Am getting ready to replace my 87 300D; cars on the short list to find used are:

300se/sel
300e/te
audi 100cs/a6/A8

AND....
lexus ls400

I am really thinking about a 90 > 92 Lexus ls400..primarily for the killer Nakamichi sound system and that wonderful V8 engine. Some suspension work will render the car Ok for moderately quick driving; still a heavy car but so is a SE/SEL. Not that much diff going around the corners in the real world.

Question: anybody have any experience with any higher mileage lexus v8 models? Any idea when the things require a valve job? How often do the water pumps go etc, etc?

When I see I can buy one for 16k (asking price) from a dealer with less than 90k in what appears to be pristine condition that seems like a good deal....

Carl
91 Porsche C2
87 Mercedes 300D (going, going.....)
1995.5 Audi S6 Avant
1999 E320 wagon (on the block soon)

Here is my experience with my 2nd generation 1994 LS400. I owned it until 90,000kms and none problem was found. It was still as new when I sold it. My friend had a 1990 LS400 with around 250,000kms on the clock and still like new- as quiet and smooth as new. His only work on it was shocks replacement and that is all. Never heard water pump replacement and a valve job will be expected after 500,000kms plus. One thing you may need to check out is the power steering pump noise. It doesn't seem failure but may produce strange high frequent noise at idle. To check it ?? EASY- YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HEAR ANY NOISE AT IDLE. In my own conclusion, THEY ARE BULLET PROOF !!