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The great question for us Ls400 drivers. the 430....
call me insane if you will, but am i the only one that has absolutely zero interest in a Ls430?
many of us want to upgrade to a 430 and many have and are happy, but the 430 has just never done it for me. early 430s are now $2000 craigslist territory, which is about the same for a fair-to-midland 400.
why do YOU have a 400 and not a 430?
is it the styling? affordability? better feel on the road? all the above?
is it the styling? affordability? better feel on the road? all the above?
ALL the above for me except feel on the road. I can't comment on that because I've never driven a 430. Can't stand the styling. I love the 93-94. Mainly for the NON-interference engine and it's cheap enough to fix when, or IF, something goes wrong.
I have both — an 05 430 and a 98 400. The 430 can still hold its own against a brand new luxury car today. It’s unbelievably quiet and smooth. The interior of the 430 blows away the 400 in terms of material quality and tactile feedback — button presses, switches, etc.
The 400 is definitely the better looking of the two, and has a special appeal to driving it that is hard to put into words. It’s truly a timeless design, especially the 98-00, imo. I wouldn’t sell either of them. But put it this way: I had to drive from CT to Arkansas last week. I didn’t even think twice about taking the 430.
But when people that don’t know or care too much cars see both of them, they’re almost always drawn more to the 400. It’s just the cooler car.
my mom's friend still has her 2001 LS 430, i really need to drive it at some point...
idk i'd still put my LS right up there with modern luxury cars, i'd say it's even smoother since it's got cushy 225/60-16 tires and plenty of suspension travel designed to be smooth and luxurious above all else. i've driven / ridden in all generations of S-Class since the W220 and as far as ride comfort is concerned, the LS beats them. autobahn performance i can't comment on how one compares to the other, but my LS is perfectly happy at triple digit speeds. it honestly starts to get smoother as you speed up. i've also done pretty much all the bushings over the years (most recently front sway bar) and that makes a big difference.
it also handles very well. once you get over the abundance of body roll and slow over-assisted steering, it really holds the road wonderfully, and the steering feels very solid and confidence inspiring at high speeds. i describe it as being like a top athlete who's forced to play while wearing a pair of big fuzzy slippers and formal clothes.
the 01-03 LS i think is pretty ugly, 04-06 is a definite improvement and looks sharp. interior does look a bit more upscale then the 400 does, but truthfully i like the lack of a screen in mine. any screen from the early 2000s looks dated now, but the classic LED clock font will always be fine. the 400 will also always be the lexus and has that low, sleek look, where the 430 is more rounded and bubble like.
call me insane if you will, but am i the only one that has absolutely zero interest in a Ls430?
many of us want to upgrade to a 430 and many have and are happy, but the 430 has just never done it for me. early 430s are now $2000 craigslist territory, which is about the same for a fair-to-midland 400.
why do YOU have a 400 and not a 430?
is it the styling? affordability? better feel on the road? all the above?
The '430's styling just does not excite me at all. The Gen1 still looks the sharpest IMO, but I have to say the '98 - '00 has the edge in terms of comfort. (However I don't like the touchscreen infotainment system for several reasons.) I'd have any LS400 of course, but (and no offence!) the '95 - '97 would not be my first choice due to the widely-known ECU issues.
They do say that the '430 is not as robust as the '400 - which - as well as the bland styling - also puts me off owning one.
I have a 1999 Ls400 I have had for almost 14 years.
love the look of 2004-2006, have not driven one.
I have put so much money into my LS over the years in parts ( most labor is myself) that it is so dear to me and selling it just doesn’t make sense- just a few thousand dollars as opposed to having a solid comfortable and reliable car that does everything I need in a car. I would buy a LS430 and keep the Ls400, but don’t have room for a second car.
plus additional insurance, maintenance, etc. come at an expense.
gotta learn to be content with what I have!
there is certainly something special about the 400, which is why I still cruise by here but I'm pretty sure if I go big-body sedan again I will look into a 430.
it's getting more appealing as I get older...
call me insane if you will, but am i the only one that has absolutely zero interest in a Ls430?
many of us want to upgrade to a 430 and many have and are happy, but the 430 has just never done it for me. early 430s are now $2000 craigslist territory, which is about the same for a fair-to-midland 400.
why do YOU have a 400 and not a 430?
is it the styling? affordability? better feel on the road? all the above?
every time i see a 430 i want to spit up in my mouth...an elderly gentleman owns one and he eats at an italian place by my work..pulled up rolled his window down and said what a beauty.
I bought mine because its one of the best cars ever made,looks alone can get expensive,I need heart and soul.
430 is starting to rack up pretty good numbers also.No,she isnt a looker,I agree.But if its a monster fine car,Im on board.Just cant get into those ubiquitous 2000's style rear lights,never liked those.Given a choice,later model or a SC430.Then again,Im starting to appreciate MX5's,maybe a 3rd gen with retractable hardtop?
I just bought a '98 400 2500 miles ago. White over silver 212,000 miles. Only options are xenon headlamps and Nakamichi stereo. I like the styling of the '98-'00 the best. The lure to the 400 was the styling, power and longevity. Just don't like the 430's styling and the 460 just looks like a large Camry to me.
I've had to replace filters, tires, strut rod bushings and Y-pipe. It's my first Toyota-built car and everything works on this car! Wife is not hooked yet, likes her crossover so she can sit higher on the road. She probably needs an RX.!
I will reading many posts since I do almost all of my repair work myself.
The 430 is the better overall car. the 430 interior is so much better than the 400 ,especially the UL. The 400 IMO blows away the 430 in the looks department.
11-19-18, 01:22 PM
The great question for us Ls400 drivers. the 430....
