pagemaster

I was just checking out some photos of the the LS430 and LS460..Wow the LS430 looks so much more elegant. While the LS460 is nice is looks like it is trying a little to hard to impress while the LS430 is not..

For some reason the LS430 just looks richer and more elegant.

Couple things I noticed.
1. The LS430 matches the colour of the seat controls buttons to the interior colour of the vehicle. However the seat control colours do not match the steering wheel and dash switches.
2. The plastic seat housing of the LS460 has a lot more parts. The seat control appear to have a pop out plastic piece around it.
3. The center console of the 460 looks like it has a verticle line running down near the armrest.
4. The doors of the LS430 look more thought out and more elegant with the leather insert.
5. Styling and the grille of the 430 looks more elegant.

http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/L...430/Photos.htm
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/L...FrontSeats.jpg

What do others think?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Why do you belong to this forum? Seriously.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

I think he brings a few valid points. Although it's a tossup between exterior for me, I prefer the LS430's interior. It's easier on the eyes, especially the center console. I pretty much agree on the leather inserts on the door. It's these little touches that makes the car look/feel more luxurious. However in the end, I'd pick the LS460 over the LS430 due to the powertrain.

mmarshall

He obviously wants opinions on the two LS models.. Nothing wrong with that, even though we have a dedicated LS forum..........this is CAR CHAT, and for ALL vehicles.

Given the choice, I'd take the LS430, The 460 is superb in many ways (Primarily quietness on the road, a self-parking system, and an unmatched Mark Levinson stereo), but its interior plastics/wood are not as good as on the former 430, and the tires are lower-profile and more aggressive, which IMO is out of place on a car like this, where ride comfort is supposed to be one of the main issues. The 460 is still smooth, but not as smooth as the 430.

LexFather

The LS 460 destroys the LS 430 from an exterior styling standpoint. The LS 430 didn't have styling actually, but it was functional, having the lowest CD of any production car, even though it is pretty large. The 04+ refresh at least made the front slightly interesting but the 01-03 models are as bland as it gets.

The interior is very pleasing to the eye and top notch as well.

The LS 460 exterior is actually styled and clearly is not influencing others. The interior is different but I like it. To me it takes the LS to the next level.

The LS 460 is a lot more complicated than the 430 and its larger, so there will be more parts in some cases.

I can understand debating the interiors of the 430 vs 460 but exteriors are not even close.




Even modded, the difference is staggering

rominl

iTrader: (4)

ls430 looks like a car for 50 yr old. ls460 lowers that "age" factor by a lot. that's why my wife allowed me to get the ls460 when i wasn't even 30.

a few aspects i probably think the ls430 is better, but a lot of the features, design, built, the ls460 is just far superior to the ls430

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I think designwise, the LS460 is ages ahead of the LS430 for both in interior and exterior design.

However, qualitywise, the LS430 trumps the LS460 in term of material quality and build.

As far as technology is concerned, the LS460 is unmatched by any other car on the road (includine the well-aged LS430). However, it does get pricey ($100+k) if you add it all up.

If I had the money for something new, I'd go for the LS460L. But, if I wanted to get something used right now, a used LS430 is a better bargain than a used LS460.

mmarshall

I guess it depends on what kind of styling you like. Some like a more conservative look...and the 430. Others prefer the more rakish roof and body lines of the 460.

Inside and out, though (and even apart from just physical looks), the 430 strikes me as more solidly built, with heavier, sturdier materials. It also is set up for a more traditional smooth, luxury ride, with softer tires. The 460 matches it in quietness, but not quite in smoothness.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

i love them both but for me nothing beats a 2006 ul lexus ls430 blk on blk with darktints and oem chrome 18 inch 5 spokes, conservative and classy

marshmallo

Both are very nice, but IMHO the LS460 is a better, more modern car.

dc935

Totally agree ^^. When we went looking at LSs, we had 430 and 460 side by side just for comparison. The difference IMO is night & day in the styling dept and the 460 just looks SO much more modern and sleeker. My wife wouldnt even consider the 430 as she thought it was an "old" person car. When I see a 430 now, it def looks dated to me. Looks are subjective though, so to each their own

Its just the natural progression of things. Im sure Ill feel the 460 looks dated once the LS is revamped down the road.

LexBob2

FWIW, the LS460 has the highest average buyer age of any current Lexus vehicle, followed by the ES350.

theanimala

I never seriously considered the LS430 as my last car as I felt the interior to too much of the same old thing, having looked much like the earlier LS400. The LS460 on the other hand had a very different look that I personally think looks like it has more quality. It seemed to me like the LS430 shared too many switches from the Toyota family whereas the LS460 doesn't give me that impression.

Both are nice cars, but I agree with people above that the LS460 seems like it is attracting a younger crowd.

emoshun

iTrader: (11)

The 2006 LS430 was the end of an era for the LS. Period.

The classic styling of Lexus has given way to the new rounded, swept, molded look that all too many automakers have gone. I'm not concerned about the latest infa-red technology, nor having bragging rights to owning the "latest & greatest" generation.

Additionally, the dealer markup isn't worth it when next year the broken record of "it's the newest!" will be muted. Speaking about being muted, never has a 430 owner had to worry about "wind noise issues"

I simply adore the 430 for its timeless beauty, presence, and as of late, cost to value ratio. An '06 430 with 20-30k miles can be had for around $35k.

Not to mention that the 430 has to this day, the best in the industry HID lighting. The 460's projectors pale in comparison, and the 600hl's LED output is laughable.

If it was in my wallet, I would take the $100k I had saved for the 460, and take a month vacation to Japan, plucking JDM only accessories, wheels, interior baubles, and all sorts of trinkets for the 430, and had them shipped back to the states.

Then I would simply bank the left over $30k, and call it a day.

dc935

i would not find that as surprising, as the LS460 is Lexus's current flagship luxury sedan. I wouldnt think folks shopping for IS350s would be cross-shopping with the LS. I would also tend to think when the LS430 was the flagship, that it would also be the older demographic buying it at that time.

fwiw, the 460L is my wifes car, and she is 30 y/o