Get whatever car you like better. Both are great cars and will last a long time. Anybody is allowed to buy an LS for whatever they'd like to use it for. If the stately look of the LS 430 is more appealing to you get that one. If you appreciate the model change of 07-08 with the sleeker looking body. Can't go wrong getting either. Happy shopping!

 

In that case I would just keep the ES, it is more then a nice car for a college student. Save your money, don't waste it on a big lux sedan while you are that young. Cars parked at campuses often get messed with/damaged, people that young don't respect nicer cars. Save up for a nicer, newer cars while you are in college. I would not recommend spending money on a well used LS on a college budget, it will be expensive to keep/insure/maintain, just keep what you have that is already paid for, give it a nice detail if it is looking a little worn..

 

easy choice for me. if you dont have many expenses and you can wrench on them a bit yourself, id say go for the 460 man. its bigger/prettier/faster/better tech. however the 430 is built more like the 400 with less gizmos to break and a little easier to work on. the 460 is a very complex machine. im 35 and can absolutely afford a 460, but im still not ready for one yet because there is so much going on under the hood of the car.

personally ive always thought the 430 was kinda ugly. i drive 400s which are amazing cars and still serviceable. however they are very old now and finding one that isnt beat to death and that was actually looked after is not an easy task.

so. 430 - little older, dated looks, too wafty, not fun to drive, but easier to work on

460 - more up to date, somewhat less wafty, slightly more driver engaging, harder to work on

pick your poison

 

Can't comment on 430 vs 460 since I've never owned a 460 but I've had two 430 in the last 5 years. Both started with about 110k and I've had very little maintenance costs and both have been great cars for me. Just basic oil changes, spark plugs, brakes, and tires. They are kind of a grandpa car and as a college student I would probably prefer something more sporty but for me they work out great and I think they are relatively easy to work on.

That being said, I would tell you to consider a GS. I bought my son a '01 GS with 170k on it for $5,500 two years ago. I did have to put a little work into it for the coil packs and spark plugs which I did myself but that would have probably cost in the range of $1k if I had to pay someone. I did it myself for $150. Once that was done it's been running like a champ. He starts college in a few months and I have no doubts it will get him through the 4 or 5 years assuming it doesn't get wrecked or hailed on or something. On the books its not worth much so insurance will total it in a heartbeat. My middle son is about to get his license and I'm starting to keep an eye out for a '07+ GS350 but they are more in the $8k - $9k range and I'm trying to keep the cost in the $7k - $8k range. They are better looking and more advanced than the '01 model but again if I can find a good one in that price range I think it will take him through the rest of high school and college.

 

Get a 460 if you can find a good example

 

Both are excellent options, well engineered cars that can last a long time if you take care of them, as with anything else. With that said, test drive both and choose which ever one feels better to you. Both cars have good long term reliability however i believe the 460's have a slightly higher cost of ownership. Just be aware that at your price range and age of vehicles you are looking at, you need to be prepared for repairs, some of which may be high dollar amounts. Best of luck!

 

0x447 - I admire your drive, and you certainly have good taste. I like both the 430 and the 460. Both beautiful in their own way. The 4.3L I've read is bullet proof and that means a lot to me. You do what you want, in the end, but I'm going to tell you how it worked out for me because it sounds like you will commute to campus (which I did as well). And I made about the equivalent amount of money way back yonder when I was a lowly college student.

I was in college from 1990 to 1995. Took me 5 full years, which included 2 summers, no drops, no fails, every class passed and full time every single semester. Just had a large curriculum to cover (stupid curriculums...). Back then I had a 19 eighty foe Toyota Celica GT (5 speed RWD) that my dad let me drive in high school, and later signed the title over to me. Luckily I loved that car. And I drove it all 5 years of college and about 4 more after that. When I went to upgrade vehicles post college, I realized … hey, I have NO COLLEGE DEBT. I can buy a new car. "This ole Celica saved me so much money while I was in college, I don't have to settle now." And it was true. It saved me a crapload, and kept me from having student debt. But guess what. I decided to just keep the ole Celica, and buy a nice used TRUCK. And I did. I had 2 cars at one time. From doing that I learned I never wanted to have 1 single car for myself again. When something went wrong with either, I could drive the other and take my time, figure out the root cause of the problem, and wrench it myself … and saved another crapton of money. All because I hung on to that ole Celica whilst I was in college, and didn't try to buy one THEN, even though I was working and could have afforded it. I looked at new cars while in college, but luckily I never bought. Now … I have 11 friggin vehicles. Just ridiculous. I need to have a fleet auction.

My vehicles have seen the dealer only a rare couple times, under warranty. I mostly buy used, non-junk, and work on them myself.

What I'm recommending is, roll up in there (college) with that ES, and let the female commuters beat the living tar out of that vehicle (instead of an LS). Once you graduate, find you a used LC 500. Then laugh all the way to the bank with all the money you saved, and how easy the LC 500 is to afford used, with your college career track job.

 

You mean "other" commuters right?

 

i would ( and did) go with a 460 over a 430.

 

Them too!

 

MUCH better 👍👍

 

No, way too expensive to potentially repair.

Spend the money on beer and condoms. Thank me later lol

 

jdanielca, FunFact please exit this thread.

I'll also show you both the ignore list feature and ask for the personal commentary to cease going forward (posts removed).

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/pro...?do=ignorelist

 

And there you have it...the BEST advice ever.

Truer words never spoken......

 

With limited budget, I would go for 430; although you near bear all the potential risks that accompany the age of any available 430 in your market. Whether you can enjoy the car for years to come or live miserably with unending repairs is determined by how much "love" the previous owners have dedicated. After 4 years of ownership, my 2002 430 (I am the 3rd owner) has only 100k miles on the clock and runs serene. This car has never missed a recommended maintenance at the dealership (the credit goes to the previous owners too). The only repairs I can recall is to replace the O2 sensor due to check engine light issue and passenger door actuator (this is all up to you if you don't mind unlocking the door manually). Again, this scenario only applies if proper care has been given to the car.

The cost of maintaining 460 is much higher. I am not a fans of DIY wrenching, so I quite rely on the dealer most of the time. A simple fact here - the cost of tyre replacement is doubled compared with 430 ($300/tyre for 460, excluding $170 alignment; assuming you stick with Michelin). The alternator was once defective in my 10' 460 in which dealer quoted me about $2k. Members of the forum had recommended to find an independent mechanic but also ended up approx $500. Make sure you have enough saving in the event of necessary repairs.

Make sure you have checked out the service history of the LS that you are interested through https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/history. Note that only service / repairs performed at Lexus dealerships is on the record.

Don't forget that regardless of whether you pull the trigger for a 430 or 460, premium grade gasoline is recommended. I believe you could have saved thousands over the course of LS ownership for the tuition loan (if you have one).

Finally, this goes back to the very important point. Despite that Camry and Corolla are known for their impeccably high reliability, problems can arise and accumulate with age if they are not dealt with promptly. In case you change your mind to get a Toyota, you also need to find one without any apparent or imminent problem. I understand the fact that it is very difficult to drive an ordinary car after years of experience with Lexus. May be you consider a later model of ES?

Best wishes to your study and future endeavour!