General Car Conversation
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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Lexus Fanatic
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From: Maryland
It was also dramatically more expensive, and I actually much preferred the LS400 inside and believe it or not it rode and drove better.
Those LS400s were really special, you could feel the extreme attention to detail and build, and the ride and drive was so tight and solid. They also didn’t change at all with miles, ours had 165,000 miles on it and it didn’t feel any different from a new one.
Those LS400s were really special, you could feel the extreme attention to detail and build, and the ride and drive was so tight and solid. They also didn’t change at all with miles, ours had 165,000 miles on it and it didn’t feel any different from a new one.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
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From: Maryland
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,466
Likes: 3,990
From: Maryland
Our 1998 LS400 was $59,000, that was fully optioned with everything but the navigation system, that option was a swap you could either have the Nakamichi audio or the navigation, not both.
An S420 STARTED at $74,000 and that car had less power than an LS400. S500 started at $88,000.
An S420 STARTED at $74,000 and that car had less power than an LS400. S500 started at $88,000.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
Based price of the Lexus LS430 was still dramatically cheaper than the W220 era Mercedes. $56,000 was the base price of the 430. S class was $75,000 for the entry level V8. Lexus lacked a longer wheel base, awd. Multiple engine options. There were like 4 different V8s for Mercedes at the time. Even the VW Phaeton was a $10,000 higher in base MSRP at the time.
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Lexus Fanatic
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From: Maryland
2001 S430 started at $70,000, that was a V8. S500, and loaded the car was much cheaper than the 140.
You can see the price jump from the 400 in the 430. A loaded LS430 was $67,000, about $12,000 more than a loaded LS400. At the time it was a big surprise when going in to replace the LS400, a nicely optioned S430 was about $8,000 more than a loaded LS430 and we went and considered that and in the end just kept the LS400.
You had to get a UL package 430 for it to feel as nice as the 400 inside, Lexus went to a non Stitched vinyl armrest and door pull as an example, had to get the UL to get air suspension…
You can see the price jump from the 400 in the 430. A loaded LS430 was $67,000, about $12,000 more than a loaded LS400. At the time it was a big surprise when going in to replace the LS400, a nicely optioned S430 was about $8,000 more than a loaded LS430 and we went and considered that and in the end just kept the LS400.
You had to get a UL package 430 for it to feel as nice as the 400 inside, Lexus went to a non Stitched vinyl armrest and door pull as an example, had to get the UL to get air suspension…
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Lexus Champion
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From: Knoxville, TN
The quoted is also a massive strength Lexus has, or had. They still drive like new as you say even with massive miles piled on, with the insane reliability to boot. Both our Lexus vehicles are old and drive brand new. It’s crazy.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
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Lexus Fanatic
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From: Maryland
Whoopsie I did post that meme and start it but it was half in jest lol.
The quoted is also a massive strength Lexus has, or had. They still drive like new as you say even with massive miles piled on, with the insane reliability to boot. Both our Lexus vehicles are old and drive brand new. It’s crazy.
The quoted is also a massive strength Lexus has, or had. They still drive like new as you say even with massive miles piled on, with the insane reliability to boot. Both our Lexus vehicles are old and drive brand new. It’s crazy.
Lexus Champion
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No they aren't lol, just chunks of plastic on both with less adjustments in the 400. The 13+ 460 added metal looking strips to the controls
Lexus Fanatic
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From: ON/NY
^^. This is very cheaply done. Looks like it is from a cheap Chevrolet
400 ^^ is just more tasteful.
Here is Lexus 400, 460 and 500. The LS500 is awful. The LS400 is far more tasteful in the details
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Apr 22, 2023 at 11:36 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
........especially compared to what we see today.