It's a driver/show car, unlike any other. I won't live long enough to see an overhaul on my 1997 LS400's engine. Matt Farrah's LS400 went to 1 million miles without internal engine repairs. My car's the same age but only has 181,000 miles. The timeless understated design appeals to me, as I studied to be a car stylist years ago, but got cold feet when I realized I'd have to move to Detroit if hired by some domestic manufacturer. The Bauhaus Principle of less is more obtains in this aerodynamic exercise with a coefficent of drag of .29, which puts the Lexus ahead of many little sports cars and all of the luxury cars today. 59 decibels of sound at 70 mph was a record, when the auto magazine tested it at introduction. Its still far, far ahead of anything on the market in this price range and most at any price. Does whatever you are driving has gold-plated air bag contacts, guys? Nope. I beg to differ, Dave. It IS a performance car and was designed to cruise at 150 mph on the autobahn or interstate.
Hi Robert, I love your comments and am fascinated by the design elements you pointed out. The car is definitely a strong performer and has no lack of power by any means. I was just referring to it's intended use of luxury cruising and isolation from the "real world", and not being a track monster (although one could build it to do that... but why??). I absolutely LOVE my car. It has become my 4th car, but I can't let it go. It's just too good and still drives beautifully! Thanks for watching and I hope you get a million miles from your '97!
Just got one as a daily car. It has 156k miles and it was well maintained by one previous owner. This car is amazing! I love it and it is a great commuter car. I hope it lasts me a lifetime. This video was informative for a new buyer! I appreciate it.
I found a guy that was selling his Mom's Lexus!! It is an unbelievable & amazing story!! He did everything. W new motor mounts and trans mounts...SO SMOOTH... truelly remarkable!! I bought it!!! This vehicle spent It's whole life in Arizona & well takin care of and garage kept. But I live in Indiana. I bought it!! Bought one way air fare for me and my family. I had the pleasure of driving an LS400 up the coast of California and thru Colorado w my family!!! It's good to know that my timing belt will let me know.. Scares me to death.
@@getyomoneyup mine no i have a new Toyota camry now but damn that car was so good had like 450k onit when i parted ways with it now im sure it has much more since my friend still has it 😊
11:39 that’s the heater valve they broke while replacing your motor mounts. They robbed you by charging you $150 for it because that’s something they should’ve disconnected before attempting to replace the mounts.
@@TheDrivenDave No problem. Same thing happened to me when the shop was replacing my motor mounts but I refused to pay for it. I had even told the receptionist to tell the mechanic to disconnect it but he never passed on the message. They ended up fixing it out of pocket.
Nice review and car, got a 99 with 101k on it myself. Interested to know of any starter replacement as that and timing belts(which I just replaced)are my top maintenance priorities.
Thanks for watching, Bill. Sounds like you got a nice ride. I haven’t done a starter in my 90,000 miles with the car. I know Scotty Kilmer warns folks about this engine for that reason since the starter is a PITA to get to and costs a lot in labor. I still think it’s a calculated risk even though it’s a pricey repair. The rest of the motor is awesome! I did forget to mention that my VVTi solenoids malfunctioned once. My mechanic cleaned them and they’ve been great ever since. I hope that helps!
I had one the same color, must have been popular. Mine had the rare factory navigation that was really ancient. Very solid car though. I was very pleased with it until I drove an ls460. Still enjoyed it!
Hello Dave. I’m thinking of getting a 1999 model. What would you say I have to get checked or repaired in order to confidently use it as my daily driver? I’d appreciate a list of parts that usually break on this car!
Hi Khalid, they are awesome cars and most of them can be made great with enough work. As with any car, make sure the fluids are up to date as that can add significant expense. Big items I did for my car were: timing belt and water pump (every 100k miles), power steering pump and alternator (at the same time usually since the pump leaks and kills the alternator), radiator and hoses, motor mounts, trans Mount, struts, strut rods (these are pricey and make a clunking sound on bumps and hard braking), tie rod end links, misc bushings, master cylinder, valve cover gaskets (very common, definitely check that). And of course normal car stuff like tires, brakes and wear sensors, battery, and fluids. The LS is truly one of the worlds great cars in my opinion. Just make sure you’re in love with it before you dump copious money into it…. That being said, it still won’t be that much money compared to a new car, but… if I could do it all over again, I would have bought a LS430. I’m a bigger guy and I need the room for my legs and head. I do love my 400 though! Good luck and keep me posted!
Hey Dave. Thank you very much for your swift and in depth response. I really appreciate it. I’ve learned a lot from watching your videos. I did consider getting the LS 430 but I found it to be a bout out of my budget and because I’m in love with the LS I’m considering the 400 instead. I’ll make a list of the stuff you mentioned and change it at a pace that my budget allows lol. Thank you I’ll make sure to keep you updated!
Thanks for your kind words! It really is a fantastic car, plus the style makes it more of a classic now than the 430. I hope you can find one that is well cared for. I wouldn’t worry about high miles as long as the maintenance is there. Good luck!
That’s hot!! I’m no expert, but I would think a good quality fully synthetic oil would be a good choice. I use Mobil 1 and it’s always been great. Good luck!
Lexus can make a height adjustment to your seat. I had this done on my LS400. Oddly, my daily driver, a lexus GS300, didn't need it. The rear seat won't adjust, but how often do you drive from the back?
I'm pretty sure that is the trunk lock feature. If you push it in, it will lock the trunk so the only way to open it is with the key. You'll unlock that button with the key also. Enjoy your car. I still miss mine!
It’s tough sometimes, but I’ve have my best luck with eBay from a Toyota dealership in Arizona. They post there and have good prices. Also, my mechanic uses OEM whenever possible.
Congratulations! Great car. Check the timing belt, power steering pump and also the suspension control arms and all bushings. Might need struts at that mileage if they haven’t been done yet. Good luck!
Noah, I’m not sure. The used car market has gone CRAZY the last year and car values have skyrocketed. Good time to sell and bad time to buy in my opinion… someone wanted to buy my car, but I would wanted more than it’s probably worth. Lol Anyway, I’m amazed there is still an 80k mile LS 400 out there as most have lots of miles by now. Personally, I’d rather spend that kind of money on the LS430 since I appreciate the additional cabin space, but the LS400 is an amazing car at any price for sure. Hope that helps! Is there any LS 400 content you’d like to see? Please let me know and subscribe for more content coming soon. Thanks for the comment!
@@TheDrivenDave yeah that’s legal limit where I’m at. It looked really dark in a few spots of your video, like 20%. Mine is white also and I was using your video to gauge what % to go with.
Yeah it looks amazing! I have an appointment scheduled next week to get mine done. I’m very glad I saw your video. I’d love to pick your brain on maintenance. There’s some things I’d like to do to keep her going. My email is my name on here @aol.com
Wow only 14mpg…is there a way to increase that, and does is HAVE to have premium fuel? Or would I be okay only filling premium some of the time? (Not trying to sound cheap)😅😂
It is actually pretty fuel efficient, especially on the highway. At the time of filming this, I was pretty much only using the car for short local trips. Expect 19-22mpg mixed driving. 27mpg at 65 and under cruising. Not sure about the gas grade. I always run premium since it says it needs it. Hope you get a good one!
You are correct! Only a problem if the timing belt breaks… for me it was worth it for the better power and gas mileage. 1990-1997 were non interference. 1998-2000 were interference.
I've never gotten less than 400 miles and can get 500+ at moderate freeway speeds (65-70 ph) on 1997LS400. 20-25 mpg is range, according to EPA sticker.
Getting my first ls tomorrow
Which country ?
Idk what it is about these, but I don’t think they’ll ever go out of style, just classic all around.
They went from outdated, to cult classic. I love the style!
It's a driver/show car, unlike any other. I won't live long enough to see an overhaul on my 1997 LS400's engine. Matt Farrah's LS400 went to 1 million miles without internal engine repairs. My car's the same age but only has 181,000 miles. The timeless understated design appeals to me, as I studied to be a car stylist years ago, but got cold feet when I realized I'd have to move to Detroit if hired by some domestic manufacturer. The Bauhaus Principle of less is more obtains in this aerodynamic exercise with a coefficent of drag of .29, which puts the Lexus ahead of many little sports cars and all of the luxury cars today. 59 decibels of sound at 70 mph was a record, when the auto magazine tested it at introduction. Its still far, far ahead of anything on the market in this price range and most at any price. Does whatever you are driving has gold-plated air bag contacts, guys? Nope. I beg to differ, Dave. It IS a performance car and was designed to cruise at 150 mph on the autobahn or interstate.
Hi Robert, I love your comments and am fascinated by the design elements you pointed out. The car is definitely a strong performer and has no lack of power by any means. I was just referring to it's intended use of luxury cruising and isolation from the "real world", and not being a track monster (although one could build it to do that... but why??). I absolutely LOVE my car. It has become my 4th car, but I can't let it go. It's just too good and still drives beautifully! Thanks for watching and I hope you get a million miles from your '97!
Just got one as a daily car. It has 156k miles and it was well maintained by one previous owner. This car is amazing! I love it and it is a great commuter car. I hope it lasts me a lifetime.
This video was informative for a new buyer! I appreciate it.
Thanks for watching! I know you’ll love your LS. It’s truly a legend!!
I found a guy that was selling his Mom's Lexus!! It is an unbelievable & amazing story!! He did everything. W new motor mounts and trans mounts...SO SMOOTH... truelly remarkable!! I bought it!!! This vehicle spent It's whole life in Arizona & well takin care of and garage kept. But I live in Indiana. I bought it!! Bought one way air fare for me and my family. I had the pleasure of driving an LS400 up the coast of California and thru Colorado w my family!!! It's good to know that my timing belt will let me know.. Scares me to death.
Great find. Definitely do that belt before it complains though!
best vehicle review I've seen man, good job
I appreciate that!
Miles dont matter these keep going!!!! For life!!!! I have a 98 myself an its got 354k onit still going strong love it
It’s a legend of a car! I miss mine so much!
Still have that LS? I’m curious cause I picked mine up last month with 88k miles
@@getyomoneyup mine no i have a new Toyota camry now but damn that car was so good had like 450k onit when i parted ways with it now im sure it has much more since my friend still has it 😊
amazing
11:39 that’s the heater valve they broke while replacing your motor mounts. They robbed you by charging you $150 for it because that’s something they should’ve disconnected before attempting to replace the mounts.
I felt that way too at the time. I have a better mechanic for this car now. Thanks for the info!
@@TheDrivenDave No problem. Same thing happened to me when the shop was replacing my motor mounts but I refused to pay for it. I had even told the receptionist to tell the mechanic to disconnect it but he never passed on the message. They ended up fixing it out of pocket.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one! Thanks for the comments
I love the Ls400. Mine is a 96 with the square face and still has glass headlights :)
Beautiful car!!
Nice review and car, got a 99 with 101k on it myself. Interested to know of any starter replacement as that and timing belts(which I just replaced)are my top maintenance priorities.
Thanks for watching, Bill. Sounds like you got a nice ride. I haven’t done a starter in my 90,000 miles with the car. I know Scotty Kilmer warns folks about this engine for that reason since the starter is a PITA to get to and costs a lot in labor. I still think it’s a calculated risk even though it’s a pricey repair. The rest of the motor is awesome! I did forget to mention that my VVTi solenoids malfunctioned once. My mechanic cleaned them and they’ve been great ever since. I hope that helps!
I also have a 98 and if you think the motor likes Mobil 1 try Penzoil. My motor LOVES it !
How did you get that radio in there? I thought they don’t make a harness for 3rd gen 400s
Karolis, I’m not sure to be honest no had a shop install it.
I had one the same color, must have been popular. Mine had the rare factory navigation that was really ancient. Very solid car though. I was very pleased with it until I drove an ls460. Still enjoyed it!
Truly one of the best cars ever! I miss mine and hope I can visit it someday in Colorado.
Hello Dave. I’m thinking of getting a 1999 model. What would you say I have to get checked or repaired in order to confidently use it as my daily driver? I’d appreciate a list of parts that usually break on this car!
Hi Khalid, they are awesome cars and most of them can be made great with enough work. As with any car, make sure the fluids are up to date as that can add significant expense.
Big items I did for my car were: timing belt and water pump (every 100k miles), power steering pump and alternator (at the same time usually since the pump leaks and kills the alternator), radiator and hoses, motor mounts, trans Mount, struts, strut rods (these are pricey and make a clunking sound on bumps and hard braking), tie rod end links, misc bushings, master cylinder, valve cover gaskets (very common, definitely check that). And of course normal car stuff like tires, brakes and wear sensors, battery, and fluids.
The LS is truly one of the worlds great cars in my opinion. Just make sure you’re in love with it before you dump copious money into it…. That being said, it still won’t be that much money compared to a new car, but… if I could do it all over again, I would have bought a LS430. I’m a bigger guy and I need the room for my legs and head. I do love my 400 though! Good luck and keep me posted!
Hey Dave. Thank you very much for your swift and in depth response. I really appreciate it. I’ve learned a lot from watching your videos. I did consider getting the LS 430 but I found it to be a bout out of my budget and because I’m in love with the LS I’m considering the 400 instead. I’ll make a list of the stuff you mentioned and change it at a pace that my budget allows lol. Thank you I’ll make sure to keep you updated!
Thanks for your kind words! It really is a fantastic car, plus the style makes it more of a classic now than the 430. I hope you can find one that is well cared for. I wouldn’t worry about high miles as long as the maintenance is there. Good luck!
What’s the best oil should i put in it i am in the middle east and it’s hella hot it’s like 127 or 124 Fernhight idk how to right it
That’s hot!! I’m no expert, but I would think a good quality fully synthetic oil would be a good choice. I use Mobil 1 and it’s always been great. Good luck!
Lexus can make a height adjustment to your seat. I had this done on my LS400. Oddly, my daily driver, a lexus GS300, didn't need it. The rear seat won't adjust, but how often do you drive from the back?
I’ve never heard that. I wish I had known that years ago. Sadly I’ll be selling mine soon.
I just got a 98 ..There is key push button between the trunk and fuel gauge push lock. Not sure what is this? Any idea?
I'm pretty sure that is the trunk lock feature. If you push it in, it will lock the trunk so the only way to open it is with the key. You'll unlock that button with the key also. Enjoy your car. I still miss mine!
Where do you get your toyota oem parts?
It’s tough sometimes, but I’ve have my best luck with eBay from a Toyota dealership in Arizona. They post there and have good prices. Also, my mechanic uses OEM whenever possible.
Hey, have you ever had problems with the gearbox?
Hi Dima, not so far. I’ve done a few transmission services (fluid and filter) and the shifts got smoother. Thankfully nothing else.
Has 176000 miles anything I should replace ?
Congratulations! Great car. Check the timing belt, power steering pump and also the suspension control arms and all bushings. Might need struts at that mileage if they haven’t been done yet. Good luck!
Is 9k too much to ask for one with 80k miles and very good condition?
Noah, I’m not sure. The used car market has gone CRAZY the last year and car values have skyrocketed. Good time to sell and bad time to buy in my opinion… someone wanted to buy my car, but I would wanted more than it’s probably worth. Lol
Anyway, I’m amazed there is still an 80k mile LS 400 out there as most have lots of miles by now. Personally, I’d rather spend that kind of money on the LS430 since I appreciate the additional cabin space, but the LS400 is an amazing car at any price for sure. Hope that helps!
Is there any LS 400 content you’d like to see? Please let me know and subscribe for more content coming soon. Thanks for the comment!
What percent tint do you have on it?
It was 6 years ago and I don’t quite remember. I think it is 30% plus a brow. I didn’t want too dark since it local law enforcement might hassle me.
@@TheDrivenDave yeah that’s legal limit where I’m at. It looked really dark in a few spots of your video, like 20%. Mine is white also and I was using your video to gauge what % to go with.
@@Ches13h it looks darker than it is since all the windows are tinted. I’ve been very pleased with it.
Yeah it looks amazing! I have an appointment scheduled next week to get mine done. I’m very glad I saw your video. I’d love to pick your brain on maintenance. There’s some things I’d like to do to keep her going. My email is my name on here @aol.com
Chrome rims are expensive ?
Not sure. They came with the car and are factory. I know they are expensive to re-finish.
Wow only 14mpg…is there a way to increase that, and does is HAVE to have premium fuel? Or would I be okay only filling premium some of the time? (Not trying to sound cheap)😅😂
It is actually pretty fuel efficient, especially on the highway. At the time of filming this, I was pretty much only using the car for short local trips. Expect 19-22mpg mixed driving. 27mpg at 65 and under cruising. Not sure about the gas grade. I always run premium since it says it needs it. Hope you get a good one!
the Variable timing engine is interference.
the version prior is non-interference.
You are correct! Only a problem if the timing belt breaks… for me it was worth it for the better power and gas mileage. 1990-1997 were non interference. 1998-2000 were interference.
How many miles on full tank ??
On freeway I can go close to 400. City only about 200-300 depending on conditions...
I've never gotten less than 400 miles and can get 500+ at moderate freeway speeds (65-70 ph) on 1997LS400. 20-25 mpg is range, according to EPA sticker.
Anytime someone say anything negative about my ls400 i just reply " its a V8 and RWD"
Good answer!!
Are you kidding me... If a 6'4 dude can sit behind another 6'4 dude.... That qualifies as a luxury sedan..lol
18:22 this man just fart? 😵
I didn’t, but it would have been hilarious!