The LS400 is the definition of quality and reliability. The engine is one of the best ever made. Sold my 91 in 2009 with 165000 miles to a good friend. He recently gave it to his mother. Its about it hit 200k and still runs like a swiss watch.

It feels cathartic to come back to these Lexus videos after finally buying one for myself after wanting one for years. Fun fact: the BMW's license plate can't even be found, the W126's MOT expired in 1995, the Jaguar's in 2007, and the Lexus was on the road until 2018.

After 28 years Lexus still worth it and yes Dependable vehicle . Great engineering

I've driven over a dozen LS400s in my professional life, including some long journeys, and I have never, NEVER been disappointed by any of those I've driven. I'm a Jag man really, but I've loved the LS400 unashamedly for nearly 30 years. Sensational cars.

Did he really just say no A/C lol that should have been standard especially for a luxury car... Judging by the looks of those other cars, Lexus was way ahead of its time.

UPDATE: As of 2016, the Lexus is still going. Registration number: G615 EPE Date of first registration 19 April 1990 ✓ Taxed Tax due: 01 September 2016 ✓ MOT Expires: 28 June 2017

The LS have one of the best engines ever made and is a great join of luxe and perfomance.

didn't imagine how good lexus was at the time

This particular LS being driven here was still in use up until 2018 according to the gov.uk mot database. It sadly failed its MOT and was presumably scrapped at 164,000 miles. It had a long life after this video.

I love how the dials are...ALMOST MAGICAL!

I got a ls400 for my first car for $1800 and sitting for 3 years. Repaired it and works beautifully and baffles all my friends with the speed. Best first car

Thanks for the video! I have both the LS400 and a 560SEL as toys and the Lexus is by far the smoother, quieter car. I can't remeber the last time I saw either a Jag or 7 series from that era still running.

Oh man I'm so glad you put the Grandstand theme at the start. This just embodies the 90s for me. Excellent stuff.

I wish I could buy brand new cars from the 90's... Today's cars are over engineered, over computerized shitboxes that barely last ta 5 year lease... Longterm ownership is not even considered anymore. They perfected the automobile in the 90's IMO, perfect blend of mechanical and electronic components, especially Japanese cars. very easy to work on and last decades.

The best advertisment for this generation of the Lexus LS is that you can drive down a motorway in Britain any day of the week and you will still see one of these driving around somewhere. I haven't seen an E32 7 Series, a W126 S-Class or an XJ40 for years - the last XJ40 I've seen was sitting in somebody's driveway covered in mould. Thanks for the upload.

Love that demonstration with the glass of water - reminiscent of Lexus' champagne glass ad

Actually Toyota did have some heritage and experience for the time, specially in the late 70s and the entire 80s with the toyota crown, one of the first brands that introduce automatic climate control in their models in 1979.

If you are wondering why Merc and BWM doesn't have many extra options its because that's how it was in 80's and first part of 90's. German cars were coming very basic even in highest class and you could buy many things additionally but at high price. That's why Lexus could succeed at that time because their cars were coming at the same price but loaded with extras. I remember back in 1994 my dad bought Lexus GS300 and he couldn't really say he doesn't want AC because it wasn't optional. Anyways one of his friends bought BMW 735 one year later. He paid around 30-40% more than my dad paid for his Lexus and id didn't even had electric windows. They were extra 2000 Deutche Marke which was pricey so he didn't order them. He also didn't get leather/electric seats or very good stereo system. Meanwhile our Lexus had not only electric leather seats but also heating and several positions you could programme, we had great stereo system, electric steering wheel regulation, electric sunroof, electric mirrors and few other options that this BMW didn't had. In fact all that BMW had was a AC as I remember my dads friend saying he wont be paying extra 2000 Marke for electric windows because he has AC so he wont be using them too often :D And that BMW was actually 7 series so higher class than our Lexus which was equivalent of 5 series. But in all classes of German cars you had that phenomenon happening, now you are buying S-Class and its loaded with extras you didn't even knew were in existence.

my mom had one of those, drove it 200k and sold it for 5k. awesome car with amazing features that didn't pop up in other cars until the early 2000s

WTF? 1990 and a BMW 7-series and Mercedes S class with no air conditioning?????

Wow, the Lexus beats MB in interior style and I like MB, but I have to admit that researching and finding out that Toyota beats the other competitors in reliability, I have to say that I would go for a Lexus with no regrets, even if I drive a Audi A4 now.

Backlit display almost magical

Lexus were way ahead of their time then. Now they are still amazing cars. They just aren't as ahead of the competition as they were then

It's an amazing car even now in 2017...smooth engine..power and luxury for around £1000.

A 7 series or S-class Merc with no standard AC, and all with a 0-60 time slower than my 2.0 econobox? Man, how dramatically autos have improved!

This was the beginning of the Japanese luxury boom. First there was Acura in 1986, then Lexus and Infiniti in 1990. It was basically the beginning of the end for the European brands setting the bar for what it meant to be a luxury vehicle. While Mercedes set the bar for safety and prestige, BMW for driving performance, and Jag for sheer prestige, the Japanese set the bar for quality, reliability, and refinement. They were also more economical to operate. The styling took a backseat, although they were far from ugly and more modern than the European competitors. They don't quite have the prestige of the Europeans, but they are just all around better cars for the money.

Lexus has always been the before it's time. Love it.

Awe little did they know that this lexus in 2018 would still be running without missing a beat.. I don't think the same could be said with the other. Specially the jag

i garuntee the lexus and the mercedes are the only ones still running.

Amusing to ponder top-line sedans without standard air conditioning. What a neat little time machine this clip is. And, a 22-year-old LS400 is a lot less frightening for used-car purchase than the other three.

i own a ls400 also w124 500e.the 500 is truly a beast,its pleasure to drive.it has way more power takes corners like a Porsche.while my ls400 has allays been with me and never gave me a single problem it is just a little sluggish and not verry powerful ....from the enthusiast stand point i love my merc more but for the reliability and everyday driving the lexus is more then enough for me

i've had 5 LS's, a couple of IS's, a v8 Soarer.....which got fully submerged in floods, and still started, no leaks into the car, and everything electric still working, 20yrs old with factory shocks and exhaust still 100% intact, at 150k you can still stand a £1 coin vertically on the engine, rev it all the way, and it wont drop. Lexus = Bulletproof engineering.

Having owned Mercs for 15 years now (in those 15 years 3 different models) i've had 2 minor issues: The first being the front passenger power seat being stuck because i put a weather mat in that messed up the wiring beneath the seat. The second the power adjustable steering wheel wouldn't move up or down..both issues were fully covered by the warranty. I've read a lot of the comments here and i would say a good 75% of the comments i've read had the same old "reliability" jab at Mercedes. Here's what it is: 1) Most of if not all of the people making these comments don't even own or have never owned a Benz and just want to join in with the popular opinion of the people who prefer domestic or Japanese cars 2) For the ones who have owned a Benz and experienced issues do so because...and i can't stress this enough..THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CARS!. No routine maintenance is done, no timely oil changes, and the cars are driven way to harshly. Parts will go, then they moan about how Mercedes is "for the junkyard" and "omg the reliability is the worst!" but they never did any oil changes, maintenance etc. People naturally want to root for the underdog, hence why lexus or japanese cars in general always get more online support. This way of thinking is so severe that i actually read a youtube comment on another video of a guy saying " He would take a Genesis G90 Over a Mercedes S600 Maybach if he was given the choice....." That's just downright delusional.

My mother had a 1991 BMW 735i, and I absolutely loved it!!! We got rid of it not to long ago and the odometer read 356,471. I have an '06 Lexus LS 430 now, and even though it's not as powerful as a BMW 7 series, my goodness, the ride is AWESOME!!!!

The Lexus in this video (G615EPE) is the only one that is still on the road, so make of that what you will! It's apparantly going strong at 159000 miles while the Jag, Bimmer and Merc were scrapped long ago.

those are some real nice cars :D i love late 80's and 90's cars!

Even after 24 years, it is better than many cars on the road. Lovely car.

I used to drive a 97 model Ford Falcon, it came standard with AC, and cruise, plus a trip computer, a full instrument dash and an airbag and it was a next to base model.

so cool to see these 90s cars brand new!

The Lexus is a legend. I still know quite a few of them cars on the road, and them v8 fourcam engines are legendary for reliability and motorsport use these days

toyota back then with its lexus were like hyundai today with its genisis, it took the world by surprise and had something to prove.

it's amazing that 20 years ago, you couldn't get air conditioning in a Mercedes as a standard accessory. that Lexus was truly ahead of its time. you can see why Toyota/Lexus vehicles retained their value so well in those days.

just bought a 97 ls400 with 173,000 miles on it and I'm not a bit worried.

wow, you could buy a 7 series or a top of the line S class without air conditioning ????

I own one of these and also owned the bmw not 1 but 14 of all series and years upto 2008 and driven mercs and jag. Lexus ls400 throws them out in shame. High quality and offers lot more luxury with confidence that you can enjoy the drive without worrying about bills i paid for bmws. Handling of a bmw is superb but this is not far behind. A guy who drumming about merc - own before commenting. By theory it make sense but when you try yourself and don't mind expressing the truth - lexus will nail the so called competitors.

I drive an old 92 ES300 model and while it is a quiet car i recently had to get the cars ECU module reconditioned .I've had other problems like the transmission dying on me which was very expensive to replace. Even with Lexus which is known for its reputation it is still important that you buy one from a previous owner that serviced them frequently because even though they are a Toyota you still have to maintain them

I’m laughing at how this is the only car that could stand the test of time you can still see these on the streets and they don’t stand out

The Ls400s engine is the only engine certified by FAA for aviation use. Its the one of the 2 cars that surpassed Billion dollars in production, the other being W140 Mercedes. When the car was being engineered, there were some impossible goals to meet. Such as hitting 150mph while doing 20+ mpg,no vibrations from engine and drivetrain, no noise in cabin, doing 20mph in city driving while being a V8 engine…and so more and at the end of that meeting almost half of the engineers quit on the spot thinking those goals were impossible to reach. That car got sooo many amazing facts it will blow ur mind. The 90s was when many car gave us their best and it will never happen again. The LS400, W140 Mercedes, E38 BMW, Infiniti Q, Toyota Supra, Nissan Skyline GTR, Mitsubishi 3000GT, Jaguar XK8, Honda NSX and even the 3rd gen camry that came out in 92 is the most superior camry ever made. The 90s was the best era for cars for many and i also agree.

enjoyed that. back in the day when top gear was a proper Car show

The backlit LED speedometers, the smooth V8, and the $35k price tag put the Lexus LS400 on the map. Interesting that back then, Jaguar was regularly mentioned along the other European luxury marques but now when I think luxury car it's primarily BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes.

Glass of water test extremely impressive I have to say. I'm not a fan of Lexus but I give them a lot of respect and credit. Nice car.

Sad news. This car (G615EPE) failed its MOT test in may 2018 with a lot of faults indicating neglect and corrosion. Only 164,025 miles on the clock. Most likely got taken off the road to be parted out.

Today is 21/12.2020 and Only Lexus survived last 30 years of driving. Still see them around, but no Jags or BMWs, only some Mercs.

Look at that old 7 series. What a beauty that was. What has happened to BMW?

This is a good video. I was lucky to pick up a low mile ( 68k - 42 miles ) '95 LS400 a few months ago from the first owner, who didn't drive it any more due to moving to different pastures. Seems it was always the car he used when they had time on the farm to take a trip into town. Just done a trip myself and got back yesterday around the Southern lakes and the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. 3 days of travelling in near silence . The only intrusion was the the Kea's in Arthurs Pass jumping on the roof and trying to pick off any available rubber, that was a laugh. Fantastic car, might keep it for a while.

1:29 If it's the long wheelbase version, then it's the 420SEL. Not 420SE.

Lexus LS400 was amazing for it's time, i currently own one, and i love it.

Bought a used 2004 RX330 for my wife a year ago. Finest highway vehicle I've ever been in. Lots of periphial gadgets, but all of them still worked! Solid on sloppy roads, okay in deeper snow. Slow to accelerate with the 3.3L, but Toyota has never been about that. Lexus offers real bargains in the used market, too.

G615 EPE - Lexus LS400 is for sale on eBay right now.

Nobody thought that Lexus would stuff Mercedes BMW and jaguar back in 1990 ,and to this day is better than all the others

That Lexus is fantastic, the comfort and mild sporty ness to the feel of it is second to none.

The LS looks good to me, what's this talking about it's looks?

I feel rather nostalgic for this car despite having preferred the others to varying degrees at that time, partly because the styling exuded a "Bargain Basement S-Class" look, which made sense in order to break into the market. And break into that market they did! This car was definitely a game-changer for Toyota and Japanese automakers, but I think the ultimate gambit by Toyota would be to sell the Century outside of Japan "By Invitation Only", although I am not sure how legal that would be in the USA at least. Still, the fact that Yamaha provided the wood veneer trim for this car speaks volumes of the quality. It's the type of car that Cadillac should have been building at that time...one that was built to last provided the proper maintenance was done, but GM had moved away from that ethos beginning in the late 1960s.

is that Matt farahs million miles lexus?

Lexus are the best cars on the planet..

Damn. That is a beautiful and a still somewhat modern looking car for something designed in the late 80's. The Lexus looks so much more modern than the other cars it's being compared to.

Classic review and a great car- LS400.

One of the all around best motor vehicles ever

thats one hell of a good road test

The credentials the Lexus LS400 has are far beyond almost anything else after its inception ever since it's release, yet many seem to judge a car merely on prestige or looks and image alone while disregarding the pure respect & worldwide acclaim this car has achieved over the years from mechanics, engineers critics & consumers alike over the years all over the world. What that tells me is that unsurprisingly, the masses will purchase a product by name alone without doing any self research.

Its 2020 and Genesis is showing Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Lexus their sleepless nights. Tbf Lexus still makes amazing cars.

And almost 3 decades later, they have convinced many 😊

It is interesting that in 1990 (the year I was born) there we're flagship luxury cars without air conditioning. In the US as of 2018 I don't think you can even find a new car that doesn't have air conditioning regardless of price.

LS looks so much better. 10 years ahead of the other three

The Lexus still shines

Everyone who buys these cars cares about the appeal or they wouldn't be driving it. People don't buy these cars because they are workhorses. They buy them for the image. So styling and visual appeal is a completely valid point.

Trip computers seem a big seller back then.

My uncle had in his vast Mercedes-Benz collection, until very recently, a bright red early '80s 230E which he had driven since returning to Eastern Nigeria 30 years ago. He's selling it now due to relocating due to ambassadorship, so I likely won't see it again when I visit.

I see about 5 a day here in NorCal and since I'm a over the road truck driver and a car guy at that, I see them almost everywhere. they just don't stand out like they used to next to new flamboyantly styled Hyundais..

damn we come a far way when my 4cyc 186hp 2013 Altima does 0-60 in 7 seconds vs these guys v8 in 8-9 seconds

I think of that every time I see this car.

Mopf is Modellpflege shortened, which is Deutsche for facelift. I was saying technology wise, the W126 had changes released in autumn 1985 (facelift) and 1988. The LS went into production in May 1989 and the W126 in December 1979. Not exactly 11 years, but at 9.5 is still a wide gap. MB not making enough changes in 1988, allowed Lexus to catch up too easily. Lexus only bench marked the 1984-1987 versions.

The video itself more reliable than most modern cars nowadays. 😆

the caliber of technology in a LS 400 is beyond impressive for its day....from power everything with memory settings to the Optitron Electroluminescent Gauge cluster....this car still looks very modern...even 22 Years Later,i even prefer the Old LS to the Current Ls 460.

My old.man bought one in 1995.. loved it

Just look at that classic BMW .Drooling.

Interesting that Mr Goffey kept mentioning the "420SE" - the car they're reviewing is the 420SEL. You can tell by the rear door. Of all of these, yes, the LS400 were probably the most trouble free. But who really wants that car today? The W126 S-Class was the car to have and to hold. Sadly the e32 7s for all their excellence (and they were amazing cars) didn't last. The XJ40 Jags were lovely but not in the same realm as the BMW or Benz.

I miss the 90s when Top Gear was like this. I would also have chosen the Lexus for sure. Today Lexus is still better than the 3 others atleast in terms of reliability.

i have a 94 ls 400 and it's my first lexus i must say the engine is awesome.

Those magical illuminated dials though :p

I always liked this car ^^

Does anyone know what the little tune at the blue screen intro is? Not Jessica by ABB, but the tune that's at the beginning of most of these "old top gear" snipets.

The LS is the pinnacle of luxury.

BTW the LS400 is an '80s product, not a 1990s product. It was designed in '80s and developed up to November 1988.

I have the 1990 Lexus LS400, my dream car, i dont want a lamborghini or porsche or ferrari. Just my 30 year old lexus.

amazing to think that in the 90s even the top of the line executive cars didn't even come with a damn stereo as standard.

Perfection

The glass is good actor

You're a scholar and a gentleman, sir.

They talk about the standard wheelbase 420SE but the one in the video is clearly a 420SEL.