13th Apr 2012, 04:00

Further owner update: The Lexus has now done 40,000 km since purchase. Had a service done today at 185,000 km, which cost the grand total of $229. Headlamp bulb replaced, otherwise no problems apart from ones previously mentioned. The mechanic has a friend whose LS400 has just turned over 600,000 km, so there may be a few years left in mine yet!

13th Apr 2012, 14:20

These cars are amazing and you are very fortunate to have one, I'm jealous! Can I have it? XD.

6th Jul 2012, 22:58

Further owner's comment: Now done 192,000 km. Had to replace part of the rear suspension recently, which cost $1300. Rattles in both front doors, but otherwise runs perfectly.

30th Jul 2012, 16:38

Can you confirm exactly what the fix was? I am very interested, as I would love to find a solution to this stalling issue.

29th Aug 2012, 06:49

I'm pretty sure the problem was idling speed, and was cheap to fix. It did stall again recently, but that was about 3 weeks ago. It has now done 195,000 km and still has reasonable economy. Can't justify an upgrade on economic grounds at present.

27th Oct 2012, 02:38

Further owner's comment: Now done 202,000 km and the engine still runs sweetly. Fuel consumption unchanged at 10L/100 km (28 miles per imperial gallon). This V8 is bulletproof!

No further problem with stalling since the idling speed was adjusted upward. Front tires worn down and need replacing, rear tires are fine (have done 57,000 km on this set, which the previous owner had fitted just before he sold it to me).

After trialling a few diesel powered cars lately, I can appreciate the noise dampening efforts that Lexus put in to the design of this vehicle. It is beautifully quiet.

19th Dec 2012, 04:34

Further owner's comment: Has now done 207,000 km. Two new front tires (Toyo brand), which have helped road noise.

Current issues - all fairly minor:

1) Both front seat belts don't retract fully and need to be guided into place

2) Rattle in both doors noticeable at urban speed

3) Speedometer and sometimes odometer often don't function, especially on a hot day.

4) An electric motor has failed on the steering wheel and it doesn't drop fully into place at start up, obscuring the dashboard slightly. Probably caused by a careless auto electrician.

5) Gearbox light on dash for 'Drive' not working - again I blame the auto electrician.

6) Windscreen needed re-gluing into place

7) A lot of stone chips have appeared on the bonnet

But overall, it still performs well.

14th Aug 2013, 07:11

Further owner's comment: Now done 219,000 km. However I'm not doing so many long runs now. Still runs perfectly. Will hang onto this beauty as it's just so comfortable. Speedo sits 10 km/hr less than true speed, which resulted in a ticket, but with cruise control and sitting on 90 km/hr rather than 100, I won't be getting any more.

11th Nov 2013, 19:23

I concur with your comments, I have a 95 Aussie model, which has now done 255 000km and drives like a dream. The motor doesn't use a drop of oil or coolant.

I have made quite a few mods to improve the vehicle's reliability though, and maintenance is absolutely paramount.

The alignment issues may be fixed with camber adjustable bushings.

I have also fitted a big PWR radiator and TRD 72 deg thermostat to better cope with the 46 degree days we sometimes get in summer.

I drove a 2012 Toyota V6 Aurion for about 8 hours on a highway and back road drive last month, and the 18 year old Lexus is still a better car to drive, and is more comfortable and relaxed.

I have fitted Pedders Extreme XA coilovers, and these are on the softest setting I can get them. Still very comfortable on the highway, but much more assured handling.

BUT just had major instrument cluster problems, power supply shorted out and resulted in a non functioning cluster that cannot be repaired (tried 3 specialists) and Lexus no longer has any spares for the cluster. Dakota Digital conversion is on the cards...

But this car will go forever, the build quality is superb.

29th May 2014, 05:40

Update: Has now done 229,000 km. Just had cam belt changed, 8 new spark plugs, as well as new water pump, tensioner, timing belt, drive belt, 2 rotors and idler, as well as a routine service, which cost NZD2200 all up.

Also replaced two more tyres about 3 months ago (Goodyears this time). Next bits of maintenance are the electrical problems mentioned earlier. All things considered, still a relatively cheap car to run for its size.

21st Nov 2014, 02:49

Update on the instrument cluster:

I could find no-one who was actually able to fix the fault with the power supply board in the cluster. I bought a second hand unit from a wrecker, and whilst it worked... the lights were on the way out and the temp gauge didn't read at all. SO... I went ahead and purchased a Dakota Digital VHX-1018 universal instrument cluster and the factory colour wiring diagrams for the 1995 year model (very important) and proceeded to wire the new instrument cluster into the car. Well about a month of Sundays later (done in my spare time), it is installed and everything works perfectly... no longer have any worries with the speedo not working or lights fading or inaccuracies etc. Fiddly - yes... worth it? Totally.

Jobs for this Christmas will be front brake pads and rotors, trans and engine oil, and filter and brake fluid change. Haven't touched the engine since 2011! Such a well designed and built machine. Will keep this car as long as I can!

Oh... I did change the front lower control arm inner bushings for Superpro poly (same part number as the UCF10 at 260 000 km, fixed the wandering at highway speed). Surprisingly they ride better than worn out factory rubber! Cost about $100 for the bushes and a weekend's work, then a complete front end alignment.

20th Jul 2015, 11:11

Final owner's comment: Sold it in September last year to a friend for $4700 - still running beautifully, but have had most of the last 6 months working overseas, and so decided to liquidate this asset before I headed off. It had done 234,000 km - I had done 88,000 of these for a $2500 depreciation over four years. Once I cease the work abroad, I will be getting an LS430...

18th Apr 2016, 05:43

Still have my 95 LS400... Still runs beautifully. 305 000km now. Dakota digital dash still works perfectly. Took it on a 5000km run up the East coast of Aus last September... did not miss a beat in 2 weeks of driving - fully loaded. Leaked a bit of coolant past the 5 year old radiator cap... fixed with a new one for 10 bucks.

I did change the automatic belt tensioner last winter as the belt started to squeal... bought a new Gates tensioner and fitted in one afternoon, no problems since.

The car does about 450km a week, mostly on the highway and open road, still fantastic to drive. I think it would be nice to get an LS430 some days but why, when this car still runs perfectly. It's smoother, quieter, more powerful and better on fuel than the wife's 2010 RX350.

6th Jul 2017, 12:41

Final, final owner's comment... I thought I had said farewell to my Lexus, but the guy I sold it to died without changing the ownership over. I had been receiving his speeding tickets and registration reminder notices, and suggesting he take over ownership, for years - but he didn't, so legally it became mine again.

I sold it to a builder friend with 260,000 km on the clock after taking it on a 200 km journey. On his first long trip the alternator leads failed, and as a result the alternator and battery needed replacing... oh dear.

There's nothing like selling a car twice over!

I replaced the Lexus with a 2000 Nissan Maxima; an under-rated car with acceleration from a standing start better than the V8.