GKLCPA

95-97 have the same engine as 90-94 LS, just a lil extra power, but no vvti

disregard my last post. i saw the string where you discussed this. u confirmed what i suspected; the basic car is unchanged.

95-97 have the same engine as 90-94 LS, just a lil extra power, but no vvti

thanks for the confirmation. i see you have a ls400 and an ls430. do you think there's a big difference in basic quality between the two? i know the 430 is more luxurious and has a few more bells and whistles.

agree with above, 2uzfe and 3uzfe are interference engines while 1uzfe engine, which was installed on LS models from 90 to 97 is a non-interference engine and belt failure is not going to destroy your engine

Interesting. I was under the impression that 95-97 were interference engines.

I love long distance highway driving and I took another road trip in my LS this past week of about 1500 miles round trip. I don't think one can appreciate this car fully until one is able to get on open highway tooling at 80 mph. This car rides like a jet airliner on the highway; smooth, deceptively powerful and so sure footed. I don't think my sheer amazement of this car will ever wear off. I averaged about 22 mpg for the entire trip. This is an 11 year old vehicle!

I simply can not imagine owning another type of car at this point. Lexus LS for life

Noted. Thanks. I really don't like to spend money before it's time :P

What are the symptons of a failing starter?

Actually, I don't think problems with the starter are common on any of the LS400 model years. A starter can last the life of the car.

I certainly would not replace a starter until it failed or began to cause problems.

I have a question here on the Starter. I've got a timing belt to change in the spring. I'll also do the preventative maintenance and do the water pump as well. Would it make sense to have them replace the starter at that time, even if I'm not having problems with it or would it make sense to wait until I do?

2) The "one-click" syndrome when starting the engine (typically a problem with the starter); I still need to get this problem fixed, but the car has yet to leave me stranded.

I don't know if either of these are chronic problems with this generation of the LS's, but it is one of the best cars I've owned - hands down.

The starter is common. Its only going to get worse and its expensive to do.

I can second that - My starter went out when my 99 LS was 4 years old - 1 grand to replace.

I recently changed my tires. The previous owner had S rated tires on the car. The one's I put on were H rated and they ride just fine. I don't think I'll be going 130 mph anytime some, let alone the speed rated associated with V rated tires. I got some Sumitomo's and I'm happy with them and the pricing was decent (about 80 per installed)

Straight from the Discount tire website:

A tire receives its speed rating by the U.S. Government through meeting minimum standards for reaching and sustaining a specified speed. What does that mean to you? Well, in general, a higher speed rating will result in better car handling.

Two Important Notes When Considering Speed Rating:

• We do not recommend downgrading the speed rating of your tires. This may result in poor handling and unpredictable steering. However, if you want better cornering response, there is no problem installing a higher speed rated tire on your vehicle.

• Tire manufacturers recommend not mixing and matching tires with different speed ratings on your vehicle. It is recommended that speed-rated tires be replaced in sets of 4. If replaced in pairs, the new tires should be of the same or higher speed rating. If tires with different speed ratings are installed on a vehicle, it is recommended that they be installed with like pairs on the same axle. It is highly recommended the lower speed-rated tires be place on the front axle, regardless of which axle is the drive axle, to help prevent oversteer. (Oversteer occurs when the vehicle loses traction at the rear tires first, causing the vehicle to spin and the driver to lose control.) The speed rating for all tires will become that of the lowest speed-rated tire on the vehicle.

Below is a list of speed ratings along with the corresponding speeds they represent. Remember, the speeds are test speeds, not recommended speeds.

Q- Up to 100mph

R- Up to 106mph

S- Up to 112mph

T- Up to 118mph

U- Up to 124mph

H- Up to 130mph

V- Up to 149mph

W- Up to 168mph

Y- Up to 186mph

Z- 149mph and over

Being Canadian, I KNOW the whole country is being ripped off because I would be jumping for joy to find some comforttreads, pilots, or turanza serenity's up here for even under $160....

It also looked as if they saved all of the "X-rated" rubber for the condom industry.....

Any canadians here know the duty laws for getting tired in the states???

I'd say that's a damn good deal! An excellent deal actually.

Congrats. Nice looking car!

ls430 is addvertised as "all new design" version of ls series since 2001, it also discontinued ls400 production. i dont think the improvement is marginal. however, exterior design is not appealing to me comparing to ls400

I've heard many people say that about the 430. Personally, I like all the designs. They're all timeless. I think the 430 has more bells and whistles and is more luxurious, but is the same basic car otherwise. It's hard to improve upon what was pretty good from the gate.

I very rarely see anyone comment on the LS 430 on this forum. I'm guessing it's because of the poll stats in the sticky. Only 10% of the posters as the time the poll was taken owned a 430. So it appears that they are far fewer 430 owners than those who own the earlier models. There are a ton of people who still drive the generation 1 LS. That's really a testament to the durability of these cars.

The reason I own an LS 400 is because of a test drive I took in an LS 430. Both drive somewhat the same. Is the 430 just a marginal improvement of the LS 400?

This is what I'm coming up with. There's very little incremental cost to run premium. Actually, this analysis has a wider spread between regular and premium than that in my local area. Premium goes for about 20-25 cents more than regular here in eastern PA when means that I'm paying only $ 3 to $ 4 extra per fill up. On the high side, that's only about $200 extra per year in fuel costs. It's not the incremental cost of premium that's the problem so much as $ 100 a barrel oil. Just 4 years ago, I was paying less than 2 a gallon. That's the day I want to see come back.

Has anyone actually "tested" the theory that running on regular unleaded cuts your fuel mileage?

In my LS400 98 running on regular gives me 1 mile per gallon LESS of mileage.

Tested 700 miles on Premium against 600 miles on Regular

Based on what you say then:

Premium - 20 gal x $3.40 = $68

Regular - 20 gal x $3.00 = $60

Premium - 460 miles @ 23mpg

Regular - 440 miles @ 22mpg

(based on 1 mpg less using regular)

Premium - $68 / 460 = 15 cents per mile

Regular - $60 / 440 = 14 cents per mile

Hmmm... I think I will stick with Premium for the money.

I think I'm going to test my car in similar fashion. The mpg range that you're getting is what I'm getting now with premium. Again, a Maxima is no Lexus, but although it recommended premium, I always ran regular with no ill effects at all. I did that for the entire seven years I've had the car and it has 183K on it and still running strong. Premium costs about 25 cents more a gallon however, which means that you only are spending $ 3 to $5 extra to burn it, so a part of me also says forget about it and just use the recommended fuel.

Has anyone actually "tested" the theory that running on regular unleaded cuts your fuel mileage?

The first three weeks of ownership, I did run regular gas in my 91 LS 400. Mileage varied, but averaged 20, with a low of 18.5 in one tank and a high of 22.5 in another. For the last three weeks I have run premium 93 octane, always a top tier gasoline. Not much change in mileage, but I can tell that the acceleration is smoother--I feel more power in the engine, although I do not often test that. Just had a road trip and got 23 mpg on the highway yesterday--no road trips on regular gas.

For my money, I like the premium, and particularly the top tier with the detergents and cleaners.

I've always run premium in my LS.

I have a Maxima that recommends premium but I've always used regular and had no ill effects as far as I can tell.

When you refer to "performance", what exactly do you mean? Acceleration?

Contrary to popular belief. Premium fuel RARELY has more detergents, fuel injector cleaning additives, etc. than standard 87 octane fuels do so that's no reason by itself to run Premium. Some gasoline manufacturers want you to believe that but it's not usually the case.

That said, the LS400's engine timing is set for Premium but if you run a lower octane which will produce knock/ping, the knock sensor will !Removed! the timing enough to stop the knock/ping which of course also reduces performance. Whether that affects fuel economy is more a matter of how you drive rather than the lower octane itself. :)

Most of the stuff I have to have in my car has been addressed in the newer generations. In my car, I would like:

1) A separate power outlet for my cell phone.

2) A CD changer inside (mine is in the trunk. I could have had one inside, but the Lexus CD changer that goes in the glove is too expensive)

3) Bigger cup holders

4) More wood trim (models prior to the 430 were pretty spartan on wood)

None of this stuff is a show stopper.

If there was something on our LS' s that you would complain about or have designed differently what would it be? Lets keep in mind the technology that was available when the car was designed and that even by todays standard these are someof the most outstanding autos ever produced...

so this is real nitpicking...

I'll start:

1. When you turn on the radio that obnoxious static until the antenna is fully extended. Surely they could have put a delay on the radio.

The asking price and your budget are only 1000 apart. Make him an offer based on your budget or less.

Update... I checked their website and they are asking $5995 for the car and it has 176K. Does this seem steep for a 176K mile car? Here are photos of it. I see the HVAC LCD is dead too. :( BTW - its a 1991.

http://images.autotrader.com/images/2007/9...1_A.562x421.jpg

http://images.autotrader.com/images/2007/9...1_A.562x421.jpg

I'm not convinced he'd take a bath over and above the one he's already taken after driving the ES off the lot. He's been hit by the depreciation already whether he trades, sells or not. Trading the ES for the LS might be a wash based on what I've seen about retail prices on these cars.

I do agree it makes sense to be very careful in financial decision making about cars, afterall, they don't make one money by growing in value nor do they pay cash dividends. That's the main reason I try to minimize what I'm paying and get the sort of car that yields the maximum durability. Lexus makes some very nice vehicles, but there's not one of them that puts money in my pocket.

Would he really take a financial bath? A used 2007 ES 350 retails for about the same as a used 2005 LS. It might be an even trade. Per cars.com, some of the used 20005 LS's are retailing in the mid to high 40's, but there's plenty in the mid 30's range.

When you look at what he spent on the ES vs what he'd be able to get for it now he'd take a huge financial bath. Unless the LS were a spectacular below market deal he'd definately be in the red.

Decisions like this can't be left to only to financial reasoning, heart, desire, and satisfaction is part of such a decision too. If that weren't the case, we'd all be driving Toyotas & wearing Timex watches. The LS-430 is so much more about what Lexus is all about than the ES-350 ever was, especially since the ES-350 is much more Toyota-like than it is Lexus-like.

I'm sorry, but even if it is a Lexus its still a car. If you go through life just changing your mind months after buying a new car and flitting around to new options all the time, unless you have significant financial resources you will damage yourself.

As for the car, the ES is far more LS like than most people (namely LS owners) like to admit, ESPECIALLY the ES350. The ES post 02 was designed specifically to posess much of the driving feel and dynamics of the LS. The LS is a nicer car, no question and given the choice between an LS and an ES I'd take the LS (although I would still probably, and did, choose a new ES over a used LS). But unless you're switching back and forth between the ES and the LS all the time you don't notice the areas where the ES falls short of the LS. The LS is the car that got me into Lexus, my dad has had two. When I drive the LS I'm always awe struck by it and immediately start thinking about buying one for myself. Then, when I drive the ES again I'm always impressed by how similar it is to the LS and the desire to replace it goes by the wayside. Whenever my Dad rides in or drives my ES or an ES350 loaner he always says the same thing, that he's surprised how similar it is.

The switch isn't worth taking a bath for.

Would he really take a financial bath? A used 2007 ES 350 retails for about the same as a used 2005 LS. It might be an even trade. Per cars.com, some of the used 20005 LS's are retailing in the mid to high 40's, but there's plenty in the mid 30's range.

I wouldn't do it for the very reason that you're going to take a bath financially on your ES350 because its so new. That has nothing to do with the LS vs the ES, it simply would be a very dumb financial move.

Not sure about the quality of the Delco pad and rotors. I just had some Bembro rotors put on the front of my car and they cost about 130.00. Installation at a Toyota dealership ran about another 250, so if you had all four rotors replaced with pads for a total of 135, I'd say you probably need to be arrested as you stole the stuff from them :)

I'm getting some clunking, so I need to do some suspension work as well. I already did the air filter and the trans flush. All I have to do in a month or so is put on my snows.

I know exactly where that Buywise is. I live in PA now, but used to live in Maplewood

...in shape over the cold months?

Had some brake work to do so I went to Buy Wise (Vauxhall, NJ) for pads and rotors. The rear rotors had cracks in them. Got AC Delco semi metallic pads and rotors for all 4 wheels. With a USPS discount I paid $135.00 total.

While wheels were up I changed the sway bar bushings. See link for directions: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/suspension/daizenswaykit.html

I installed a K&N air filter.

I changed oil and filter. Also emptied 2 quarts of old dirty, stinky, tranny fluid and replaced with new Toyota Type IV TF from dealer. Tranny pan lets out 2 quarts when you drain.

Car's running just fine.

This same subject has been bandied about before ad nauseum. The bottom line is as

Robert Thomason has stated...are you a gamblin man? I have a 98 with 66k miles. I am gambling

that Lexus made the belt to go much farther, time-wise, than advertised.

See this thread:

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...;hl=timing+belt

The problem is ... the vast majority of gamblers lose in the long run. It is an age old story - the tortoise (the conservative) and the hare (the gambler).

It is ironic that the success of 1% of gamblers is what keeps the other 99% of the losing gamblers going.

“Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” - Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry.

I like "punks" - they make us tortoises happy and wealthy.

Sage advice on gamblers. Actually, that 1%/99% ratio applies to a few other things like the stock and real estate markets. Everybody and his mother piles in on the hopes of "getting rich quick"

Folks forget that the system ain't set up for everyone to get rich!

This same subject has been bandied about before ad nauseum. The bottom line is as

Robert Thomason has stated...are you a gamblin man? I have a 98 with 66k miles. I am gambling

that Lexus made the belt to go much farther, time-wise, than advertised.

See this thread:

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...;hl=timing+belt

I'm at 75k miles currently on a 96 LS. At the rate I'm putting on miles, I'll reach 90K by March. I think I'm gonna go ahead and do mine early just for peace of mind. I got a quote from my local Toyota dealer of approximately $ 700 for the belt and the water pump. I'd rather spend that than spring for a new engine, especially in light of the fact that I gotta do it in the four months away.

I have a 96 also. I wound up having one installed in the trunk after Lexus told me they wanted $ 800. I didn't think of Ebay. I wish I had.

I also had sattelite radio installed. Now that I have it, I very rarely listen to CD's in the car

Hi All,

I have 1996 LS 400 that I bought used with 42500 miles on it. I planned to keep this baby for a long time so I think it is time to get a CD player installed. I am tired of being teased about a luxury car without a CD player. What is my best option for a CD player? Do I get a used CD Changer from the junk yard? Or do I go get a CD changer installed in the trunk? If I get a used CD changer, where is the best place to get one. If any of you do know where to get a used CD changer, do let me know please. I had priced it at the dealer and it cost likde $1500.00. Ouch! For the second option, is that a valid option? Thanks in advance.

I have the GLE model which is a twin of the Infiniti I30. Very luxurious and smooth riding car, but not on par with the LS. I was going to be a Maxima man for life until I drove a LS! If you want very decent inexpensive transportation though, you can't go wrong with the Maxima. I've driven the newer models as well. My Max is pretty fast, but those new ones have a hair trigger quickness. Nissan is definitely known for speed off the line.

Blake, she had the GLE model.

I helped a coworker buy a 98 GLE 4 years ago.

All he has done in 4 years have been front rotors, pads, and a knock sensor.

If you put regular gas in to the 190hp version of the 3.0l, it will eat up the knock sensor over time.

Very reliable cars. If I couldn't afford a Lexus, I would buy a Maxima (pre 99) in a hearbeat.

The 99 was a test mule for the new engine electronics introduced on the restyled 2000 Maxima.

The 99 and newer models had more issues with 02 sensors and coil packs.

Great cars to drive fast, but the refinement is average in terms of noise and smoothness.

Still, a far better used car buy than overpriced Accords and Camrys, IMO.

Mines is a 98, so perhaps they may have remedied those problems by that year. As I recollect, the 96 was the second model of that particular generation, so they might have been some bugs for that year. Can't say for sure though. I gotta say that Maxima is the best car I ever had save for the LS.

I guess I must have had different luck...

I had a 96 maxima and sold it with 113k miles on it after replacing countless O2 sensors, MAF sensor, Knock Sensor, brakes, Clutch, and multiple headlights... it was an expensive car for me and I take care of my cars!

Must have just been a dud!

Loved my 96 Maxima SE - Stillen package and all. BUT I, too, had too many problems with it. Finally sold it with almost 200k miles on it. Had the 02 sensor problems, starter problems, and knock sensor problems. The major killer was when the wiring harness went - wow! That was a costly repair!

I guess I must have had different luck...

I had a 96 maxima and sold it with 113k miles on it after replacing countless O2 sensors, MAF sensor, Knock Sensor, brakes, Clutch, and multiple headlights... it was an expensive car for me and I take care of my cars!

Must have just been a dud!

Loved my 96 Maxima SE - Stillen package and all. BUT I, too, had too many problems with it. Finally sold it with almost 200k miles on it. Had the 02 sensor problems, starter problems, and knock sensor problems. The major killer was when the wiring harness went - wow! That was a costly repair!