Hello everyone,

I have spent the last 8 months conducting a (rather exhaustive) search for a 2013 LS.

Yes, it took that long.

Here's why...

My requirements were:


1. Must be a 2013 model (new body style) with AWD (for light snow driving).

2. Must be the LWB (Long Wheel Base) version.

3. Must not have the air suspension (I don't want to deal with the obligatory high-dollar repairs).

4. Must be under 50,000 miles.

5. Must be a certain color combination (black exterior).

6. Must have a good service history (which I can independently check via the Lexus Driver portal).

7. Must have a clean Carfax (not salvage, not reconstructed title, no accidents showing).

8. Must have a build date sometime in 2013 (many 2013 model cars have 2012 build dates... presumably, the later the build date, the better).

9. Must be purchased in-person (no shipping the car).

10. Must be 90% mechanically sound (reasonable wear-and-tear would be fine)... and "reasonably priced" (under $55,000 USD as of early 2015).


Finally, the dream has come true and I picked up the 2013 LS460L with less than 30,000 miles, from a non-Lexus dealer.

The car is long wheel base (LWB) AWD, non-air suspension, with Mark Levinson audio, automatic high beams, 19 inch wheels and rear window sunshade.

After much research, I learned that there's essentially only one package where you can get LWB without air suspension on a 2013 LS... thus all the cars I considered had exactly the same package of features... or so it seemed.

I scanned the LS460 market within 1,000 miles of New York on a daily basis.

It is incredibly hard to find a reasonably priced LWB without air suspension.

I did find a handful of LWB with air suspension for sale by shady side-of-the-road car dealers (think of the types of dealers in gritty neighborhoods with flashing neon signs saying "We Finance Everyone" and "We Speak Urdu"), with clearly broken air suspensions.

Interestingly, used LS460's with air suspension typically go for $5,000 - $8,000 less than a equally equipped non-air suspension LS... with very few exceptions. It must be the repair costs driving down the price of the air-equipped systems, I assume.

It is my opinion, that the LWB non-air suspension package is the "best" configuration if you're planning to keep the car for a long time (which I am planning on).

Thus, my LS460 journey now begins.

I have been active on the ClubLexus forums since 2010 while driving GS, an IS, and an SC430 (also briefly considered an RX350, and GX470, but quickly ruled them both out).

This is just an "introductory" post, although some of you will remember me from the previous 8 months because of all the "pre-purchase" questions I asked.

I certainly appreciate all the help I received here, it enabled me to make a wise decision, thank you!

I will be posting quite a few separate threads on the many items I'd like to discuss with my fellow LS460 owners.

I'm looking forward to great conversations to be had on this fine forum, hopefully for many, many years to come.

Thanks again, everyone!

It's a beauty. Congrats!!

I cant voice to you how happy and excited I am for you, the whole thing from beginning to end is awesome!
Beautiful car and it seems that petience paid off heavily.
You're a perfect testament as to what will happen when you are willing to wait it out and spend your money on a car you really want.
Huge congrats, and most definately ENJOY!!

Geeze, I thought you'd never buy one!

Welcome to the LS group. Congrats and I wish you good luck with your new car.

Excellent, and I agree on your thoughts regarding the air suspension.

I don't know the history of your search, but that sure is a nice ride! Hope you enjoy it! It seems your patience paid off.

Didn't know the LWB could be had without air. I wonder if air was part of a certain package or just a selectable option for the LWB. In any case, very nice!

Congratulations, looks very clean. Enjoy

Nice looking to upgrade to 13 or 14 f sport without air myself just started looking, there are quite a few awd as well that I don't care for either. Congrats though.

Congrats! She's a beauty!

No such thing as an F Sport without air suspension. All F Sports have air suspension.

Congrats. Nothing like finding that one off. Not sure if you know but if air suspension ever needed to be replaced, there is a company that can convert the car back to non air with struts and springs with no warning lights for about $2k

Very nice. My 07 LWB has no air too. Took a few weeks to find one. Congrats!

That LS looks clean. I rarely see LS460L's for sale or even driving around.

Is air suspension pretty common on LS460L's?

What's wrong with speaking Urdu?

Congrats! Drive and enjoy your 460 its a fine automobile that many people can only dream about.

Nice ride. You are going to love the LWB. Our 2010 LS 460L does not have air. I have driven a 2010 SWB AWD with air on several long trips, and I must say that LWB without the air rides and drives much better.

Dennis