Lexus LS

One heck of a car for an old one with 350,000kms! – Picked up my LS430 a bit over 2 years ago for a song. The example I bought was a bargain because it was running rough at the time, miss-firing etc due to previous owner lack of maintenance. (always do your revs check before buying a second hand car privately - this one had a clean 3 owner record). Being a reasonable amateur mechanic I took a punt… Read more

on the failsafe that I could always sell it for parts and probably get more than my money back if it did in fact turn out to be irreparable.

Anyway after cleaning it up with a decent service (plugs, new vacuum hoses, filters, MAF and o2 sensors, vvt solenoids and a brake fluid flush) it runs like new. And it's been running great since for the past 30,000kms! Just normal servicing ever since. Get in, turn key and drive. Change the basic service items like oil when it's time.

The only thing that I would consider 'going wrong' after getting it running right was the xenon bulb headlight computers that would switch off the lights randomly. Quite a surprise if travelling on a dark road at the time. I replaced those with some plug and play LED's and problem solved. The headlights are really powerful which is great on country roads.

After getting it running well I have subsequently replaced/upgraded a few other time-worn parts like brake pads, KYB shocks and some other suspension bushes. Highly recommend freshening up your shocks in an old car - makes a world of difference.

Pros: - Originally a very expensive car new - absolute bargain nowadays. - Zero Depreciation now - Very spacious. Great for taking your mates around in. - Cabin filter with UV sterilisation - was great during last years bush fires at keeping the cabin fresh and smoke free. - Extremely well sealed cabin - Big Boot, with first aid kit, full size tyre and better than average toolkit. - For a big 5m long car the turning circle is amazingly tight. - Powerful brakes and stability control system. - Surprisingly good on dirt tracks - the suspensions absorbs bumps well while keeping the car planted on the road. - Reasonably powerful/fast for the type of car. Certainly not Tesla fast - but it is limo, not a sports car. - engine typically quite lazy 1-2,500 rpm range - it does wind smoothly out to 6000rpm without hassle if in the mood for more rapid acceleration. - The back seat is super comfortable with a cool box, aircon controls and seat heaters. It's a veritable lounge room on wheels. Lexus really outdid themselves on the backseats. It's like they designed that first then built the car around it complete with chauffeur spot. - Front seats are nice and heated and cooled. - It's so smooth and quiet with an awesome stereo and tri-zone aircon for an old car. - There are so many gadgets that even most new cars don't have like a cassette deck AND GPS! Doors that close themselves. All the windows and sunroof open by pressing and holding the unlock button. - Double glazed windows keep the outside heat or cold out of the cabin. Also good at keeping noise outside the cabin like diesel trucks at lights etc. - Built like a tank - panel gaps are great. - Good parts supply, prices and support from Rock auto and genuine Lexus parts from Amayama (allow a month for delivery). - Underneath all the plastic and electronics it is still a relatively 'old school' design which makes working on it pretty easy. - There are numerous really high mileage ones still running fine (like 1,000,000+kms) on the net. I have every confidence that this one will run for as long as I have it and as long as the next owner wants to keep it maintained (basic stuff like oil changes and replace the odd worn out part like tyres, brakes etc as needed).

Cons: Does look a bit like a 'Grampa' car. Back seat doesn't fold down Not the most fuel efficient vehicle but not terrible either - average 11l/100km over the past 30,000kms. It will drop into the 8l/100km on a long drive. During covid lockdown with lots of short trips we saw the worst tank we ever had was 16l/100km between March and May with all the short trips with engine cold. Some bits need a repaint - but really it is nearly 20 years old so. No Bluetooth - hey that wasn't around back then so a bluetooth to fm transmitter from Jaycar works great. There are bluetooth kits that can be wired in if desired. Engine does have a timing belt - that is a big job to change every 160,000kms which some people may choose not to do given the price vs the market value of the car. Parts from Lexus dealers are generally very expensive with slow delivery times.

Summary - Fantastic vehicles if you can find one *and* are prepared to keep them maintained. Are OK with not having a 'new' car for egos sake. Like all cars, a little maintenance goes a long way. They don't need lots but they do need some. I really can't see the value in getting a newer car - save for switching to EV or a PHEV.

Casual observation: A 20 years old car nowadays (ie year 2000) is hardly different to that of a new car - fuel injected, air bags, sound systems, air con power windows, crumple zones, disk brakes, plastic bumpers and lights no rust etc etc

A 20 year old car 20 years ago (ie 1980 in the year 2000) felt old - dubious stereos if fitted, rust, noisy, drum brakes, carburetor, glass lights, steel bumpers etc.