BLKSC400

Hi, in the past I have owned a SC400 and a GS400, and currently drive a LS430. I am always pleased with Lexus quality and have been thinking about getting a new LS460.

However, there seems to be some negative comments or concerns about the newest Lexus flagship. I wonder for those who have owned or driven 430/460 both; can you provide some insight to this comparison? What are the issues you have seen in your LS460? Does the car have the same overall build quality as its predecessors?

Thanks!

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i owned ls460l but never ls430, however sat and driven more than a few, so take what it's worth.

as much as i like the ls460l, i will have to say quality wise the ls430 is still the king, it's still the very best i have seen. i am not saying overall ls430 is a better car (in fact i think otherwise), but build quality i think the ls430 takes it

Mike_in_DTW

I had an 06 LS430 and I traded it for an 08 LS460L. At times, I've felt a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the LS460L is a great car, but it's a different car than the LS430 was. The first thing I noticed was the ride and the exhaust note. Supposedly, this was intentional. I've seen several different posts and articles that indicate the LS430 lacked soul and that "Germanic" ride. Personally, I liked the old ride and quiet exhaust. If I want exhaust sound, I have a Corvette and a street rod. Moreover, if I wanted a Germanic ride, I would have bought a BMW or a Mercedes. As for build quality, I never had any issues with the 06. With the new car, I've had it in twice for the glove box and like others, I think there's more wind noise and turbulence than in the 06. My new car has the semi analine leather and the seats are definitely more supple. I also like the stitching on the door panels and console more on the new car. One thing I noticed is that the 06 had more color on the dash and steering column. My 06 was Pearl White with Cashmere interior. The dash also had a medium metallic Brown on it as well as the steering column. I was going to get another Pearl White LS460L but they're no longer using the metallic Brown on the dash. Now all of the interior colors come with a standard dark Gray colored dash and steering column. I also don't like that they discontinued the Light Birdseye Maple trim that my 06 had. Now your only choices are a dark Brown wood (with little or no character - looks almost like Maroon plastic) a Walnut (which is almost impossible to find) and a Gray Birdseye Maple which I ended up getting with the light Gray interior. One other thing, the air conditioner vents no longer oscillate. All in all, it's still a fantastic car, but for me personally, I wish they wouldn't have changed many of the qualities that made me a Lexus person in the first place. The LS 460 is a great car, but it's significantly different than the LS430 in my opinion.

vollandt

I have owned all the ls styles 90, 96, 98, 2002 and now a 2008. The 2008 (2007 model) was the real revamp of the car. Body style, suspension, and transmission are all very different than it’s predecessors. When I first got my 2008, I have to admit, I was sort of nostalgic for the earlier lexi, but I have since come around and now feel that the much prefer 2008. The ride is crisper and less boat like, but I wouldn’t call it stiff, or beemer like. As for the exhaust noise, yes, you do get a faint throaty noise coming in the cabin, but you really need to your foot into it and accelerate fairly hard for this to happen. As for build quality, it seems as good, if not better than the earlier models. The doors give an impressive vault like sound when closed. Maybe this fools me into believe the car is built well?

BLKSC400

Thanks for all the info. I definitely like the new shape and the more powerful engine, but will wait a little until Lexus comes up with a fix for the wind noise issue. There has been much discussion around this particular problem.

Gojirra99

jmcraney's wind turbulence fix is actually pretty simple and cheap to do, if you look at his thread. Just that Lexus haven't officially acknowledged it's effectiveness yet.
I haven't done anything yet to my one year old car though, since I haven't heard anything excessive in high speed that bothers me yet.

PHCMA

I just went though a buy back so my 460 is gone. I was driving a ls 430 02 as my daily and the 460 was the garage queen. I just bought a 06 ls 430 and traded the 02 in on it. I loved the 460's look but I enjoy driving the 430 because it feels heaver and I don't seem to drive as fast. Along with the new design you are giving up visibility looking rearward. I like the 6 speed more than the 8 I felt it was shifting to much and would have to leave it in 6 and 8 on the highway. I think 8 speeds are just to much. Other than that the 460 is totally different driving than the 430. I need the 430 to slow me down..BTW The buy back was faultless I will always buy Lexus and will be looking at the 2010 LS when it is out..

dimapb

What was the reason for buy-back?