We have a 2006 LS430UL with 80,000 miles. I stopped by the Lexus dealer the other day and talked to the salesman about a newer 460. First, he was excited as he said my 2006 430UL has an excellent trade-in value and lots of people look for them. I said I was willing to spend up to $50k. We went for a drive in a 2010 with 50,000 miles. Drove about 1/2 mile before I remarked that there would be no chance in hell I would trade my 430 for the 460 I was driving...straight up!

My wife wants an auto trunk closer.... other than that and an updated GPS screen....about everything else seems to be a step down. I told her to use her ipad for a GPS and consider the trunk her workout for the day! We may have the 430 for a while!!!

 

Truthfully..................After the LS430 experience, regardless of where you turn for another car, it will all be down hill. Our cars are an example of a model that was over engineered and manufacturers including Lexus have no reason to repeat it again. All the newer Lexus models including the new LS lack the quality of materials and the extras we now have although they still have good fit and finish. You may very well keep your LS430 for quite some time. I know I am as I am quite disappointed with all the new Lexus Models and will not go European for reliability issues and excessive cost.

 

I feel the same as you guys, I love my 05' LS430 UL and I always try to find a car that match or exceed it's amazing refinements.

I went really really high.................so far I think the fully loaded S-Class sort of match, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur matches it, Bentley Arnage is actually a step down because it is old.

Only when you get to the Bentley Mulsanne, it start to truely feel nicer then the LS430 UL. I have not been in a Phantom yet.

But for the money, a MSRP $75k LS430 UL is comparable to much newer cars that cost more then $120k. Lexus went all the way in the refinement department when they made the LS430.

My friend got a 08' AMG S63 with a MSRP of $160k that I drive a lot, I found many things in that car that doesn't feel as nice as my LS430 UL. The AMG is just much faster and got more newer luxury amenities, but refinement wise I don't think it is better, they are the same at best.

 

There just aren't cars around that measure up to the 430 UL in so many ways. It is an astonishing car that bats way above its league. My 04 (granted with only 38k miles) drives and looks new and puts a big smile on my and my passengers' faces every drive. The styling, while conservative, also has a timeless quality and many people think it's brand new.

Owning one of these cars feels like cheating.

 

You guys crack me up! There are nice cars out there ya just have to spend the money!!! but ya for what the LS is and the depreciation from 04-06 even 01 up and what ya get they are impressive as they are not gonna break even 10-12 years old..

 

I've been looking...and even if you're willing to spend the money, it just doesn't come close. Even a brand new 460 just doesn't come close...and that's a pretty penny. But BNR is right, even going to a Bentley feels a step down.

 

The most important thing for me in a luxury sedan is refinements, if you only judge refinements, you have to go REALLY high to find a car that truely exceed the refinements of a LS430 UL.

In my opinion, the AMG S63 barely matches it, Bentley Flying Spur matched it, Bentley Mulsanne exceeded it, that is $300k+. The only reason I want to spend money to get a different car is if it is an actual upgrade, and it cost $300k.

Sure there are a bunch of new cars that looks much newer with an ipad stuck on their dash board, faster and get better MPG, but most of them actually have lower refinement level then the LS430 UL. I don't want to spend $100k for a downgrade.

I understand though, most folks suffer the newer is better syndrome, they don't look at the actual refinements.

When I drive my friend's 08' AMG S63, I only feels it is faster and look more expensive, it doesn't feels like a better car then my LS430 UL. S63 is $160k MSRP.

 

Looking at LS460s...
There is no car comparable to LS430. Build quality is just amazing.
Mercs and Beamers are complete trash nowadays, Infiniti is a boyracer car (tried M45 - 'sports' crap!).
Tried Bentley Continental - yes, that's the one riding close to LS430, but it's too expensive and hellishly unrealiable....

LS460 is the only way i see.....

 

The latest MB S-Class and Bimmers 7s are not bad, just not quite as good as the LS430. Infiniti is trash.

If I actually need to replace my LS430 UL today, I would go find another low mileage LS430 UL. LS460 just doesn't do it for me. Hopefully the next generation LS will be good again.

Have you look at the Hyundai Equus? It is not bad for much less money.

 

Not true, never say never, 2012+ Bentley Mulsanne smoked the LS430 in everyways.............I hope so at $300k+. That thing is a tank with leather wrapped every inch, you don't see one piece of plastic in the cabin.

That's how good the LS430 UL is, it takes a flagship Bentley to truely smoke it, the regular Bentley just matches it.

 

The new 2014 S-Class being announced next month will beat it. it's way more money though

 

I wish they weren't so expensive. The S-Class is awesome but it costs too much.

 

Problem is the refinement. I looked at one. But couldn't stand the fugly large white letters next to each **** and switch. Couldn't Hyundai at least come up with some symbols that wouldn't take up so much space? Yes, you may say I'm being picky. But if I'm looking at cars of this level, the brands should expect customers to be very picky.

 

Yes I have a feeling that will be the case too, at least I hope so.

The W220 was trash, W221 pretty much matched the LS430, the W222 should beat it.

 

Nothing is perfect, I am sure you can find something on the Mulsanne that you can't stand.

I just look at the overall.