LS Reliability and Expectations
#1
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LS Reliability and Expectations
I just wanted to share a funny story with fellow LS 430 owners. I think that we, as a group, have become " spoiled" for a lack of a better word. Having owned a 1992 LS 400 up to 210,000 miles and having very few problems and a fantastic ownership experience. Reading posts on Club Lexus is a little like going on Web Md. You plug in your symptoms and soon begin to think you have some kind of disease or ailment....too much information. Reading CL got me a little scared. I have only owned my 06 LS 430 for a couple of weeks and love it but after reading posts with problems I am just waiting for them to happen. Case in point, after reading all the posts about mirror problems I noticed today that my side mirrors were folded even though I had the switch off. I kept messing with the switch but it stayed on auto mode. I said to myself " here we go, my problems are starting" I was questioning my purchase and cursing the car. After reading a post about cleaning mirror switch contacts, I decided to remove the folding mirror switch and see if I could clean the contacts. Well after removing the switch bezel from the dash I noticed the harness connector to the folding mirror switch was disconnected.I said " no way, it couldn't be this easy" I plugged it in and retested the folding mirror switch....Fixed. I was delighted. kind of restored my faith in the reliability of the LS. I'm still concerned about future problems especially considering my high mileage,113,000 ,miles. I think I hear a motor or trans mount starting to go bad, intermittent slight clunk shifting from reverse to drive in the morning. I never had problems like this with the LS 400. I did however have both rear conrol arms break in half due to rust having endured 20 years in the salt belt Northeast. My point of this post,I expect few or no problems with this LS 430 based on my experience with my LS 400. Am I being unreasonable......probably! Still love the car. Every day I check out the exterior I find new scratches,it had none when I bought it, despite being 7 years old. I have to stop obsessing about keeping it " perfect" lol. I have a feeling I'm not the only obsessed LS 430 owner. Thanks for listening.
#2
Lexus Champion
I share in you obsession to keep the car perfect. But why not, my car is an 04 with 90,000 miles and it still looks virtually new inside and out? When something is wrong, I have it fixed. When you think of your 9 year old car as being "new", of course you're a bit put out when someone puts a scratch or small dent into it. But, I really enjoy this car and don't become despondent thinking about or worrying about things that may go wrong.
#3
Pole Position
i feel the same way about my 06 ls with 84k miles and my 86 mr2 with 89k miles.i would put the quality as good or better then the ls.if something breaks or leaks on either car i fix it asap.
Last edited by jimbosr1; 06-14-13 at 07:41 PM.
#6
Moderator
I bet there are more than a few on the forum that keep their cars super clean. First time someone gets in my car after a few minutes they usually ask what year is this car? I tell them its an 06 and they are pretty amazed.
btw - great looking Mr2.
btw - great looking Mr2.
#7
My 2006 UL still gets requested by customers (limo service) Now has 313,000 miles. Not including regular maintenance/servicing, I'm out of pocket $3000 for air struts. Brilliant vehicle.
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#8
You can expect to have some issues on these cars... don't think you won't. But I think the impressive thing is that the issues, most of the time aren't major and can be fixed yourself with minimal outlay...and... that the ride on these cars, even after 15-20 years is still incredible. Smooth, strong, solid. Usually owned by people with money who did the maintenance and kept them clean. Usually back seats have hardly been used. You can pay $3-$5k for an older LS400 and it drives more like a new car and is not beat up... Sure you're going to have issues because they are older, but they are reliable, well built and a pleasure to drive. 100k miles is not high miles on these cars... once you can overcome that mental hurdle, you can find some great buys.
WOW...313k miles on an '06... I don't even have that much on my '93... I'm such a rookie...
WOW...313k miles on an '06... I don't even have that much on my '93... I'm such a rookie...
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