I'm back from my Florida trip, first long drive in the 430 and I have some interesting stories and reports on how the car did.

First off the MPG was outstanding. I reset everything about 100 miles into the trip and from that point on to when I got back home I got 22.6 average including ALL traffic and local driving in Lakeland. I have pictures showing all the display menus before I turned the car off when I got back to prove this number, I am very pleased with this since I drove at night both ways and was able to hold 80-115 mph for nearly the entire time aside from horrid traffic near the Georgia border on the way down (5 lanes down to shoulder, look it up since people died and it was a major crash) and held us up for 4 hours in literal parking lot level traffic with 4 mph max for like 15 miles. On the way back it was great though. I was carrying a bunch of tools, guns, fruit items (on the way back) and overall had about 850lb plus passengers in the car (did a timing belt on a 3.5 honda and misc repairs on an old $#!%box nissan maxima) leading to the rear wheel wells to be level with the top of the tires so it was light up front and you could really feel it at 80mph even though ironically enough that was the main speed I was at nearly the whole time. When I went over 100 it really smoothed out or 75 and less it was likewise also very smooth, the few 130 runs I did were also very pleasant. Considering the speeds involved I was blown away I was seeing a usual of 26 mpg on pure highway tanks with no traffic and the very impressive 23 overall on top of a 550 mile range.

Actual driving experience was interesting since the car beat me up more to drive vs my truck. Sorry but my legs were not as comfortable even when I tried to raise the seat, extend it, and tilt the front up and while I got it very nice it still don't even tie my trucks when they are set in their normal modes. The road feel/shock was very good except with the glaring exception of areas road work was occurring or with broken pavement that would unsettle the car and also throw the passengers around a lot more vs a full size truck type vehicle that just indifferently absorbs those type of annoyances. The engine and interior doesn't make a damn sound at 85, all the noise comes from the road but even then there are no creaks or rattles anywhere even in my 17 year old boat. My tires are to blame since they are a loud type (crossclimate+), it was impressive though how well the car isolated me vs other vehicles noises. The handling and control even with the light front end was a one hand affair with no heavy "white knuckle" grip or extra effort to drive fast needed. My LS also really really impressed with how effortless it can swim to the front and leave a pack behind since people have to expend so much more effort than me doing 90+ that they give up the chase after 10 minutes at max all the while I am still just one hand on the wheel and relaxed. The only car that tried to stay with me was a clapped out 2002 Subaru outback 3.0 L-6 that when I first passed on my way back (I was going 105 mind you) he slowly slowly gained on me over the scope of 7 minutes or so. I then went up to 140 and left him entirely and then he came back next to me after I had dropped back down. It was then a game we played for 3 hours till we hit other cars again and both needed to stop for fuel, we talked for a bit and overall it was a good time. They asked how it felt in my car and I told them it really didn't feel all that different from 60, they were dealing with hellacious wind noise and vibration on their end but being dumb collage kids were having fun with it anyway.

Rest of the driving was normal uneventful interstate stuff that the car handled very well aside from the previously mentioned slight comfort "problem", the ASL system works nicely and all the HVAC systems work so well we didn't notice any change going from 80 in Florida to 28 in Ohio. Car had zero issues whatsoever and aside from changing the oil and trans fluid right before I headed back I didn't have to touch it.......and the only reason I did those services was because I am changing the royal purple every 1500 miles until the engine is clean (almost there) and the trans is still in the process of drain and fills to replace all the original fluid. Upon getting back I did find something on the road flew up and hit my drivers side lower ball joint boot and cut it, I am pissed about that since it was fine up to this point. Overall I am very happy with the car and am fully convinced it's still excellent to this day vs more modern cars when you get up to high speeds and long distance.

Anyhow here are pictures of the cluster MPG readouts and the crazy Subaru that insisted on hanging with a flagship at 100+ speeds. If you all have any questions about anything I'll do my best to answer how the car did in more detail.

 

Again for me, not sure why the EPA gave it 16/22, it's more SUV-like and is really 14/28. Meaning city really nails it (avg mph of 10-12 mph), and highway let's it get 28 sometimes more. Then again EPA is self-reported so Toyota must have had a reason to say 22, i.e. raise the city, lower the highway....

Having just taken a 2020 Camry on a 1300 mile trip, besides the vibration and noise of the 4-banger (all engine related), the Camry is more comfortable. But a 2020 LS v. 2020 Camry, on a level playing field, of course Lexus wins. A new ES would be nicer than the Camry.

Surprisingly, the LED headlamps really light up the road. Makes ours seem really dim in comparison. It is what it is, many here paid not a lot more than 10k for the LS430. We want to experience a flagship, c'mon be honest! Now we have.

My first long trip was Phila. to Hartford (not that long but first one). Car had no issues as expected. I shoulda rented a car as my co. had me put dirty unknown boxes in the trunk and rear seat. This was in '17 I drove around with them for 2 weeks and my car smelled like mold

 

Its really the ultimate road trip car !

 

Can't really honestly see how a Camry would be better, I saw/looked at new one just quickly out of curiosity when at a dealer down in FL and it was just a typical car. Small inside and when driving the LS none of the Camrys dared follow me so I'm at a loss aside from MPG and gimmicks what the point would be

 

I'm thinking to do 2600 miles from Oklahoma to California this summer ( Fourth of July) coming up but I will need to do the timing belt & water pump along with the spark plugs, VC, Radiator . Glad that you made it safe back buddy.

 

It did not feel small so I looked it up. Interior is 100.4, more than a new LS500. What's interesting is the new Subaru Legacy is up to 105. That's very close to the LS430's 108.

The LS430 312 ft. lbs. is not nothing, it's still above average in 2020. So combine that with the desire to drive a flagship, and sure the LS is better. But we're a special niche. Overall, a 2020 Camry is more comfortable than a 2006 LS430, on a long trip, imho. If it weren't, one would wonder what Toyota has been doing for the last 14 years!

 

This was nice to read, Striker. Our cars are so good for travelling, to the point when any other car may feel much less comfortable.

Right before my trip to Key West, I increased vehicle’s height by 1.18 multiplier (used my own method) for both front (142mm) and rear axles(117mm). Not only I did that, but I also lowered the stiffness of the damper from 9 to 11 (within 18 range) and all these mods made my trip exceptionally comfortable while still being able to handle heavyweight in the trunk. i was impressed by how stable the car was during high speed driving and cruise mode on. The only problem this soft suspension and lack of noise can make you sleepy real quick hahaha.

 

Striker223, I wanted to comment about your cut lower ball joint cover. Mine has been split for as long as I know....possibly even 10 years? There is absolutely no play anywhere on that right side front wheel. I'm not planning on changing the ball joint until there are issues. I figured I'd tell you so that you don't necessarily have it replaced immediately. Nice write up on your trip. I was planning on driving to NY this summer, but then I came to my senses and said to myself "Why"? I'm taking a plane instead... lol PS...Were you using the trip meter on the car to calculate the mpg? or were you calculating at the pump with you calculator and number of gallons? I've found that the difference between the two can be as much as 0 difference to .8 of a gallon less at the pump. It averages around .5mpg difference less at the pump. I use the pump calculations as being the most accurate. With all city driving 99% I average around 14 which I consider good for an aircraft carrier.

 

What suspension do you have, coilovers? I mean I don't have these adjustments, do I? lol

 

Well I would class more effort to drive and a stiffer ride as not as comfortable but that's fair. Visibility and "feel" of the Camry is small even if the numbers are close at least when I sit in both a adjust the seat for me. The LS it feels like I have room in all directions but the Camry I feel like the roof and window are too close. (I'm used to full size trucks/SUVs)

How would the Camry win on comfort is my honest question? It doesn't ride as well and takes more attention to drive at 80+ at least the gen right below the current one (worked on and driven enough of them to know) and I can't imagine the new one is much different. It's still fail wheel drive and EPS steering after all. Stereo is worse and I have an Bluetooth FM modulator in my LS so infotainment is pointless as usual since my phone takes care of all that function more easily than any in dash system. Hell even in my 2017 ram limited I don't bother using the in car nav or anything else past pairing the phone.

 

I checked both at the pump and they were in agreement so I let the computer take it from there. Nice to hear about the ball joint but I'm borderline OCD and can't let my cars have any leaks or seals failed at all. It would bother me considering the rest of the car was resealed recently and nothing else is failed.

 

Striker, regarding seat comfort (or lack thereof), have you checked out the posts on replacing the bottom seat cushion? That might be what your car needs with > 200,000 miles on the clock. I have the same issues and have made life more pleasant behind the wheel by making a 1 1/2 inch open cell foam pad plus an aftermarket seat pad in a matching color on top of that and my derrier is thanking me. I do intend to replace the OE seat cushion foam eventually, they are still available for about $ 250.

 

No I haven't, I was considering having the front seats reupholstered though since I am annoyed at the white leather picking up dirt over it's life (past owners were not as careful as me) and while I was successful in cleaning the test of the trim the leather is fighting me.

 

That is amazing given that the car has more than 200K miles? Yours is 2002 correct?

 

Yes, keep in mind though my particular car is 100% up to date mechanically. I have done bushings all round, mounts, new tires, OE struts, all seals (valve covers, mains, both oil pans, trans, etc) all belts, new rad, all fluids, checked brakes (they were all nearly new OE hardware) all lights, tune up, new OCVs, all filters, and recharged the AC and all parts in the suspension that looked worn were replaced as well. My car is the polar opposite of one that is just kinda maintained so so, I bought this since I figured I could fully restore mechanical function for less than a new car so I replaced every part that was slightly worn with dealer parts.