Jbthompson

Hi everyone. I just got my first Lexus and I love it. I am however a bit surprised by the ride quality. It's nice, but not great. Bumps are very noticeable and it doesn't "float" like I've read. The tires are about 60% worn, and the car has 111k miles. Any thoughts? Am I being too sensitive???

Milan

iTrader: (5)

Maybe you need new shocks? I would imagine they are due for replacement if they are the ones the car came with.

CarGuy89

Like Milan said, could very well need new shocks. Might also need some other suspension components. Could very well be you have some firmer/harsher tires on.

I currently have stock Dunlop Sport 5000s on (which many on here consider to be the anti-christ of tires for a 430 lol) but I still find the ride to be very soft. It is relatively well dampened though, so you don't wallow a whole lot. I would say that you definitely feel a bit of the road, but the ride should be smooth/quiet over most roads (unless you have a ton of potholes, then you will hear tire impact noises, which occurs in every car).

From what I've heard, the ultimate in ride comfort is the LS400. With it's 16in rims and softer suspension, I hear that you pretty much won't feel a thing. Maybe the 400 is more your type of car. The 430 made a small attempt to be a bit more engaging to drive in an effort to win over shoppers of German exec cars (though it's still much softer than say a 7 or A8).

jac430

I fully agree with you.
I was used to the suspension of (older) French cars, and the LS430 is no match for them.
The LS430 is certainly acceptable for me, but there is no "floating" factor involved.

edit: My LS430 has air suspension and 18".

Wat car(s) did you compare with?

Jac

GLIDESUL

What size rim and tire do you have on your ls. Is it a ul, that will get you that floaty feel on some 16,s.

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

mines rides smooth

Jbthompson

Thanks everyone. I really am not complaining, I LOVE my LS, i wonder if I just read too much and was expecting too much! My car is not a UL, but it does have 17 inch wheels. I agree it is probably the tires and the shocks. My wife drives a Honda Odyssey and the ride on the LS is much smoother but not by much. It's still a wonderful car!

davelex

I've concluded some of us are just more sensitive to ride quality than others. Maybe some of us who are older remember the ride quality of older american cars and want our Lexus to emulate that.

I recently bought a 430 and kept my much-beloved 400 as well. The 400 has a much more serene ride than the 430 - and I've switched tires/wheels between them. 400 still rides better on the 18's than 430 does on 16's. 16's made only a very slight improvement for the 430. 400 on the OEM 16's is far and away silker than the 430.

I knew going in that the 430 had been stiffened a little but thought that it would be a subtle difference. I'm suprised and a little disappointed in the 430's ride.

430 does have other nice improvements over the 400 but I'm not ready to give up the ride for them.

caddyowner

Check your cold air pressure against what is printed on your doorsill. As little as 2-3 PSI above the recommended tire pressure can make road imperfections feel quite sharp - especially on worn tires.

davelex

I've experimented with pressures from 28 to 34 psi. The 18's have a brand new set of Dunlop Extreme Contact DWS tires - #1 rated tire in it's category at tirerack. 16's have Michelin Primacy MXMV4 with 80% tread remaining. Trust me, I've spent lots of time and effort on this ride issue.

AlexusAnja

I agree with this. When we (Lexus owners) say the ride is like a boat, we're being a little figurative here, not literal. The ride is soft, but it's not like floating on water getting dizzy kind of soft.

I've driven late 80's Towncars, early 90's Oldsmobiles and the 430 is not close to the "boaty" of those cars. Those cars are more like floating all over the place and bouncing around. The 430 is smooth and refined and surefooted kind of boaty.

Sentinel

I agree on the pressure I upped my pressure by 3 psi and its night and day

mannye

The Ls 430 IMO doesn't have the smooth "boat" ride of the 70's Buicks or even a 77 Chevy Impala. Mine in particular doesn't because I have the "sport" tuned suspension, but it's that stiffer suspension that also allows the LS to have more control (no wallow when you turn). Forget about Citroen...no other car has ever had a better ride than the old Citroen "shark". BMW 740 is the same or similar if not even stiffer than the LS, diito for the Audi A6 (never driven an A8 but I figure it's similar) Mercedes have always had a stiff ride (relative) as well. In fact I think Lexus may have been emulating that in the LS 430... I mean they practically styled it like an early 90's S-Class right?

aypues

I am mostly very happy with my LS's air ride. I have a 04 UL with the 17in chrome wheels. While i do prefer the look of the 5 spoke 18s, i know they would compromise the ride quality, and for me that was paramount. I kindof want to get a 460 just to have the 3rd option on the air ride control for "comfort" instead of the 2 mode arrangement in the 430. I'm sure it would def float more than now. My car does float though a lot, nothing like a coil suspension, thats for sure.

Jbthompson

Interesting, I will try that.