Faults:

Replaced front driver upper control arm at 164,000.

Replaced spark plugs and wires that were from 1991 at 164,000.

Replaced battery that was 6 years old.

Replaced rotted out factory Pioneer sub woofer with a newer Lexus Pioneer subwoofer at 165,000.

Seat warmers stopped worked at 164,000.

General Comments:

The car handles VERY well for such a large car. I would toss it around like a small Camry, and it took the abuse with grace.

The engine is bulletproof and VERY strong, and is VERY quiet and very good on gas for a V8!

Strong brake system, good traction and ABS systems saved my butt a few times!

The car is quieter than any other car I have been in before. Excellent sound deadening and anti vibration systems.

The heat and cooling is extremely strong, and works in 10 degree F weather and 106 degree F weather.

Stock sound system is extremely good for any car, let alone one this old. 7 speakers Pioneer.

The glass headlights suck quite badly. Buy aftermarket headlights.

After 21 years, everything electrical except the seat warmers still works flawlessly... Take that BMW, Mercedes and American auto companies!

The instrument cluster is one of the best I have EVER seen, with cold cathode 3D lighting...

I took the car up to 150 MPH with ease, and it felt solid. That is incredible right there....

My next car will be a newer 1998+ Lexus LS. These are built tough and like tanks. I would say it's the most reliable car I have ever owned.

Bought the car for $1200, and spent $3000 on it to be 100% perfect. Well worth it.

Faults:

- Power steering pump was leaky.

- Rack and pinion needed replacement.

- Mechanical whining noise in the engine.

- Clunking noise from back suspension.

- Rear-view mirror was discolored.

- Faded LCD.

- Water in spare wheel well.

- Worn seat springs.

- Broken side mirror.

- Worn console armrest.

Invested $4,000, unwilling to put more money into it.

General Comments:

PERFORMANCE

- Good acceleration, excellent city driver.

- Plenty of power; good on hills.

- Average 20 mpg, most I've gotten is 27.8 mpg

- If not using 91 or 93 octane, runs a little rough.

RELIABILITY

- Never left me stranded in 10,000 miles.

- Solid car, supremely assembled.

- Can take ridiculous amounts of neglect.

- No rattles or squeaks.

- Very durable paint.

- Leather wears quickly.

COMFORT & FEEL

- Very quiet cabin.

- Windows roll up slowly.

- Uncomfortable seats in long drives.

- Boaty handling (lots of 3-point turns).

- Mix of cheap and quality materials.

- Solid door thud (not slam).

- Plenty of room for a 6-footer.

DEALER

- VERY overpriced, as they all are.

- Free courtesy car.

- Continuous updates, attentive service.

- Better talk to the mechanics in the dealership.

- Dealerships do not like old Lexuses!

RUNNING COSTS

-VERY HIGH if the car has been neglected.

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The first generation Lexus LS400 is probably the best road trip sedan ever made. Its construction is very solid, yet not as solid as a pre-1991 Mercedes, and cushiony at the same time. Took mine across the country without any problem other than a little steering maladjustment. If you get an poorly maintained specimen like I did, be ready to pay a good amount trying to catch-up on maintenance.

My current car is a 2000 LS400, the last of the best; I am very happy with it. It is way safer (4 airbags instead of 1), has better performance (290 hp, avg. 25 mpg) and handles much better than its predecessor. The only car I would consider other than the LS400 would be a Mercedes 190D or a W126 diesel, for their build quality is second to none, they are very reliable and they can be run on vegetable oil and bio-diesel.