newer @100k mi 430 vs mint low mileage 99 ls 400
06-15-11, 07:32 PM
#17
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.
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.
If your 400 is still in great shape, and it sounds like it is, I would keep it. Wait for a more compelling reason to trade.
06-16-11, 05:07 AM
#18
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Interesting to hear that your impressions of the 400 vs 430 are similar to mine.
I'm actually going to keep both cars for awhile. The much lower depreciation and purchase costs of older cars allow me the luxury of owing several at once.
I'm actually going to keep both cars for awhile. The much lower depreciation and purchase costs of older cars allow me the luxury of owing several at once.
06-16-11, 11:05 AM
#19
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You guys are great, very knowledgeable and helpful.
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
06-16-11, 07:04 PM
#20
You guys are great, very knowledgeable and helpful.
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
06-16-11, 07:41 PM
#21
You guys are great, very knowledgeable and helpful.
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
Maybe I keep the 99 LS400 and got "all classic" by adding a '94-99 SC...Never tire of that classic look, truly a beautiful coupe... Maybe $6-7.5k would snag a well loved, carefully maintained under 100k mile SC300 with all service records?
If you decide to sell the LS400, I'm sure you could easily get $10,000+ out of it. My friend just sold his 2000 LS400 for $12,000.
06-17-11, 01:28 PM
#22
I do think the gap will likely prove to be more like $10 or $12K. That equation would probably tilt the economics toward keeping your mint '99.
I use pretty much the same strategy... I buy them when they're about 6 years old and drive them for as long as I feel comfortable with the reliability. I drove my '90 until 2007 (17 years old and no major repairs) when I bought my current '00. If mine were mint and low miles I'd keep it.
I use pretty much the same strategy... I buy them when they're about 6 years old and drive them for as long as I feel comfortable with the reliability. I drove my '90 until 2007 (17 years old and no major repairs) when I bought my current '00. If mine were mint and low miles I'd keep it.
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