Quiet, retiring person
It’s decision time. I am about to retire soon on a reasonable pension.
I want to buy a high quality car to last me 15 years or more. My neighbour runs the first Lexus model ever brought out in this country. The car looks a bit like a brick and I think motoring journalists gave it a bashing for being ugly to look at with overlight power steering. He has done 630,000 miles in this Lexus. He tells me he has never ever had any trouble with the car apart from normal servicing. That's all he has spent on this very durable car. Tell me, did Lexus make this first model extra special bombproof? Was it because the car was new to this country that Lexus made it that good? You don't see many on the roads now, do you? Are all Lexus, as good as this early model? And has Lexus kept up the build quality? My current car is a 2003 BMW 530d, which has been a super car, except the inlet manifold swirl flaps broke up after nearly five years ownership. BMW replaced the engine and I had to pay a token payment £2,000. The engine problem left a nasty taste in my mouth and I said to my wife, when the time comes to replace it we will consider another make.
I want to buy a high quality car to last me 15 years or more. My neighbour runs the first Lexus model ever brought out in this country. The car looks a bit like a brick and I think motoring journalists gave it a bashing for being ugly to look at with overlight power steering. He has done 630,000 miles in this Lexus. He tells me he has never ever had any trouble with the car apart from normal servicing. That's all he has spent on this very durable car. Tell me, did Lexus make this first model extra special bombproof? Was it because the car was new to this country that Lexus made it that good? You don't see many on the roads now, do you? Are all Lexus, as good as this early model? And has Lexus kept up the build quality? My current car is a 2003 BMW 530d, which has been a super car, except the inlet manifold swirl flaps broke up after nearly five years ownership. BMW replaced the engine and I had to pay a token payment £2,000. The engine problem left a nasty taste in my mouth and I said to my wife, when the time comes to replace it we will consider another make.
Asked on 14 August 2010 by JA, via email
Answered by
Honest John
The original LS400 did have a few problems, but was simpler than later LS models with just a 3-speed autobox. Specialists buy up rough ones and cannibalise them for spares. No one successfully made a limo out of them because the metal was too thin and the structure too weak. I'll note your friend's 630,000 miles in the entry at:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/lexus/ls400-1990 . Lexus has consistently achieved very high What Car/JD Power Customer Satisfaction ratings. I'd go for the V6 IS250 auto. The engine and transmission are beautifully matched for smooth progress, and it wasn’t subject to the recent valve spring recall.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/lexus/ls400-1990 . Lexus has consistently achieved very high What Car/JD Power Customer Satisfaction ratings. I'd go for the V6 IS250 auto. The engine and transmission are beautifully matched for smooth progress, and it wasn’t subject to the recent valve spring recall.
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