jayclapp

Here's how you find precisely what you have and original pricing. It's all found on the Lexus web site.

Go to lexus.com. At bottom of page select Contact Lexus→Knowledge Center. From Topics→Model Specifications & Pricing (1990-2005)→LS (1990-2005). Select View model specs and pricing for your year car. You can then view or download a pdf document which includes specifications, exterior colors, original pricing and options.

Enjoy, and congratulations on your new car. I also have an 04.

I6turbo

iTrader: (1)

There was no Modern Luxury (ML) package in '03 by name, but based upon those features (assuming it doesn't have other things you're not mentioning) you have what is called ML in the '04+. It was identified by the code NL in '03 (Navigation, Levinson, I suppose). My '03 was equipped that way.

Take a look here: http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/imp...3_LS_specs.pdf
For other year models, just change the year in your internet browser bar.

jayclapp

Looks like you have the sport suspension with 18 inch wheels (standard wheels are 17 inch). Identified by the small emblem behind the front wheels. This makes it rather unique as I don't think there were a lot of those.

AlexusAnja

I would do the rear side door sunshades, if I could part with some used/junk yard parts for under $200. I would not do it for $400/side.

As for catching a base, never seen one. In my hunting for my LS, the lowest I had seen was premium. I wonder if the base was even more rare than the UL? Like the ES' that have cloth interior.

honeygee2

Thank you...its really nice to deal with well informed people.

honeygee2

Great info..thanks

usermel

Loved seeing what my car cost then in 2001 base price. All I can say is,WOW! A little over $54,000 base price back then!!! WOW!!! Thanks JayClap for the info. Seeing it is like being in a time machine. I always liked these brochures and still have some, somewhere in my home that is. Were is the question! Hhahahaa! Good info, less stress to find the info how you gave it sir!! Thanks! L.G.N.M

usermel

Hey guys, after seeing the info JayClap put us on to. I decided to check out price changes of the LS in various years. This is sticker shock and I only used base prices not option included packages that would have made the prices higher and didnt use the bsae 460L's price. I used the LS460 base SWb for the 2010 LS. Heres the list fellow members. I just used first two numbers of prices and made last three digits all $0 for all cars in each year!!!

1990- $36,000 LS400
1997- $53,000 LS400
2005- $56,000 LS430
2010- $65,000 LS460

Either the value a dollar once held has fell out of the universe or Lexus has cleverly raised prices without most noticing due to being lower than the competition. Not bad comapred to how the German makes raised there prices so, I guess I cant and wont complain about it. Just thought it was crazy seeing how they eased the price up each year and are at $65,000 base. Is it just me or is that high?

Really guys Im asking not telling. Not complaining at all guys/gals Im happy with my Lexus and the prices are still lower than the other luxury brands(European,not American) again but, just asking! Imagine how much the European makes have went up since 1990 in prices!! Also, does this mean when they sold the 1st generation LS' they charged very low prices for there cars then, so low the profits were minimal? To the brand new owner I say, Congrats. You made a WISE decision in buying used!! Depreciation is amazing!!L.G.N.M

LS430inDE.

I agree. All of the above. You can also add a bunch of 50+ year old males who were willing to pay the sticker price.

usermel

Yeah LS430DE, its crazy how time flies and prices go up(value of the dollar drops) as they do. Seeing it with my eyes blew me away though! The brand new owner made a Wise decision. As for me I can afford a new LS460 but, this confirms it for me. I only will buy used now. Not for just the purpose of saving a dollar or two but, the price initially always means nothing after years pass anyway.

Seeing those prices thanks to JayClap pointing out that feature on Lexus.com I see something more WISE about buying used than I saw before. The dollar losing value is an issue as well as the car. Did I think of this before? YES! Just not together though. I thought of depreciation over here and dollar value over there!!! But again to the new owners CONGRATS! Such a reliable car is the LS430 as long as you do all the services you will get years of use and be secure that you'll have to do normal wear and tear services and repairs. Not one extra thing had popped up for me. Been ouut of warranty since 2006 and no issues that cost me extra money that wasnt expected issues like brakes,tires,suspension,bulbs going out,belts,battery etc.!!!!

jayclapp

There's even more info you can find on the Lexus web site. If you're a registered CPO owner and have access to MyLexus on that site you can find and download your car's service record (including being able to add service by yourself/other shops), order a new owner's manual (no cost), and determine what cell phones are compatible with your car, amongst other things.

I6turbo

iTrader: (1)

I think a couple of things are going on. For one, there is the natural inflation. For example, a 1990 Ford Taurus base price was $13,400. A 2010 Taurus base is $25,170. By that comparison, the LS has held the line on price increases.

Also, the LS and Lexus in general has EARNED the right to sell for a relatively higher price than when it was just trying to enter the market, so there is some justification there, IMO. After all, everyone and every company deserves to get paid for perceived value, just like none of us would work for $20/hour if we could earn $40.

AlexusAnja

Well... percentage wise yes, the Taurus has almost doubled, but so has the LS since 1990 and back in 1990 it was "base" but had all the goodies of it's time so really it was "loaded" more than base.

I agree with you, Lexus has earned the right to be up with the big boys and Tier 1 luxo brands. Everybody is selling at that high level, so why shouldn't Lexus? People are buying it, so the market obvously can support it (for now).

As for if cars are worth $60K, that's a different question. Honestly, if you look at a full-sized generic (Camry, Taurus, Accord) sedan loaded, it would probably be in top $30K/low $40K range. So, at say $39K, it would be hard to justify having a vehicle of comparable type be almost double the price, even if the luxo vehicles have better leather and more electronics.

Again... the market dictates pricing and I don't see any big reduction in 7, S, and LS's on the roads....

I6turbo

iTrader: (1)

IF, say my recent brain surgery went terribly wrong and I found myself buying a new car, I'm not sure what I'd be willing to pay up for. But real-world, for me, there's way more to a vehicle than the list of gadgets on paper. Of course it all comes down to what consumers value, but for me there is no Camry, Taurus, or Accord, regardless of the year model that is remotely in the league with an LS430, so these aren't comparable type vehicles. It'd be about like telling me that I can get a brand new double-wide mobile home with "central heat/air, stainless appliances, carpet, tile, big-screen TV and surround sound" for the same price that I can get a nice 15-year old brick home with all those things. No thanks. There's more to it than the generic list of features.

milesdf

Jay and others- Thanks for the great advice! "You are all very wise."
As you mentioned, I do have the "Sport Suspension" label behind the front wheel well, but have 17" tires (Is that a concern?) . NAV, Bluetooth, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, rear camera and parking assist.
I'm still hoping that the VIN can somehow tell me the hole original sticker picture.
Any guidance here?
Very happy newbie!
Dave