Faults:

111,000 miles: VSC light came on, radio stopped working.

Valve cover gasket started to leak.

General Comments:

Bought as an 11 year old car with 100k miles; was the cheapest car with vehicle stability control (VSC), brake assist, side airbags and HID headlights.

At 116,000 miles the VSC light came on and the radio played but no sound. Dealer wanted $450 to replace the amplifier as the 1st step in their diagnosis; didn't say what next step would be. Paid a $40 diagnosis charge, which later turned out to be wrong, and went home. Decided to invest in factory repair manuals, $200. With the manuals I checked the power supply to the amplifier (blue/yellow), no power, traced it to JUNCTION CONNECTOR J4 behind the instrument cluster, opened it, cleaned and reconnected, the music came back, VSC was fixed same time because J4 also supplies power to the VSC ECU!

Do all scheduled maintenance using the manuals, buy OEM parts online from good stores and we can keep the car in good condition at a very reasonable cost.

Except for above mentioned problems, the car has been fantastic. The engine runs smoothly, no leaks, gets 30+ miles/US gal on freeway, has made countless 500+ miles/day trips well past its 200k mile mark; ride is comfortable but too much roll at turns because it's heavy; all electrical options is working; leather seats are still clean and soft, no cracks.

Working on our own vehicle is sometimes very tiring, but it will treat us well in return. Happy motoring!

Faults:

- Steering wheel mechanism ($2000)

- Water in the trunk ($200 to fix)

- Headlamp leveling mechanism

- Cruise control switch is wobbly

- Mirrors become discolored

- Steering wheel shakes at 60mph

- Window switch broke

- Suspension is squeaky

General Comments:

PERFORMANCE.

- Breathtaking acceleration, can run at 100mph all day!

- Tons of power and torque, no downshifting.

- 32mpg TOPS, 10mpg all city; average 23.5mpg.

- Exclusively fed on 93 octane.

RELIABILITY.

- Stopped in the highway because of an electronic sensor in the headlamp.

- GPS is great, but dealership will not update it!

- Sensitive to cold/wet weather.

- Squeaky in and out.

- Paint beginning to rust in door and trunk lips.

COMFORT & FEEL.

- Frighteningly quiet cabin.

- Best seats I've sat on so far.

- OK handling for such a large car.

- CHEAPLY MADE. Lots of plastic.

- Solid door thud is lost, compared to my '91.

- I am 6'2 and brush my head on the ceiling.

DEALER.

- OUTRAGEOUSLY overpriced, as they all are.

- Free courtesy car.

- Continuous updates, attentive service.

- Better talk to the mechanics in the dealership.

- Snotty behavior regarding older models.

RUNNING COSTS.

- VERY HIGH, even if purchased in mint condition.

- - - - - - -

I had a 1991, and I must speak about the 2000 in utter disappointment. Every single bit of fancy electronics is a liability for VERY EXPENSIVE fixes. There is way too much that can go wrong.

Build quality is also a step down from the 1991. The steel panels are thin as a Coke can, and the interior is mostly cheap plastic. The feeling of it is very cushioned, not solid. The solid thud of my '91 doors is gone.

The 2000 LS400 is not a strong car. It is moody when temperature drops or when it rains, and its suspension seems like the automotive equivalent of a ballet dancer... smooth, yet fragile. I have taken the 1991 through unpaved roads without hesitation, the 2000 seems brittle by comparison.

In short, if you are considering this car and want the best of the best Lexus has to offer, get yourself a 1994 or earlier. That was the time in which Lexus did make an effort to compete with Mercedes in build quality and reliability. If you want the ABSOLUTE best of the best in luxury sedans, then forget about Lexus and get yourself a nice W126 or a W140; those cars are true rocks. If you still want something like the Lexus within a reasonable maintenance budget, shoot for a Mercedes 300SD / 300SDL diesel. Parts are plenty, available and reasonably priced, even more so in junkyards. You will not be disappointed. It will be ten times the amount of car you paid for, and will last as long as you maintain it properly.