3rd gen or 4th gen LS, all things being equal?
12-15-17, 07:50 AM
#16
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430 was designed in the late 90s when Toyota quality was at its absolute pinnacle. 400 and 430 were the basic, old, very successful "the best Cadillac America could never build." It won comparison tests left and right. 430s weren't sporty at all, if you want a little more fun better handling, go with 460. But then open the door to both and compare material quality. The seats alone are night and day difference. I had a chance to buy a beautiful 2011 and the sales guy (of course) was bending over backwards trying to get me to pull the trigger. I frankly told him, "this is simply not an upgrade, actually a downgrade" I guess from what *I* want out of a luxury car.
Technology matters, though, and yes a 460 definitely has more of that.
As for the highway ride/comfort I'm sure the 460 is fantastic. But I'll tell you I routinely drive from Knoxville to Rochester 750 miles, we always literally stop once for 5 mins and gas. Get out feeling as refreshed as the second we sat in the car 11 hours prior.
By no means am I saying a 460 isn't a great car, but IMHO the LS430 is the W126 of Lexus cars. Clearly a superior vehicle. More reliable too.
Technology matters, though, and yes a 460 definitely has more of that.
As for the highway ride/comfort I'm sure the 460 is fantastic. But I'll tell you I routinely drive from Knoxville to Rochester 750 miles, we always literally stop once for 5 mins and gas. Get out feeling as refreshed as the second we sat in the car 11 hours prior.
By no means am I saying a 460 isn't a great car, but IMHO the LS430 is the W126 of Lexus cars. Clearly a superior vehicle. More reliable too.
12-15-17, 07:57 AM
#17
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edit p.s. for real, I watch that guy's YouTube channel (he has a SL AMG)...you really cannot possibly drive these cars to the dealership--you'll get hit up with $16k estimates (more than you paid for the vehicle) and be told even by the dealer it's not worth it....
12-15-17, 08:52 AM
#18
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But this will not be my daily driver. And as for the A8, we all know the giant reliability migraine older Audis cause, don't we? You don't walk; you run away from Audis with over 80k miles.
If the E55 was a daily driver, I think imho the LS430 would be disappointing. imho the reason to buy a LS430 is likely the reliability and seemingly low cost to maintain (DIY and indies). Otherwise, if an A8L were just as reliable, would there be a single person on this forum who wouldn't choose that instead? That's a huge if. Obviously there's a reason why an Audi which was $13k more new, was $2k less used, with 25k less miles last year....(last Oct. I was seeing 2006 A8's for $12k, with mileage in the 60's...)
12-15-17, 08:55 AM
#19
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AJT: I agree with everything you state here, except for one thing. The LS rarely won comparison tests by the big auto magazines and sites because it was never the edgy, agile choice among big luxo cars. And the big enthusiast auto mags hardly ever took (or still take) reliability into account in their evaluations.
430 was designed in the late 90s when Toyota quality was at its absolute pinnacle. 400 and 430 were the basic, old, very successful "the best Cadillac America could never build." It won comparison tests left and right. 430s weren't sporty at all, if you want a little more fun better handling, go with 460. But then open the door to both and compare material quality. The seats alone are night and day difference. I had a chance to buy a beautiful 2011 and the sales guy (of course) was bending over backwards trying to get me to pull the trigger. I frankly told him, "this is simply not an upgrade, actually a downgrade" I guess from what *I* want out of a luxury car.
Technology matters, though, and yes a 460 definitely has more of that.
As for the highway ride/comfort I'm sure the 460 is fantastic. But I'll tell you I routinely drive from Knoxville to Rochester 750 miles, we always literally stop once for 5 mins and gas. Get out feeling as refreshed as the second we sat in the car 11 hours prior.
By no means am I saying a 460 isn't a great car, but IMHO the LS430 is the W126 of Lexus cars. Clearly a superior vehicle. More reliable too.
Technology matters, though, and yes a 460 definitely has more of that.
As for the highway ride/comfort I'm sure the 460 is fantastic. But I'll tell you I routinely drive from Knoxville to Rochester 750 miles, we always literally stop once for 5 mins and gas. Get out feeling as refreshed as the second we sat in the car 11 hours prior.
By no means am I saying a 460 isn't a great car, but IMHO the LS430 is the W126 of Lexus cars. Clearly a superior vehicle. More reliable too.
12-15-17, 08:56 AM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
My uncle said he's about to retire his 1998 A6. It is a really sweet car for that year, think it has like 180k. He used to run a shop and someone who drove in, just gave it to him for free after he told them it needs a water pump. This was like 2009 or so. So he drove a free car for about 8 years (he fixed it up himself). Does everyone migrate to Toyota products at some point? His new daily driver is transitioning to a 2013? RAV4....got that from my Godfather....
12-15-17, 09:00 AM
#21
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Any of the XX65 AMGs with that twin-turbo V12 are mechanical a**holes and have the reliability of a KGB agent stationed in D.C. in the 1980s high on crack. Even if it were free, I wouldn't take one.
12-15-17, 09:50 AM
#22
I know I was going to buy one then I started reading into all the problems people have on forums then I realized that being apart getting fixed 3-5 days outta the week not what I am looking for in my cars lol They are awsome all mechanical nonsense aside
12-15-17, 10:23 AM
#23
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AJT: I agree with everything you state here, except for one thing. The LS rarely won comparison tests by the big auto magazines and sites because it was never the edgy, agile choice among big luxo cars. And the big enthusiast auto mags hardly ever took (or still take) reliability into account in their evaluations.
http://www.q45.org/cd1989comparison/...owdown_pg9.pdf
There were more too, a mid 90s one where the "new 95" came in first out of a 7 series, Jag XJ, and Q45 (I think?).
But you are right about one thing, it was never gushed over for its driving dynamics, etc. Just the astounding build quality, luxury, just how it was just basically a perfect luxury car. Just don't go racing it down Mulholland Drive.
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