Ls430
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
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From: NJ
Thank you! I have to wash it soon. Its been a while since i have done that. But the car has been kept very clean on the inside as me and my uncle, who was the previous owner hate any smudge on the interior. I love it and it does its job. Im planing to buy clear led and chrome housed lights for it and 19 or 20 inch rims. I may put flowmasters just to match that sporty ride. As its the only car ive owned and the only other car ive driven is a nissan murano.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
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From: NJ
You sir just made my day. It could have something to do with its been garaged every night of its life since its been sold to my uncle then me. I wonder if it will still run fine when it hits the 200k mark since its at 197k i believe
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
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From: NJ
Thanks for the welcome. Yeah i know its just like going into the benz forums with a ls, same game. But i dont like, or i think nobody likes people calling their cars rustbuckets and saying they are liars. But i knew that was going to happen, theres always that one person on every forum.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: MI
Thanks for the welcome. Yeah i know its just like going into the benz forums with a ls, same game. But i dont like, or i think nobody likes people calling their cars rustbuckets and saying they are liars. But i knew that was going to happen, theres always that one person on every forum.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
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The only thing that I would bring up as being the major difference between the 2 cars would be reliability. If that has not been an issue for you, than go fwith whatever you prefer as far as looks and driving impressions. Benz is definitely sportier and probably firmer with better handling.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,018
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From: Virginia
If its not broke, don't fix it. In this case, if your car is problem free, don't replace it! I owned a S430 and let me say, drove like a dream but, unfortunately for me I had problem after problem(total of 7) that made me get a ML500 and that had issues as well and I went back to Lexus. Since back at Lexus I have had 3 issues total and all were TSB's(Technical Service Bulletins) and were taken care of by the dealer free of charge!
I can't blame you though buddy for staying with Benz, I LOVED the ride, very sporty and the wheels stick to the road. Driving wise the BENZ wins, no contest. Quiet wise, LEXUS hands down. Reliability is subjective as well as luck of the draw as you have a reliable Benz and Im sure there are plenty more out there. I'd stay with BENZ if I were you. You had your car for 150,000 miles so you will miss that ride experience and no LEXUS has that type of ride(sporty, wheels to the rode)!
If you get any LEXUS expect comfort and quiet and reliability but, don't expect a sporty ride, you'll be disappointed! LGNM
I can't blame you though buddy for staying with Benz, I LOVED the ride, very sporty and the wheels stick to the road. Driving wise the BENZ wins, no contest. Quiet wise, LEXUS hands down. Reliability is subjective as well as luck of the draw as you have a reliable Benz and Im sure there are plenty more out there. I'd stay with BENZ if I were you. You had your car for 150,000 miles so you will miss that ride experience and no LEXUS has that type of ride(sporty, wheels to the rode)!
If you get any LEXUS expect comfort and quiet and reliability but, don't expect a sporty ride, you'll be disappointed! LGNM
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 21
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From: NJ
I should have cleared this up earlier. I never wanted to replace my s430 just get another car. Im attatched to my s class like im sure some of you are with your lexus. Thanks for the feedback and ive decided to go for a cpo s550 from 2008 with 32000 miles for a little more than 45k. Color and options are nice so now its time to put some mods on my 430.
There are many theories to why that happened, the main one was MB bought Dodge/Chrysler and somehow Dodge dragged down MB's quality. Someone also told me, I don't know if it is true, that Germany had an education problem.
The Dodge theory make sense as after MB sold Dodge, their quality is bouncing back up.
adamnj,
Your story is a little confusing, please help me understand. You currently own a 2000 W220 S430 with 197k miles, you bought it from your uncle for $8k when it had 50k miles? So 150k miles ago, that must be at least 7 years ago if you put 20k miles on it a year. So you bought a 3 years old 50k miles S430 for $8k around 2003? Something don't add up here
But hey if you have such excellent luck with MB and you love MB so much, why even consider Lexus? Really the main reason people own Lexus is for their much superior reliability over MB. If MB have the same reliability, I for one would be rocking a S65 instead of my current LS430. If reliability is not a concern, the S65 is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY hotter in every way then the LS430, and they cost the same amount today!!
A 2006 LS430 UL worth about $35k today, MSRP was $75k.
A 2006 S65 is listing for $41k, MSRP was $190k.
How much a used car depreciate after 4 years is a direct indication of how well it holds up
The LS430 depreciated 53%, S65 is 78%.
If reliability is not a concern, actually I would be driving a 2000 Bentley Arnage that are worth $40k today, now not is baller!
Too bad I can't afford to fix a $300k car every month 
Your story is a little confusing, please help me understand. You currently own a 2000 W220 S430 with 197k miles, you bought it from your uncle for $8k when it had 50k miles? So 150k miles ago, that must be at least 7 years ago if you put 20k miles on it a year. So you bought a 3 years old 50k miles S430 for $8k around 2003? Something don't add up here
But hey if you have such excellent luck with MB and you love MB so much, why even consider Lexus? Really the main reason people own Lexus is for their much superior reliability over MB. If MB have the same reliability, I for one would be rocking a S65 instead of my current LS430. If reliability is not a concern, the S65 is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY hotter in every way then the LS430, and they cost the same amount today!!
A 2006 LS430 UL worth about $35k today, MSRP was $75k.
A 2006 S65 is listing for $41k, MSRP was $190k.
How much a used car depreciate after 4 years is a direct indication of how well it holds up
The LS430 depreciated 53%, S65 is 78%.
If reliability is not a concern, actually I would be driving a 2000 Bentley Arnage that are worth $40k today, now not is baller!
Too bad I can't afford to fix a $300k car every month