rather use a Camry shock and have it wear out more quickly than use a generic again. If I were to use a generic, the Mighty Lift/Autozone idea with the ball from the original also sounds good. However I didn't try that since the Autozone website listed it as being out of stock.

After a weekend spent in bed and arguing over the phone with a friend who is enamored of "sporty" autos. I wrote the following: THE LEXUS LS LUXURY-LOVER’S MANIFESTO 1. There is only one true Lexus – the LS. Thou shalt not have false models before me. 2. The car’s design shall never call attention to itself. Thou shalt not have false pride. A ten-year old Lexus should look as elegant as a new one on the dealer’s lot. 3. Absolute power corrupts. Use power wisely. The LS shall not be a race car. Its power is to be concealed at all times, unless needed to punish insolent racer-boys on the freeway. The condemned will have to spend a life time modifying Honda Civics. 4. Thou shalt not have bling. Air foils, racing stripes, spinning wheels, and huge exhaust pipes are for lesser creatures of the earth. These shall wander the halls of SEMA searching the brass ring that does not tarnish. 5. The suspension shall not be harsh. Those trying to combine sport and luxury in the same sentence must visit their local German repair service twice a week for eternity whilst sitting on an unpadded metal seat in the waiting room. 6. The stereo shall not boom. Mark Levinson is the only apostle of the high end in car land. Only he who has heard the light in home stereo shall find peace on the audio highway. Adding subwoofers will cause your rear to rot and fall off. Nakamichi was a false prophet who has entered into league with the devils of Circuit City. 7. Thou shalt always speak in a moderate tone of voice. If you must shout to be heard, you have entered the wrong car and are doomed to wander the freeways seeking an off ramp. Noise is for preschool. 8. Leather shall be as supple as the finest butter. All else shall crack and fade away with time. 9. Thou shalt not have false colors on me. No chrome yellow, burnt orange, bright purple, or pale lavender are permissible. The LS is not a Beetle. 10. The Zen of luxury. The ultimate car is no car. One that responds to every wish, is transparent, and falls away with the ride as if on a magic carpet that hovers above the ground.

The fact that the 2000 seems to be in better condition complicates matters. I don't know what this means, but I would get the 98 if the two were comparable. 34K miles is very low. $4000 pays for a 60K service, a 90K service and lots of oil changes and even a minor repair at the dealer's. Obviously you'd save even more if you have a good independent mechanic.

I said nothing about performance, just looks. And yes, I strongly believe that Lexus should always keep at least one top of the line model sedate, elegant and conservative. They can have boy racer versions for midlife crisis types who should really be buying manual tranny Beemers, but I'm willing to bet that I and a large fraction of LS buyers like the LS because it is so "Staid" looking. So long as at least one model is restrained, all is well. There's always Chris Bangle for everyone else. I just fear that Lexus is letting all the car critics who carp about "boring" Lexus get to them. Most old and young fogies (like me) don't bother getting on these forums. It's worth leaving a dissenting opinion against those who keep screaming HOTTT HOTTT, more Racer, NOW NOW. The critics that matter are those who buy the cars and the market profile for the LS is a very conservative (styling) buyer. The RL is a bloated TL and Mercedes went backwards went they abandoned their slab sided early 1990s look. I desperately hope that Lexus does not join them in their folly by going all teardrop and boy-racer.

I really hope it's not as bad as the spy pics. "Sporty" bling. Yecchh.. I truly hope they manage to get back to a more LS400 type look. If they want to make it racier, they should work on the GS or IS. Keep at least one car elegant and above all, restrained. The critics can scream about style all they want. The vigorous sales indicate that LS buyers don't want flash.

If it checks out, that is a fantastic buy. I would have jumped at a car like that 3 months ago when I got mine. At that price, you shouldn't be disappointed even if you do have to spend an extra $1000-$1500 to fix things up. Congrats.

After a couple of trouble free months, my 95 LS has developed a squeak of some sort around the area of the passenger dash and door. Sometimes I think it's a mild rattle, but often it's more like rubber or plastic squeaking. This seemed to be worst on very cold days. Less some other times. There had previously been a small rattle around the CD changer door, but pushing the door catch a bit got rid of it. Any ideas about the plastic rattle/squeaking sounds from the passenger's side? Could it be the rt door rubbing the panel/dash? Thx.

You're right. I apologize. I was being churlish. I respect his success as a businessmen. However, I do not respect his products as I feel it is mostly hype and you can do better. His ideas for home audio led to one of the most overrated speakers in history -- the 901. And one of the things I like about Lexus is that they had the good sense to put in Mark Levinson stereo when other luxury car makers were going for Bose. But then, I accept the fact that to each his own. Sorry.

I can only hope he's a better car guy than he is a stereo guy. His sound equipment has the lowest possible reputation in the high end home audio world. Imagine something with sub-Kia quality and Lexus/MB marketing. At almost any price point, there is a better and/or equivalent and cheaper product than Bose. I went to the "other" science school on the West Coast and our instructors would joke about Bose being a professor at that Boston technical college. No highs, no lows, that's Bose.

Just curious: How many of the people on this forum know of someone who got rid of a worn out LS400 for parts? Not because it was totaled or in an accident. Just because it was old, and needed so much stuff to be repaired that it couldn't be sold as a working car to anyone. And what year was it and what mileage did it have? Thx.

Wait till the 2007 comes out in 2006. That'll cause a sudden drop in the price of the entire LS430 series which will probably have a small ripple effect on the LS400s.

Amen, brother. Amen.

Just look at Ebay and Autotrader. For the most part the cheapest 2001 LS430s are sellling in the $30K-$33K range with a few at $29k. In contrast, the cheapest 2000 LS400s are more in the low to mid 20s. Many decent 1999s are just under $20K. This suggests that someone interested in a good deal buy the previous model when a new one comes out. For now, the 1999s and 2000s are good buys. The 2003s might be great buys if the 2007 models emerge as a major generation change. But this is standard. Big depreciation after the first year or two and after a model change.

I can only hope you're right. But Toyota has been getting awfully cocky as its profits have grown, and market leaders can become dinosaurs overnight. I hope they don't forget that the US is the biggest market and that the LS was first designed specifically for the US. I expect them to continue to make inroads into Europe but it will be a constant struggle because of greater European regulation and subsidies for domestic manufacturers. As it is, I am worried that someone at Toyota will take to heart the constant carping of critics that the Lex ride is too soft and that it doesn't have the PANAAACHE or "Soul" of the Euros (Aside: Why does soul always get trotted out when customers have to pay homage to the repair man on a regular basis?). I say there's a reason Lexus is now the dominant luxury seller in the US and that everyone else should get in line. Most of the core Lex buyers don't post to these sorts of forums, nor are their voices easily heard. Except where it counts -- at buying time. Lexus has thrived by splitting the diff between Teutonic harshness and American float, while providing unmatched fit, finish, and reliability at a fair price. To give this up for some misguided attempt at hipness and critical acceptance would be a mistake akin to Bill Gates dumping Windows just because Mac guys don't like the PC.

I understand that this is the proposed LS for 2007. To me it looks hideously grotesque. Too much like an attempt to look hot. It cheapens the brand and puts the Rap/Bling group in charge. I thought the LS series was immune to this sort of pressure. I mean they can s*x up the GS or IS series all they want, but why can't the top of the line remain elegant and sedate? If this is what original "styling" gets us, I pray they go back to copying mid80s German designs. As far as I'm concerned, the new MercS, BMW 7 and now the LS 2007 should all be consigned to design H**L!

At the end of the day, you should buy what you like, but know what you're getting into. Everyone agrees that the Merc is expensive to buy, keep, and maintain. You have to decide if its virtues outweigh its risks. Same for any other car. In fact, the same for buying a used LS that might require repairs. If I were to give advice, I'd say, live within your financial means without stretching them. You shouldn't buy something if you think that expected repairs would sink you. Otherwise buy something that helps you live YOUR life. Don't live for your car.

Well, just speaking for myself, I bought the Lex because of its restrained good looks and quality, not for the rep. In fact I considered the Q45 because it was unappreciated. I would say that if Kia (or any other non Wow) brand produced a decent looking car with better fit and finish and reliability than the Lexus at a lower price I would get it. I actually enjoy being in cars that are underappreciated and cheap. But that's why I drive a used Lex when I could've bought a new one. My guess is that if you're the kind of guy who gets hot chicks, you'll get hot chicks no matter what. If not, attracting them with your car means they'll latch on until they find a hotter guy. To each his own...

Have you seen the following article? http://www.forbes.com/global/2004/1220/025.html I'm certain they're well made cars, but the differences in reliability and the costs of repairs are just some of the reasons why the used prices are so similar. Only you can judge if the things you like about the Merc are worth the extra risk and potential hassle. I personally, am not enamored of the Teutonic products and their harsher ride. Others find the Lex to be too soft and bland. And I would never put up with regular visits to the repair shop in a $100K vehicle no matter how rich I were. De gustibus...

After you've rinsed or wiped off the grosser dirt, you might try spraying a mix of woolite and water (1:6 is common) onto the floor, carpets, etc. Scrub with a brush or sponge.

I understand. But I personally didn't find the little polisher to do more than I could do by hand. Again, YMMV.

Here are some pics to show you what can be done with older paint. The first is a comparison. The right side was washed and then cleaned and polished by hand using a paint cleaner and polish. The left side is halfway through the process of being machine polished with a PC in multiple steps using stronger polishes. The second picture shows the end product after washing, polishing, and then waxing. Even then, there are defects that don't show up in pics that I plan to take care of when the weather warms up. I hope this is helpful to somebody.

These things are ok, but they're basically just a slightly easier way of applying wax or sealant. They won't help with swirls or light scratches. And frankly, I found them too much of a pain relative to hand application only. I tried a similar machine two years ago and returned it. Without swirl removal you're doing little to improve the paint surface -- unless your paint is brand new and unmarred by the dealer. For good surface prep -- including swirl and defect removal (or at least minimization), you should really step up to a Porter Cable Dual Action (orbital) polisher. I've seen it as low as $80 from Lowe's although it's more typically around $120-$140 on the web. [You'll also need to spend about $50 for pads] Unlike a rotary, it's safe for anyone to use, and you can switch pads easily. I've had it for only a couple of months, and let me tell you This is HOW the game is played! Some people recommend the even more expensive Cyclo for better swirl removal, though I can't vouch for it personally. But basically I don't think there's any machine below the Porter Cable which is any good yet which is safer than a rotary. So my suggestion is, save up till you can get a PC kit for about $160-$200. Hey, you drive a Lex. Treat it nice.

What do you know about some of the guys who serve as buyers from auctions and then charge a fee? There's a guy on the internet (I don't know if I can post the website) named Burke Leon who offers to get you a car from Mannheim, etc. and you pay all fees, taxes, plus his cut. I was thinking of going with him at first, but decided to really lowball the car I bought and am quite happy with the Ebay purchase I got myself. It's just not worth going to a middleman for lower priced cars. But if his system works well, it might be worthwhile checking out this sort of service for those buying used cars over $20k who can't get into a dealer auction and don't live near a big city with lots of cars for sale.

From what I've read, the LS400 was exclusively designed for the US market at first. The goal in the mid 80s was to target the US luxury car buyer, who was increasingly the largest factor in world demand for high end vehicles. Managers at Toyota even objected to creating a separate brand to sell the product as they wanted it to be a Toyota car they could sell. The Celsior came later. I believe that today, 80% of Toyota's profits (not sales) come from the US. Insiders with more info may correct me if wrong.