Lexus: Anyone own a 1990 LS400?

<net> wrote in message
news:com... 

Sounds like mine 200400mi. It really depends how well it was taken care of
during the first 200K. It is very reliable, but expensive to repair if/when
things go wrong - parts are a killer.. I get about 18 city(or less)/25hwy
mi/gal. It takes a FULL 5 quarts of 5w30 and I always carry a quart, just
in case. It seems to consume oil(not a lot) on very long trips (1K), but
should ever be a problem if you change your oil every 3500 mi. The AC is
the old Freon, so a conversion is necessary should it fail. It has a
non-interference engine and they would like you to change the timing belt
every 60K, but I did not follow that schedule (Changed @ 120K, and the
mechanic said it looked perfect - you decide). The climate control LCD is
notorious for failure. If the PS pump leaks, it will take out the
alternator. The radiator overflow tank has a tendency to crack (and leak)
at the sensor port. The batteries seem to need to be replaced more than
other cars I have owned, but not excessive.

It is an "old man's" car and basically drives itself. Still has plenty of
get up and go, but I wouldn't be "hotrodding" it around corners though - a
weak design point that they addressed in 1993. Being rear wheel drive,
winter driving can be a challenge - snow tires are almost mandatory. Being
14 years old, things tend to get a little brittle (i.e., I cracked the bolt
to the headlight assembly, and the Japanese never did have the best
plastics).

All that said, it has been quite reliable, and I was never put on the spot
and left without transportation.

In article <0YeMc.2958$news.prodigy.com>, Jerohm
<net> wrote:
 

My personal experience with a '91 echoes all of this except for the
radiator issue. They still look and drive great.

Derek

>Sounds like mine 200400mi. It really depends how well it was taken care of 

Thanks for the great info!!

Well like I said Ive never owned a Lexus and didn't know anything abt
them. Ive owned several Toyotas and Mazdas tho.

Anyway...... my 19 year old nephew and his mother were VERY close to
buying a brand new car.

I just didn't feel very good abt him and his mom buying a new car...
nd making a commitment like that at his age given he is off to college
in a few weeks.

Since his Mom already had this older Lexus I suggested he take it to
college with him and drive it awhile. Or at least drive it for a year
or two before committing to new car payments.

I also suggested to get the LS400 checked out by a good mechanic
first. Which they said they did.

I didn't realize the LS400 was a rear wheel drive vehicle tho. Since
he will be going to school in Kansas City Missouri..... and coming
home to Hannibal Missouri on the opposite side of the state.... I will
suggest to his mother to maybe thing abt getting some Blizzak tires
for it. Good idea?

The reason his Mom was wanting to get a new car is she wants something
safer to drive than what he was driving.... i.e 1994 Aries K car. She
wanted something with airbags, etc

Surely the LS400 will be "safer" wont it? It is a bigger car than the
K car

In article <com>,
net wrote:
 

Great idea. Full set of 4.

>Anyone own this model/year and 

I used to owned this car. There's a lot of impressive things about this
vehicle: Everyone that drove it always commented on how nice a ride it
is. It's like you're floating on air. I'm particulary impressed with the
attention to detail in this fine automobile - every controls works
perfectly and effortlessly. The engine is silky smooth and bullet proof.
It's so great, that it's still being use in several Toyotas today.

– –
(I have a doctor's note to use Webtv)

>In article <com>, 

How many months or in what months can you run those Blizzaks?

I guess Im asking if one should run them sparingly..... or if you can
run them longer than one would think and not worry too much abt wear?

Again we are in north Missouri. Snow season starts say Nov and end
May

But could he run them even longer than that without them wearing out
TOO fast? Maybe all school season long and only changing to summer
tires when school is out for summer?

Previously in alt.autos.lexus, net proclaimed :
 


I'm not sure of this exact brand but snow tires are typically *much*
harder than all season radials as are the more aggressive tread
pattern. The end result is that snow tires aren't well equipped to
run on dry pavement for long periods of time. It will be much
noisier, have a much harsher ride and not handle as well as all season
radials.

I'd suggest only installing them when the snow season starts and then
removing them, (replacing them with all season radials), once the snow
has melted and spring has begun and you're reasonably sure that there
won't be any more major snow accumulation.





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In article <com>,
net wrote:
 

The idea is that you run them during the winter, from brand new; by the
time winter is over, the things that make it good on ice are worn down
and now you have a great all-season tire.