Early to mid 90's Lexus cars aren't that great

[jtvang125]

I think it wasn't until the late 90's that lexus started making great cars. I'm talking more luxury as opposed to performance.

I've driven a few early 90's lexus cars used as loaners by a shop I go to. They're really not much different or better than other non luxury cars of that era. But they have come a long way in a very short amount of time. While they're no stranger to luxury and reliability they just need to focus a little more on the performance and handling aspects.

 

[mwmorph]

I liked the 1992-2000 Lexus SCs. Those were revolutionary in design, reliability and when it came out, smoothness and performance.

 

[Arkaign]

drugs is the only explanation for this thread

btw : the E250 was a Camry w/a Lexus Badge. all other Lexus products have been world-class (respective of their time/competition/price)

 

[ValValline]

There are tons of 200K+ early 90's LS and ES still running strong. I have even seen a handful of 1990 LS400s with 300K plus. All with the original motor and trans. If that isn't a great car, then I don't know what is.

 

[ElFenix]

LS400 was always good. luxurious as a country estate. and pretty damn gnarly sounding with an unrestricted exhaust.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

so, you're not happy with a 15 year old loaner? what did you expect, sat nav and an espresso machine?

 

[woodie1]

Gotta join in and say the LS400 and SC400 engines will run forever with normal maintenance.

 

[Kelvrick]

WTF was the point of this thread anyway? They weren't considered a good luxury brand like bmw/merc/audi back then like they are now.

 

[fstime]

Yup, those 400' series engines are built like tanks.

Also the SC400 was a great design.

 

[jagec]

Sure you weren't thinking about Acura?

Because I don't know why ANYONE bought an Integra back in the day...ugly, overpriced Accords IMHO.

 

[thomsbrain]

Compared to other cars of the same era, they were still pretty nice. But compared to just about any modern car, they won't stack up, just like any old car. My Accord is WAY more luxurious than a 1980's Mercedes-Benz. Better ride, better seats, quieter, stiffer, smoother engine, better EVERYTHING. but that doesn't mean the 1980's Benz wasn't the best thing you could buy at the time or that it wasn't a great car.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
WTF was the point of this thread anyway? They weren't considered a good luxury brand like bmw/merc/audi back then like they are now.

audi 'back then' was considered absolute shit. there is a reason you don't see any old audis, they were all crap. it wasn't until the mid-late 90s that they became the belle of the ball. and even since then their reliability has been crap, it's just that the cars looked really nice inside when you bought them. at least they're not catching fire anymore.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: jagec
Sure you weren't thinking about Acura?

Because I don't know why ANYONE bought an Integra back in the day...ugly, overpriced Accords IMHO.

?? The 3rd gen Integra, 1994+ is one of the best Japanese cars of the 1990's for many reasons and doesn't compare at all to an Accord.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
LS400 was always good. luxurious as a country estate. and pretty damn gnarly sounding with an unrestricted exhaust.

I am thinking about buying a mid nineties LS for a commuter.

 

[ValValline]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: ElFenix
LS400 was always good. luxurious as a country estate. and pretty damn gnarly sounding with an unrestricted exhaust.

I am thinking about buying a mid nineties LS for a commuter.

The only weakness they have is the AC evap core. When I worked on them in the mid-late nineties the only time they came in on a tow truck was for a timing belt or a battery.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: jagec
Sure you weren't thinking about Acura?

Because I don't know why ANYONE bought an Integra back in the day...ugly, overpriced Accords IMHO.

the legend was awesome. it wasn't an accord, it's engine was pointed in the right direct. unfortunately, it still drove the wrong wheels. but the coupe was the best looking car honda ever made, outside the nsx (i'm guessing the rwd proportions had a lot to do with it).

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: ValValline
The only weakness they have is the AC evap core. When I worked on them in the mid-late nineties the only time they came in on a tow truck was for a timing belt or a battery.

Good to know. I have/had my doubts. My feelings are now re-enforced with positive thought goodness.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: jagec
Sure you weren't thinking about Acura?

Because I don't know why ANYONE bought an Integra back in the day...ugly, overpriced Accords IMHO.

the integra's platform was derived from the civic and the legend has a completely platform from the accord. the integra was one of the most enjoyable compacts with sufficient power back in the days, and the legend was... legendary.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: jagec
Sure you weren't thinking about Acura?

Because I don't know why ANYONE bought an Integra back in the day...ugly, overpriced Accords IMHO.

the integra's platform was derived from the civic and the legend has a completely platform from the accord. the integra was one of the most enjoyable compacts with sufficient power back in the days, and the legend was... legendary.

^^^ trvth!

You have to look at what the competition offered at the time to be fair. It's easy to look at 15-20 year old cars and poke fun at them, but the benchmarks have risen considerably since then on most things (other than longevity, sadly).

Even today, it's easy to find Integras and Legends in excellent working order, on the original motor, with 200-250k miles or more. Hard to say about very many other makes/models.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: ValValline

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: ElFenix
LS400 was always good. luxurious as a country estate. and pretty damn gnarly sounding with an unrestricted exhaust.

I am thinking about buying a mid nineties LS for a commuter.

The only weakness they have is the AC evap core. When I worked on them in the mid-late nineties the only time they came in on a tow truck was for a timing belt or a battery.

:thumbsup:
http://www.clublexus.com/forum...hlight=highest+mileage
100k and Lexuses are just getting started 250K and its semi high mileage, but many people are at 300k+ and running strong. 500K is possible and i think someone had a 600k+ SC400. The 1UZ, maintained properly is indestructible.

 

[theeedude]

Who cares about high mileage old cars anyways?
My problem with old cars has always been not whether they run OK, but whether I still want to be driving them.
The only Lexus from the 90s I'd still be interested in driving is SC300 5M. The rest are just old washed up geezer cars.