warminwisc

Just looked at a 011 Infiniti G25 AWD all but nav, 8 way seats x 2, backup camera, push button start, tooth, roof, leather for my sharp as a pin, 84 year old dad. To compare to the LS340 is ludicouse but read the reviews... its the G37 platform with a small six and god MPG's. Not fast but handles like a charm.

It was a revelation how far cars have come with all the shopping I have done. My LS, I will drive to 200 k and beyond as my second car/commuter to work.

2280 down tax title liscence 350 month OTD 12 month 12k a year. HID, AWD, 7 speed
they compare it as a less expensive 328.

To buy was 800 under invoice at about 31, 500 ish.

CarGuy89

Yup, just goes to show how much technology has grown in the past few yrs. You can get all that stuff on an economy car nowadays (ie Ford Focus) complete with that cool voice-activated Sync system. When I was a kid a few yrs ago (in the 90s), ABS was a pretty big deal (and an option on our 97 Taurus), as was the remote keyless entry. Now you'd be hard pressed to find anything without ABS standard (along with all this stability control nonsense), and keyless start is becoming pretty commonplace.

It will take a long long time before these small compact cars will start duplicating the driving experience of the LS, however. I took a road trip up north in my friends' new-ish Fusion and couldn't help noticing how much road noise it had. I would have to be going triple digits to hear that much wind noise....not that I know from experience, of course. I love how solid and refined the 430 feels, qualities that are most important to me and have yet to be put into new small cars of today.

AlexusAnja

And all you've mentioned is why basically the same 1.8l engine nowadays only gets 30 mpg while the same engine back in 80's got about 45 mpg. It's all the engine maintenance features, added safety features (everything involves weight), and probably weight of passengers now (hasn't average weight gone up like 30 lbs.) resulted in so much extra weight on vehicle.

Anyway, yes, this is a good time to be into automobiles with so much "high tech" advancements coming out in higher end vehicles and the high tech of old being normal in everyday vehicles. A ford econobox that parks itself? Blasphamous... ha ha.

caddyowner

If you want to enjoy a luxury car firmly planted in the 90s, buy a new Cadillac DTS. But do it quick as the end is near the DTS and Lucerne.

Jabberwock

I agree all the added systems and luxury comes at added weight which is a drag. But a couple of things I am grateful for: one - the huge increase in reliability and longevity in modern cars, two - added safety items like 3 point seat belts, airbags, ABS, and stability control...especially up North or up in the mountains in winter, that stuff saves people's lives, especially for young inexperienced drivers.

I remember my first drive in some serious snow and ice in about 1970...I was thinking, "woa..you got to be kidding...people are expected to drive on this?"

I have never felt safer in any car than in the LS430.

CarGuy89

Haha my thoughts exactly! I would honestly be quite worried if you were a licensed driver and couldn't parallel park something as small as the Focus...