jeffgwaltney

Currently drive a mint 99 ls400 just turned 75k mi...I'm the second owner, car bought from local dealer here in Nville TN

Thinking of moving to ls430 -prob 04 or newer. Saw 1 owner 04 ls430 mint all records (incl. the major 90k svc with new timing belt etc.) w 95k mi for $15k...

My 99 prob worth at least $11-maybe $12k...black/tan looks brand new, not many 75k 99 ls 400s in the entire country

So if I could make this or similar move from a mint low mi 99 ls 400 to a 03-04 etc. ls 430 with perfect records for say $3-4,000....then what say you, Ye wise and worldly experienced "Lex-pros?"

Thanks for thoughts and opinions...

Jeff in Nashville

Jabberwock

Tough call - if I already had an LS400 in good shape I'd be tempted to keep it another couple of years and then get a low mile 06 LS when I felt the LS400 was just getting too old to be completely reliable...it does happen as a car ages - electrics, rubber, plastics, etc, all of it ages. On the other hand if you can still get premium dollars for your 99 LS400 right now it might be good time to sell and snag a LS430.

I personally would never go from a low mile used car to a high mile used car in a transaction - that's the wrong direction and it might end up being more costly in the end as far as total cost of ownership, plus psychologically it would be a let down for me personally.

jeffgwaltney

Thx Jabberwock - yes, I'm undecided too...prob won't hit 100k mi on my 99 ls400 for another 3 yrs since I drive it only 7-8k mi per year. Love the 99 ls400, def a classic look, was just wondering about a 430 if could make the move for $4k or less...

Ls460 too pricey even used for me...prefer to drive cars 5-6 yrs old that are very well maintained with all records so someone else takes most of the big early depreciation, leaving me with only $2k-$2.5k per yr depreciation.

Then I can drive he best for less than what mainstream family sedans would cost, newer of course.

CarGuy89

The key would be to check the service records. LS430s that are regularly maintained can go 200-300+k mi without needing anything too major and should be pretty reliable. You will want to see that the car was serviced every 5k mi, preferably by a Lexus dealer (unless the owner is a skilled in automotive repairs himself). Timing belt and water pump are the things you'll want to replace as the car approaches 90k mi, so look for one that's already had the work done (again, preferably at Lexus).

With that said, quite a few LS430 owners prefer an LS400 in many ways. They comment that the ride was better (16s on the 400 vs 17s/18s on the 430) and the 400 felt better made all round. Unfortunately, I've never had the pleasure of driving a 400, so I can't really comment. If you really like your 400, then keep it. If you feel that you're getting a bit bored, then find a 430 in your price range and go for it. Either way, you won't regret it.

jeffgwaltney

Thx CarGuy...the 04 ls430 has had all Svc done at Lexus for, info the major 90k Svc, do all maintenance certain and is the orig owner.

Bocatrip

If you can get $11,000-$12,000 for your 99 and the 04 LS430 for $15,000 it's pretty much a no brainer as long as the 04 is an original healthy car. We are talking about a 5 year newer and restyled car for only 4-5 grand. I'd only be concerned that the 04 has no transmission issues from the early production models and has a clean history. Personally, I'd go for it, especially if you are getting such strong money for your 99. Good luck.

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

wtf! 15k for a 04 ls430? those go for 20-25k in good condition.

caddyowner

Since you only drive 7-8K miles a year, I would not be concerned with buying a somewhat higher mileage LS than you currently own. If the LS430 checks out OK in inspection and the numbers all work out as you plan, it's just your preference.

I admire both, clean LS400s and LS430s when I see them on the road. Plus, there's something to be said for a owning a 12 year old car that looks like it just rolled out of the showroom.

jimbosr1

15k for a 04 i would be shocked if it were a good car without any major problems.

thinkin

Keep what you have unless you have money to burn.

JLAWS

Get the LS430 if you can really can get $10K for your 12 year old Lexus Ls400.
There was a $5000 gap for me when I was going to go from my paid off 01 Ls430 with 82K mile to a 04 Ls430 with 70K miles. I was really obsessed with the 04 facelift. But after seeing then side by side and driving both it definately wasn't worth the extra debt. Not really considered an "upgrade"

davelex

I also have a mint 99 LS 400 with 73K miles and recently bought a 06 LS 430 with 28K. I really love my 400 and decided not to trade it - glad that I did.
While I do like the 430 quite a lot, it's ride in nowhere near as serene and silky as my 400. The 400 is very nearly as quiet and has better visibility. It's steering, braking and even accelerator are lighter feeling. In short, it just feels more effortless and lush than the 430. These traits are very important to me and I find myself still driving and loving the older car.

I can also point out numerous items on the 400 that appear to be higher quality and more costly to manufacture than those used on the 430.

Examples: the leather covered armrests and french seamed leather seats (standard) in the 400 vs plastic armrests and welted seams in the 430. About 80% of the used 430 I found had the welting in the seams worn through and the standard plastic armrest is an embarrssment in a $64K car.

400 uses color keyed outer front A/C vents, rear console vents, inner sunroof trim, and inner door opening trim - all this matches the interior. 430 has generic black/grey used on these parts.

Fully leaded and finished roof/rear quarter on the 400. Notice that there are no seams and no metal trim? 430 uses the standard pressed in trim pieces covering the welds running the length of both sides of the roof. Not nearly as nice looking but much quicker and cheaper to manufacture.

One piece chrome outline trim on both the front and rear door windows. Looks more refined than the 430's gaps at the joints. (Lexus made a big deal in the advertising for the 460 about these one piece items. But they were already on earlier generation LS's - just not the 430)

I could point out more but you can probably tell that while I respect my new 430, I really admire and love my older 400. It exudes a "cost-is-no-object" approach while the 430 just does not.

jeffgwaltney

Great feedback davelex and all. Thx...sounds like I should keep the 99ls 400 and keep her well maintained and cared for.

Maybe I give to the wife for her daily driver to commute 35 mi total round trip during the week, then take the $$ I was going to spend to get her a Honda Fit and use that on a 04-05 well cared for ls 430? Only downside would be having our only 2 vehicles with both approaching 100k mi vs having one low mile, "under warranty" vehicle for reduced annual maintenance costs.

davelex

My previous post may have made it sound like I'm down on the 430, which isn't exactly true. It has numerous "gizmos" that don't appear on the 400. Some of which could be useful, some questionable, and some just silly.

Power folding mirrors, power rear sunshade, park sensors, rain sensing wipers, cooled/heated seats, swinging headlights; those are all, for me, in the last two catagories - your opinion may differ.

Vioce activation and nav in the 5 year old car is not really as good as you can currently get in a $200 Garmin or Tom Tom.

I, personally, don't miss these one bit when driving the 400 but certainly do enjoy it's smoother ride.

One of the two big improvements in the 430 is it's much stiffer, more rigid body structure. I can really feel this and it's the main reason for me liking the car. Sharp bumps don't cause the subtle quiver felt in the 400. But the slightly nervous, constant jiggling of the 430's ride is in sharp contrast to the 400's feeling of near motionless ride on the same surfaces.

Second big improvment is the steering on-center feel and tracking. 430 knows where straight ahead is and goes there better than the 400.

Both of these pluses have kept the 430 in my garage for the present - but the 400 still owns my heart.

PS: Might also include the much larger trunk in the 430 due to gas tank relocation and larger folks might prefer the larger seats in the 430.

Jabberwock

The 430 is definitely a good fit for larger folks - I am pretty small but my larger friends are always demonstrably happy to see they easily fit in my car.