Driving a ONE MILLION MILE Lexus LS400 (Lexus Wants it Back)
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- It's not everyday you get to drive an automotive UA-cam legend. This one million mile Lexus LS400 has been all over the place hopping UA-cam Channel to UA-cam Channel over the years, and Micheal Elsea of @ElseasWorld decided to restore the exterior for @tavarishso how did it turn out? Let's talk about it.
#lexus #ls400
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iS ThAT MaTt FaRrahs MiLlion MiLe LExUS?!?! All jokes aside. Love your videos dude. Been watching since your sleeper civic video.
Yeah, he sold it to Freddy Tavarish who is letting this guy make vids on it fixing it up to a better condition cosmetically...
If I ever could buy this car, I would...it has a story and the story is worth preserving...I would rebuild that trans if it fails...keep this on the road for another 1M miles...
Dude this was so fun cruising around, come back soon! ❤
I've had 4 LS400's and I'll have another. I bought a 1 owner 1998 from a wealthy doctor that had 500k miles and zero issues (besides a small rust spot). AMAZING CARS!
oooh i love to hear about a wealthy doctor owned LS 400
my grandparents bought a ls400 new in 99. best car ever no exceptions. lmao they even towed a pontoon a couple times a few years back and it handled it like a champ!
@Doom_976 my grandparents also bought a new 1999 LS 400! thank fuck for consumer reports giving it the best reliability rankings and for them being so fed up with their constantly in the shop lincoln continental haha... def best car ever, and had i never inherited it i'd probably still just think it's another ES 300
@strook6394 i really wish i could have gotten the car from them but back in 2020 a tornado totaled it. that really hurt because i was already saving up to buy it from them and was so close.
@Doom_976that’s horrible. You must be in a tornado prone state. Be careful this year… last year was insane, but I feel like this year the tornados are gonna be off the chain
Only in my world I would drive more of this engine swapped into other cars than the ORIGINAL CAR.
Nah I love the 1uz and especially the 3uz. If I was still as active with modifying cars and blowing money I’d love to put a lightly built 3uz into another car like a 86/brz or is300 and supercharge it.
@@T5_T-Rell Pretty easy to add a Eaton supercharger to them. I am going to swap my 1JZ for a 3UZ in my IS300
@@oldhunterraziel5327yep. I had a gs430 back in 2021 and was interested in putting an Eaton m112 on it but I sold it before I made it a serious build. I have a black on black ls430 now and a 5 cylinder turbo manual Volvo track car. And is300 with a UZ is top tier I love the 1jz just as much, imo it’s the best sounding inline 6.
Hey David I ve sent you a email regarding buying the Eg. And trying to see if they was a better way to contact you about it.
your project build with this guy is something I am looking forward to now.
Biggest Lexus/Toyota fan here. Currently have a LS400, GS400 and SC400. Also have UZ swapped 87 Toyota pickup, 90 Supra and 90 Cressida. All running and will drive them anywhere.
i had to go check your account and bro mad respect
@ thanks bro
Wow u are definitely blessed!
I've got a 05 gs300 with almost 400k on it. Really want the uz so would you rather a ls 400/430 or a gs400/430? I can't make my mind up on what I want between the LG or the gs
Cheers dude, I have a IS300 hybrid and a SC430
Is that Lexus’s million-mile-Matt-Farrah?
Man, I think this might be Lexus Mile's Million Farah Matt!
Yes it is. They say it in the beginning of the video
@@thebeddoctor4273 buddy lock in
UHHHHHH IDK MAN!!
I've always cared more about cars with higher km than higher hp. Its more impressive that something has lasted longer than making power to me.
I think the car community should come to appreciate higher km cars, its not talked about very much
Ls400 and Ls430 probably two best cars ever made.
Dont get shy to say gs400 and gs430 too
@ Agreed
All Facts Here. The UZ motors 🎉
used to have an LS 430 - so nice! comfortable is an understatement
@ No doubt! Such a great car and it seems they are starting to get more attention lately. I realize sedans are not the vehicle most want during the SUV craze, but this platform just does so much right. If I was in the market for a good daily driver, there’s no way I’d overlook the LS430. I think people realize the junk being marketed and sold to people these days is over priced over hyped crap with no quality or longevity. Things are not built anywhere near as solid as the Lexus LS generation between 1990-2006. I don’t get why anyone would buy some of the cheap sedans I see all over the roads these days for the price of what used to be a decent house payment when you could pick up a mint LS for 1/3 the cost and have money left over for another car or a house down payment. I guess that’s what makes us who we are and I am WAY different than a lot of folks out there.
Irv Gordon's Volvo P1800 drove over 3 million miles (close to 4) Averaged 1.25 million miles per rebuild. It is now in the Volvo museum and still the current Guinness World Record holder for highest mileage commuter car.
Not to take anything away from the Lexus but it still has a long way to go if it wants to break records.
@willriley1619 if it was rebuild then 1.25 million is the record. This Lexus will surpass that without a rebuild....
@mk5rob42 The rebuild was not even necessary. Castrol found out about this and payed to have the motor taken apart and inspected.
Michael killed it with the body work/restoration!
Thanks dude! ❤
I've got a GS400 with almost 300k miles. I've done 100k miles in the last 2 years. It's done it flawlessly. It's been the absolute best car I've ever had!
Love this video! I drove one of these cars back in 1993 and it was a two year old car at that time. I worked selling Toyotas at the time and we received it on trade, and I got to take if for a couple of days ('stepmom was interested in it'). Absolutely the smoothest and quietest car on the road. Nice and roomy and bolted together with the highest level of precision. A trick gauge cluster that seemed to be a foot deep with how the lighting elements lit up in layers when you turn the ignition. The trickle down that you mention from your experience with the Century also trickled down to the Camry which was redesigned for the 1992 model year. A revolutionary redesign which brought that silence and rigidity that Lexus was known for. I love that the owner of this LS kept the original steering and its beautiful 'patina'. Cheers friend and keep up the good work.
I’ve heard the legends of this car for years and have been wondering where it’s at today. Glad to see it’s still going!
I own one 1999. It has 211000 miles. Running great! And I own 2005 LS430 and 2012 IS250 love them all
Love my Toyota daily 2006 Avalon with 450k miles for $1 I got it from my parents. The 2GR rides like a dream
I once changed the timing belt on one that had 587k. Can't believe the dude complained about the extra cost of me replacing tensioner and water pump. Should've thanked me lol
As a 5 time LS owner, I approve this video 👍🏼
TO ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION FEELING CONCERN:
On every older project car I fixed up/restored, I changed the radiator or the aux trans cooler plus pump out 2-4 quarts so I could add one quart of Lucas stop slip, and top off the rest with OEM trans fluid from the dealer (UNLESS the pan was leaking, then I would do just a pan flush/reseal, and if the fluid wasn't burnt I'd reuse some of the old trans fluid to still only use 2-4 quarts of fresh fluid)
That would ALWAYS restore the feeling of the transmission's shifts once the trans pump is free of any flow resistance.
LONG LIVE LEXUS!
Dang he did miracles with that bodywork!
Is this Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus?
Because I have a suspicion it might be Matt Farah's Million Mile Lexus.
I got to see this car in person when Matt Farah was loaning it out to people to drive, at Monterey Car Week in 2018. I believe it had 890,000 miles at that time. Super cool story and I'm glad it's still around. This is truly one of my best cars ever built.
I enjoyed watching this.
I still daily drive my Million Mile Accord. It's currently the only Honda V6 to reach that level.
1,056,xxx and climbing
It has a new engine now but it hit a million on the original engine.
Michael is literally like a southern Georgia Tedward haha
I was thinking he has a Tedward personality too lol
He even kind of looks like him tbh
Looks like Tedward, sounds like Ed Bolian.
thats some nice work. it's cool seeing more appreciation for clean, older road cars
I lust love older Lexus’s! They r so solidly built, and beautiful AF! Makes me miss my first car, which was a ‘99 Lexus ES 300! The 3.0 v6 was silky smooth & it was so well built
Mike goin toe to toe with his old boss @ Lexus was the bomb - and then the trip to FLA - hope you two can top that last vid - goodluck
I bought a 99 GS400 because of this car and I love it
CB7 Accord would like a word.
The other guy is great on camera, especially for a new UA-camr. You guys have great chemistry you should definitely work together
owned 3 ls400s, such wonderful cars
What a surprise collab between elsea's world (Mike) and David (that dude in blue)! I love it !
The amount of older "1,000,000 Mile" Toyotas is incredible to be honest. Anything with the V8 especially. My 02 Sequoia is the Limited with white paint and gold badges. 2UZ at 300k and the oil still looks like fresh honey when I change it! Really would like an LS400 or SC400.
i was just wondering about this car the other week, glad to see it again
A friend of mine just bought a Lexus GS450H, it's a Hybrid with 340hp and 500nm of torque, it reaches 350kmh and it's so comfortable and its got great tech. I can't believe how reliable it is for a hybrid. It's got over 100 000kmh and it still goes, 0 issues. I wonder how many km it will end up having with proper care before it goes bad. The battery could be changed and it would go even more.
i have 08 toyota sequoia, it's approaching a million miles,
still drives like brand new
I have more appreciation for this car now. Great video David.
That's awesome, Elsea did a great job on this! Check out his channel if you haven't already, quality content!
Keep the history. Ours did 140,000 in 12 years. Loved every one of them.
Bro worked at lexus body shop and had a supra 😅🔥🔥🔥😩 what dreams are made of 🤙🏽
Currently have a 00 model with 252k on it. Probably one of the best cars Toyota/Lexus ever made. I also have a 2022 Tundra, but I fear it may never live as long as the 400 (esp with the ongoing engine recall).
that steering wheel has so much DNA on it
I hope the log book is still in the glove box. I drove that car from LA to AZ and back in 2015 when it had 922,000.
I have a neighbor that lives ONE block away from me that has a LS400 in Imperial Jade Mica. It sat parked in front of his house for at least six months with two flat tires. I stopped by one day a few months ago while it was sitting there looking sad in the street and started to ask him if he would sell it and for how much. Dude shot me down before I could even finish my sentence. I was so bummed.
I've been following this car since day 1. Big fan of it and I have two dreams. To use and drive the million mile LS just for the experience. And to imagine everything that happened to the car. All of that history.
And to get my Lexus up to a million miles. 1998 Lexus ES300 with 205.5k miles
love it, looking to pick one of these up soon
I had one almost exactly like that in college. It was an awesome car. Don't remember anything ever going wrong with it.
These as the gs300/400 are some of the most underrated luxury cars ever, incredible features for the time with solid engines and transmissions, and it was meant to be worked on, compared to german cars of the time they are much easier to service.
Before cars became disposable. Great days.
I love those Lexus’. They were on top back then
Bro super cool that you are doing cars that the average car dude would own. ❤❤
"Would it be an old Toyota?"
"I would choose the Lexus LS400."
So... an old Toyota, lol?
This particular car is the stuff of legends. Glad to see it still trucking along.
I just bought a 91 with 83k miles that was garage kept and super well maintained for 6k, same color but not the gold badging
Never have I clicked so fast on a video, I have the original window sticker, owners manual, took kit, keys, service records ... Everything
I would love to compare these cars as I've been restoring my car (basics like shocks and timing belt)
wow you two look A LOT alike
i first thought they were brothers lol
1900 Rugrat gotta be their brother from the hood 😂
I said that to 😂
“They all look alike when it gets down to it…” just saying 🤔
@@thomasharris5151who are they?🤔
I really miss mine. It was amazing
I just saw the other vid earlier. Was excited for this
You fall asleep from the indescribable boredom of driving and owning one
regarding swapping fenders and what not around 04:15 mark and the "credibility is gone". thats what they did to the BMW tupac was shot in.
If memory serves in following this Lexus, the transmission has either been replaced or rebuilt. I want to say that was around 800,000 miles. Again, could be wrong on the timeframe but I know I heard him and Zach talking about it on the smoking tire podcast a WHILE back.
Love my ls460L it's 140k miles now but I bought it after retiring my 2007 pontiac g6 with 300k. Im hoping to pass that with the lexus.
I really want to see my GX460 reach a million miles but living in a small state with a relatively small commute that may take a hot minute (only at 25k miles)
To answer your first question, probably the CB7 generation Honda Accord really, statistically speaking. There's Joe's million mile car on youtube and it's not the only one.
Can't wait to own one tbh
Was litterally just thinking it reminded me a bit of a Toyota Century, then that got brought up. Unfortunately no sick curtains though haha.
He stole the show today David 😂
From all the evidence that I gathered from this video, I have a high suspicion that this is, indeed, Matt Farah's Million-Mile-Lexus
You put another 1,000,000 miles on it
we had three LS400. I cannot believe how quiet, fast and smooth they were. Literally did no servicing of the vehicle, bought for nearly nothing and lasted many years.
Ive had the tint redone on a 93 GS300, purple tint is inexcusable 😂 the paint could of gone with a cut and buff, redone interior and tint would of made it worthwhile
Is this Matt Farrah's Million Mile Lexus
I used to own a 65 mustang with 962,000 miles no one believed me until I showed them the odometer.
Love this car used to have a 95 couple years back with only 140k miles. Bone stock.. miss that thing
I have an '02 Sequoia with the 2UZ V8 in it. It's currently just shy of 400k miles. I'll be happy to get it to half a mill.
Here's y'all's answer, absolutely nothing happens to the Lexus LS400 after 1,000,000 miles. It's because unlike the Germans, it'll truly last when maintained relatively well.
You should do a video with The Car Care Nut who recently restored his LS430 woth 9ver 600K miles in that same color combo.
Theseus's LS400
I am surprised that the Lexus GS 400 doesn't get attention either. It also had the 1UZ. Beautiful car in my opinion.
The whole reason the GS isn't in production anymore is because of the lack of attention they got. Back when the GS got the UZ, it was a firebreathing revelation, then the XJR got a supercharger, the E55 had a bigger motor, the RS6 was a V8 AND twin turbo, the E39 M5 was "the Ultimate Driving Machine". Whenever the GS would put out its best, the Europeans would just go all in with outright performance. Personally, I prefer a 2006 GS430. Its such a special one model year only car.
@@aera6413 The GS430 is good yes, but the GS460 walks the floor with it while also being somewhat rare.
This makes me want to put my 90 Cressida back on the road. It has a loose rod that can likely be singled out & put back together.
This is proof all Toyota engines are bulletproof
I had one love that car. I used to wash and wax every other day. Lol.
Toyota cars are built different!
14:26 had me kinda tweak out when it got played twice
Looking into buying a ls400 to manual swap and daily :) but that’s just an idea
I love logo gold color ❤
This was an EPIC Rebuild...
Yo the its the legendary MILLION MILE LEXAS!
14:16 AdamLZ moment with the double clips :D
That's a good point how much is this million mile Lexus worth that's so hard because everything works and it worth continuing the restoration of this Lexus LS400 because of the history of it but how many of its rivals would do a million miles without falling apart but this LS400 drives everything works and Toyota spent so much time and money on developing the LS400 and this LS400 is proof what Toyota spent on the development on the Lexus LS400 was worth it and this LS400 is the proof
I have a white 1999 LS400 with over 300,000 miles on it. I had to get the paint code from Lexus to match the bottom color. Her name is Pearl because she's big as a whale and she's pearl white. I'm so jealous of that paint job. Lol
Dude,!!! You should go get the Benz emblems that the give for every 100K ,!!❤
i need to pick one up.. '94 with 80k miles.. for 6000.00 hmmm
Don’t be an stupid person lol
Just be true to yourself consider all the factors, pick the best vehicle for you whether you already have it and need to care for it more or get a new one. My recent one 93' Ranger 4cyl MT 2WD small cab. One of the best vehicle purchases I have ever made, I don't think people realize compared to similar class vehicles, how good of gas mileage these get, this engine is non interference too.
@@JamesKarne not stupid is legit bro. only con is the gas cap fender is rusted. shit in North east salt belt melt any shit away .
@@Bawkr 👍only the rust panel make me think twice tho.
@ Rust doesn't scare me but I know I can lay something down on top of it if it's cosmetic until it can be fabricated later on. I also seal it up with good brand ceramic spray paints because they stop rust from getting oxygen as seen on youtube video tests. Way better than rust reformer. But you can kind of tell when a car is structurally worth a lot less, the rust will be in the frame area rather than just the fenders or floor near a door. Since it's from up there you might want to put a thick oil on it instead to treat it until it can be repaired but up here in WA ceramic paint will extend it for decades. Sweet Project Cars has some decent ideas on delaying further rust damage.
Ok it's a longshot, but are you referring to EmpLemon's video essay on collectibles at 11:37
these cars are so nice I've been looking at getting one for a daily but its so hard to find a clean one
Buy a beat one they go a million not like it matters if you can get it cheaper, unless you're averse to working on it yourself
TDIB may as well track down Ludacris' restored Acura Legend at this point.
"you're just another dude with LS..." sounds almost like an insult :D
Elsea is the only reason im here
Old cars are great, an LS 400 is on my list one day, with all the stupid new rags the cars have these days old cars are just refreshing
Not the edgar cut 😂
Can you do the ls430
If this car had been properly cared for and kept in a garage, the interior would still be in excellent condition.