Toyota Celsior 6 Month Ownership Report and Why I'm Selling It

My 1997 Toyota Celsior aka Lexus LS400 has been a car that piqued my interest to such a degree that I spent weeks tracking down the exact spec I wanted and imported it from Japan myself.
I then spent even more time bringing it back to the legendary factory OEM ride quality it's known for and enjoyed every second of the last 6 months daily driving it. In this video, I'm sharing with you my thoughts about the car and why I've made the difficult decision to sell it.
As much as I hate to sell it, I've accomplished what I set out to do in this car and freeing up the cash will allow me to pursue other interesting projects here on the channel. And eventually I'll get an LS430 to enjoy on the channel as well.
#toyota #ls400

[@joeteejoetee]

It's a bummer for me because I have a 96 LS400 and I was enjoying your (our) journey to repair and upgrade every aspect of the car over a casual timeline together. Thanks for all the great long LS400 videos, and LS parts sources in the description in the past.

[@JJinMotion]

It’s definitely not my last LS :-)

[@paramdeepdhillon3002]

Yea i got same 96 ls400 too abd really appreciate ur detailed long videos.

[@christiannakamura1187]

As soon as you sell it it's getting slammed by some teenager. 😔 Shame because black interiors are more rare. Thanks for all the videos on suspension though, they've helped me a lot.

[@JJinMotion]

The couple that bought it was so excited and want to keep it stock. It's their primary daily now so its gone to a great home. Thanks for watching and commenting, hopefully you stick around for more Toyota goodness :-)

[@christiannakamura1187]

Glad to hear that. Did you make a valve cover gasket video when you did them? Mine are leaking.

[@JJinMotion]

Yep, it's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl6WgnmZp6elipI

[@zptokyo]

Hehe I’m slamming mine not on its nuts but where the tire is a finger away from finder/ fender liner

[@JJinMotion]

@@zptokyo Nothing wrong with some serious fitment like that! I just didn't like that this one scraped when going over even small bumps. Just didn't fit my vibe for this car. My BMW on the other hand... scrape city lol

[@kncars7]

subscribed to your channel because of this car, so i'm sad to see it go, but excited to see what you end up doing!

[@JJinMotion]

Thanks so much for sticking around! Plenty more goodness to come

[@joeteejoetee]

Same: For the LS400.

[@agvwc]

I just watched your valve cover video and will be referencing that when I finally do it tomorrow, but my LS is in much worse condition that your Celsior so I'll be doing a few other things that you haven't done videos on either haha. I watch a lot of videos about the LS and haven't subscribed to anyone other than ChrisFix for working on cars but you do a great job being informative and making a high quality production video so I'm subscribed to watch you work on cars that wouldn't be directly about my LS. Best of luck and thank you for the helpful content!

[@worldhello1234]

@1:51 AFAIK 1UZ-FE was first introduced in the late 80s version of the Celsior.

[@TheLastLivin]

Correct, at least 1989

[@moriwaki1105]

400 Easily the Best car I ever owned.....had many Luxury cars since....NOTHING comes close to the reliability....and sheer driving pleasure of an LS400. Quietest....smoothest....best built.....most reliable......most enjoyable car ......they simply will never be anything like it again....the sound system is truly incredible too....I bought the 460 and it was a terrible drive compared to the 400.....had 400 7 years.....460 six months...enough said.....Far too complicated for no reason....buy the best 400 you can find...repair with genuine parts only....and have the Best Car EVER made.

[@crazyloaf805]

This saddens me. I got the 97 Coach Edition Cream on Cream and your videos are the best how to motivator videos. Sad to see that the tutorials stop for this car. 😢. I was hoping to see that timing belt video.

[@JJinMotion]

I did a video on the 2uz timing belt recently which is nearly identical!

[@zcycore7665]

I own a 98' Celsior freshly imported 5 months ago, and I have to admit, the car is very likable, comfortable, and reliable, all stock and no modification, a great car to own. Although there is one thing that I don't like about it, the mpg is really bad, i only get like 11-12 in cities. Highway is better, I get around 25-30 mpg.

[@JJinMotion]

That’s awesome! Yeah, bad mpg is their downfall but everything else is amazing

[@thevacdude]

What a cool car. Love these LS's.

[@LSnium]

I had 4 LS400s including a 1991 Toyota Celsior, I enjoy the LS400 more especially because I have a red on red LS400, unlike Celsiors which they didn’t come with. Oh and the Celsior which I sold which I always keep my cars stock, is now slammed to the ground.

[@awls400]

Dang gonna miss the celsior. Hope it goes to a good home.

[@JJinMotion]

It for sure has!

[@ryzen397]

yea my Dad bought the one of the first LS400's back in 1990 I believe. It had the Nakamichi sound system and black leather. It was really sweet. He said Mercedes is just too overpriced lol

[@LSnium]

They didn’t make a black interior LS400 until 1993. I have a red interior 1990 with the nakamichi system.

[@ryzen397]

@@LSnium no sht... interesting. they are sweet cars anyway. I was a kid so probably got the year or color wrong.

[@joer1678]

I have an 05 babied LS 430. Great car

[@dennisthebrony2022]

Toyota could’ve sold the Celsior in North America in LHD as a lesser and more mainstream version of the Lexus LS, to directly compete with the Ford Crown Victoria and Chevy Impala SS. The LS400/430 competed with the American Built large luxury sedans like the Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis, Cadillac DeVille, Buick Park Ave

[@IamOrangeGT]

I remember your RHD video, im supprised that you are selling it.

[@jaredstueckel]

I sold both my 2005 ls430’s last summer and immediately regretted it so I just got a 98 Celsior last month to fill the void

[@JJinMotion]

Dang you had two LS430's at the same time? I thought I was a car hoarder haha. Do you like the 430 or Celsior more so far?

[@hussienabukhalil2012]

I think the main reason is the right hand driver position. Such a car with same condition I will never sale it . Believe me if it's left hand driver side, your girl friend will love it for sure . I can't wait for LS430 😊 The queen 👸 of all vehicles 😊

[@JJinMotion]

I can’t wait for it too! Gonna keep an eye out for the right one. I want one that needs some love but that isn’t totally clapped out

[@hussienabukhalil2012]

@@JJinMotion right ✅️ 👌 But clean ones are so expensive 😕 Even here in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦. LS430 used ones are more more expensive than LS460 . No one like LS460 here , only few people, only the people who doesn't understand about cars . , the most two butiful colors on it , is red wine 🍷 👌 and pearly white , and the interior is Off white beige ، the most available on it . Good 👍 luck man to find clean 👌 one

[@Voges2023]

That Land Cruiser is cute.

[@JJinMotion]

The green color is 🔥

[@nycyabber7103]

How many miles? I'm looking at buying one with 50k but am kinda shopping through photos where it's difficult to see the quality of some parts.

[@paramdeepdhillon3002]

Sad to see it go man

[@JJinMotion]

Don’t worry, I’m on the hunt for its replacement :-)

[@dj-zy7br]

i replaced a the alternator on my 97 cession but the battery doesn’t seem to charge

[@Andrew-wf3rf]

How's the sound with the blueooth FM transmitter? Thinking of getting a celsior and am mostly worried about keeping that factory screen but also having good music

[@JJinMotion]

It’s totally fine, better than nothing, but also not the greatest. The quality of the Celsior sound system makes up for it

[@itssimplyjeff1]

as someone who's owned a 97' LS 400 for 6 years and still going, if you care about sound quality & want something that doesn't break the bank, get a used Sony CPA-9C or CPA-7C cassette adapter then pair it with a bluetooth aux receiver. should run around $30, more if you want a brand new cassette. sounds amazing. the FM transmitters sound like trash and all the cassette adapters on amazon i tried were kinda trash as well. stock pioneer system sounds amazing. haven't heard the nakmichi system but apparently that one's even better

[@Andrew-wf3rf]

@itssimplyjeff1 picked up a 1999 Toyota Celsior 10th anniversary, using my blueooth transmitter right now and I don't want to sacrifice that factory touch screen. These are wonderful vehicles that I've been missing out on, and sound quality closely matches my 2004 330i

[@Warpedsmac]

Ship it to me here in Australia!!! Did the KYB shock abs. work out OK?

[@JJinMotion]

They ride amazing, yep! Maybe not as good as true OEM but still very good

[@Warpedsmac]

@@JJinMotion Hi JJ, Curious to know how much you got for the LS400...

[@kdenn71]

I'm interested in the car. How do I contact you?

[@JJinMotion]

It’s actually already gone

[@phatyy-]

Rest in pepperonis Celsior

[@JJinMotion]

/bow

[@hussienabukhalil2012]

Sad 😔 news

[@speeddemon2262]

Go jj.

[@joseg5511]

Rip MPG and your wallet with that Land Cruiser. (lx 470 owner )

[@JJinMotion]

lol I know, but it’s so worth it