Thinking about retiring the 88 Subaru go with 250k in favor of a 97 Lexus ls400 with 160k. I have a short commute but will be taking the little one daycare with it. Subie has been a smoker car and I'm a tech at Toyota. I don't see a downside but need more input . Good buy or foolish whim?
One of the most bulletproof cars ever made.
You're a tech at toyota, think of the ls400 as them trying as hard as they've ever tried.
I don't see any downside to this if the Lexus is a reasonable price.
Reasonable price with employee discount 
Always heard they were good and we only see them for routine stuff. Seems like fun. Not blistering off the line but handles good and rolling accel is sweet.
In reply to carbon:
Its like they hit a Mercedes 560SEL with the Toyota stick REALLLLLLLLLLY hard.
Picked one up for the Mrs several years ago due in part by the rep here. Got it at 190k with full records for $1500 and sold it earlier this year with 260k for $2200.
In that time we did have some repairs/ maintenance. I was able to do it all myself as it is a pretty easy car to work on (it does have a ton of vacuum lines on the 91 we had). Barring on the clutch fan failed (it is not mounted to the water pump), had to take the timing belt off to replace and did a full tune up/ water pump/ timing belt. Had to replace a valve cover gasket and a factory radio. Other than brakes and tires, it was no trouble. Hard to not recommend.
I do not see a downside to this
I had a '97 LS400 Coach Edition. Hell of a car--- Reliable as an anvil. Fairly stylish. Quick. Fair handling for its size. Quiet. Comfortable.
It got crap fuel econ on premium fuel, but that isn't at the top of the list of concerns for a car like this, IMO.
The starters fail and are sort of a pain to replace. The power steering pumps will eventually leak, which goes into the alternator and will sometimes mean replacing both. Those are honestly the only two common failure points I can recall, and even those weren't all that common.
This was mine right after I bought it:
mndsm wrote: One of the most bulletproof cars ever made.
If I could deal with it being auto and the gas mileage I would have one right now.
Its an auto and gets the mileage of a truck... while not being a truck and I still want one.
Like I said, I'm blessed with a short commute and easy access to affordable parts. I think the auto will be nice with a little one too. I'm doing it.
Good man.
I think this is a smart buy for your intended purpose.
Isn't there something like lower or upper control arms on these that can be a pain to locate and are a mirrion dorrars?
beans wrote: Isn't there something like lower or upper control arms on these that can be a pain to locate and are a mirrion dorrars?
Yes and no. If you're not a stancetard, you don't have a problem.
beans wrote: Isn't there something like lower or upper control arms on these that can be a pain to locate and are a mirrion dorrars?
Newer LS car control arms are insanely price. We did a quote on a car that needed them. It was like $2000 or something like that for parts alone for all the control arms up front.
I'd love to have a 90s LS though. 
Good to know. Had a buddy pick up a crazy clean 94 the other day for a steal.
Did a little research on the MPG btw. Most say 30 highway is the norm IF you keep your foot out of it.
erasmus229 wrote: Did a little research on the MPG btw. Most say 30 highway is the norm IF you keep your foot out of it.
Not a berkeleying chance.
In reply to erasmus229:
what's the heavy foot penalty? thats more realistic for me.
Low twenties
hmmm. They are a great car, VERY comfortable. A friend has the LS430, it's a creampuff of a car. one of the most comfortable nice riding, quiet cars i've been in.
I had a '95 which was the same basic car. Mine was not maintained very well so I had some catching up to do on it. (timing belt, starter, tune-up, etc.) Like everyone says, they are very reliable. The '97 had a few flaws ironed out of it that the '95 could exhibit. (ie, auto power steering column tilt can stop working on the '95 due to bad wire routing, fixed on the '96 and '97) Being a Toyota tech you'll have no problems working on it. I reliably got 25 - 27mpg on long freeway trips and then 19mpg or so if it was all city and short commutes. When a Miata only manages about 25mpg with the same commute I would say that's passable for a car the size of a small condominium. The back seat is roomier than the front seat on most small cars.
We could fit a rear-facing child seat in the rear, four adults, and all our stuff for a week long cabin trip without too much squeezing. And we still got over 20mpg and were cruising in comfort.
The control arms are available after-market now. I would use Toyota parts if at all feasible, but they're around $200/ea aftermarket I think.
Bought it today! Love it. While not at all practical for a NW Montana winter its wonderful. The lap of luxury after a beater gl wagon
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