The Knowledge: Want a luxury legend for peanuts? The Lexus LS400 should be right up your street

Who doesn’t love the idea of a cheap old luxury barge? Trouble is, such things are more often than not financial liabilities. But there is one that shouldn’t be: the Lexus LS400.

It was, of course, the car with which the Lexus brand was born in 1989, and one which rather put the frighteners on the established luxury car big-hitters of its time. For not only was it as luxurious and as technologically advanced as the competition was, it also came backed with the sort of legendary reliability for which Toyota had become well known.

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Today, age means no LS400 will be as bulletproof as it once was. But compared with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series – not to mention the Jaguar XJ of the same era – a carefully maintained LS400 should still be far more dependable.

And it’ll still feel quite special, too. Granted, the slightly dubious wood and interior colour schemes of the early LS aren’t quite up to the standards of its competitors. But boy, does the LS make up for it, with exemplary comfort and blissful tranquillity.

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Lexus used ingenious engineering solutions such as pillow-ball bushings and hydraulic-pneumatic engine mounts to minimise vibration and noise and soften the suspension. As a result, few cars feel quite as serene and unruffled when cruising along at the legal limit; the equipment list would put many a luxury car of the same era to shame, too.

And then there’s the engine. The 1UZ-FE V8 is capable of propelling even the earliest examples to 62mph in just 7.9 seconds. More than enough, in other words, that the LS can hold its own away from the lights, even today. And it was subsequently upgraded, first in 1994 to 260hp, and then again in 1997 to a not-inconsiderable 280hp; these last cars can sprint to 60mph in less than seven seconds. No wonder this paean to engineering excellence has gained itself a cult following.

Why you should buy one now

That following is growing, and that means the LS400 won’t stay cheap forever. Already, prices are starting to climb for early examples that are in good condition with reasonable mileage; many LSs, thanks to their reliability, have done big miles, so a low-miler is now becoming rare.

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That said, a high-mileage car with a full record of attentive maintenance shouldn’t let you down, and a later example – the earlier LSs are more desirable, despite having less power – can be yours for as little as £1,000.

For a low-mileage late-model LS, you’ll need to set your sights higher – £2,500 is about the going rate, which is also roughly what you’ll pay for a high-mileage early car. Top money for an LS these days seems to be the £5,000 mark, which should get you an early example with low miles and a fat service history.

What to look out for

As we’ve already mentioned, the oily bits are pretty hard to fault, so if the engine runs poorly or sounds rattly, it suggests the car hasn’t been well looked after.

Do remember the timing belt must be renewed at 100,000 miles – and it’s not cheap, so if you can, make sure it’s been done, or factor the work into your budget. The gearbox oil needs to be changed every year, too.

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The LS is a heavy car and hard on its suspension, so listen out for suspension knocks and creaks from the anti-roll bar bushes, and check for broken springs.

Rust on the body is less of an issue than you might think as Lexus gave the LS excellent protection from new, but you’ll still want to check the inner front wings and chassis components for rot. Check the boot floor, too – boot seals can let in moisture, which can collect there.

It isn’t too hard to find a well-maintained LS400 for a low price, though – and if you like a bit of luxury in your life, you’ll be onto a thing of boundless joy when you do.

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