My New Ride

G

GRAND_LS 400

Registered
1998 Lexus LS400.

It’s a beautiful car all around, had it for over a week and its a an Anti-vibration machine.... just what you needed after owning a mark with a stock driveshaft, and a shaking steering wheel problem that made a lot of noise whenever I wore a wrist watch with a steel band.

By far, I loved most about Lexus is their customer service, they really treat you like a king, and follow up with you after your service until they make sure you are 100% satisfied.

But what also shocked me is that it gets better gas mileage then the Mark even on the Highway. And its stronger off the line, and up in the RPM range. The power is wonderfully distributed among the entire RPM range. 4.0L 5-speed auto with 290Hp/300Tq.

The interior is well done; Lexus doesn’t try to save money here and there by exchanging parts for cheaper ones hoping the average consumer wouldn’t notice. I love it, and I’m happy about my purchase. If anyone else is considering joining myself and ron to the Dark side, ask me for more info, and a maybe a test drive ;)

I haven’t taken any good pics yet, because I haven’t washed it with all the storms invading the Florida region.


http://mark8.org/users/GRANDLS400/mycar1.jpg
http://mark8.org/users/GRANDLS400/mycar3.jpg
http://mark8.org/users/GRANDLS400/mycar4.jpg
 
RE: My New Ride

Nice CONDITION looks like new!!!How many miles are on it??
To be honest though, I don't like the color, and i think the wheels are hideous.

Nice step up from the mark. :9
 
RE: My New Ride

A friend is getting rid of his Lexus and tradeing it for a BMW. He said the Lexus had no character. It was like a good tool but had no soul.
 
RE: My New Ride

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
A friend is getting rid of his Lexus and tradeing it for a BMW. He said the Lexus had no character. It was like a good tool but had no soul.
[/div]

And BMW charges 30% more for "soul"!
 
RE: My New Ride

i was considering doing the same thing next year with either a 99 or whatever year they changed the body style. the winters up here are making me think twice about it and if my mark keeps behaving the way it has, i wont be able to save the money needed.
 
RE: My New Ride

Nice car. But i'd feel like a prick driving one of those around Detroit.
 
RE: My New Ride

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
i was considering doing the same thing next year with either a 99 or whatever year they changed the body style. the winters up here are making me think twice about it and if my mark keeps behaving the way it has, i wont be able to save the money needed.
[/div]

You'll be fine, paul. Just get good tires, put a few bags of sand in the trunk and go to a snowy parking lot to "practice". ;)

I've been driving my last, and current Mark VIII's in the snow since 99, with no major problems so far. I've even been out in the worst of storms.....maybe not such a good idea, but the Mark has always made it.
 
RE: My New Ride

Nice Benz.....(puts on glasses).....wait a second, thats a Lexus. Its a nice car I guess but to me I would of bought a Benz not no C class either.
 
RE: My New Ride

The body style changed in 98 and ran till 2000. Then the LS430 took over from 2001.

By the way, that color looks much different in person, that’s about what everyone told me after they saw it. I initially wanted Navy blue, white, or silver, but silver came with gray a interior, so I had to cross that out, and the car was rare, and hard to come by as it as, and in this condition, I couldn’t pass it up. The owner had documented EVERY maintenance item since birth on May of 98. I’m also not a big fan of Gold plated emblems, but since the car was gold, it didn’t look too bad, but I might switch them later on.

Did lighting in the other pics made the wheels appear to look Gold or something?

Hers a better look:

http://mark8.org/users/GRANDLS400/lexuswheel.jpg
 
RE: My New Ride

I'm sure its nice Moe, and congrats, but Lexus doesn't do it for me. My first question was why a Lexus after a Mark VIII? I'm thinking it's apples and oranges, well, ...nevermind, I'm just biased against sedans.

Have you had the G-Tech in it yet? :+
 
RE: My New Ride

Nice car Moe, congrats. But I agree - get new wheels, those just don't do the car justice.
 
RE: My New Ride

Great car!! It's head and shoulders a step up from a Mark. And I bet his 0-60 and 1/4 mile times come VERY close, if not beating a Mark. That little 4.0 V8 is a gem! I have also heard people selling their Lexus for this car or that because of lack of "soul". That lack of "soul" is a lack of wind noise, a lack of road noise, a lack of harshness, a lack of sqeaks, rattles or just about anything else. A makes even the roughest roads feel like you are driving on a perfectly smooth surface. Actually, if feels more like you are gliding a few inches above the road. It is a total, unbelieveable lack of sound. It's a very strange thing, driving a car with no sound. So I could see why that may put some people off. It took me several minutes to adjust. Try it for yourself...take one for a ride..WEIRD. I love that LS, but I too wanted something with a little "rougher" edge, so I went with the GS400. And as he states, a domestic car could only wish to match this level of quality and sophistication, even for a car several years old like ours. I'm 100% sold on Lexus. This is my 1st import car, and I'm kicking myself for not buying one sooner. Yes...they are that good. My next car, I hope, will be the fantastic SC430.
 
RE: My New Ride

Thanks guys, I have to agree with ron, the car is just too quiet comparing to other cars, and I guess its not for everybody, but after owning my Mark, I sure do appreciate quiet :)

Btw, both 0-60Mph and 1/4 are better then the Mark. Compare both factory numbers. Just because the car isn’t domestic doesn’t mean I’m going to bash it for life without even stepping a foot in one. I have to give credit, even to non-domestic car makers when they earn it.

The main reason I got this car was to accommodate my family that are going to say here for about a year. Plus I know the resale value of this car is great, so what do I have to lose other then a chance to own a great car :)
 
RE: My New Ride

So am I reading this right that you sold your Mark? Congrats on the move up and thanks for the review of the Lexus. You and Ron have me considering one for next year.

97 Opal LSC
"Knowing is half the battle" Gi Joe
 
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