mafpolo

I have a 2002 LS430 UL, which I bought in 2006. The car is pristine, silver, black interior, cherry wood, with factory chrome wheels. I wash the car every week, Zymol wax once a month, and maintain exact service schedule at my local dealer. Many people who ride in it tell me it looks and rides like a brand new car. The leather is perfect, even the drier's seat.
Until now, the car has never thrown a fault code. As of yesterday I have a fuel leak. The car will be towed to the dealership today, and I understand that it could be a regulator, hose, or injector. The fuel is leaking just right of the center of the engine compartment, so may not be a regulator.
My question is, being twelve years old with 86,000 miles, is this the start of problems and unreliability? Is this when I should sell the car? I am not tired of it, so that's not a motivation. I just don't want to be inconvenienced with am=n unreliable car, nor do I want to pour money into the car.
Opinions and thoughts please.

jayclapp

Unreliable, no. But you are approaching an area where you can expect some "wear out". Water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, etc. I wouldn't be ready to throw it away just now, especially if it is pristine as you noted. You're driving a luxury car, fit it when it needs sit. When you feel like it's junk, throw it away.

Bob04

One question you would need to answer. What would you replace it with?

I've told my story here before. I traded my 2004 LS430 for a 2010 LS460. After living with it a while, I realized that it's not an evolution of a the LS430. It's a different car. When I decided to nix it, I started shopping to see what would be the closest thing to my the 430 that I loved.

What did I find? Nothing in the market really compares to the 430. Even though it been out of production since 2006, I didn't find anything that did all the things the LS430 does so well. I really couldn't even find anything that did a few of the things as well.

If it were me, I'd fix it. Without a doubt. You know the car, and you are happy. No guarantee that any replacement won't give you problems either. Wouldn't even think twice about fixing it and keeping it.

wuznme

Are you on Corvette Forum too? I remember reading similar story to this a while back.

I haven't found anything remotely close to replace my 05' UL. When looked at newer used LS460's..couldn't pull the trigger.

Bob04

Yep, that's me.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

86K miles is minimal. As jayclapp mentioned, there will be small issues to contend with as the car ages though overall, you still have a car that was designed and built to go many-many more miles with exceptional reliability.

Bob04 reply.

mafpolo

Your answers make me feel a whole lot better. I really don't like the LS460. My seat sits great…the car really does look like new. I had a guy offer me well over market value for it two years ago, but I couldn't pull the trigger, because I couldn't find a newer one that I like at the time (colors, mileage, ec.). Also, a friend of mine said if I like my car, why sell it to buy another one that I don't know.

At 82K, should I go ahead and have the 90,000 service done now?

Bob04

I would. I'm going for my 85K mile service in a couple of weeks. I'm going to go ahead and have the timing belt/water pump done. My car is ten years old now, and although I have heard that it will last longer than the 90k miles suggested, I don't want a timing belt failure to grenade my engine. Most say mileage is the main determinate, but I can't help but wonder what ten years of age has done to the belts. Don't want to be penny wise, pound foolish with something so critical. Especially since I plan on keeping it for a long time.

ls430lover

2002 most reliable based on data of all the years with 90 k on it still more relaible than 75% of new cars
just stay up on fluid changes and expect malfunctions in parts like you have an issue with.
you can't replicate the vehicle now for less than 70000. it will go 300000 miles and still drive like 80% of its new ride
cheers

Bob04

The thing for me is, if you are going to spend $30K on something new in the current market, there is nothing even in the same stratosphere as a used LS430. In fact, the loaner $45K new ES350s that I drove while my 460 lived at the dealership couldn't even compare.

If Lexus could bring back the 430 with the same reliability and refinement, just with maybe some upgraded electronics, and sell it for $55K, I bet it would be a huge success. Probably cannibalize a lot of 460 sales too. Forget about the huge wheels, direct injection, and aggressive styling. Do what you did best.

jay33

I have a 2002 with 118k miles on it and wouldn't trade it for anything. Have had a few electrical problems with a door lock actuator and telescopic steering (both very common) which i haven't fixed due to the cost but that's it. Regular maintenance and the car drives like it's new.

jayclapp

I got a new ES350 a month ago as a loaner while having the oil/filter changed on my 04 UL with 97,000 miles last month. If the dealer would have offered to trade cars at no cost, with the stipulation that I had to keep the ES and couldn't sell it, I would have just laughed and said, NO THANKS!