r0x0r

My dad has a Lexus Ls430 right now, and is on the market to replace it with a 'luxury full size sedan'= with four wheel drive.

He makes weekly commutes in the winter, and 4wd is a necessity.. He is currently looking at the new 2003 MB S Class, which will have 4wd. He loves his 2001 Ls430, but needs 4wd. Will Lexus have 4wd available for the LS430 anytime soon?


Also, he is wondering if the Is430 is a reality or not. We have seen the pics of the TTE Is430 Compressor, and we like it a lot. Will this car go into production, and if so, come to the states?

Thanks Alot.

LOTC

4wd LS 430,not that i have heard of. The IS430 wont come anytime soon.But the Tom's SuperCharged LS 430 is a reality.

r0x0r

What would you thoughts on a 4WD S Class be? How does it match up against the Ls430? The big factor in the LS430 is the interior and DVD Nav that we use soo much and love.. The new 760iL is an option but I don't think its NAV is DVD, and we aren't in love with the 'iDrive' system.

Thanks

r0x0r

Well I found Spy Photos of the new S Class and confirmation that it will have a very widescreen DVD NAV setup. With the 4Matic 4wd and the 5 Liter v8, it should be nice...

squarehat

Fullsize luxury with AWD? How about an Audi A8 or S8?

SWEETSOUND2001

S8, umm..that's yummy

r0x0r

Nah...

Looking at the new S8 and A8 pics, im not in love with it..

The new S Class looks great..

Our Ls430 was purchased April 2001, and already has 45,000 miles. He has a 1998 Lx470 with 66,000 miles, so you can see he puts alot of miles on his cars.. We are dumping the Lx, most likely for an X5 or maybe GX470, but he needs a 4wd luxury sedan, with DVD Nav.. Mercedes S Class will do that, but we gotta wait till January, not to mention waiting till then for my moms 2003 530i.

r0x0r

If I got some 16 inch rims and some winter tires from Tirerack.com, would my Ls430 be decent in the snow this winter?

ToyLexmods

Hey,

If you just purchased a winter specific set of rims/tires you would pass every suv on the road. Period.

I park the SC and my wifes LS on snowy days...what comes out of the garage? My old 91 Supra turbo HKS Stage 7 with over 400hp. I couldnt bear to part with this old Supra so its used in the winter. RWD without any sort of traction control....and a set of Blizzak Mz01s and I rocket through the mountains. We live near Vail,Co and have very dangerous roads in the winter....mountain passes that seem to be snowing 24hrs a day.

Even if you purchase the best 4wd sedan on the market today you are limited by the traction of the tires in any winter situation. We traded in our Landcruiser after 1 winter when we realized all that was needed was a good set of winter tires.

r0x0r

Yup thats what I am doing..

I went in to buy a BMW X5 on Friday, ended up buying a brand new M3 with 19 inch rims (cash and trade in of my Lx)

So some good winter tires on the stock 17s is good?

EGainer

The IS430 Unfortunately is not going to be coming out ever. it is a German modded IS used for racing and to show off the compressed V8. it will not become a production car says lexus...