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Intellichoice just named the ES330 number one for its "near luxury" class. Here is a link: http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?c...10&src=LP%20new

Every review of the Lexus LS400 I have read illustrates just how quite the ride of this car is, especially on the highway. Also, a couple of reviews have stated the the 95' and up model are even quieter. Does anyone know of actual specifications or tests that list the decibel levels of noise for this model, and other model cars for comparison? Is the LS400 the quietest car on the road?

Thanks alot for the support and feedback. I certainly have major respect for owners of the earlier generations and the advice given me when I was looking. You guys work harder than anyone to keep this car a classic. I still loved the 90 I looked at, for the money it cannot be beat, if its been maintained. One of the improvements that interests me about the '98 and up is the increase in horsespower and the acceleration of 0-60 in 6.6 seconds vs. 8.2. How many of you have owned or driven this and an earlier generation, and is the power difference definitely noticeable? What other changes can be appreciated (cd changer in the glovebox is one that comes to mind)? I did feel that the seats in the earlier version were a bit stiff and springy, but I like the style of the seats nonetheless.

I know that "Lexol" is great for the leather, but does anyone have a recommendation for the best product to use for cleaning dirty carpet and floor mats? I don't own a steam cleaner, but I do have a decent shop vac for sucking up whatever I use, if that's the recommended method.

OK, well, perhaps that is an exaggeration. But I have to share my excitement, after a long time of searching. I had previously posted looking for advice in two different scenarios. The first was a '90 LS400 for $4500 from the Dealer who wouldn't budge, the second was another '90 with 240k miles that I almost pulled the trigger on, and finally the one that I am buying this week... I found a Blue '98 LS400 with 97k miles for $12,500 from a private party, which happened to be the lowest price I've seen advertised anywhere lately with the miles. I've checked the Carfax history and it is a clean 2 owner, the second owner bought it Certified from Lexus with 30k. Since then, it has received full dealer servicing for every 5k service, including the 90k timing belt/water pump. I spoke with Lexus in detail and was faxed a report. Of course I can't get too excited yet because...the car is over 300 miles from me and I will be seeing it for the first time in person this weekend. But I've gone over in detail with the seller exactly what to expect inside and out. Body and interior are in excellent shape and tires are 10k old. No problems that I am aware of. We are meeting at a Lexus Dealership where for $85 they will check it thoroughly. Because of this forum I am so much more knowledgeable on the different generations and what issues to look for. I will keep my eye on the suspension as I understand at this mileage some problems can begin. I don't expect to find much wrong with the service history so far. Although I thought it would be nice to start with an earlier generation, the opportunity arose and I jumped on it. I love the changes for 98' and would love to hear feedback on what I can expect, and also if you feel I got a decent deal?

Hello Everyone - I've been looking at the ES300 for awhile and have the opportunity to pick up a very clean 93' with 164k miles. It is a one owner and I am aware of the common issues with this model. What makes this particular one unique is that it is a 5 speed. Are there any owners out there with 5 speeds, and how do you enjoy the car with the manual transmission? I know the automatic shifts smooth and strong, but I'd love some feedback on the 5spd. This is a "bare bones" model, it does not even have leather but the fabric looks practically new! No heated seats or moonroof but it does have the cd changer. It was well maintained, body looks excellent, and the clutch was recently replaced. Timing belt was done as well as regular maintenance. Clean Carfax history. Obviously this particular one is a "basic" luxury car, and I have the chance to buy it for $3,000. Any feedback is appeciated. Thanks.

3 Questions... First, I know the subject or higher mileage LS400's has been addressed here, but should I be weary of an LS400 (1990) with 240,000 miles as long as it has been cared for? The one I am looking at has been converted to Mobil 1 synthetic at about 140k, and I don't see any major oil leaks at this point. The engine sounds smooth (no ticking) and strong. I do know that it is due for a timing belt change soon. With these miles, will it last "forever"? Second, is it fairly easy for a do-it-yourselfer with little experience change the serpentine belt and hoses, and are there any other drive belts besides the timing belt that need periodic changing? Finally, should I avoid this car at all costs just because it has the "air suspension" option? Right now the suspension works fine with no problems. Or can I just convert the suspension if I do have problems. Thanks!

Does anyone know of a Dealer that will help me purchase the LS400 at an auction like Manheim? I just read the other posts about buying at auction, and thought how amazing it would be to buy the car that my Dealer decided to wholesale because we couldn't agree on price. I am in the Chicago area and would love a referral. Thanks.

ECUPirate - I am interested in contacting you in regards to the next auction, but I am unable to PM or e-mail you. Please e-mail me at mphecht@hotmail.com Thanks.

I don't even own an LS400 yet, but have been researching quite a bit and have found that from your description and the advice of others, it sounds like the most likely cause of your woes are the stabilizer (or sway) bar bushings. Many have found it helpful to lubricate these with a silicone spray which usually quiets the problem for a few months, whereas others just replace them. It is not an expensive fix. The ball joints are another good possibility here. Again from what I am told if you idle a about 3mph and hit the brakes hard and see the wheel actually move forward in its wheel well, then it is the ball joints. A 1990 I test drove had the same exact sound, especially at low sppeds over a driveway curb or during turning. If I am incorrect, someone please help out. Good luck with the diagnosis.

One of the big differences I found between your '90 and the '98 is that the seats are softer and less "springy". Also there is quite a bit improvement in horesepower and I believe a 2 full seconds faster than the first generation. There are a host of other changes that are spelled out nicely on a thread here on the forum. Regarding the dealer price, everything is negotiable, especially depending on how you intend to buy the car. If you are trading in, vs. cash vs. financing the purchase, the scenario can be more or less attractive for the dealer to deal. There are other factors including how long the car has been sitting on his lot and the market for that model/year in your location. I would always start with a lower offer, you can always come up. In regards to the mileage, remember that if the car has or is near 90k then it is due for the major 30k service which includes the timing belt/water pump replacement, which is not cheap. Have a Lexus Dealer run the VIN and see the service history before you do anything. And forget about the 98' for $20k - that's outrageous. I have heard of the Mercedes S-series having a lot of technical issues, even though the new price was much higher than the LS400, so, unless the service history is immaculate, I wouldn't take a chance. Good luck.

Thank you to all of you who have assisted me in determining the potential problems on the 90 LS400 and for your advice on how to deal with the dealer. I certainly tried to make it work in the end, even offering $4200 as a last minute final offer to buy the car, and instructed the Salesperson that if they wanted even a penny more, NOT to call me. Well, they didn't call, and I drove down to the dealership today and found that the car was gone! Why in the world would they wholesale the car when they could have had $4200 cash in hand? Perhaps in the rare case that they are a "caring" dealership, they did not want to sell a car with potentially unsafe conditions. But I doubt it. Migirdech, you are correct, they did recondition the car I believe to the best of their ability, having Lexus replace the PS Pump, instead of just cleaning it, and throwing on new tires. I don't believe they intended to cover up the suspension issues, it was just too noticeable. So you are right, they wholesaled it. In any case, what attracted me to the car was that it never missed a Dealer service, had zero dings or scratches, no hint of rust, and as clean an interior I have seen with leather that looked 99% new. I think my offer was fair. Of course I have regrets over the $300 difference between putting together a deal or not, but I have to believe there is another one out there. I hope that I will still be welcome as a member here, even though I am not truly a Lexus owner just yet! I appreciate what the forum provides and am grateful for the guidance. I just hope to find a decent one for sale in the Chicago area that's been maintained, low miles, looks great, and is priced right! Thanks again.

Just wanted to give an update - Because the car is "supposed" to be shipped off to the Wholesaler today, I called the Dealer yesterday and spoke to the Sales Assistant. The Manager was out until today. I told him that I wanted my mechanic to check out the car and if all is OK (I know it isn't) then I would pay the $4500. I also said if they did not want the hassle, I would go to $4k but that is absolutely firm and final and if they want a penny more to do not call me and throw my phone number away. I was told that the Manager gets in at 9am (it is now 12:30pm) and that the truck comes at 10:30am to pick up the cars. I am trusting everyone's advice that there is no way they will get near $4k at wholesale. Are there other advantages to the dealer to wholesale it rather than selling it to me? Or is the market stronger here in the Chicago area? When I look on Cars.com or Autotrader, the asking price of the 90-94's are much higher than $4500 with shady pasts and higher miles. Remember this dealer thought they had it reconditioned fully and advertised it everywhere at $8k. Did I just pass up a winner? I mean, perfect dealer service history, 100k miles, no LCD issues, new tires and PS pump, and a near perfect body and interior? Or is the dealer playing me and waiting for me to call again? I hate the games!

Thanks for all the info and suggestions. At this point I think I am ready to follow through at my initial $3800 offer and take a chance, but if the dealer counters at all I will insist on a mechanic's inspection, and then I'll have some proven issues in which to either stick to my price or walk away. I'll let you know how it all plays out tomorrow! Thank you again... By the way, is it true that the keyless remote was an OPTION on the 1990 model? I forgot to ask the Dealer if he had the remote - all I was given was a key.

Thanks to those who have responded so far. Keep them coming! To address some of the responses, Wandawoods, TexasLexus and lovelex - I think you may be right about the alignment, pads/rotors, and tire balancing. All are very likely culprits I suppose. Thanks KY350 for the negotiating skills. Since the dealer has a ridiculous "listed" price of $8k, they don't seem to be open at all to my criticisms. In fact, and I know this is a sales ploy, they seem uninterested in even selling it to me, basically just saying that if I come in with the $4500 they will do it, but anything less and it goes to the wholesaler Friday morning. This dealer does have a very good reputation with almost no complaints. They are a large dealer and been in bus. since 1912. In a way they have been generous by admitting to me the "crunch" noise and the hood struts issue. HRP, unfortunately the Dealer is offering No Warranty. It is my fault for not insisting earlier that I take it to a 3rd party mechanic, and I think my time is running out, although according to KY350 and 95LS400Bob (thanks), they can't get near $4500 at a wholesale auction. I'm assuming they know exactly what they can get at auction. At the wholesale auction, do buyers inspect the cars in detail for problems, or are they not even driven? As far as repairs go, I can do minor work but nothing with the suspension, however I do have a mechanic that will do honest work on the side at a discount. Perhaps I should be more patient, but at the same time I look at the service history which appears immaculate, and the cosmetic condition of the car which is one of the best I've seen in the 90-94 years, and I am afraid of regretting passing it up. I guess what it boils down to is how bad the suspension repairs "could" be, and make a decision off of that, because the engine and trans and the rest seem strong, quiet, and smooth. What to do, what to do...

I just discovered the forum yesterday and have already read nearly 100 pages of posts! Thank you all for your amazing contributions. Here is my dilemna: I have been following a 1990 LS400 (manufactured July 1990) with only 101k miles on it. No air suspension or Nakamichi but does have Trac Ctrl. It has been for sale with a local Dealer. I have checked the VIN and the car is clean with 2 owners. I also received a faxed maintenance history by Lexus, and ALL the services have been done at the correct intervals, including the 30, 60, and 90k services with timing belt/water pump. Also, the power steering pump was just changed by the Dealer when they acquired the car. This was the second time the PS Pump was replaced. The tires (Dunlops SP60's I think, look new). The body and paint are near perfect, and the interior looks great, minor wear on one part of the driver's seat, and slight stains on the floor mats. Also the seats are in good shape but feel hard in the leather and a bit too firm perhaps. (Amazingly, all the LCD's and backlight needles seem to work fine (32 degrees out). Everything seems to work except the 2 seat position presets, and I need hood shocks (cheap). Now, here is what is wrong: When I drive it, I hear several things. First is that all too common crunch from the front end which I believe to be bushings or lower ball joints. But the car is vibrating at around 35-40mpg, also makes a louder rumble when I start to brake at this speed. I was not able to test the car on a road more than 50mph. The vibration and noise scare me. The Dealer actually made a comment that in the last 2 weeks on his lot, the car seems to be falling apart, that the suspension noise and hood struts happened in the last couple of weeks, and that if I buy it, it will be as-is. The dealer is a Chevrolet dealer but they also own the Lexus dealer that inspected it and replaced the PS Pump upon arrival. I want to believe they reconditioned the car and just couldn't sell it. The dealer has told me he will sell the car for $4500 as-is, I have already offered $3800, but he tells me that $4500 is the absolute lowest and if he doesn't get that price, the car is scheduled to be wholesaled on Friday morning. Finally my question (I'll get better at this), is: Is the car worth the $4500, without knowing exactly what is wrong with the suspension, or whatever is wrong? I sure don't want to get it at this price and be stuck with $3,000 in repairs immediately. Also, do you think the Dealer can actually get this price from the wholesalers? I want to bargain, but I don't think he will budge. By the way, the car was advertised for over a month from this dealer at $8,000, which is ridicuous, so maybe $4500 is a steal? I can't seem to find any that look this good cosmetically and have the low miles anywhere near this price. Are the suspension/braking issues no big deal? Any advice would be greatly appeciated. Sorry for the ramblings...