Why wouldn't they? The only thing I'm lacking is new technology and gadgets. The car is still as smooth and quiet and comfortable, and capable as ever. Just because they're old doesn't mean the sound padding has disintegrated, etc.

And while we all know I'm very pro-BOF and wouldn't buy any unibody SUV or truck, I find it a stretch to say any pickup truck or BOF will track down the interstate at 100MPH and/or ride better than an LS430 does. I'd have to ride in whatever vehicle the poster was describing, but I really think that's a reach. LS430 has a heavenly ride and the suspension is world class; it hasn't trickled away because the car is old now. I don't really recall people replacing shocks and struts on them via here, only bushings.

 

I literally replaced the suspension with OE parts from Lexus Dublin and bought it premium brand new tires (crossclimate plus). I assure you mine is working exactly in spec since I replaced those items and a small litany of other stuff to bring it back to true 100%, only things left I have to do are door actuators (because I just haven't gotten around to it) and replacement of the differential bushings since those are the only ones I've not changed yet. No issues with them but I like cars that are new to me to have all ball joints and bushings replaced since it only costs a $1000 or so in parts to do.

I also test drove the 2017 A8 directly vs the options I listed above and it lost in a head to head same day same roads and btw my 430 is quieter than any of them on my sound meter so old or not it's doing better in that metric......one of the exact reasons I bought it since I was targeting be quietest ride I could find in the most reliable driveline for daily use that won't anger me with endless maintenance.

Let me be clear though, while the ram has a more "consistent" ride since pavement types and transitions are not noticed the LS is the quieter one unless you hit a big irregularity then it spikes about 5db over the rams average.

EDIT, I'm sorry I forgot one more thing my 430 needs, I also need to replace the door seals and stops to improve the front drivers door "thud" factor to match the other 3

 

A ram 1500 will do 100-110 for two hours in Missouri at 1:30am on empty sections very nicely and return 13mpg doing it. Not saying I've done it or anything.........but it does so nicely. A 430 feels lighter at those speeds in my experience and opinion but is quieter due to no engine noise at that rpm.

I did struts/shocks since I was trying to eliminate the shock and "thud" sound inherent to unibody vehicles since I thought the LS just had worn out shocks or something but it's just a thing unless you get an air suspension car. Bushings are something that actually wears out and is a problem vs someone obsessing and replacing stuff just because they can.

 

Yes, Lexus LS had a legendary ride until the 500. It also had the world's smoothest V8 but that's gone too.

 

Oh sure, I'm not saying a Ram doesn't ride very well. Lol not saying I've done it or anything but an LS430 will drive through the desert in AZ and NM at 125 for hours straight like it's nothing. Basically like it's on the autobahn.

I'm with you on the BOF I just think it's a stretch to say it rides better than the cream of the crop Lexus flagship. The whole purpose of the LS is comfort and isolation, to be an absolute cruisemobile, while a truck is a truck first (and that's what I like about them).

I did replace LCA bushings years ago, but that's it.

 

What ruins it for me is the damn thudding noise when the pavement changes and potholes making so much more noise relative to everything else. Imagine having a very quiet, whisper level conversation with someone but then they predictably say particular words 3x as loudly vs having a conversation with someone who speaks just a little louder but always the same level. That's the best way I can put it.

 

I hear ya. Our next vehicle will probably be a '15 or so LX570. That is supposed to ride heavenly....until you go into a curve or need to brake fast. I have no doubt it will be an insanely comfortable vehicle but I'm undecided as to which car would be better for road trips, probably the LS430. It takes turns at high speeds (like the freeways) and brakes superbly. You can barely feel any weight shifting in an LS when you begin to push it. A top heavy truck? Ehh.

 

And yet you're comparing a brand new Ram to a 20 year old Lexus?

 

Cars haven't changed much, my 430 does better than a new A8 since the latter is tuned to handle far better and thus naturally transfers more road feel. Plus again I compared the trucks to an A8 and Q7 originally not a 430

Trucks only recently have undergone refinement and massive strides forward compared what they typically were up to this point. The difference in a 1990 LS400 to a LS460 is a decent bit but they are comparable and in terms of comfort and ride the old one actually puts up a great fight and only really loses in power and onboard tech. Trucks though......a 1990 truck isn't even remotely like what they are now.

 

You lost me there bud.

 

Seriously, carefully drive each and ignore acceleration, braking, tech, and only pay attention to what you feel in the seat, hear, and how much of the road you can feel. Cars haven't really changed that much from the 400 to 460 and the A8 just felt like a A4 with a bunch of sound deadening and muted body movements. Engine noise is almost electric like with the LS400/430 car vs the others that you can hear them if you exceed 2000 rpm.

Sure the 430 is a slow, wallowing, badly controlled boat vs the 460 or A8 and the 400 is laughable but in terms of ride and noise there is not much difference and the 430 in particular has a lower DB number. I do not care about acceleration, braking, steering feel, etc since I do not want that out of this type of car and I have something for those roles that is dedicated for that role so I don't have to compromise a car by trying to have it do everything.

The A8 and 460 both try to be sporty and luxury instead of just one of the the two and it makes them non-optimal at both.

 

Yeah it does. Nothing lasts forever, seals degrade and break down, shocks wear and get soft, bushings wear and get soft, the body rigidity declines. The sound deadening breaks down and disintegrates and loses its properties. Any way you slice it, its an old car now. It doesn't drive like it did when it was a new car. if you could go back in time and drive a new one and compare, it would be really clear.

Well the Crossclimate plus are pretty loud and hard riding tires so that may explain a lot of your issue. But no, unless you tore it down and totally restored it its not performing as it was new, and its not comparable to new cars and the new technologies and components used in them that make everything better.

A 2017 A8 is not the current generation A8. The new A8 is much quieter and better riding than that generation A8, and multiple reviews have dubbed it the quietest and best riding sedan in the segment right now. IMHO its the current benchmark. I've driven it and I would have to agreem.

And that is contributing to looseness and noise in the ride.

 

Fair point on the newer A8 since I've not felt or drove one yet, as far as suspension goes there is nothing left to replace on my car so while your comment of age is true the effect of the years on my particular car is much less since everything was replaced. I did tear the front apart and replace everything with OE, it's also not the first vehicle I've done so on but I guess it's not technically a full on restoration since I didn't replace all bolt too.

I already noted the door seal is aged so that will be getting replaced as well, I was not actually aware the crossclimates are considered loud. That probably is the source my main annoyance then, sucks since I wanted good snows and these fit the bill best while being great in the warmer months. Oh well lol

 

Its not just the components, its also wear on the car's unibody structure itself, its not as rigid as it was new and nowhere near as rigid as a more modern car. Did you truly replace everything? Struts and isolators? springs? All the control arms? How about the motor and transmission mounts? All the isolators in the steering rack? In a unibody car everything works in concert.

 

I call BS, the whole front suspension rework is probably worth more than the car at this point. Most people change lower ball joint, upper control arms, tie rods and sway bar links. There are a ton of other bushings in there that are aged, not to mention engine/transmission mounts, metal fatique, and all the bolt on panels and doors getting loose over time. That being said, as loose as a 20 year old unibody LS430 will get, most of its looseness will come from suspension. Take a 20 year old BOF car, such as a Town Car, and it will feel like a bunch of bolts and sheet metal held together with dried out bubble gum.

For all its worth, when I had my 2001 GS430, it surely felt a lot more solid than my 198something Ram.