I understand some the concern of first year cars, but I also think its the price you pay if you want the newest kid on the block. And thank goodness, its small issues, never large issues for the 1st year.

I don't know why there is this growing perception from people that Lexus have NO problems. They do, like other cars but the least amount and the dealer actually gives a crap about it.

They do/will have problems. Lexus is not a perfect built machine.

 

Lexus may be the most reliable brand for both short and long term ownership experiences, BUT that doesn't exclude them from the rule of thumb that the first year for any model, ESPECIALLY a model that's using new untested technology (think about it... by the time a given feature makes it to cars selling for half the price, it has already been tested for several years in high end cars and the kinks worked out), it's going to be less reliable than if you waited a year or two.

 

hehe, you have to admit though, by comparing to other brands, lexus is too perfect on problems i guess it has to do with people switching from other brands, so to them lexus cars really don't have any problems

 

No backing out now Henry, we're going to do a group buy

Yeah, the LS600H is very enticing, but if it stickers at over $100k...yikes So many fun choices at that price range.

 

Very well said.

 

Here's the most recent J.D. Power IQS ratings for 2005. Based on the postings in this thread, some of you may be suprised.

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story....r=&aff=detnews

 

VDS is much more revealing IMO than IQS. VDS is a measure of 3 years of ownership. IQS is a measure of 3 months of ownership.

 

Good point, Rominl.

My last three Mercedes, Town Cars and Cadillacs .. ALL THREE had JUNK window mechanisms .. that cost $600 every time you have to replace one! VERY disgusting. One window unit on my current DHS has been replaced THREE times! The other three have been replaced AT LEAST once!

Has Lexus had any bad run on window mechanisms?

Big Jimm
So. Fla.

 

Sorry - this is a duplicate. Please erase.

Big Jimm
So. Fla.

 

hahhaa you know me jay, it's either nothing or i want the most loaded one, once and for all. so that's a big problem but then again, another 60k is a big problem for me already @_@

nop, never. some people with the 98 and 99 gs have the windows actuator problem, but that's not until high mileage from what i see, and it's a diy job, the parts are like 300 bucks max?

 

watch...........

 

OP here, on a bit of a side note, some manufacturers are extending their lease terms because of the crisis, if you so wish. I am now leasing a Toyota, they have not announced that but if they do I might take the offer and it gives me more time to search.

 

Tons of problems on a 04 LS? That’s not common. However, I did hear that the upgrade in trans was a bit faulty for that year. But you may have just got a 🍋. I had a 05, it was one of the most reliable vehicles I’ve had.

Getting first year vehicle always opens up possibility of more issues than one that’s been out on the road for couple years so the dealer can fix the issues and gripes that consumers have. That said, it is likely that some carmakers more than others have higher probability of issues compared to others. Toyota/Lexus usually on the lower risk scale due to build quality and higher historical reliability. It is always nice to be driving the newest model out on the road.

 

Whatever you do, stay far away from the first of the first,,, the 1989 LS400! J/K

 

Its probably that 14 years ago, (when this thread was made, and before it got necroposted), the LS430 was seen differently than now, think of the 460 in 14 year (2034) : if its still on the road at that time, the problems will have been fixed and it will be probly even more bulletproof than today's 430s.