Would you do it again?
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Somewhere...
Would you do it again?
My 2003 LS430 was just totaled. So I'm hunting for either another LS430, or a base 2007 LS460. I have one example of each, both pretty minty, in my area. Both within ~30k miles of each other's odometer reading. Both around 100,000 miles.
The LS430 is a known entity. I had one for 3 years, loved it. The LS460 is an unknown entity. But, it looks really appealing to me, having a timing chain would be a nice change, and a few other newer bits and pieces I'd appreciate.
Do there's the dilemma. Do I get the thing I know and love, or get the new thing I think I'd grow to love just as much?
If anyone else has made the switch, do you regret it? Without being switchers, do any LS460 owners have any regrets?
The LS430 is a known entity. I had one for 3 years, loved it. The LS460 is an unknown entity. But, it looks really appealing to me, having a timing chain would be a nice change, and a few other newer bits and pieces I'd appreciate.
Do there's the dilemma. Do I get the thing I know and love, or get the new thing I think I'd grow to love just as much?
If anyone else has made the switch, do you regret it? Without being switchers, do any LS460 owners have any regrets?
1991 to 1998 to 2005 and now with the 2007. I loved the 400 which I still have and the 430 was really starting to grow on me. I would not go back to either car as of this moment. The 460 is just a different beast. Instant acceleration!!!
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,354
Likes: 555
From: fl
'96, '04, now '10 LWB. No regrets from '04 to '10. My 2004 was really good to me, racking up 250k trouble-free miles, but I can honestly say I don't miss it at all. Hearing the engine a bit more in the 460 took a couple of weeks to get used to, but other than that it was easy. The interior styling upgrade is substantial. As strange as it sounds, I'd be more tempted to get a '98-'00 LS400 than I would to go back to my '04 LS430.
Know what to look for in 2007- hundreds of threads on this forum giving details of some issues that were more prominent in the '07-'09 model years.
Know what to look for in 2007- hundreds of threads on this forum giving details of some issues that were more prominent in the '07-'09 model years.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 211
From: Someplace in CT
In the same boat and would so do it again. Owned a 1996 LS400, 2001 LS430 (loved that car, drive it to 244K) and moved to a 2007 LS460L. Besides some quirks with these cars, the little features that are coming with the models, I could not give up.
If you had a LS430, the upgrade to a 460 is a very nice one. More power, more instant, more tech features, just overall a nicer more modern car.
If you had a LS430, the upgrade to a 460 is a very nice one. More power, more instant, more tech features, just overall a nicer more modern car.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 217
From: Massachusetts
I had a 2001 LS430 in 2004 and another 2001 LS430 in 2010. I had several cars in between and went back. On the 2nd time around I felt the LS430 just didn't feel as majestic as it did back in 2004. It's funny, the day I go back into the 2001 in 2010, there was a maroon LS460L parked on my street. It made my LS430 look so puny and dated. I now have a 2008 LS460 and although it is 10 years old than the LS500 I feel that it is still modern looked and has aged very well. I am older now and may just be old fashion and younger folks might think my car is an old mans car. 
Last edited by JLAWS; Mar 1, 2018 at 03:19 PM.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 302
Likes: 28
From: Idaho
Chiming in again: For what it's worth, my wife inherited my 2006 LS430 two years ago when I got my 2013 460. I drive her's on very rare occasions, but when I do I still find it to be a solid, great-riding car with plenty of power. And yes, it is a wee-bit quieter than the 460. That said, the 460 feels like it's more in-touch with the road, more solid and confidence-inspiring. I find that the rear camera is downright crappy in the 430 compared with the 460; the seats are more "upright" than the 460. Obviously, the "tech" is much more advanced in the seven-year newer 460. My wife, who initially found that she preferred her 430 has now warmed to my 460, frequently mentioning "I really like your car" after the rare occasion that she drives it.
Of course, I'm relating my experience with a 2013, not the 2007-ish that you're considering. After reading about the sticky-dashes, control-arm issues and a few other missteps with the early 460s, I'm happy that I went with the last model-year of the 430. It has served me well since 2006.
Of course, I'm relating my experience with a 2013, not the 2007-ish that you're considering. After reading about the sticky-dashes, control-arm issues and a few other missteps with the early 460s, I'm happy that I went with the last model-year of the 430. It has served me well since 2006.
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