Just some musings... Used car prices are at an all time high, surging since beginning of 2021, and new cars are selling with less discounting than any recent time, due to chip shortages, etc. The value of keeping my few-small-warts LS430 is higher than ever. I got my 2005 Ultra in 2009 for $33k with 35k miles, CPO (3 year warranty at time) extended to 6 years for $2k. Today a 4 year old LS(460) with similar mileage is far more and would probably have more issues over time. LS430 is not dirt cheap to keep if you do not do your own work.. I have 142k miles om it, and total maintenance and repairs I estimate at $14k so far, including 2 set of tires, 2 timing belts (water pump died, I think the first garage cheated me), 2.5 brake jobs (the stupid sensor wire makes me need to change more). ALL fluids done..
Car rides well still, good visibility, great headlights (with AFS swivelling, better than alost anything else on curves). So far I trust it as it only ever left me stranded for dead battery or leaky tires (bad valve stem or chrome wheel pitting bead leak, repaired).

I dropped comp and collision although rethinking it), on flip side local fuel economy is poor (17 mpg with mostly local driving). But I see a new Camry for 37k+tax and the ls430 just seems... less expensive. I still use the Nav and my Moto G8 phones work with the ancient bluetooth except for ring on the phone. The ML stereo sounds great.

I am kind of locked in, because even a 4-5 year old Camry is probably 15k and it too will need maintenance and repairs (although cheaper brakes and tires, etc.).

If my car starts being unreliable the equation might change. And the car is not brand new in several ways, but it is still so good that I just cannot justify selling it. If money were less of a concern I would probably get a Genesis g90 today, and for frugality maybe a Camry XLE (I did not like the es350)

Odd that this 16 year old car is good enough with Nav, old but ok Bluetooth, and adaptive cruise that I just can't see getting rid of it. But when a new mid-size non-luxury sedan is $35k+ (accord, camry, sonata, es350, etc.) I had better have a strong justification for changing cars just to scratch that newer car itch... I don't have it yet with my LS430. Hope it is good for another 5 years with no more than $500+ repairs per year + maintenance.... we will see. but even at $1500/year that is fraction of a new car that is newer but not really better.

 

New cars are so cheaply made that I would rather drive my LS than 99% of the new cars on the road. I recently drove a new Accord and it seemed like an econobox and compared to an LS I guess it is. The LS is currently one of the best values you can buy used in my opinion, and if you have one that you know has been maintained well it is surely worth keeping unless it doesn't meet your needs.

 

I’ve owned my 2001 LS430 for 11 years now. It currently has approximately 154,000 miles. I cannot see selling my car unless of a catastrophic failure which I highly doubt. I too have dropped collision and comp. The biggest expense is fuel (14-15 mpg/all city) and tires. This is a small expense considering depreciation of anything relatively new. This car has NEVER left me stranded and drives like a new car. No doubt it will out live me.

 

Depreciation kills any value gained from purchase of a newer vehicle. I went from a 2016 ram 1500 w/ 45k miles trouble free except warranty replacement of Transmission. When the prices started going up on used cars, I sold my truck to the dealer and net a 1k loss per year of ownership. I paid 6k for my LS with about 2k in maintenance and upgrades. I'm itching to get another car e38 740i for 5k. My logic is I'd rather have 2 sub 10k cars than buy a newer one which costs 20k. Both cant be broken down at once right? lol I"m never gonna sell my LS no matter what.

 

I have owned my 2004 LS-430 for 5 years now. Bought it with 50K on the clock for $10K. I could sell it now for almost that much with less than 95K on the clock. But all I have had to do in the 5 years of ownership has been one set of tires and one new battery ...... until last month when the fuel pump went out. The fuel pump cost less than $200 to replace. Of course I had to do the timing belt and water pump....or did I....? It was running fine and only 50K but the manual also says 7 years and it was well past that!! $1500. So I wont be getting rid of it soon. In fact I am now looking at purchasing an SC-430 as a stable mate for the LS-430 because the 430 engine is so reliable and my Saturn Sky Redline roadster is only a 2 seater. I need something between the LS and the Redline that is a convertible.and four seats....well maybe 4 seats....

 

If you have the car long enough, knowing all the issue and what else might go wrong, why give up? and buy another one that you don't even know what's going on. Like start all over again? to discovery issues?
My LS still needs eng valve gasket, timing belt, water pump. Otherwise, I think I can keep it for longer. Car only has basic insurance, unless the other guy has no insurance, otherwise, I think I am good.

 

Same, bought mine in MN when I lived there for 57 years. Moved to Spokane WA on July 13th 2019. Had to take a bus bus to ferry my 2002 LS430 out there. I don`t recommend taking the bus. 38 hours and only less then
20 mn stops. no time for anything.

Was so nice to get to my car and drive. Got in late on monday. drove to Watertown SD for the first night and in morning drove to Billings MT. Drove from there to Spokane the next day.
Best mileage was Billing home, refueled 2 times. best was 32 mpg.

 

I won't be original in my message.. I don't see either a good reason to get rid of mine. I am 38 years old and bought mine at 35 for 11K $ CAD cash.
I don't like the idea of changing cars often because most of the time it implies trading costs and risks of getting into unknown troubles with the new one. Also I feel I will never be satisfied if i always try to look for a better one.
Yes the car looks boring for someone my age, and it is very big. It is also not most fuel efficient overall (when incl. city driving).

But it is extra reliable, comfortable and the mpg on the highway is actually fairly good. I only drive during weekends and avoid city driving anyway.
When i calculate the overall cost: fuel + maintenance + depreciation + road tax + insurance (I always get basic coverage) and then I compare with my friends who lease their car or finance it; when i compare how much they pay for what they get and i compare to me, I feel the LS is a very good choice for me.

It seems we all keep it for the same reasons.

 

I love it, its addicting to drive and its overall body styling is way beyond any other car maker.

 

I’ve had my LS430 since 2012 and came close to selling it a few times because I wanted a newer car. Around that time I started working at my local Lexus dealership. I also paid close attention to every LS430 that came in through the service department/trade in and only saw one other black on black LS430 the entire time. During that time I must have seen a few hundred LS430’s.

My 2005 LS430 is a black on black Ultra Luxury car and I never realized just how rare the car was until then. I’ll never sell the car now. I’ve driven every Lexus made since the LS430 except the HS and LFA and felt like the LS430 was superior to most of them. The only cars I’d put on that level are the 2013+ LS460, LC500, 2016+ LX570, and the F cars (IS-F, GS-F, and RC-F).

The only way I’d consider a new car now is if I went back to working for Lexus and did an employee lease on an F car or LC500. It’s cheaper for me to keep driving my LS than buying a newer used car as well. I stocked up on parts before I left my job so maintenance isn’t too bad.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I think the LS430 is quite stylish. I do like the 460 as well (interior on the pre-2013 LS460s may be my absolute favorite, the 2011 Sport Package with Black/Saddle leather combo and special wood trim is simply gorgeous ). I thing I read somewhere was that the LS400 was designed to optimal proportions, so to keep those and make LS430 larger, it was made taller. I love the interior height in the LS430 and that I do not bump my head getting in. My Buick Lesabre was similar and spacious but not the same of course. Large modern sedans not so good. I bought a used Cadillac XTS because the Buick Lacrosse felt so low. The XTS is nice car but not in the same league smoothness-wise. I m not as big a fan of the 2013+ LS460 or the LS500.

 

We had a really nice SC430 for a couple of years. Its a great car. But be aware the back seat on SC430 is window dressing only - really not usable - maybe for someone very small and short - certainly less than 100lbs and less than 5 ft tall - and then only for a very short distance as the front seat has to be almost fully forward to provide even a small space for the rear rider's feet.

 

The rear seat of the SC will be good for a couple of small suitcases and that is more than I have in the Sky Redline LOL. The LS430 is for long road trips. The others are Bling.

 

I got my 2001 LS430 in 2016 I think for 4950. I have done brakes, new tires, valve covers gaskets, spark plugs, control arm bushings and a few other things here and there. But it runs great, has never let me down and I love driving it. I bought it with a bit under 150k iirc and it now has over 180k. About time for a new timing belt. I've thought about selling it since I don't drive it a lot anymore since I got a Tundra but I just can't do it after I drive it again. Its too nice and there is nothing out there right now that could replace it. Especially not for anywhere near what I have in this car. I've thought about looking for an IS-F or maybe an older project car but I just love this car. I wanted one forever and now that I have one, I think I would miss it if i sold it. My brother in law, who is also an owner of "old" cars, told me once that sometimes the value of having an extra car is more than selling it off. Makes sense to me! lol

 

I have a similar story like yours.
2004 LS430 CL bought in 2009 when it had 48K miles. No warranty. Now it has 121K miles. I have done most maintenance and repairs myself except for once at the Lexus dealer. I haven't kept the totals but probably not more than $2.5K on repairs. Rest is all tires (it does eat tires) and routine maintenance. It did have some problems with it (mainly door lock motors, mirrors, and alternators ) and could have been $10K+ in repairs if I didn't work on it myself. Car has delivered what was expected and now it is just the gravy. Works great as a commuter and grocery getter.

I did replace another vehicle with 2011 LS460L and later replaced it with 2016 LS460L after 2011 was totaled.

Love both cars for what they are.