The 2005 LS430 is about 700 lbs heavier than a 2000 ES300. The LS430 is 7" longer and 1.5" wider (but it appears much bigger than the ES300).
What contributes to the additional weight? Can 2 additional cylinders in the engine cause that much of a weight increase?

 

i dont understand what your question is its 7" longer and 1.5" wider so obviously its a much bigger car 700lbs isnt that big of a difference considering how much bigger the car is. Gs400 is about 3700lbs. Honestly i find it hard to belive that LS430 weights under 4000lbs being such a big car but i guess its true. The v8 vs v6 is maybe 100-150lbs difference since the v6 is iron block and the v8 is all aluminum. I think the 2jz might actually weight more then 1/3uz since its a boat anchor.

 

A car that is 1.5 inches wider than another is almost indistinguishable.
I believe the additional length of 7 inches is in the longer trunk area, and possibly in the hood.
Mostly empty space, not some high density stuff.
Is that v8 engine much heavier than the v6? They are both aluminum engines, I think.

 

7 iches is ALOT of metal top to buttom and 1.5 inches is alot as well. Dont forget the ls is much more solid car, more options. The ls has i'm sure heavier dash, bigger brakes, heavier door panels , seats are bigger, more sound dampening more options, more air bags,sonar sensors, modules, heated rear seats. I can tell you that being a mechanic i have taken both LS and ES/Camry rear seats out to remove rear stuts and ls rear seat is not only massive compared to ES its at least twice as heavy if not heavier! Goning from the smallest car in the line up to the biggest car in the line up 700lbs is not that much at all.

 

Yes, I agree with the heavier door panels. The ES300 did not have panel/edges on the top and inner sides of the front doors. If you wind the windows down, they look like the doors from a convertible. The LS430 also feels more connected to the road at higher freeway speeds; not going to post what speed, because it would be over the speed limit on the freeway
Reason I ask is that 700 additional pounds of weight is like having 3 overweight adults in my car at all times.
The 2013 LS460 is about 300 lbs heavier than the 2005 LS430. The 2005 LS430 weighs about the same as a 2013 Benz E350.

 

Ok so you also have a much bigger engine to push the ls around then the ES. The ES is 700 but slower and underpowered compared to LS, so the 460 is a little big bigger then the 430 and has more options and gadgets so theres why the 300lbs difference. The full size sedan weights same as a midsize benz? not bad if you ask me.

 

A lot of it is stuff you don't see, things like steel reinforcement to make the chassis more rigid.

As a comparison, look at a Porsche 911 from the 70's or 80's and a 911 today. They're about the same size, but the new Porsche's is about a 1000 pounds heavier.

I still don't understand why automakers don't use more aluminum on higher end cars, it's more expensive, but I think most consumers would be willing to pay it for better mileage and better acceleration.

 

completely two different cars, totally ridiculous comparison

 

lol



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Dude... it just all adds up. You can't just ask where is the 700 lbs coming from, it's noy just from one place. It's a bigger car, with bigger rotors, calipers, pads, suspension components,engine weight difference. Just look at monthly bills, dollar here, dollar there, 15 here, 20 there...now add ups all to a bill of $1000.

 

Parts are higher quality, heavier duty, more sound insulation, thicker metal, etc. All this weight adds up. And that's with the aluminum suspension to reduce weight over what it would have been. When you close the doors, the LS feels more solid than the ES. And for nearly twice the sticker price, it should.