I'm not really in the market for an LS430, but I've always admired them and I love reading about them on this forum. I surf around when I'm bored to see if there are any available nationwide that would tempt me.

I saw this pristine example at a dealership in NC, and wanted to share it with the group for comments. Perhaps one of the members lives near this dealer and could go check it out?

It's a base model, 2-owner, and it looks ridiculously clean. I even pulled the Lexus service history, and it looks great!

The main down side I see is that it's the very unpopular gold color (which I actually like a lot), and it's priced way too high based on everything I've read here. However, if I was wanting to get a super-clean, low mileage version of this car, this is the one I'd jump on.

Thoughts from the forum?

Thanks!

https://www.colemanfreeman.com/vdp/1...ville-NC-28791

 

I personally love the color. There is something about that Gold that suits the car IMO. I'd try to maybe negotiate with them? It looks in really good share and if it's the one you have been wanting I'd try to get them down in price.

 

There was a time when gold was cool. In 1998, I bought my first new car. Back then, cars had gold badges optional (I didn't get it thank goodness lol). I remember taking a test drive and this salesman goes, oh yeah this one got the Bose, stick, black leather, gold package, it's PHAT!! Jerry Rome Nissan, wonder if they exist today?

 

Seems overpriced for a base model.

 

yikes that is ugly, $15k !? is seems like low mileage cars are going up in value, not down lately

 

Personally.......Gold is the last nail in the coffin. Especially on a Luxo Barge. Then again...maybe you can get one cheap and it doesn't bother you.

 

What about purple (can't remember the color's actual name)?!

I suppose neutral is safest with anything. Silver, white, black, dark blue.

 

It seems like a very nice example appropriately priced for a dealer. It's a big bonus if it's always lived in the South. The exterior color doesn't bother me although I prefer a contrasting interior.

 

As someone who owns a Pristine 2005 Gold LS430, I'm not sure if I should be offended with this discussion?

Gold is not my favorite color, but my wife sure likes it....

 

something something very dark side

 

If it makes you feel any better people do seem to like gold iPhones. Just ignore the, "Well would you look at that?" comments when you have the LS out and about....

 

I worked at a Lexus dealership for a few years and gold was extremely popular with the older customers who bought new cars. That all seems to change when those very same cars get traded in. A gold used car has some of the worst resale value out there. Lexus makes nice shades of gold but I would only buy a gold one if the price was super cheap. Gold cars can sit on a lot for a long time in some cases and you can often get a clean one at a great price.

I have a gold 1999 ES300 that I love to drive everywhere but I hate the color so much. It makes the car look so old and outdated compared to black or white. I do like that it doesn't show dirt and that I'm invisible to police though

If you can tolerate the color, then go for it. My friend had a gold 01 LS with the chrome 17 inch factory wheels and I thought it looked really good.

 

Again I remember gold badging being optional in 1998. imho there seems to be a trend towards modesty, and gold is flashy. But a confident man can drive a gold car, as well as a VW Jetta, and wear a pink shirt. Heck he could drive a gold Jetta while wearing a pink shirt. The avg. person doesn't like flash today, but this is now, that was then. I saw a new A8L at the gym and thought, that is the plainest 100k+ car I've ever seen, and yes, I do like it. Doesn't anyone here remember when guys wore a gold bracelet on their right wrist? Do you see that today?

 

I think the gold color is so far out of fashion that it's actually kind of cool! Maybe I'm just becoming one of those "old people" who like gold cars? (I'm 56).

I personally like the look of the gold exterior with Ecru interior on my 2006 SC430, but I know most people wouldn't care much for it.

 

I know exactly what you are saying. The car did not change at all, people did. There are cars that turned heads and stopped people in their tracks in Dec. 2006, got thumbs ups, yet today, when given to a HS student, they complain about getting such an old outdated car with broken steering (I own this car haha). There is such a thing as being oneself. If I like it, and it doesn't hurt anyone else, so be it. And if the former editor of Car and Driver got the same car as his personal vehicle, I am not crazy.