SW17LS

To me the bottom line in this discussion in this. Yes there are some additional costs in maintaining and repairing a 460 vs a 430. Yes overall the 460 is a little sportier and a little less isolated. BUT, the 430s are at their newest 8 years old now. IMHO they are just too old to be something I would consider purchasing. Technology is a big part of a car today, and even outside of that nothing lasts forever. So, I would unquestionable choose a newer 460 over a 430.

edarte

Well I had my 430 for eight years and have now owned both a 2009 and 2011 460.

From my personal experience the 430 was much more reliable and quiet. I was never a big fan of the 430 styling finding it too boxy and I hated the "guppy-eyes" headlights. I also found the seats to be much more supportive in the 430. I am not a big person but after long drives it feels as if the seat-frame is pressing through the cushion.

My 460 has the air-suspension and I really like being able to switch between the comfort setting (more 430 like) to the sport (much better handling). And I think the 460 styling is by far the best looking LS. The engine noise is sometimes very annoying and sometimes you can't hear it - never heard the 430 engine at any time.

throbinson

From the back, i find it difficult to tell if the LS 460 is a luxury car. It looks small, and tight, and about the same size as most other cars. Especially, other Japanese cars. Also think the current Lexus line of cars look very similar to each other, and that you need to be up close to determine what specific model a car is. With the LS 430's and 400's, you could tell from a far distance which car it was, as they stood out much more than the rest of the line. It seems that most Japanese car makers eventually get to this point of overall "morphing" of the line. Mercedes seems to keep a distinction in their top model year after year, enough to truly set it apart from the rest of their line. I think the LS 460 has failed in this regard, and am hopeful that Lexus brings back the unique elegance of its LS car going forward. I truly love the Lexus product, as got tired of the German Mercedes/Audi/BMW brands, and am really pulling for them to "bring back" their LS dominance from the past.

SW17LS

Thats your opinion, I don't agree at all. The LS is big, and while the LS430 was recognizable because of the taillight design, once you see the size of an LS460 its obvious its a luxury car to me. Its a big car, longer and wider than the LS460...

Thats what they're going for, its the "brand image" people extoll in BMWs and MBs. Look at BMW, MB & Audi...they are the same way. Even Jaguar its a little hard to tell an XF and an XJ from the front.

Have you seen the new C Class? You can easily mistake it for an S Class.

What dominance have they lost? The LS and 7 series are basically tied for second place sales wise behind the S Class. Thats exactly as it was when the LS400 was out...and exactly as it was when the LS430 was out. The large luxury car market has shrunk for everyone, so volume for the LS is not what it was...but the volume for the S Class is not what it was either. When the LS460 came out in 2007 it sold more than any model year LS had since 1990 and 1991...outselling the best years of the LS430 by 10%. When you take sales in other markets into consideration, LS460 sales were FAR higher than LS430 sales. Volume dropped off in 2008 and onward, but that was across the industry because of the recession.

anniversar

Might as well jump into the fray on this thread.

I owned a 2006 LS430 ML with 18 inch rims for 3 years and since October 2013 a 2010 LS460L AWD. My comparison is as follows:

1. Noise - LS430 much quieter at idle, but not silent. At highway speeds, the LS460 is quieter with less wind noise, road noise and less noise from passing traffic. The laminated glass is definitely helping here. Engine noise at highway speed is the same. Wheel noise on expansion joints is better with the LS460 which I think is in part due to the 50 series tires whereas my LS430 had 18 inch rims with 45 series Michelin Primacy tires.

2. Ride - In comfort mode, the LS460 rides better than the LS430. The greater isolation is quite noticeable and I enjoy being able to change the settings to standard and sport under certain circumstances. I find the seats to be much more comfortable in the LS460 for my 6'3" frame, 230lb

3. Space - As my LS460 is an L version, the rear seat leg room is obviously better, but front space is the same as the LS430. Trunk room seems less than the LS430 however.

4. Features - No comparison, as the LS460L has the following that the LS430 did not have: heated steering wheel, faster heating and cooling front seats, cold weather package, ride height setting, automatic high beam, better NAV system, greatly improved blue tooth phone sound quality, head lamp washers, power closing and opening trunk, soft close doors, rear door power screens, built in SAT radio, USB connection, ability to play Pandora radio via bluetooth, rear air vents on the door pillars

5. Acceleration - Very similar (but being a AWD model the engine has less power than the RWD models and there is the extra weight of the drive system)

6. Cornering - Very similar but the 460L feels bigger to handle (LWB affecting this I suspect)

7. Styling - To my eye the LS460 is much more attractive with the LS430 having a more "stately" appearance.


Overall, I find the 460L to be the more complete car and for me at least, it would be difficult to give up the extra features and go back to a 430. The major demerit with the 460 for me is the engine noise at idle as the ticking noise is annoying on such an expensive car. Having said that I don't know if the competitor cars to the LS460 are any better.

I am already hankering after a LS600H as I think this would solve the engine noise issue at idle because of the hybrid drive train. I also understand that the LS600H has extra sound deadening which would be nice.

Nospinzone

Nice write up anniversar. The only thing that surprises me is the acceleration being similar. I would think the 460 is significantly faster.

Tee

I have to disagree only with the acceleration between the two, you definitely can feel the power difference. The 430 V8 was so laid back it felt like a V6, with the 460 you know you have a V8 under the hood. I feel comfortable punching the the 460 to jump out ahead when needed, the 430 gave me pause unless I was in ECT mode.

anniversar

The only thing I can think of is that my LS460L is an AWD model which is heavier and has lower horsepower than a RWD LS460 due to the exhaust routing.

throbinson

The moment that Mercedes changes back to their big-windowed, larger style that they're known for, Lexus will likely change as well. I wish the Japanese would lead for once, and beat the German manufacturers in setting the bar. Many of our country's top execs are longing for the expansive cars of the recent past, as tighter more sleek cars sound sexy and appealing, until you drive in one for too long and you wonder why you don't have more room.

CJITTY

Get a 2010+ 600hL so you can enjoy that unique dash compared to the 460 along with the other 2010 upgrades my 2008 600hL doesn't have. But when you feel that 600hL accelerate. .wooooo, you'll be sold. Plus we 600 guys enjoy those awesome headlights too! ! Do it!!

charliecla

I have a 2004 LS 430 that has Sport Suspention and 43,000 miles. I am very happy with the car and have had no problems. I was very content until a 2010 LS 460 with the Sport Package came up with 10,000 miles at a very good price. What do you guys think? I wonder about reliability with all the bells and whistles on the newer car. How reliable is the air suspention? Thanks.

Bob04

If you have a flawless 04 with 43K miles, I wouldn't dream of giving it up. Not everything about the 460 is better. It's a different car. Beware. Regret sucks.

SW17LS

Drive it extensively to be sure you're happy with it vs your 04, but I would buy it for the improved infotainment technology alone. Built in iPod integration, Bluetooth audio streaming, enform, better nav with traffic, etc.

Stereorob

I hate to dump on the 430 cause all Lexus are great cars, but in just looks alone the 460 has the 430 beat hands down. It's also a heck of a lot quicker. The Ls400 was a unique and individual car that didn't try to copy anyone else and so is the 460. You know it's a Lexus when you see it. As far as the ls430 goes well.. I personally think it lacks some of the uniqueness of the other two models..

Slvr surfr

iTrader: (1)

While i agree that the 460 does look better than the 430, there are folks that tend to not like the 460's Camry-like styling. I like it but some people don't. As to being "a heck of a lot quicker"? Yes it has a lot of torque and hp but you add in the additional weight and you have a 0-60 difference of maybe .3. That's a difference but not much imo. The 400 was styled after the S-class of its day and so was the 430. Its was the 460 that broke away from being styled after Mercedes but then chased BMW's styling a little. The 460 changed the direction of the LS from being a luxo-cruiser to being a sort of lux-sports cruiser. LS400 cant be mistaken for anything else but a Lexus. LS430 maybe mistaken for the 92-98 S-class but that's about it. LS460 can be mistaken as a Camry or the ES350.