Spending almost $15000 on my 2005 UL/Radar PCS with around 90,000 miles almost 2 months ago, I was decidedly well aware that there were plenty of more current vehicles I could have purchased instead.

While I did not have to pay sales tax thanks to purchasing it from my older brother which I suppose meant I really paid $13,400 for mine, I still struggle to think of a better car that I could have purchased for the money. Again, I did serious consider getting a 2007 LS460, but the ones selling for around $15,000 were certainly not nearly in as good of a condition as the one I purchased.

And like many here have posited and every Lexus employee I spoke to, the LS430 was the last "overbuilt/over the top" Lexus made and benefits from a direct lineage to the Billion Dollar project behind the LS400 (Project F1).

The LS430 is one of a handful of luxury cars that the price of ownership approximates a car costing half of its MSRP. With the exception of the air shocks in my 2005 UL, there are no silly expensive replacement parts likely to need replacement with the exception of the possibility of the nav unit needing replacement.

While there are days I miss my fully built LX470 and especially the stereo, this really was perhaps the best vehicle purchase I have ever made.

 

You know you just bumped a 6 year old thread right?

I guess it doesn't hurt to mention the great quality of the LS430 again though.

 

Such is life! I was not aware and thank you for bringing that to my attention. Same points apply.
Best,
Jack

 

These cars are a high value for the price ride. Even if some of the repairs may be costly, once everything is up to original conditions, this car far out performs newer cars selling for over $50k in many categories. Our '01 is now my daily driver and on the highway I get 23-25MPG, rides like glass, and is a comfort to be in.....

So, bumping a 6 year old post is just an indicator of how lucky we are to be owners....

 

I would say after the market crash in 08 all went down hill with build quality, can beat the leather dash ecru seats and even the inner leather door door handles on the 430 UL