dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

hey i am on the market for a LS 430 01-03 or 04-06. I was gonna get the 04+ model but it is like 25,000!! The 01-03 is around 10-12. What do you guys think? i save up a bit more and get the newer model or just get the older one. Is the difference major? I know the tail lights and the front end is different, but i plan on getting a kit anyways.

O i use to have a GS300

CarGuy89

Aside from cosmetics, you get a 6 spd auto instead of 5 (not a huge deal according to many members who have driven both). You get smart access, along with backup cam and bluetooth if you choose one with nav.

One upside to the 01-03s, you can fully turn off traction and stability controls. You can only turn off traction in 04-06, vsc will always be lurking in the shadows.

I would say it comes down to personal preference more than anything else. Some prefer the 01-03 and others the 04-06. I would personally take whichever car is the cleanest, has the lowest mileage, and was serviced regularly (every 5k miles).

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

thank you for your input. I will be looking for just that. Clean, low miles, white. =P

I got a 1988 mercedes 560sl i wanan fix up too but cant seem to find parts haha

Decius44

01-03 Ultras are affordable too. I just picked up a white one last week (waiting on delivery) and I just went through this. I picked the Ultra because of affordability and the gray wood interior, which I love. Ultimately it's up to you.

warminwisc

Dude you get what you pay for. I would be spending at least in between there somewhere(12-25) to ensure getting something I can drive for a while without major repairs.

Lynzoid

Btw, my 2001 with VSC off still invokes lateral stability control when i try to drift a little... It brakes with rear wheels immidiately cutting off the rear end drift....

Jabberwock

Both the 01-03 and 04-06 versions of the LS430 are wonderful choices.

I suggest a buyer should concentrate on finding a clean well maintained example of the car that fits their budget.

Do not overspend or go into debt to get a newer version - it is absolutely not worth going into debt to get a newer car.

Vpanin

Clean LS is key.............just look for whatever is clean, you will thank yourself later. I prefer the 04-06 mostly for the more modern look, the rear view cam.....and bluetooth. The 01-03 tranny shifts smoother and it is a whole lot cheaper .....money is gonna base your decision ...no??

AlexusAnja

For me when looking at the time, I was not that interested in buying a 2001 just to save a few bucks, and mileages were already relatively high (120K+) but I did look at some 2003 LS. The backup camera and bluetooth of the '04+ were two big winners for me and it was worth the extra $6K difference (at the time between 2003 or 2004) to me.

But as many said, if you don't have any particular "must haves" in any particular year of vehicle, the budget and financial ability to pay for a vehicle should be top priority. If I really could not afford the '04, then I would have easily gone with an '03 or '02 and just got a portable bluetooth and backup camera, but then there'd be wires all over the place.

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

Money is not a huge issue, because i am wiling to wait in order to rack up 25,000 for a 04+. it just if i was to get a 01-03 i would look hard to get a low mileage even if i have to pay a bit more then 15000. I am asking this because i got a 2000 gs and i spent some money for it to look like the 01+ gs300. if i was to get the 01-03 i would get the ultra lux. edition and around 60-70k miles.

Muti007

My search started with 98 on up LS400s. The more I looked, the more the 430 grew on me. Then as I looked at 430s I realized I didnt like the look of the 01-03, so I settled on the 04 on up, lol. My budget quickly then doubled and essentially tripled.

You really have to ask yourself which one you truly want, then buy that. ITs better then settling then spending more money later to try to make the car something it isnt. Buy the right car in the first place.

Jabberwock

That is very solid and wise advice. Again wait till your budget can allow it but buy the right car that you really want instead of any lower cost approximation. All of us could have saved some coin and been driving a nice 04 Avalon LS...

CarGuy89

Drive an 01-03 and an 04-06, preferably in the same day so you get side to side comparison while the experience is still fresh in your mind. That should make it a lot easier to choose. Also, decide which styling you prefer. While they may look the same to bystanders, I feel like there is quite a big change in terms of styling of the 01-03s and 04-06s.

caddyowner

I did this exact thing. I drove an 03 at a Lincoln-Mercury dealer and then drove an 05 at a Land Rover dealer. I felt that the driving dynamics were very similar, but the 04-06 got the nod because I wanted SmartAccess and a rear view camera.

dejavu157

iTrader: (2)

thanks for the help. im going to save up for the 04+