my 1997 lexus LX450 drives like a dream?

[landcruiser3DP]

i've got a 97 with 260K and have been road tripping on highway and divided four lane and two lane roads (often at night or before dawn) almost 200 miles each way every other weekend for awhile now.
and every once in awhile i start rhapsodizing about how this rig feels on the road.
i've done nothing to the steering. it's gotten various bushings as needed. i sprung for adjustable MRR's (which i dialed in) and a front steering damper because it very badly needed suspension when i bought it and i figured this was the one item i would blow the budget on.
anyway i couid take my hands off the wheel (obviously i don't) and not be the least bit concerned. honestly if pushed i might say i feel like i could almost body steer it. anyway i can steer it comfortably with two fingers on one hand.
i mean i guess it feels like it rides on rails. super solid. also i feel like i can feel the road in some kind of - i don't know - mechanical way?
anyway apart from the humble brag about the shocks is there a reason a dialed in 80 would be a joy to drive? like mechanically speaking is there something about it?
sorry bit of a meander here but i am curious about this.

 

[NeverFinis]

Is your other vehicle a clapped-out model T? Just asking...

I am wondering what you are comparing to....

 

[jonheld]

I have taken my LX450 on numerous long road trips, anywhere between 3K to 7K miles. She's been cross country 4x from Jersey to the west coast, up through the Canadian Rockies and back to NY, and from Maine to Florida. Is it as comfortable as a modern sports sedan? No. But for what it is and how it's built, and the trails that it runs without much difficulty, it's pretty damn comfortable to drive.
That said, I've spent a considerable amount of time and money getting it dialed in and I don't defer maintenance. At this point I'd change nothing except the tires.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

I have taken my LX450 on numerous long road trips, anywhere between 3K to 7K miles. She's been cross country 4x from Jersey to the west coast, up through the Canadian Rockies and back to NY, and from Maine to Florida. Is it as comfortable as a modern sports sedan? No. But for what it is and how it's built, and the trails that it runs without much difficulty, it's pretty damn comfortable to drive.
That said, I've spent a considerable amount of time and money getting it dialed in and I don't defer maintenance. At this point I'd change nothing except the tires.

thanks for that.
i understand the modern sports sedan or maybe any other car comparison in a sense. i was in like one of the new honda hrv ot something recently and was really impressed with the ride.
i guess i'm partly wondering if there is anything about the mechanics s of the suspension that give it almost an intuitive or mechanical or "haptic" feedback in a way other cars don't?
maybe there are analogs in power tools or machine tools or something but despite its "heaviness" there is a kind of man-machine thing happening with these rigs.
maybe i'm getting a bit esoteric but they give direct feedback in an interesting way.
that said i suppose that hrv was easier to drive and easier to ride on if im being honest. it just wasn't so sort of there.

 

[jonheld]

thanks for that.
i understand the modern sports sedan or maybe any other car comparison in a sense. i was in like one of the new honda hrv ot something recently and was really impressed with the ride.
i guess i'm partly wondering if there is anything about the mechanics s of the suspension that give it almost an intuitive or mechanical or "haptic" feedback in a way other cars don't?
maybe there are analogs in power tools or machine tools or something but despite its "heaviness" there is a kind of man-machine thing happening with these rigs.
maybe i'm getting a bit esoteric but they give direct feedback in an interesting way.
that said i suppose that hrv was easier to drive and easier to ride on if im being honest. it just wasn't so sort of there.

The haptic feedback to the driver is from the solid axle design, suspension, and steering. It allows the driver to feel every crack and crevice in the road. This is also why it can be fatiguing depending on the road conditions. Off road, it is a benefit. You can feel what the truck is doing.
Modern vehicles have much softer suspension and components that give less feedback, but more comfort with less driver fatigue. Like everything else, it's always a compromise.
You also can't make a valid comparison between a Honda CRV and an 80 Series. Apples and oranges.

 

[NeverFinis]

For road tripping, my LX450 is the 3rd choice at my house.

Unless I am deep woods camping or going off-road, the LX450 stays home. It is almost entirely new. You would be hard pressed to find anything mechanical from 1996.

Despite the LX450 being mechanically restored, my 2023 Ford Lightning is the 1st choice for road tripping. Wife much prefers the Lightning and is always disappointed when I tell her we are driving the LX450. I mean, it has to be driven...

The Lightning has full independent suspension, 580 Hp, and BlueCruise. Get on a highway, turn on BlueCruise, and relax... Two fingers on the wheel? How about none...

 

[BTLSHP]

Honestly, over 30 years where 90% plus of the driving was 132 miles of pavement followed by 4 off road, I never found the 80 uncomfortable or difficult. Conversely, my Audi when all is right it is brilliant, but it is routinely not right.

 

[smritte]

I prefer the feel of my gearbox over my other vehicles rack and pinion for distances, especially multiday dirt roads. As others have said, it can take a bit to get the suspension just the way you like it.
My issue is seats. The cruiser seat just doesn't cut it for me on long highway trips. I rebuilt them several years ago and compared to other off road vehicles I've built, that is the last part I need to dial in.

 

[BTLSHP]

I prefer the feel of my gearbox over my other vehicles rack and pinion for distances, especially multiday dirt roads. As others have said, it can take a bit to get the suspension just the way you like it.
My issue is seats. The cruiser seat just doesn't cut it for me on long highway trips. I rebuilt them several years ago and compared to other off road vehicles I've built, that is the last part I need to dial in.

Hmm, we re-did the seat foam and leather just prior to a 1,700 mile trip. Super comfy over 4 days in a slow trip.

 

[jonheld]

We have the 450 and an Audi Q4 Etron. The Audi is more comfy obviously, but it's a very annoying vehicle. Very expensive, poor sound system, crap software, gets really stupid in the cold weather, key fobs occasionally work, amongst other things. The Polestar 2 was better in all respects.
That said, an EV is not ready for cross country trips until the infrastructure catches up and new battery tech comes to market. It'll get there eventually.

 

[NeverFinis]

That said, an EV is not ready for cross country trips until the infrastructure catches up and new battery tech comes to market. It'll get there eventually.

I would have agreed with you right after I took my first road trip after delivery of my 2023 Ford Lightning.

The very first road trip was to downeast maine from Massachusetts. I mean, only driving to Alaska would have been worse...

Last usable public DC charger being in Ellsworth Maine and I still had further to go... What I didn't know at the time, there was a massive row of Tesla chargers nearby, which I didn't have access to at the time.

Since then, Tesla opened up most of their chargers to other makes, with Ford being the first.

Tesla chargers are a game changer.

Now, it is very easy to charge and to charge quickly at thousands of Tesla locations across the US.

Just did a round trip to Maryland and driving an EV was not much different than driving a ICE vehicle, except I am faster.

Sure it takes a bit longer, but then again I save much more time by never having to spend time at a gas station, which for many is once/week. Unless I am driving my LX450 or I need gas for my snowblower/lawnmower...

The NJP has great chargers at their rest stops, which appear to be new. Charging is usually done by the time you do a bathroom break and get food.

The hotel had free chargers, which meant I was able to drive around for free, as well as leave @100% charge. The first 300 miles back was paid for by the hotel....

The biggest issue, usually not with Tesla chargers, is that EVs are getting much more numerous, which means more EVs are competing with a limited number of chargers. In any given location, Tesla puts in 2 to 3 times the number of chargers compared to most of their competitors.

To bring it back on topic, I am much more well rested driving my EV Lightning long distance than driving my LX450 long distance...

However, I do plan on driving to Alaska soon...I will be taking the LX450, and leaving the Lightning at home...

 

[BTLSHP]

I just drove a Q4 Etron DC to Miami to hand over to my son. The range issues were a nuisance 200 mile stops are for the birds. We had one charging issue near Charleston where the charges had been taken offline without notice.

That said, we got caught in the most horrendous downpour. 2 semis jack-knifed in different spots, three more off the road.... The 6,000 pound Etron was absolutely brilliant. All that weight down low kept it secure and planted like nothing I have driven. The nannies told me the camera was not reliable so I was on my own. It was fine, slowed a bit but still made decent progress.

 

[White Stripe]

My 80 drives like most newer SUVs. With the new Toyota shocks and stock height coils it rides nice. I did increase the caster a bit to make it track nicer at speed. It rides very similar to how my 4runner did. My prior 80 had a 5" lift and 37s, it was a completely different animal to my current setup. You can really make drastic handling changes with all the different suspensions available. I have climate controlled es350 seats, so its a different experience than most other 80s.

 

[COS80]

Weird place to find an EV commercial but ok....

 

[BTLSHP]

Weird place to find an EV commercial but ok....

Sorry, I was truly shocked at how quiet and comfortable and sorted it was on the road.

 

[Mrtwooooo]

I faintly claim that my 80 drives better than our 2016 LX. Of course the LX has all of the features people want these days and everything can be put in Auto but at the same time I'm the driver and I want to be in control.

The 8-speed does its job in the LX but the 4 speed, while not very efficient, works and almost never has to shift while you're just cruising. Which to me makes the ride more comfortable. ( I feel like the 8-speed is always going between 7th and 8th).

It still amazes me how capable an 80 series can be off road and at the end of the day you're driving home in comfort. I feel like the 80 series doesn't accel in one aspect, except reliability, yet its above average in almost every aspect.

My wife and I drove the 80 to Death Valley from Alabama back in 2021 and the best part for me was when I got home I proved to my mother-in-law that driving a 26 year old SUV across the country, through the desert and back not only wasn't a bad idea but it went perfectly. Despite her having her doubts.

To me the 80 really is a joy to drive. Don't plan on getting there fast.

 

[jonheld]

I just drove a Q4 Etron DC to Miami to hand over to my son. The range issues were a nuisance 200 mile stops are for the birds. We had one charging issue near Charleston where the charges had been taken offline without notice.

That said, we got caught in the most horrendous downpour. 2 semis jack-knifed in different spots, three more off the road.... The 6,000 pound Etron was absolutely brilliant. All that weight down low kept it secure and planted like nothing I have driven. The nannies told me the camera was not reliable so I was on my own. It was fine, slowed a bit but still made decent progress.

Yea, it handles OK for a crossover. My wife fought me for something higher than a sports sedan because of where she daily drives, and as usual, she won. I wanted the BMW i4 after the P2. The P2 was brilliant. Never going back to Audi.