What's the car equivalent of the Hundy?

[yuselneim]

I've owned several of the cars being talked about so I'll chime in. As others have expressed, I believe the Lexus LS is the "car" equivalent to the LC/LX. In terms of build quality, reliability, seating for 5 and the fun to drive factor, it's all there. Mine was a 1996 LS400 with RWD but it handled so well for a car of its size and drove so smooth. The later LS460 models are offered in AWD, so that might be a good pick. As for the BMW e39, I've only had mine since August but so far so good. Can't speak to its reliability yet, but it's also not my daily driver. It's more the summer/weekend car. Wifey drives a 2016 Subaru Forester which I have the privilege of driving occasionally. As a result, I will never buy another Subaru again. Worst commercials too.View attachment 1619721

Good taste, nice Imola. I got the LC because the M5 was starting to become too expensive to daily. Thanks to the LC I've cut yearly maintenance to about 1/3 of before and I can park anywhere and never have to plan beforehand when going to a new place.

 

[ibrahim83]

LS430 for sure.

 

[sigg]

Outside of my treasured Land Cruiser, I wear out Volvo’s. I just sold a 2000 S70 with 220k that could have easily gone 300k, and now I have a 2006XC70.

I will give a nod to some of the Lexus LS series cars. But that’s a lot of luxury, and too much electronics.

but Volvo’s run forever....

Another vote of agreement here. P2 XC70 if you need AWD, V70 T5 if you wanna put a smile on your face with your commute. My T5M had 17 more horsepower from the factory than our hundy, but weighs around 2,000 pounds less, and can still carry 7 passengers. Plus, you won't find more comfortable seats than the P2 sport seats (XC70 seats are pretty darn comfy too). Plus the second row folds completely flat (even the front passenger seat folds forward), giving you crazy cargo space. I can't tell you how often I've had to tell the wife, I'm gonna have to take the Volvo—it won't fit in the Hundy. Fantastic reliability, excellent utility, and pretty decent gas mileage. It's not an LS…but then again, it's also doesn't have the stigma of a Lexus. It screams safety, and responsibility regardless of what speed you're driving. Makes you darn near invisible to the cops. Haha.

 

[Kabanstva]

I've owned my 07 LX470 for a bit over two years now and purchased an 04 LS430 back in early November 2017.

I agree that the LS is most definitely Toyota's "car version" of the 100-series because it offers similar size (it's huge inside), an amazing ride and build quality, smooth drivetrain, whisper silent, and one of the most reliable sedans you can buy hands down.

I've wanted an LS for a long time but still have my old daily driver 03 GS430 which is definitely on the sportier side, so I don't know about comparing that to a 100-Series.

 

[CurbsEnthusiasm]

Sold an LS430 for my LX and that was one damn good car. Very well put together and engineered to be reliable, it’s in my opinion one of if not the best all around car for long term ownership.

 

[El Cid]

Another vote of agreement here. P2 XC70 if you need AWD, V70 T5 if you wanna put a smile on your face with your commute. My T5M had 17 more horsepower from the factory than our hundy, but weighs around 2,000 pounds less, and can still carry 7 passengers. Plus, you won't find more comfortable seats than the P2 sport seats (XC70 seats are pretty darn comfy too). Plus the second row folds completely flat (even the front passenger seat folds forward), giving you crazy cargo space. I can't tell you how often I've had to tell the wife, I'm gonna have to take the Volvo—it won't fit in the Hundy. Fantastic reliability, excellent utility, and pretty decent gas mileage. It's not an LS…but then again, it's also doesn't have the stigma of a Lexus. It screams safety, and responsibility regardless of what speed you're driving. Makes you darn near invisible to the cops. Haha.

Full disclosure: I worked for Toyota North America HQ for over a year. In theory, i expected it to improve my loyalty to the Toyota brand.

It didn't,(Though in fairness, my LC loyalty is fanatical) here's the reason why. The pressure to sell cars is very demanding and consumers often ask for unrealistic things and/or simply don't know what they need. So the focus on safety in many car companies is left behind. Not at Volvo. Volvo makes some of the safest cars on the road and it''s their safety R&D that is the industry standard. The safety is a big seller for me, because I drive on roads that are chaos next to armies of uninsured drivers.

No disrespect to Toyota, I love my land cruiser, always will and the Toyota reliability is legit. MY LC isn’t going anywhere. But if safety is a selling point, Volvo is the leader.

 

[El Cid]

and yeah, cop invisibility is a huge plus, I was only pulled over once in the S70, haha!!

 

[Sandroad]

The latest generation of Subaru Outback or Legacy checks all the boxes in the OP and are really nice cars. And, when the weather turns iffy in MA, either will get you home safely and comfortably.

 

[lt1fire]

I will make everyone mad and say 2005-2006 e320 CDI benz. Tank. And 35 mpg's or more and run for 500k miles. And fast.

its up there with the LS... i'd say the LS is better on $$$ for repairs though. They are pretty much neck and neck in the fast part but the LS will kill in the comfortable department. Still there is something about that diesel...... to bad the 100 never got one here.

 

[lt1fire]

Also another great thing about owning a 100 and a ls430 is parts in common. Two coils out on the cruiser.... grabbed two off the lexus until the replacement parts come in. Boom

 

[Nick T]

What is your definition of "uber reliablity"? Alot here have said LS430. While reliable in the sense it does not leave you stranded. My air shocks were $1000 each, Mark Levinson amp $600... neither part(s) are available aftermarket. The most reliable sedan that seats 5, good in snow would be a Camry, 90s Camry made in japan would be best, the newer the Camry, the more gadgets that can breakdown.

 

[El Cid]

, the newer the Camry, the more gadgets that can breakdown.

Therein lies the truly bad news for people that are reliability zealots, like.....a lot of the people on this site.
ALL cars are becoming more integrated with chips, sensors, electrical items that when they fail, leave the motorist stranded.
Not sure what the solution will be, but it is affecting the reliability of many vehicles.

 

[elk]

I noticed some Volvo loyalty in this thread. I have owned three Volvos and my wife has owned two. She had a 2005 V50 2.5 and a 2010 XC90 3.2 and absolutely loved both. They were overall reliable, but had some district body mount and suspension issues. She now drives a 2016 4Runner. I was not entirely sold on the reliability of either Volvo. That said, I have a 1995 940 that I use as a fair weather commuter. It has 339,xxx miles and counting. My 1991 240 had 386k and my 1984 244 had approximately a half million. The odometer stopped working after 480k. Volvo red blocks will run forever with minimal issue.

 

[AndersN]

Lexus LS but my thoughts also wander towards an older 300d with the om617. Had one for years that got the daily miles put on it. No clue how many miles it had as I bought it with a broken odometer at 300k.

 

[uzj100]

I grew up with turbo diesel benz. Dad bought new in 1983. Sold with 450k. Last time I drove it at 380k miles it ran like a top. That car was tank.

 

[cwmoser]

...
So, is there a car equivalent to the 100 - built like a tank, uber reliable, seating for 5, aging gracefully, holding it's value, and gets decent fuel economy (20+ mpg)? The natural choice seems to be the LS (fuel econ?) but can't picture my wife wanting to drive one of those - seems to be reserved for chairman of the board types.

Perhaps an AWD 5 series BMW? Think it fails in the reliability category?

EDIT: Also needs to be capable in the snow - LS430 is RWD only right?

Hmmm. My wifes 2009 Toyota Camry is well built and reliable - just gas, tires, and oil.
Pretty boring but wifey loves it.
I am impressed with the go kart quick acceleration out of its 4 cylinder engine - but not much else.

 

[lt1fire]

What is your definition of "uber reliablity"? Alot here have said LS430. While reliable in the sense it does not leave you stranded. My air shocks were $1000 each, Mark Levinson amp $600... neither part(s) are available aftermarket.

Like has been stated before you don't have to replace the air shocks with air you can convert to coil overs for less than the price of one OEM air shock. Also there are aftermarkets available for the front and the rear is in the RD stage at the same company. You also don't have to replace the Levinson amp with a Levinson amp there are others out there. Tons of info on clublexus.com about this. But Levinson does make some seriously good amps so you could say you get what you pay for. All of that said only 10% of LS430's had the air shock option under the UL more had the Levinson system but not all. So a stripper model LS wouldn't have any of these issues.
My OEM air shocks have lasted almost 200k and so far only one of them is leaking. I'm going to replace with coil overs soon but leave everything in place so I can convert back to air when i'm making more coin at my job. Its a pretty simple job.

The most reliable sedan that seats 5, good in snow would be a Camry, 90s Camry made in japan would be best, the newer the Camry, the more gadgets that can breakdown.

I'd half agree with the camry if we are talking about gadgets but i'd also wager the 3UZ will actually run longer than the V6 in the camry. Plus I think having the same engine family gives the LS the nod as well as not being a boring car in any sense. The camry from the same era is a great car but is pretty boring when it comes to sedans. While the 100 isn't the most exciting SUV on the road it isn't boring and when it gets to the dirt it is the complete opposite. Add to this the camry from the same era were built in the US (nothing really wrong with that in my opinion) while the LS like the 100 series was exclusively made for the US market in Japan.
Your point about 90's camry's is valid except we are talking about the equivalent to the 100 series so in my mind you would need to pick a vehicle from the same era. If it was the car equal of a FJ62 or a FJ80 FZJ80 i'd agree on the 90's camry without a doubt although the V6's did have some major sludge issues.

Over than buying a hardcore wheeler and a "sportier car" I can't see a reason I would want to sell either the LS or the 100.

My only knock on the LS is lack of manual but we didn't get that in the 100 either. LOL

 

[lt1fire]

Lexus LS but my thoughts also wander towards an older 300d with the om617. Had one for years that got the daily miles put on it. No clue how many miles it had as I bought it with a broken odometer at 300k.

View attachment 1623722

These things were awesome and will last a ton of miles... my 87 300SDL had around 450k on it when I sold it to a friend..... still miss that car. If I didn't have the LS i'd be driving on of those again.

 

[kolyo]

I went through all this when deciding on the family's second car next to my "06 UZJ100. Finally I settled for a 2014 Subaru Forester AWD as a DD for SWIMBO. The Subie qualified just ahead of Volvo XC and Lexus LS for it's combination of safety, off road/winter capability, reliability and... looks

 

[spaber05]

@RND1 : I think you're heading in the right direction checking out the LS and GS. Both, to me, have as close to the LC's tank like build quality and uber-hushed driving environ as anything else on the road (car wise). As much as I love old Subies (along with everyone else here in greater New England), they are a bit tinny and don't have the buttoned up, solid feel of our LCs or many Lexus cars/trucks.

Also, are all LC owners the same?! Seriously though, I've been eyeing an E39 M5 for quite some time, is there some unwritten rule I missed?