I purchased my 2004 LS430 in April with 167k on it (currently 173k). Lifetime California car with good service records as well. I planned on driving the car until it died... however, I might be moving to Minnesota by the end of the year. So now I am staring down the barrel of $2k of maintenance (tb/wp, cam seals, etc) and snow tires plus the steering rack is slightly leaking, engine mounts will have to be done at some point, etc. Some maintenance issues may be exacerbated by the extreme cold as well.

So, the decision needs to be made to trade the car in for far less than I paid for it, or maintain it and hope I'm satisfied with its snow performance. I think I'll get between $6-8k for it at a dealer + 2800 or so in maintenance and tires towards another vehicle.

So, what would you guys do?

 

Keep it since it has awd. You want awd in MN. You also want a big car so you are safe when people crash into you.

 

The LS does not have AWD - on the LS460 it is optional

 

Sell it then! Lol sorry

 

Guess it depends on what your winter car is going to be.

I would probably keep the 430 and get a set of dedicated snowtires/rims. I currently have 240k on the clock and runs pretty smooth for a 14 year old car.

 

you bought the car with the intention to drive it until it dies. This would mean it has a lot of life in it considering from what I hear here on the forum.
In this state $2000 extra is really acceptable. You would loose if you trade, especially with a dealer.
If the repairs are done you should be good for a long time. Snowtires will come up one way or another (the "new" car might not come with them either). Also tb will have to be changed in later times to the end of the car.
Considering that you can get parts online a lot cheaper than the dealer, the cost will be down too. In Min find a good mechanic (forum might be of assistance) and be happy with it. Moving to the NE I would get it undercoated asap.
My 2 cents

 

These are fine winter cars. Especially with snow tires. Roads get cleared here quickly, so unless you're actually in a snow storm its not a big deal.

 

Fine winter car with snow tires, not without.

Personally? I would move on from the car. It's high mileage, you're going to be moving to an area that's harder on cars than where you are. I'd get something newer.

 

Did you try the Lucas pink sealer in PWR steering system? When was the TB pump etc replaced last, seems if done around 100k as recommeded and most people let it go a bit longer, you have some time.
Look for snows on craigs and I think Infiniti wheels fit also.
If you value the RWD V8 keep it as it is a nice balanced drive train or check out like an infiniti G37 AWD but for 10-11 grand yur gonna get high miles even if ya get a camry.

 

I'd stick the money and keep it. For what you'll get for it, you wont come close to as nice of a car as the LS. Snow tires are a must.

 

I have a 2001 LS Colorado car with 207K for almost 4 years now; it moves 90 plus miles a day… Just a regular snowy day - I drive the LS; it’s a good car in the snow, running Michelin all weather tires during my 45 mile one-way commute…. If you are going to have sit in traffic, do it in comfort. Traction control works well in these cars. The only time I get in trouble is when I do something stupid…. And That Would Be Another Conversation

For the maintenance, ask you Lexus dealer for their best price on doing the job. If you don’t like what you hear - find an independent shop or start calling some Toyota dealers, this maintenance can be done just as well and for less cost, , . I had done a couple of timing belts in the past on other cars. The LS is by far the easiest and my favorite that I have done.

If it’s really going to be bad out, I do have an Excursion in the driveway on those days when I feel guilty about not going in. At 12.5 MPG in the Excursion, my guilt threshold is pretty low!

If it’s really really bad out, no one goes anywhere for 24 hours anyway. I dig out my driveway and the neighbors (they pay me in beer), wait for the streets to get plowed (as well as me)... My snow blower won’t run without beer for some reason… Then I go back in start the fireplace and hang out with the dogs for the day.

My thoughts, if it were me going to Minnesota: Keep the LS, good car in regular snow. Deep snow, nothing moves anyway. Keep the liquor cabinet stocked at the house. Buy a big A$$ Snow Blower. Buy an old P.O.S. 4 wheel drive / all-wheel drive for those days when you wake up thinking you are still in California, then you realize it just wasn't a bad dream and you really are in Minnesota…

Best of luck to you and let us know how it works out!

 

an 01 with 207k WOW that's great and a nice story , I have to ask you sir , from the normal things I hear on this forum , how are your actuator switches, navigation system, cd player , and stereo speakers holding up?

 

There's actually a great Lexus / Toyota / Scion shop in Eden Prairie MN (a suburb about 15 minutes southwest of Minneapolis) called Car Spec. They're pretty familiar with the LS430 - they replaced the head on an Ls430's engine just a while back. They have much better prices than the dealer and they do a really good job with the work. If you know you'll be living in Minnesota, give them a call and see what they quote.

In my house, we have a Toyota Highlander AWD, my LS430, and a Honda Ridgeline which is an AWD truck.

The LS430 with snow tires is a million times better than the Highlander.

If you live in the cities, you don't even need snow tires. They do a really good job of keeping the roads deiced.

Frankly, winter driver is more distinguished by driving slowly and sitting in traffic. There's no better car to sit in traffic than the quiet, serene, warm Ls430. You'll be stuck behind someone driving slowly, so you really only need a good snow car for getting on the roads and making sure you don't spin out on ice. Snow tires are worth their weight in gold, and anyone who'd rather have AWD and all seasons is a fool who doesn't know how well a big balanced RWD car works with snow tires.

Also, the LS430 has the best seat heaters of any car I"ve ever sat in. You probably even have heated rear seats. Your passengers will love that.

Frankly, rims and snow tires are $800, but you'll wear your all-seasons less so it's not that expensive.

That said, if you do sell your car - sell it in Cali. The LS430 isn't worth much in Minnesota, and AWD cars carry a premium.

 

I left out the 2001 LS 430 Base... No Nav, No Air Suspension.... As we all know we can't say enough good things on these cars. There are 430's out there with a lot more miles than mine.... 200K it's just getting broken in... I had the sub go out a couple of years ago, AC/DC was on - might have been my fault. Took the sub out and sent to Simply Speakers is Florida. $75 and a great job on their part...

About a month ago I had the number 3 coil pack go bad. Other than that, nothing has broken in almost 4 years. I fold my mirrors whenever I park, steering wheel stows every time, I use the remote every time to open the car. All door locks work and still on original suspension. Everything still works as it should.

So far I have been able to do all of my own maintenance, oil changes every 5k with synthetic, a couple new sets of tires, spark plugs, brakes, timing belt, water pump service and all pulleys at 180K to include radiator. I did have an independent shop flush the trans at 125K, took the harshness out of the shifting.

The car is a rock….. The body however, I wish mine looked like all of these pristine ones you see out there. Front end looks like it does 90 miles a day on the interstate, plenty of rock chips, lower front cowl has a small crack, hit a chuck of tire. I have small rust spots on the left & right front doors by the molding, a few others in here have the issue as well. Even with that, people are shocked when I tell them it’s a 2001. On Colorado blended regular un-leaded I average 23 MPG and 49 MPH for the past year or so.

When this one dies I will be on the lookout for one of those pristine base models that was only driven to church on Sundays by the little ol lady.

 

Get good winter tires, find a good independent mechanic and don't drive like Ace Ventura in the snow. If you know it has been treated well and is from the West Coast, keep the car! I have one and live in the greater Montreal area which has bucketloads of snow every year. It's not that bad if you have good tires.

Many people will say they don't have money to fix the car, but then think nothing of plunking down 20k-30k or more for a new one. If you buy a newer used one you may even get one with worse problems - especially in the rust belt where cars dissolve and rust out in a few years.

I love not having car payments and driving a nice car. The LS430 was well designed and made at a time when Lexus was the pinnacle of reliability. In my opinion a car is a big waste of money so I just drive mine until they drop. But I'm a cheap SOB.