I think people choose BMW and Mercedes because they need recognition from others. However a Toyota/Lexus is fine choice if you simply want a good machine.
Lexus has always been ahead of the pack in tech, In 1997, a Navigation system was standard equipment in the LS, In 1990, the LS was in a similar position the Equus is in now, except Toyota made another premium brand specially for luxury cars while Hyundai is putting their shameful badge on their new great cars.
@JustAnotherJake7 I wouldn't exactly call hyundai shamful, yes they aren't the best cars ever made but whats up with putting the same name on your luxury vehicles, just because thier past wasn't great doesn't mean to say they cant turn thier image around. They are very good value for money at the very least when compared with others. At least they did better than Ford, peugeot andrenault in the luxury market, nobody cared about a luxury ford cuz it wasnt seen as a luzry brand shame really.
@Samthebam4044 I didn't mean for it to come out like that. It's no secret that Hyundai made shitty cars before the 2000's. But, a lot of people haven't let go of that memory giving that badge a bad reputation. I think they can turn their Hyunda and Kia badges around but they should have built an entire new brand for their luxury cars like the Genesis, Genesis Coupe, Equus, and maybe the Vera Cruz
Sad to say, many of these cars fell victim to "Cash For Clunkers." I would take any of these cars in decent condition and spend money restoring them on my own time than having monthly car payments for a new KIA for the next 3-5 years with "Interest"!
@number1Schumacherfan And the w140 crushed the LS. I agree that the LS is well built and reliable, but the feeling in the benz or the bmw is a lot more special...
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 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.
Honestly, this car aged very well. My friend has an 89 ls400, and it never looks out of place in our tysons corner business district in the dc metro area
In my opinion they should compare this lexus with the W140 S class n BMW e38 to see which luxury car is better. Both the W126 and E32 7 series are 1980s cars.
@MrCounterstrikeforce And actually, I think the W126 was launched in 1979...which makes it around 10 years older than the LS. The fact that it was still able to stand up to its competitors quite well after all that time is a remarkable feat on its own.
Great review! It makes me want to get on ebay and find a 1990 LS, since it was so ahead of it's time and you could probably buy one for a song nowadays. It still looks totally modern and fresh, and I like how the shape of it resembles the W126 MB..but you don't get all the headaches and expensive repairs MB is now famous for. Way to Lexus!
I will just say that only for the "Lexus project F1" has been spend 5 mil. dollars back in 1983!!! And the idea was to be flawless car!! Even now..,30 years after car with more than 500 000 km is more reliable than any new german car! Check in google "Lexus LS problems" and you ll see .. Small problems like not working radio antenna..,burned fuse..,not working heating seat..,and thats it..,for a 30 years old car ,full of electr gadgets!!! Even now..,for most options in Merc you have to pay!
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.
A/C was an option in many European cars at the time. There was simply no need for an A/C in the minds of many buyers. Why include it in a car when people don't want it? Times have changed and now an A/C is a must - also because the summers have become hotter etc. Lexus is overrated.
@supra1722 close, i actually have a rare Corolla model called the "XRS" which has the same engine as the Celica GT-S/T-Sport (2ZZ-GE). fun to drive like the Celica, but with the convenience of a 4 door Corolla.
they were all launched far earlier than the Lexus, and whether it does look more modern or not, it's still ugly and soulless, whereas the Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes don't
@crackaddict444 That's not true (in my opinion). Yes, the old Audi's look dated, but not the S Class, E Class, 5 or 7 series. I still think they look every bit as modern as this Lexus. I'm more of a German car fan, but Japanese cars are a close second. The only cars I don't like are American cars. I think the 1990 American models look even more hideous now than they did then. But, it's just my opinion.
@crackaddict444 Are you on drugs??? The Lexus is a cardboard box, no styling whatsoever, no thought to detail, no flair or interesting detail, just a square, "pencil and ruler" rush job that characterises all Asian design...
@whitbyjet65 - but was also dull. I agree that today's TG is too silly and not as funny as it used to be - but they desperately needed something livelier than the old TG. Even so, new TG used to do entertaining and informative road tests of interesting cars - they should try and get back to that.
@EccentricRichard I don't think the current Top Gear DOES ever give informative tests. All they're bothered about is how fast a car can go. Watching smoking tyres on airfrields is just tedious to me. I find the current version dull.
@whitbyjet65 - it used to, but it's given up, which is sad. However, I never ever want to see a FWD 3- or 4-cyl diesel on TG. Big RWD/4WD diesels I wouldn't mind. Nice petrol cars of any wheel drive also. I wouldn't want to lose the races TG is renowned for (eg TGV vs DB9) - need more of 'em. Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car I'd miss little, it's usually dull. However, I would miss the tyre-smoking track tests and Power Laps, predictable as they can be. Old TG mustn't return: it was dying anyway.
@EccentricRichard We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm a grown man who wants grown-up tv shows. I'm not interested in what car is faster around a race track. It's meaningless in the real world. It doesn't matter if one car is 0.3 seconds faster to 60mph either. Needless to say, I don't watch Top Gear these days. It's too childish.
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.
@alernest I agree!! early 90's toyota was king!! Toyota had cool cars like mr2, celica and of coarse supra. And Lexus was making a strong impression with the sleek sc 3-400, and this, the surprisingly great Ls 400..
... Now Toyota is mass market sellout with a soccer mom suv or sedan in every available size. Plus, the boring ass Prius. Also, quality seems to have dropped. And Lexus has gotten pretty boring, aside from the IS and I like the LFA (tho I'll never be able to afford one :)
@alernest - I quite like the LFA, and the first-gen IS was a good-looking car, as was the second-gen RX SUV. What I have the biggest problem with are the bigger Lexii (too bulbous, too bland). I also have a problem with the fact that they ditched the characterful inline sixes that once made their cars convincing BMW rivals and replaced them with dull inline fours and Camry-based V6s. BMW's engines are more characterful, economical and powerful. Plus where are the manual gearboxes?!
I had one for keeps - lasted 11 months. Blown head gasket without any warning.
Gutted!
thisiszaphodbeeblebr 2 weeks ago
who would buy cars like that without air conditioning
KEMALO2011 3 weeks ago
The quality of European cars is just inferior to Japanese engineering.
Michelangelo123123 1 month ago 5
@Michelangelo123123 not to mention High Quality and easy to find parts and very inexpensive too!
98770 1 week ago
Lexus has always been the before it's time. Love it.
blu887 1 month ago
Sorry but Lexus just reminds me of Alan Partridge lol!
artstudent07 1 month ago
I think people choose BMW and Mercedes because they need recognition from others. However a Toyota/Lexus is fine choice if you simply want a good machine.
nolanm6500 1 month ago
wow this video just shit on every other luxury brand, lmfao GO LEXUS
Primer9 2 months ago
MB is garbage, lexus has always been on top, fuck merc
Primer9 2 months ago
Lexus has always been ahead of the pack in tech, In 1997, a Navigation system was standard equipment in the LS, In 1990, the LS was in a similar position the Equus is in now, except Toyota made another premium brand specially for luxury cars while Hyundai is putting their shameful badge on their new great cars.
JustAnotherJake7 2 months ago
@JustAnotherJake7 I wouldn't exactly call hyundai shamful, yes they aren't the best cars ever made but whats up with putting the same name on your luxury vehicles, just because thier past wasn't great doesn't mean to say they cant turn thier image around. They are very good value for money at the very least when compared with others. At least they did better than Ford, peugeot andrenault in the luxury market, nobody cared about a luxury ford cuz it wasnt seen as a luzry brand shame really.
Samthebam4044 1 month ago
@Samthebam4044 I didn't mean for it to come out like that. It's no secret that Hyundai made shitty cars before the 2000's. But, a lot of people haven't let go of that memory giving that badge a bad reputation. I think they can turn their Hyunda and Kia badges around but they should have built an entire new brand for their luxury cars like the Genesis, Genesis Coupe, Equus, and maybe the Vera Cruz
JustAnotherJake7 1 month ago
The Lexus' interior styling looks "bland"? The Lexus was far ahead of its time in every aspect ;)
TheCarismaGT 5 months ago 3
Makes me want to play Street Fighter II
TheYorkMan 5 months ago
Sad to say, many of these cars fell victim to "Cash For Clunkers." I would take any of these cars in decent condition and spend money restoring them on my own time than having monthly car payments for a new KIA for the next 3-5 years with "Interest"!
sketchyinc 6 months ago 2
My American ears always grins at the sound of "Cel-LEE-cas" lol.
jflow08 6 months ago 4
Not really fair- Especially comparing to the Mercedes. The Benz had been out for 10 years and was about to be replaced by the W140.
number1Schumacherfan 6 months ago 2
@number1Schumacherfan And the w140 crushed the LS. I agree that the LS is well built and reliable, but the feeling in the benz or the bmw is a lot more special...
maximapitko 6 months ago
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!!!!
bigswol34 6 months ago
thats like a 2000 ls comparing to like 1995 european cars not fair match up
onuohafamily 6 months ago
Wheres the Audi V8???
oggazoink 6 months ago
Another reason for the crypt-like silence in the cabin is the sand-filled firewall.
HachiZenki 7 months ago
Style, layout and technology. The Lexus looked like the W140 before Benz even made it.
AboutFormulaOne 7 months ago
my hundayi 2010 dose not have this spcefication
!!!!
mserry2783 7 months ago
@mserry2783 Maybe your spelling has something to do with your education which has something to do with the reason you drive a Hyundai*. x-D
VhUgGz 7 months ago
@VhUgGz and what r u driving ?? bitch
mserry2783 7 months ago
@mserry2783 Are* You*. Still misspelled.
VhUgGz 7 months ago
You cant thrash around listening to Phil Collins in a lexus.
huskyemma 7 months ago
Why werent the british car programmers promoting the jaguar?
TWATS!.. jag is now a german marque.
The jaguar is beautiful, it's a present for your penis.
huskyemma 7 months ago
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.
form109 8 months ago 3
Honestly, this car aged very well. My friend has an 89 ls400, and it never looks out of place in our tysons corner business district in the dc metro area
Porsche1080 9 months ago
My grandpa got this car in the early 90s and said it blew everything out of the water.
BSAcamper2009 9 months ago
Yeah true, because the ls400 was created in 1983
airtouch01 9 months ago
In my opinion they should compare this lexus with the W140 S class n BMW e38 to see which luxury car is better. Both the W126 and E32 7 series are 1980s cars.
MrCounterstrikeforce 9 months ago
@MrCounterstrikeforce And actually, I think the W126 was launched in 1979...which makes it around 10 years older than the LS. The fact that it was still able to stand up to its competitors quite well after all that time is a remarkable feat on its own.
0cnpgs0 9 months ago
so depressed, just sold my 1990 LS400, poor ole girl had at least 300,000 miles on it but ran like a jewel on the highways an streets.
kingpimpbob 10 months ago
Now lexus has the charmisa, herritage and the image to make it best value for money luxury car
Timx4 10 months ago
Great review! It makes me want to get on ebay and find a 1990 LS, since it was so ahead of it's time and you could probably buy one for a song nowadays. It still looks totally modern and fresh, and I like how the shape of it resembles the W126 MB..but you don't get all the headaches and expensive repairs MB is now famous for. Way to Lexus!
Nightbird 11 months ago
Oh man I'm so glad you put the Grandstand theme at the start. This just embodies the 90s for me. Excellent stuff.
lucrativeelfmongrel 1 year ago
1990 story...
JineshJK 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I will just say that only for the "Lexus project F1" has been spend 5 mil. dollars back in 1983!!! And the idea was to be flawless car!! Even now..,30 years after car with more than 500 000 km is more reliable than any new german car! Check in google "Lexus LS problems" and you ll see .. Small problems like not working radio antenna..,burned fuse..,not working heating seat..,and thats it..,for a 30 years old car ,full of electr gadgets!!! Even now..,for most options in Merc you have to pay!
eleonik76 1 year ago
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.
VVTLI16 1 year ago 41
@VVTLI16
A/C was an option in many European cars at the time. There was simply no need for an A/C in the minds of many buyers. Why include it in a car when people don't want it? Times have changed and now an A/C is a must - also because the summers have become hotter etc. Lexus is overrated.
cawimmer430 6 months ago
@VVTLI16 i see you are a celica fan from your YT name... i love them too... cheers :)
supra1722 2 months ago
@supra1722 close, i actually have a rare Corolla model called the "XRS" which has the same engine as the Celica GT-S/T-Sport (2ZZ-GE). fun to drive like the Celica, but with the convenience of a 4 door Corolla.
VVTLI16 2 months ago
@VVTLI16 yessir i am a big fan... those xrs are really fun to drive... one helluva little car... i have a buddy who has one... :)
supra1722 2 months ago
@VVTLI16 20 years ago NO A/C in a Mercedes??!! oh come on! its a luxury car!
98770 2 months ago
@98770 in the USA you must have A/C.
98770 2 months ago
Toyota "ce-LEE-ca"? I always say "CE-li-ca"
smithraymond09029 1 year ago
those are some real nice cars :D i love late 80's and 90's cars!
CherylKimberleylover 1 year ago
All the European cars look so dated, even for 1990. The Lexus still looks very modern today.
crackaddict444 1 year ago 40
@crackaddict444
they were all launched far earlier than the Lexus, and whether it does look more modern or not, it's still ugly and soulless, whereas the Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes don't
iainthornton 7 months ago
@iainthornton
*aren't
iainthornton 7 months ago
@crackaddict444 That's not true (in my opinion). Yes, the old Audi's look dated, but not the S Class, E Class, 5 or 7 series. I still think they look every bit as modern as this Lexus. I'm more of a German car fan, but Japanese cars are a close second. The only cars I don't like are American cars. I think the 1990 American models look even more hideous now than they did then. But, it's just my opinion.
VhUgGz 7 months ago
@crackaddict444 Really? Does it?
maximapitko 6 months ago
@crackaddict444 Are you on drugs??? The Lexus is a cardboard box, no styling whatsoever, no thought to detail, no flair or interesting detail, just a square, "pencil and ruler" rush job that characterises all Asian design...
discocreator76 2 days ago
Just look at that classic BMW .Drooling.
massari4u 1 year ago
@massari4u yeah i'm thinkin the same thing
Vetal83 1 year ago
i am sorry to say but the lexus is far modern in looking
03iamhopeless 1 year ago
Back in the days when Top Gear was for grown-ups.
whitbyjet65 1 year ago
@whitbyjet65 - but was also dull. I agree that today's TG is too silly and not as funny as it used to be - but they desperately needed something livelier than the old TG. Even so, new TG used to do entertaining and informative road tests of interesting cars - they should try and get back to that.
EccentricRichard 11 months ago
@EccentricRichard I don't think the current Top Gear DOES ever give informative tests. All they're bothered about is how fast a car can go. Watching smoking tyres on airfrields is just tedious to me. I find the current version dull.
whitbyjet65 11 months ago 3
@whitbyjet65 - it used to, but it's given up, which is sad. However, I never ever want to see a FWD 3- or 4-cyl diesel on TG. Big RWD/4WD diesels I wouldn't mind. Nice petrol cars of any wheel drive also. I wouldn't want to lose the races TG is renowned for (eg TGV vs DB9) - need more of 'em. Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car I'd miss little, it's usually dull. However, I would miss the tyre-smoking track tests and Power Laps, predictable as they can be. Old TG mustn't return: it was dying anyway.
EccentricRichard 11 months ago
@EccentricRichard We'll have to agree to disagree. I'm a grown man who wants grown-up tv shows. I'm not interested in what car is faster around a race track. It's meaningless in the real world. It doesn't matter if one car is 0.3 seconds faster to 60mph either. Needless to say, I don't watch Top Gear these days. It's too childish.
whitbyjet65 11 months ago 3
@whitbyjet65 That makes 2 of us.
djdavedoc 11 months ago
thats one hell of a good road test
pe6obutilkata 1 year ago
i would rather have the 560 SEL
mooazz 1 year ago
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.
Strike86 1 year ago
@Strike86 - I see XJ40s all over the place! A few E32s and W126s, but they're rarer than the XJ40s. It's the Lexii that are rare around here.
EccentricRichard 11 months ago
The XJ6 has no competition. only the Lexus has A/C? The presenter knows the Jaguar XJ6 is best too. The Jag has it in the bag. Plus it's cooler.
Acct1941 1 year ago
The Jag is clearly the BEST!
cm18cam 1 year ago
@cm18cam
in your dreams
kilodhahab 1 year ago
toyota wants to follow first c in world mb bmw and english cars jagi thats not bad but japanes cars still not safty not strong not engeneered prety?
batbat0 1 year ago
It looks way better than its compeditors
REPOMAN24722 1 year ago
A pitty Lexus have in the recent years been so apathetic with the design of their cars:
- IS 350 Cabrio (worst proportioned car ever?)
- CT 250 (again, worst proportions for a hacthback)
- SC 430 (remorse-less, rancid, ugliness)
- LFA (bland, the least flair I've seen on a sports car)
- Former LX (...)
The Japanese have some of the best architects in the world, incredibly creative, what is the problem with Lexus? They're otherwise brilliant cars.
alernest 1 year ago
@alernest LFA isn't too bad if you seen one in real life and not on a video
JAPANTUNER100 1 year ago
@alernest I agree!! early 90's toyota was king!! Toyota had cool cars like mr2, celica and of coarse supra. And Lexus was making a strong impression with the sleek sc 3-400, and this, the surprisingly great Ls 400..
... Now Toyota is mass market sellout with a soccer mom suv or sedan in every available size. Plus, the boring ass Prius. Also, quality seems to have dropped. And Lexus has gotten pretty boring, aside from the IS and I like the LFA (tho I'll never be able to afford one :)
bliglum 1 year ago
@alernest - I quite like the LFA, and the first-gen IS was a good-looking car, as was the second-gen RX SUV. What I have the biggest problem with are the bigger Lexii (too bulbous, too bland). I also have a problem with the fact that they ditched the characterful inline sixes that once made their cars convincing BMW rivals and replaced them with dull inline fours and Camry-based V6s. BMW's engines are more characterful, economical and powerful. Plus where are the manual gearboxes?!
EccentricRichard 11 months ago
@EccentricRichard
Totally agree...
alernest 11 months ago
THANKS SOOOOO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! I was longing to see this for soooo long! =D
1bentley4ever 1 year ago
thanks for posting
podpro4 1 year ago
I always liked this car ^^
FrightfulAccountant 1 year ago