I want an ls430 badly----are there any reasons not to----what are the pros and cons--
11-10-13, 11:21 PM
#46
It's ls430 all day , I love my ls so much I'm about to buy one for the old lady ,so she will stay away from mines. I love my ls . I have own a few luxury sedan to come across the ls430. To this date I still believe the ls is the closiest car to be a perfect luxury sedan . I don't car how much other people like their Genesis , s class or other luxury sedan . All you need to do is ,own one and you'll see why the ls is crown to be the king of the luxury premium sedan. I have no problem with my car , I just dont like the jumpy shifting in low speed . That is something we all have to live with .
02-14-18, 06:41 PM
#47
Driver School Candidate
in case u guys didn't see my other thread I bought an 03 CL(I think) with 68000 miles, its gold, I paid $7800
its mint runs like a dream, I just blew the mark levinson woofer,so im replacing it with aftermarket subs and amp, drivers side mirror starting to act up, steering tilt makes a whining sound, aside from that is just amazing, I still cant belive I have one, its so fun to drive, gets much better mileage then my SC, just amazing car really
its mint runs like a dream, I just blew the mark levinson woofer,so im replacing it with aftermarket subs and amp, drivers side mirror starting to act up, steering tilt makes a whining sound, aside from that is just amazing, I still cant belive I have one, its so fun to drive, gets much better mileage then my SC, just amazing car really
My drivers side mirror is starting to act up also... What did you do to fix yours? Thanks
02-14-18, 06:46 PM
#48
Moderator
Hi Big Al; Since this thread is rather old, I'm thinking he may not respond. However, there are a few great threads on diagnosing and fixing mirror problems, so feel free to search "Folding Mirror Probems" and you no doubt will find an answer that works for you.
And, welcome to the club!
And, welcome to the club!
02-15-18, 11:34 AM
#49
Driver School Candidate
Hi Big Al; Since this thread is rather old, I'm thinking he may not respond. However, there are a few great threads on diagnosing and fixing mirror problems, so feel free to search "Folding Mirror Probems" and you no doubt will find an answer that works for you.
And, welcome to the club!
And, welcome to the club!
Found this Thread https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...r-adjujst.html and it's GREAT!!!!
03-31-18, 12:32 AM
#51
Wow, 8 year old thread, cant believe how fast time is going.
Well 8 years later and you were 100% correct, I purchased an 03 430 as mentioned, and the car was so good I wasn't sure where id end up next , but after about 3 years I ended up purchasing a very low mileage 08 460L , its a completely different car , would recommend any 430 owner to take one for a test drive as they are becoming more and more affordable now as each year passes.
Yep, sold the SC immediately and never looked back, but even to this day I have a soft spot for the SC as my very first lexus, ill never forget the feeling of driving it for the first time, it was special forsure.
Yep, I really don't know where id go next other then a newer model 460L (13-17) , or if I'm lucky enough one day the LS500 , hopefully they release one with a V8 soon but that's another story.
Ive searched long and hard and theres no affordable way to enter the german car market , Benz , bimmer or audi, so unless I win the lottery I don't forsee that happening anytime soon.
Ive searched long and hard and theres no affordable way to enter the german car market , Benz , bimmer or audi, so unless I win the lottery I don't forsee that happening anytime soon.
03-31-18, 05:25 AM
#52
Pole Position
Even if you can find a way to affordably enter the German market, there is no affordable way to stay in a German car after purchase. The LS is expensive to fix, but some of the repair costs I've seen from the Germans is insane.
03-31-18, 05:48 AM
#53
Lexus Fanatic
What is affordable, see, that's the thing. I have a feeling that the LS430 doesn't need any unpredictable repairs makes it affordable. Look at Hoovie in his 1995 Ferrari, he says you're nervous everytime you turn the key. But it gives a thrill no Toyota ever could, so it's what you want. I am not 100%, but I want to get a W221 MB S550, maybe 2009. Again, not sure, and not now. That's a flagship car which gives me hesitation. But I can afford a BMW 3 Series, because that was entry level, not flagship. So sometimes we have to aim lower. Had the 335i for 11 yrs. now, original owner purchased new. Reliable car.
04-03-18, 11:16 AM
#56
The Simple Answer is No!
I'm not going to lie... we've owned a 1991, 1998, 2002 and 2004 LS and the best car by far was the '98. Those LS400s were a truly remarkable example of top notch engineering. Maybe not Toyota's "W140" per se (as I can not imagine the Japanese ever LOSING money on a mass market car), but probably as close as they'd ever come to that.
The 2002 and 2004 are great cars, and the LS line taken as a whole is one of *the* best large cars of ALL time in my honest opinion. There ARE some things that were undoubtedly cheapened as the model line went on however. Some examples would be the glove soft leather that you could feel when you put your hands in the door pulls on the LS400, the absolutely superior Nakamichi sound system, the "springy" seats, and general fit and finish.
That said, the LS400 simply can not compete in today's world of technology and the same things that make the LS430 a technological powerhouse, also are part of the reason why the 430 should not be expected to be as trouble-free as its older brother. Ultra Luxury models for example feature every technological gizmo one could have pondered up during that time, which unfortunately includes the load leveling rear suspensions that can, and do, find ways to leak... avoid the UL option package unless you absolutely insist on the coolbox and "master command" for the rear passengers (radio controls back there, reclining seats etc.). The 6 speed automatics in the 2004 and up models are not quite as robust as the 5 speed box in the 2001-2003, so its good you won't have that to deal with. Tilt and telescope mechanisms in all years of this LS generation are known to go bad. If you buy one, I suggest having your dealer de-program the auto-exit feature unless you are very large and absolutely must have it. I have heard R&R costs for the tilt/telescope mechanism in the steering wheel from 400 to 1000 dollars depending on what needs replaced. The seat coolers (which of course were not even available on the LS400), don't really work all that well.
Overall, there is not really a lot to go wrong here outside of some electrical doo-dads, but when it does go wrong it can be very expensive to make right. It is SO much more critical on this generation LS to make absolutely sure you find a car with a meticulous dealership maintenance record (manual calls for religious service intervals every 5k) versus the old LS400 in which I tried to just ensure general maintenance was completed when I purchased one.
It doesn't look like you will be able to buy a CPO car, so set aside a small budget for repairs, or get an extended warranty and enjoy.
The 2002 and 2004 are great cars, and the LS line taken as a whole is one of *the* best large cars of ALL time in my honest opinion. There ARE some things that were undoubtedly cheapened as the model line went on however. Some examples would be the glove soft leather that you could feel when you put your hands in the door pulls on the LS400, the absolutely superior Nakamichi sound system, the "springy" seats, and general fit and finish.
That said, the LS400 simply can not compete in today's world of technology and the same things that make the LS430 a technological powerhouse, also are part of the reason why the 430 should not be expected to be as trouble-free as its older brother. Ultra Luxury models for example feature every technological gizmo one could have pondered up during that time, which unfortunately includes the load leveling rear suspensions that can, and do, find ways to leak... avoid the UL option package unless you absolutely insist on the coolbox and "master command" for the rear passengers (radio controls back there, reclining seats etc.). The 6 speed automatics in the 2004 and up models are not quite as robust as the 5 speed box in the 2001-2003, so its good you won't have that to deal with. Tilt and telescope mechanisms in all years of this LS generation are known to go bad. If you buy one, I suggest having your dealer de-program the auto-exit feature unless you are very large and absolutely must have it. I have heard R&R costs for the tilt/telescope mechanism in the steering wheel from 400 to 1000 dollars depending on what needs replaced. The seat coolers (which of course were not even available on the LS400), don't really work all that well.
Overall, there is not really a lot to go wrong here outside of some electrical doo-dads, but when it does go wrong it can be very expensive to make right. It is SO much more critical on this generation LS to make absolutely sure you find a car with a meticulous dealership maintenance record (manual calls for religious service intervals every 5k) versus the old LS400 in which I tried to just ensure general maintenance was completed when I purchased one.
It doesn't look like you will be able to buy a CPO car, so set aside a small budget for repairs, or get an extended warranty and enjoy.
04-05-18, 09:32 PM
#57
It's ls430 all day , I love my ls so much I'm about to buy one for the old lady ,so she will stay away from mines. I love my ls . I have own a few luxury sedan to come across the ls430. To this date I still believe the ls is the closiest car to be a perfect luxury sedan . I don't car how much other people like their Genesis , s class or other luxury sedan . All you need to do is ,own one and you'll see why the ls is crown to be the king of the luxury premium sedan. I have no problem with my car , I just dont like the jumpy shifting in low speed . That is something we all have to live with .
04-06-18, 05:19 AM
#58
Lexus Fanatic
04-07-18, 03:21 AM
#60
Anyone here having both a 98-00 and a 01-06 in their garage and using both regularly?
How do they compare driving wise?
And what about the air struts in the 98-00, are they also prone to relatively early leaking?
How do they compare driving wise?
And what about the air struts in the 98-00, are they also prone to relatively early leaking?
