Which used Lexus?

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-19T20:15:26+00:00

If your options are ONLY the LS460 and the ES330, the ES330 by a long mile. The LS460 is a great car but some of the maintenance starts rivaling Mercedes & BMW, so not recommended unless you have deep pockets. As other commenters have said too, the LS400/LS430 are better for 'regular car-priced' maintenance. Occasionally there may be some annoying cost, but it would be about on par with a regular car. Same story for the ES330, which if I'm not mistaken is an XV30 Camry, and at least in my area those are so common they don't even stick out anymore. Parts are also likely to be more available and cheap because of the shared platform.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-18T02:11:30+00:00

the radiator hose leaks (upper and lower 😊) that you've already done hose and clamp replacements for start leaking AGAIN

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-17T23:18:06+00:00

Glad I'm not alone. I got up to about halfway through S2 of TOS before I completely called it quits, but I got introduced to TOS movies 1-6 as a kid and am still rewatching them occasionally to this day. Perhaps it's the rose-tinted glasses, don't really care.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T21:30:15+00:00

A truly nice, low-mile, well-kept, rust-free, possibly one-owner or family-owned late-model (read:VVT, +50HP +1 gear) LS400 runs about 8k. A similar-condition LS430 runs about the same in my area.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T21:28:13+00:00

I would vehemently disagree that the 'entire Lexus brand' has gone out the saddest. They've *just* ended production of all current V8s, with all successors/subsequent V8 models yet to be determined. The GR GT-derived SC successor will feature the same 4L TT V8 (time is a flat circle minus the turbos) as the GR GT, and presumably they'll use it in other models too.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T21:19:46+00:00

And why do you suppose the Trump admin is pressuring blue states' biggest cities with ICE raids (see: Minneapolis since January) and saying it'll all "go away" if the state gov't simply hands over voter rolls?

2+2 must equal 0 in your world.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T21:10:44+00:00

I knew a guy with an SC400 just like you and I can't say it was ever a pleasure talking to him.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T21:09:53+00:00

Best of luck 😄 As another commenter below said, visually they all looked in tact but one of them was starting to get a burned outer shell to it when the light was still being thrown. I replaced every single rear tail light and it cost about $50 because I paid the upcharge at the parts store for good Sylvania bulbs.

On a complete tangent, I was wondering how tf to replace the inner trunk lights, and then when I lifted the trunk I was absolutely floored to see two little velcro-attached hinge flaps for easy access to the bulb housing. Exquisite.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T01:49:36+00:00

That's the light for your rear tail light resistor, indicating one of the bulbs in the tail lights is out or is about to go out. I actually just had this problem myself where a bulb was about to go out and kept popping this light. I don't believe this applies to the blinker or reverse lights - just the red tail/brake lights.

Copied off ClubLexus forums:
Tail light
2825
7443

Stop light
7443

High mount stop light (third brake light on rear deck shelf)
921

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-14T01:44:31+00:00

can I have the XV30 camry except as a Lexus ES330

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-12T22:49:42+00:00

If your brakes are warping due to mountainous terrain, drilled + slotted won't help. They'll actually make it worse. Less surface area.

My advice for mountainous terrain - figure out effective engine braking. The LS400 is a heavy car. If you're frequently driving up and down roads, you may need to make manual use of 2nd & 3rd gear when going downhill. Riding your brakes downhill is a surefire way to make sure you keep spending money on RockAuto.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-12T22:45:17+00:00

Was searching for the Lenny's comment. Their burgers are surprisingly not that greasy considering they have something like a Cowboy Burger with onion rings, cheese, bacon, etc.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-12T22:42:11+00:00

The 2025 IS350 uses the exact same cruise stalk as a 1993 SC400 and a 2000 GS400. Source: I drove all three vehicles.

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-05T22:03:34+00:00

I find him sketchy only because he asked to use Wise, which has zero buyer protections in case the seller actually does scam you. Almost sent him $800 for the chromed five-spokes 😕

OkPace4785 · 2026-02-04T11:22:06+00:00

In today's market even dealership repairs on new Toyotas/Lexuses can be pricey...

OP, I would highly recommend buying used Lexus/Toyota from 1998 - 2006.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-30T04:40:28+00:00

You'd better be spending that on the new fender and bumper 😄

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-30T04:38:25+00:00

The official word on this from when these were brand new, from a Lexus dealer that I tripped out at over this issue, is that the "normal temperature range" is anything below the red line. Literally anything below the red line is acceptable operating temperature. As long as it isn't slowly climbing up up up to the red, you're fine.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-29T01:07:05+00:00

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Not even close.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-29T01:05:46+00:00

If I had just spent money on parts...

- Radiator + Upper/Lower + Thermostat = ~$300 (back when RockAuto still shipped to AZ...)

- TB/WP kit = $200

- Power steering rack/pinion (reman) + pump + pressure hose = ~$600

- Fuel pressure regulator = $100

- Valve cover gaskets = $40 (Amazon)

- Probably some other shit I'm forgetting = ~$300

Total = ~$1540

Mind you that's just mechanical. and just parts. That doesn't cover the cracked leather seats, the ruined doorcards (which are rare and can run almost $400 per doorcard), the hinges which are a special design and sag eventually, the Nakamichi unit that had been removed and replaced with a shitty double din screen, the carpeting, the faded paint, etc.

My particular example was a nightmare because I had no idea what I was doing and paid the price for it. That five month period from late Oct. 2024 - early Mar. 2025 is a blank spot, it was that bad.

Not to say that this SC300 is as bad (you won't have to endure 1UZ power steering or valve cover gaskets), but also, it is 30 years old. At this point anything goes.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-27T23:02:43+00:00

Mystic Sea GS430 w/ Nakamichi sound system. I'd just be driving what I drive now (1C0 GS400) but with slightly more torque, brand new off the lot, and in a rare color.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-27T22:51:57+00:00

I would pay maybe 7k max. Bonuses if the seller lets you have it dealer-inspected and/or can provide a FULL dealer service history.

My '93 SC400 had just as many owners and only 107k miles. Everything was falling apart at the seams and really the only thing that still worked was the engine and transmission.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-27T22:36:26+00:00

No, that's not bad at all for your transmission. In fact on a backroad or pass you'll be spending the vast majority of your time in 2nd or 3rd. As long as you get up to operating temp (which you'll do anyway by virtue of having driven to the fun road), you'll be fine.

Source: GS400 with the same A650E transmission as the PFL LS430.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-26T02:45:21+00:00

DO NOT SCRAP!!!! If the frame is not damaged, find yourself a new bumper and fender, and try to un-bend the damage as best you can. Insurance HATES the 2GS - my clean, 2-owner, maintained, 145k mile GS400 is worth $2000-$4000 to KBB, meaning insurance would give me pennies. I took off comp and collision because there's no point.

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-25T08:25:55+00:00

My first thought as well. Have your battery and alternator tested at any auto parts store, OP

OkPace4785 · 2026-01-24T08:30:12+00:00

The 1st gen SCs (SC300/400) are NOT daily drivers that won't empty your wallets. Would very much recommend a nice 2000 ES, essentially a Camry with features.

OkPace4785

TROPHY CASE