Used 1992 Lexus LS 400 Consumer Reviews
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Superb Mediocre Car!
It was Toyota's finest effort. It cannot handle or stop like a BMW or Mercedes, but they did manage to run away from the Germans with true ingrained quality of manufacture. This Lexus has given me 100,000 miles of totally reliable driving, the engine is a dream, smooth, free-revving, outstanding fuel economy of 24-28 mpg (if other reviewers are complaining about fuel economy, try changing the o2 sensors), the transmission is smooth and capable (though it does not hold the gear you're in if you get off the gas quickly like the fully-hydraulic transmission in my Mercedes manages to figure out), and the overall experience of this car has held constant, from 77,000 miles to 180,000 miles. Leather is intact. Carpeting is plush. Engine is silky smooth. Nakamichi stereo is simple and competent. My favorite doodad is that electro-flourescent instrument panel. Yes the speedometer needle went dark, yes the dealer wanted $1,200.00 to repair, yes, I fixed it for $15.89 (a bottle of window defogger repair paint tp establish an electrically continuous line on the backside of the needle). I love Toyota's real effort with this car. I do not like new Lexus Bloat Barges . . . update: July 10, 2017 - gave reviewed car to brother. Then had crippling Seller's Remorse. So, I bought an identical 1991 Lexus LS 400 with only 57,000 miles that is utterly perfectly fresh (still smells new in the trunk). Set for life. 07/11/20 The 1991 now has 88,800 miles. Nothing has broken, no top-off of any fluids, drives like a dream ...
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380,000 miles and going strong!
Up to 380,000 miles now. Have had it repainted and have had a leather interior kit installed. Still think it's the best luxury sedan ever made. No problems, no issues. It just starts and runs like new. Normal repairs only: brake pads, tune-ups, etc.
Beautiful vehicle
Bought this a few months ago. Had 99,800 miles on it. Paid $6,200 for it at a dealer, which I thought was a great price. Fabulous car. Best ride of anything I've driven, and this is at 14 years old. Solid, strong, smooth. Understated styling, which I like. Exceptionally comfortable drive on long-distances. This car is just a pleasure to drive. Plenty of power and muscle. Very quiet on the road, especially on the freeway. An absolute winner, in my book.
Still best sedan ever made!
1991 LS400 with 250,872 miles. Have spent A/C repairs $2800, steering pump $578, rear air shock $525, major tune- up $1200, rear calipers $374, driver door lower speaker $200, fog lamp housing/lenses $200, tires $1,500. 2.9 cents/mile! Worth every penny.
Great value
These cars were built to last forever and are a great value on the used market
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Amazed for a 20yr old car
First time even driving a Lexus. I was hesitant due to the fact that I thought it was going to be an overrated Toyota. Night and day difference, and totally different from a Toyota. Even at 20yrs young, this car looks and drives like new (Yes the previous owner took very good care of her)Don't like the sound system, but can easily be upgraded and brought up to the 21st century. Car rides super smooth, makes you feel the luxury. Only piece I was disappointed in the stereo, but otherwise fabulous car. V8 power is decent. Looking to add performance mods and get a little more. Hope this helps
Classy design and dependable car.
After reading the reviews on the Lexus LS400, we found one with 97K miles in good condition. The car run smoother than many new vehicle I have driven! The car if maintained well is very dependable and will last for 300k miles I am sure. I will say this: if you are buying a used one especially the 1992, make sure the timing belt service has been done to it (think it is the 60K or 100K service) it is pretty pricey. I have had it since Feb 10 and it looks brand new. The cars lines are ahead of its time, straight and classy. The interior it nice and comfortable, The factory sound system is very nice. I do suggest tinting the windows cause the leather gets hot during the summer.
Great Bargain
Bought as a one owner vehicle with low mileage. Runs GREAT!!!! Far superior to many new cars today. The interior is like new and that IS NOT AN exaggeration by any stretch. For the price of a used one you can get a far inferior vehicle. Quiet drive, great sound system (Nakamichi), and a smooth ride. Great touring vehicle. They are doing fine with the LS 430 and later models LS 400's. Go 98 and above if you can afford it but for a great bargain go old school.
Supreme Quality
This vehicle has been the most reliable of the 20 cars that I have owned. Along with reliability comes comfort, luxury and a the little extras that no other car manufacturer can touch yet. When comparing with Mercedes, BMW and Porsche, Lexus as a whole package has them beat by far. The car is fully loaded, handles well, very comfortable, and very reliable. You will get plenty of room in this car, trunk included.
Is it Sick to Love a Car?
I saw Toyota's VCR-tapes of the Celsior's tortured development in 1989 and wanted it for its soul, not its looks. It's the best way to consider a Toyota product. It arrived as a "The LS", and my birthday gift from me to me was a good price on the last '92 at Lexus of Oakland... and driving home, I said-to-ME "I HOPE this is the last car I ever have to buy". I was 49. That was TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ago. It's cost me normal care & feeding, a "surprise" alternator and starter, and a new windshield from a rock-hit. Sure, some of its more gee-whiz features have faded, but then, so have MINE. When I see what $37,000 buys "new" NOWADAYS? To ride on a sled of Lithion-ion BATTERIES? Are you CRAZY?
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Good Choice
Purchased in 2001 with 87,000 miles for $12,500 in spring of '01. Should have waited a few months - I would have learned that AC did not work. Never bothered to fix the AC, but shelled out around $5,000 over the last 9 years for brakes, front end parts, water pump, timing belt and power steering pump. Engine and tranny have never been a problem. Love the smooth ride and premier sound system. I believe the vehicle would match up very well against a Caddie or Lincoln of the same year. It's going up for sale soon and for $1,000 someone will get a darn good used car.
Maybe I just lucked out?
I purchased this car for next to nothing with 160k miles on it. The exterior has a few minor dings, chips and scrapes, but the paint is still glossy and, while a late model, the design still feels modern. The interior is worn, but clean and comfortable. This car was made in 1992 and other than the power antenna (doesn't extend, I disconnected myself), and the dead LCD display for the climate/clock (a known flaw) all of the accessories function as they should. This is a great thing because this car is absolutely loaded. Way ahead of its time. In the 1.5 years I have owned this car, I've put <$500 of maintenance toward it. Doesn't get great mileage, but hey, V8. HELLO! 20 on the HWY.
Best Car I've owned
Bought it w/70,000 miles, just passed 165,000 and no major problems! Aside from regular maintenance at 15,000- mile intervals, only other major costs have been a new Pwr steering pump ($800), new front ball joints ($400), and new gaskets for valve covers & oil pan (mostly labor). Quiet & reliabe....a dream of a car!
Best car I ever owned
I bought this 1991 Lexus with 67,000 miles on it in 2006 for $7,500. It's my backup and the best vehicle I've ever owned. No doubt you could put 500,000 miles on this vehicle. They are that well built. I changed out a failed instrument cluster this past summer, but I wouldn't trade this car for a new one today. An extraordinary engineering achievement. Mercedes liked to brag about the longevity of their cars. This one beats it to a pulp.
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Nice long term vehicle
I bought with 48,000mi. Now have 148,500. I was going to trade for a more fuel-efficient, but tried using regular instead of premium gas. Still gets 20-21 in town and 25-26 on the hwy and hasn't given me any trouble running regular. I've replaced timing belt, ac compressor/condenser, and it still runs great.
lovemylexus
I have 164,000 on it and it still rides great. The drivers seat is not as comfortable as I would like and it would be great to be able to lower it some for extra headroom but it is terrific in every other way. Reliability has been awesome for a luxury car. There is a lot left in this car and you can't say that about any American luxury cars. Caddy's and Lincoln's are unreliable and expensive to keep by 100k so forget about them. buy one and see for yourself. Don't let the mileage slow you down!
very happy owner
I have been totally happy with this car from day one. I've had virtually no major problems in 17 years, just routine maintenance (and inexpensive rear light bulbs going out regularly). It has been incredibly quiet ride from day one, unbelievably so. It seems like it'll last another 5-10 years! I'm passing it on to my teenage child, but only since after 17 years, it's time to move on (the car, not the kid!), e.g. to get a CD player!
1992 LS400
An all around great car. The Interior is spactular. My favorite feature is the padded leather on the doors.
Reliability
I own both the Original LS400 and the new LS430. The LS400 is bulletproof in reliability. (In many ways the Build quality is better than the new one) Great performance and no issues so far other than scheduled maintenance. Look out for cars beyond 90K. It is essential the timing belt and water pump be changed by then. Other than that it's a car worth buying provided it has been properly taken care of.
Smooth as Butter
I bought it off eBay. Drove from Akron Ohio to West Palm Beach. It's a dream to drive on the interstate with plenty of power, plus 25 mpg. Not bad at all.
Lexus Quality
Car has over 100K miles and drives and looks new. Quality is unmatched. Great used car value!! Best Car I have owned.
Amazing car
This is the best car I have ever owned. I bought it off a friend of my father's. It runs like new even at 240K+ miles!! Haven't had any problems with it other than a faulty sensor but that is common for this model and year. I plan to keep it well into the 300K range. Reliable and powerful, never call my car an expensive Toyota. This is a luxury car through and through with power like a sports car!
No Clunker!
Great car and a real workhorse. Nothing made can compare to the all around utility of the LS. No rattles, great ride, good MPG, and great paint.
Expensive Repairs
The car is great when it's running. However, have had water pump, power steering pump, and starter replaced. Also, rack & pinion leak, electrical problems, and a/c problems. At service rates just under $100/hour and using parts that have huge markups, it takes a small fortune just to keep the car in operation. I guess I don't have to use the Lexus dealer, so it's partly my fault. Other than these problems, the engine and transmission seem like they will last several hundred thousand more miles. Car now has 129,000 miles.
Diamond Lexus
Test ride the car more than once.
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One of the best cars I have ever owned
I have owned everything -- from BMW to Jeep to Ford. But I love my old Lexus. Yes, it is old, but it has been extraordinarily reliable (I hope I did not jinx myself). It gets OK gas mileage, great considering the size of the engine. It especially gets good mileage on the highway. I got this car for cheap; it was one of the best deals I ever made.
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I love my 91 Lexus Ls 400
The car is built like a tank with 4wheels. Can't wait to buy the Lexus lx 470 when I can afford.
great car....
I bought this car and did tune up and timing belt and after it no problem. I only had one problem which is the spark plug wire had a hole which cost $200.00 at the dealer, they replace all of wires. But overall no problem whatsoever except the mpg is a little too low (maybe V8)
Wonderful car...to a point.
Two weeks after I bought the car, the A/C went out ($4500). After a few months, it sprung a leak in the rear main seal ($400), the master switch for doors and windows went out ($400), the wheels were already replaced when I got it, the passenger door lock broke ($400), the driver's side handle broke the sheet metal ($300), the cooling reservoir sprung a leak ($200), it sprung an exhaust leak ($800), the starter is going out ($1000) and the power steering ECU went out ($400). All this within two years. On the bright side of a pretty miserable investment, the car has nearly 190,000 miles on it now and still runs like new.
Good news
Absolutely the easiest vehicle to drive; great on the highway: superb, safe acceleration when passing and in difficult situations. Zero road noise - less than my RX330. More comfortable than comparable vehicles. Wonderful Nakamichi sound system.
Best on the road
I bought the LS 400 with 89000 miles on it. Best used car I have ever bought. It now has 122000 and runs like new. Great car.
My 17 yr old car feels like it's 10 yrs.
I just recently purchased a well-cared for LS 400 that was pampered and garaged its entire life by the same owner. The car came with a stack of receipts which verified all of the maintenance done. I empathize with those who purchased an LS400 needing repairs. I noticed that it can be costly. For example, my rack and pinion/power steering has been replaced twice!! The AC system has also been replaced. Just these three items alone total more than I paid for the car. However, the previous owner did take the car to the dealership so that makes a big difference. Yes, I would definitely buy this car even if I had to make repairs. I would just go a cheaper route. This car is very smooth.
Do not buy
Car will blow heater core, overheat, and leak antifreeze 94% of the time in these cars. You will have to buy new heater core for around $350 and then pay a mechanic 8 hours of labor $1000 to take out dashboard and replace it. Moon roof vents constantly get clogged and it will pour heavy rain inside car. Temp control unit LCD display is always broken, so are the nighttime bulbs, horrible gas mileage 9-14 city for a 4.0 liter v8 with 200 horses, air suspension on thee cars are comfy but will not last more than 50,000 miles and are $1100 each x4 to replace.
Piece of crap
it's a very good car but after 10 years parts start to fall off and also start to break
Sadly, a lemon
Nice car, big $$$ problems (I am 2nd owner). Brakes need fixing every year. Power steering pump replaced 2x. A/C died, and fix required engine removal (big $). Imbalance in the drive shaft caused vibration at hwy speeds - 5 dealerships could not find cause until Heffner Toyota did - fix would have cost thousands and fault was factory caused but dealerships never noticed or fixed for original owner (little old rich lady family friend - honest!). 5 of 7 dealers not very ethical or reliable, with one of the two good ones susceptible of "bad days". Every repair is big $. Nice drive, comfortable yet responsive. Quiet. Handles snow well for RW drive. Stick with regular Toyota in future.
Best car ever.....
Bought the car with 101,000 miles now has 131,000 miles. Car was taken care of, all maintanece was performed by a Lexus dealer.I have had this car for a little over 2 years with no problems with it. This is an exceptional vehicle. Only thing I have replaced are all the gold emblems as they were kind of faded.Car has plenty of power and good gas milage for a V8 (21+MPG).Car is exceptionally quite and ride is very confortable. Engine is so quiet even during accelaration.
sa
excellent car as i will keep it
Smith Lexus
Extremely clean, low-milage (61,000 miles), excellent condition, sun roof, original paint & leather interior in excellent condition, all maintenance by Lexus dealer, new tires and studded snow tires available.
LS 400 excellence
Excellent road car 13 years old and still looks 3yr old 300,000km and no flaws original mufflers and tests at 6% of standard (max) for emissions One of the classiest designs ever
163K & still running
Garage kept 91 LS400. Paint is flawless with the interior being just as nice. 16 year old vehicles usually find the scrapyard by now but not this one! I have had the A/C compressor go out, and a couple leaks (power steering pump & manifold gasket) of which I've not invested the funds to fix. Dealership quoted me $1900 for the A/C compressor. "I'll do without". Friends have mentioned how comfortable a ride it is, and I'm not one to argue. Gas gauge is funny as the vehicle seems to run as if it were out of gas although the gauge is still showing 1/4 tank?? All in all, this vehicle "hooked me" into becoming a future Lexus owner. It will definitely be hard to drive anything else now.
Unbelievable Quality
My LS 400 just turned over 134,000 miles, and is running as well as it did when brand new. The engine, obviously well broken in, seems to be more powerful. This car is as it was when it left the showroom floor. The quality of every aspect of this car is THE BEST. Like the Energizer Bunny, it keeps going, and going, and going.
Lexus for Life!
Outstanding vehicle for age. Ride, comfort, handling and fuel economy unbelievable for 13 year old car. I bought this a year ago with 130,000 miles and now have 180,000. Had to replace entire steering system (rack, lines & Pump), A/C pump went out too and had to retrofit to get rid of R12. But got a warranty that paid for most of repairs. The rest is routine maintenance. 27 mpg on hwy.
Wish I bought a Lexus sooner
I have to admit after my mother's ES 300 hit 190k I started taking notice how reliable these cars could be with proper maint. I was a Honda/Acura buyer for 5+ years but when I drove my friends LS 400 I knew I had to get one. I found a 91 with 130,000 miles that was almost flawless, interior looks new if you can believe it. Car drives like a dream,very, very, very powerful 250 HP engine but it takes the premium gas. Would buy another in a heartbeat.
One Great car
I have had my car for six years now and I have nothing to complain about. I have had only one problem and that was the sunroof, a $75 fix no big deal. I love how this car is put togehter, engine, paint, body it is all done right. Still rides real nice and quiet and no squeaks or rattles after 110,000 miles, amazing.
Great buy in used cars!!
I bought mine in 1996 and have just past 100K. I have only had to replace an alternator and one ball joint. Engine is as smooth today as new. Plenty of power and 20+MPG. Most people are shocked to hear that the car is 11 years old. As tight and as quiet as new. Now if I can only find a 2000 LS 400 with about 20K...
The best thing to come out of the 90's
I bought this car on the suggestion from and friend, and it was the best free advice I had received in a long time. I purchased a black Jade Pearl with Ivory interior with 140,000 miles for just over $7,000. The car runs and drives like a 2002, and that is no exaggeration. The interior and exterior components are obviously of the highest quality, put together with exacting detail and precision. The greatest thing, every friend that has seen and gone for a ride in the car guess that its age is no more than 6-8. Surely a compliment for a 13 year old car.
My LS400
Had this car for almost 5 years now. It has been the dream car and I had no complaints. I've driven this car all over the country. This car has been reliable. I've put over 100k in 5 years. Parts are outrageous. The last year has been a nightmare. It started wearing down. One thing brakes after another. AC Compressor $1200, Power steering pump & Alternator $800, 2 rear calipers $348, new brakes, rotors $900. Over $3,000 in the last year. needs new struts and shocks. $1200. Don't get me wrong I'm in love with the car. For the year it's a great value. And the quality of materials. Interior looks great, no wear no tear. I know it will give me another 100K if I fix it, But is it worth fixing?
Makes you feel like somebody...
Very nice car for the money ($9,500...2/02). Smooth, fast, tight, roomy luxury feel, 120 MPH is nothing to this car. With only 81,000 miles and still decent design, most people think it is a more recent year model. Past owners problem areas have been power steering and air conditioning. Rated very reliable but if something does go wrong expect to pay 2-3 times the normal price to fix.
suspension/ride problem
2d owner at 58k; great ride until 125k when after tires replaced, suspension hardened;dealer advised that $5k (ball j oints, bushings, tighten engine mounts etc) to repair. car maintained regularly and mainly highway miles; advised that Lexus finding this problem in 1991 LS400 now. Will keep car but it is a rough ride.
it worth the buck
This car is unbelievable. I bought it used at 129000 miles and it is now over 150000. I haven't had any problem so far. The ride is so smooth and quiet. The engine and the transmition responded well when you need passing power. At 150000 miles I think this car will last me at least for another 50000 miles without a sweat.