hrp

I would appreciate some advice, preferably from someone who currently owns a 2002 LS430.
My wife and I are seriously considering purchasing a dealer demo 2015 RX350 AWD with around 9,000 miles. We currently are driving both a 2002 LS430 base (only options are sunroof and heated seats) with 137k miles and a 2001 Honda CR-V SE AWD (top end) with 97k miles.
Both of these cars are approximately the same value on a trade, dealer, or private seller price and are in great shape. The 430LS has 2 problems; a cracked passenger outside mirror cover and the rain sensor for the wipers does not work. It will need a new set of tires soon. The Honda CR-V has no real problems. Both cars have been well maintained, and the LS430 is usually garaged. We are in the central area of North Carolina. The LS is driven mostly around town but weekly has a 60 mile round trip. We do have a few days of snow and ice each winter.

MY QUESTION: What problems has anyone had with the 2002 LS430 over the years, especially electrical ones?

Appreciated advice: Which car would you keep if we purchase the 2015 RX 350? And why??

I will be posting this on another Lexus forum also.

Thanks.:

Duck05

How about advice from someone that owns a 2001 LS430? Should be close enough, maybe?

Being in Northern California, we do not have the large swing in weather conditions that can add to the wear and tear on a car. We have had very few if any "electrical" issues and going on 190K; we were the second owners in '04 when the car had 60K already.

As for which car to keep, the RX350 is a nice vehicle but it is not an LS. We don't have an RX but I have friends that have them and I would take our older LS over an RX anytime but the RX has more versatility with the lift gate and fold down seats.

Never had any first hand experience with a Honda CR-V but it appears to be a similar (if somewhat smaller) vehicle to the RX.

Pointing out that this is a Lexus enthusiast site, the Lexus will get the nod most of the time.... Pretty sure if you pose this situation on the Honda CR-V site, you would get different opinions.

warminwisc

Woman love the RX and I for one am not a fan of the 2016 changes space age look and huge grill so good job on the 015. I would not need 2 AWD vehicles. If you have the Base LS I would expect very little troubles most can be troubleshooted by the guys on this forum, or gals. Plus alot of parts from salvage yards aftermarket etc.

LS430FL

I had a 2001 LS430 and a 2009 RX350 and now have a 2006 LS430 and 2015 RX350. Both are great cars however after driving the RX for a few days, when I hop in to the LS430 I realize why I love it so much. I drove the 2001 LS 430 until it had 200K miles on it with no problems. Hondas are great cars too. Do you want a lexus and a honda or two lexus vehicles. I think thats what it comes down to.

warminwisc

I have a 014 Touareg 014 and much prefer it to my LS, but I am spoiled and not making a critical point. yur 01 sir will be fine, I picked up a whole mirror assembly for 200 bucks and pit it in..

My kids 2005 Civic needs the well know issue of head gaskets done, tranny issues on a bunch of the mid 2000 v6's and Honda does not solve the problem, just fits new parts which fail again. I am gonna see my Honda mechanic who works out of his home for extra dough I will ask him about the CR-V let ya know if it has any issues known

SW17LS

I would keep the LS instead of the CRV.

BMW7_LS430

Advice: I would keep LS so that you will have two different kinds of vehicles. RX and CR-V fall under similar category.

mic575

You will be getting a really great car in the RX. So which car makes you smile when you drive it?, Keep that one. I've never had an LS but can speak about the CRV, I've had two and have one now. They are great little do it all, zip around, suv's. It will have great reliability but so will the LS. The CRV is a very simple vehicle, cheap to maintain, but it is louder, rougher and tiring on long trips. Also, take a good look for rust on the CRV, this age is known for that. Look underneath the car and look at the back edge of the rear wheel wells. If there is rust, that should answer your question.

Brewmyown

I have a 2002 LS430 with nag, ML sound system, etc. I have over 220,000 miles on it with no major issues at all. I also have 2 - 1999 Honda CRV's. One has over 225,000 miles on it. I bought it needing the head/valve work done which I did myself. It had over 200,000 on it when I bought it. (I also have a 2006 Acura MDX with almost 170,000 miles on it that looks, runs and drives like new)

If I had to pick one or the other it would be the LS without hesitation. My 2002 with over 220,000 looks, runs and dives like new. I drive it 80 miles a day round trip. I take it on at least two round trips from Chicago to Dallas or Chicago to Birmingham Alabama every year. I trust the car like it was new.