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Just remember it's not a $100-$120k car any longer and it probably will have 100k miles or more on it , it's still a nice highway car but is a bit of a hog to drive in the city and it won't impress many people because it used to be a flagship. If any part of you puckers up when you think of a large repair bill you should avoid it...although what you read on forums does not represent the majority of all owners.
I like mine because repairs are done by myself but like any car if it begins to turn into a pile of crap I would just get rid of it.
lexus13dan. Thanks for the post. I prefer the pre-facelift, more conservative style. I suppose that dates me. I will keep all LS models, up to and including the 2017s in mind. The V8, inline drivetrain, rear drive, is my choice. I am not in a hurry and will try to remember that as I progress. I'll post here as I go.
Gerf. Thanks for your reply. I'm old and not easily impressed, nor am I looking to impress. I want a very nice car for my own enjoyment. I also like the idea of how reliable the two 430s that I own have been. I'm not particularly concerned about price, but I will pay a premium for a premium example. I could spend 30 or more for a newer 460, but I don't want to have to deal with possible problems for a long while. I see there some nice examples of the 430s still out there. The trouble is even with low miles and great condition, age is a factor. Parts become harder to source and insurance will only pay the book, unless you get a stated and agreed value policy. It would be nice to be able to replace what is lost without supplementing the coverage out of pocket. Some special policies have restrictions that may make them non-viable for a driver rather than a collector car.
napamikey. Thanks for the input. I will likely avoid the ML, due to what I have read about possible problems. Bluetooth might be nice, but I don't mind CDs. The two old LSs I have, don't have either Bluetooth or ML and I can live with that. If a very nice LS came along and it had ML, I would go for it, but it's not a deal breaker either way.
SW17LS. Thanks for the input about the ML. I have read here that they have had problems with the amps. I think I recall other posts about them as well, but I will research it a bit before forming an opinion. I have listened to both systems and the standard is not bad at all. The ML blows it out of the water. I think I would take what comes in the nicest one I can find.
Just bought a 17 about 3 months ago, great car.
went with the base model with all the bells and whistles. Had a great maintenance records and 1 owner. Stayed away from air shocks just in case. The lwb with executive order rear seats is a real head turner though, I just rarely use my back seat very often. Best of luck on your hunt - took me 6 months to find just what I wanted. Smooth and quiet ride. Very happy with my choice even though I traded in my 13 gs corvette, it was time for true comfort.
napamikey. Thanks for the input. I will likely avoid the ML, due to what I have read about possible problems. Bluetooth might be nice, but I don't mind CDs. The two old LSs I have, don't have either Bluetooth or ML and I can live with that. If a very nice LS came along and it had ML, I would go for it, but it's not a deal breaker either way.
ML IS AWESOME! I was moving some bulk wine in the trunk that spilled and flooded the amp. It was a mess! Went on eBay and got a used one for $200 on eBay. Been working great for the last 6+ months. Took about 20 min to replace.
Mark Levinson.
Without someone jumping in and spelling it out in full, this thread will never register in a search for that type of equipment.
Once again, members are forgetting that abbreviations do not necessarily work for search function success, as I have taken lots of trouble recently to make this fact aware.
Some still just don't get it.
Napamikey's anecdote is worth remembering.
Last edited by Leadfoot6; Feb 6, 2026 at 09:49 PM.
Leadfoot6. Thanks for the heads up. It should have occurred to me, but it will in the future. We also talked about SWB (Standard wheelbase) or (short wheelbase), LWB (Long wheelbase), AWD (All wheel drive), RWD (Rear wheel drive), CD (Compact disc), and DI (Direct injection).
