geoleo

Hello from George, I'm a older guy with bad shoulders(one is a artificial the other has arthritis) . Currently drive a 2010 RX350 which is harsh riding. When I sell my sailboat which will be soon I hope I want to switch to a very easy steering easy riding -very quiet car. I'm hoping the 3rd gen LS430 will be the one. I have read about the Ulta Premium with air ride. Is this much better than the Premium without air ride? Is air ride reliable? costly to maintain?? Need advise. Another question: When does the timing belts/water pump /plugs/gaskets need to be redone??? What other major maintenance have needs? Thanks.

geoleo

and I decided to forget air ride. now need answers to other questions in post please

Hagar

For what its worth, I to bought a 2004 LS430 UL with air ride and 157,000 miles.
And after hunting around several forums, I became concerned about the air ride. So I bought a 1 year warranty. It cost me plenty and I was surprised they offered it on such an older car.
2.5 months into ownership, I've yet to have to repair anything. Well there was the tilt steering I had to repair for $476. Wouldn't go up and down.

After the first oil servicing, I asked them to specifically look at the air struts and the service manager said they did and that mine were fine and in great condition. He also noted that in his 13 years with Lexus of Bellevue, he has never seen an air strut go bad.
Still concerned, I have a good friend whose a certified Toyota mechanic and he also said in his 15 plus experience, he's never replaced a air strut in any Lexus also. So do they go bad, yes, but I think the issue is a little overblown. Would it be expensive to repair, what isn't on a Lexus? I'd rather keep the original ride as Lexus wanted it to be, uber nice.

Just my two cents.

Good luck
Dave

Gronemus

See post #2 in this thread. One thing to keep in mind is that the maintenance schedule is different for 2001-2003 vs 2004-2006. I believe that the mileage requirements are the same but the intervals have been stretched out for the latter vehicles. For instance, the timing belt is scheduled to be changed at 90,000 miles or if you reach 72 months (6 years) according to the 2002 maintenance schedule. But in the 2004 manual, the interval has been pushed out to 108 months (9 years).

Plugs at 120k miles. Water pump has no recommended change interval although many replace it at the same time as the timing belt since it is easy to access at that time. Gaskets? I guess whenever you have a leak somewhere...

Fish

iTrader: (26)

I purchased my 06 LS430 UL with 159k last year in May 2016. Air suspension seems to be in good and working condition but haven't had a certified Lexus technician check them out. Just got my timing belt and water pump changed a few hours ago.

lexman52

I am surprise that you say your 2010 RX350 is a harsh ride. I have a 2010 rx450h and I have to say it rides [And this is JMO] dam close to my 2003UL. I do not mind taking the RX out because of the ride.

2003 UL silver 78K
2010 RX450h Black 127K
2007 GS350 Black 73K Rides like ****. But my wife likes so that's all that matters

mcshiv

I sold a 1993 MB 400E with 120K miles to get the LS430 UL with PCS. The MB did have great performance and ride. It would taunt me to step on the accelerator even when I was doing 125 mph on I75. It was that good way back then, but the maintenance/repairs did pile-up.I still miss that ride and the Teutonic engineering. Should have kept the car since it was aesthetically in great shape and I only got pennies on the dollar.

Bought the LS in 2007 with 40K on the odometer. I did have to change the rear air shocks a month after the 7 year extended warranty expired and Lexus chipped in for half the bill which was $3400 thanks to the proximity to the warranty running out. The Dealer told me who to call, and it only took one call. Also replaced the front bushings a few months later for around $600 (because they replace the whole assembly). Other than that, just regular maintenance according to the recommended schedule, tires, brakes that last a long time, a battery, and oil changes. Looking forward to many more years.

Rides like an old-fart car compared to the Benz, but I am surrounded in quiet luxury, options in the rear section that I never get to use, however no speeding tickets.

So the question of the day -- Is the LS430 UL with PCS a "semi-collectable" (other strings on the forum suggest there were only 1500 UL's built (I assume ULwith PCS are fewer)) and worth babying or just a fools trap?



2005 LS430 UL with PCS and @140K miles

Bob04

Tire mean almost everything to a car's ride. Even the best riding car can be rough with a crappy tire.

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

Yep, try to find an RX at a dealer to test drive - see if there's any difference.

If so, consider changing tires - tirerack.com