iriz

Came across this add on Autotrader:https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...delCode1=LS430

It may have been around for a while, however, it has (apparently) been wieved no less than 4348 times.

SO many people interested in a LS430.

mafpolo

Although so many of these cars were manufactured, I am surprised that not that many are for sale (relatively speaking), but the prices are low. I have a 2002 UL with only 105,000 on it, and it is in incredible condition. I know it's a sixteen year old car, but older Range Rovers are starting to fetch premiums, where you could once buy them for a pittance (1987 through 2000 models). I am fortunate that a high end pre-owned car dealer in town has wanted my car, and now that I am ready to do something is offering to buy it. I thought I could get maybe $3,000 more by selling it, but when I read the pricing posts on the forum, I am reluctant to sell it on my own to the point of maybe he is giving me close to retail. Views are great, but $ are all that matters when it comes to desirability.

Johnhav430

imho a very special group is interested (V8 with late 2000 technology). Just like used flagship German cars. A comment on YouTube was that German cars are routinely 10% of the original price after 10 years, so should you get one? The "I just spent $12,000 for a S600" is what I'd love to do.

Anyway, with our 3rd gens, I've told this story many times, in summer 2005, nobody at all was interested in the LS430 at a Lexus event at Belmont Raceway, the cars were just sitting there, so I drove one 2X. So if it was like that in summer 2005, in the big picture, the demand would not be high today. It all boils down to wanting to drive a flagship, but not wanting to have spent anywhere near the original price. But the real world decision for me back in Oct. 2016 was 2006 LS430 with 81k, or 2014 (not 2014.5) Camry CPO, with 35k--the price was identical. 9/10 "normal" people would go Camry....

Davidsofia

Mobius1

I found an interesting anecdote on the Lexus subreddit about the UZ mounted models the other day:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Lexus/comme...doing/dvr85aa/

I find the fact that tech's at a Toyota/Lexus dealer still fight over 15 or so year old cars quite amusing, lol.

ma61

I have noticed the amount of LS430s listed for sale has dropped about 60% in the past 5-6 years.

A cars.com nationwide search 5 years ago would yield anywhere from 950-1150 results (950 being on the low side, usually more).

Today, it hovers steady around 400.

So one can deduce that from 2012-2018:
a) People aren't selling or trading these as much as they used to.
b) People are buying them used and keeping them.
c) This could be the same occurrence as any other car, but I've only been watching LS430s lol

05ls430518

iTrader: (1)

These cars when they are crashed or auctioned off are being sent over seas that is why they are disappearing, happens with most luxery and sports cars.

Johnhav430

I think that as a general rule, these seem to be long lasting vehicles. Whether cars are still built this way, is unknown, but one would lean towards not necessarily. This happens all the time--I witnessed a crew emptying out an entire office bldg. The client was relocating, but ditching all the old furniture. The movers were discussing who could keep what--everything has a value. What seemed bulky and trash, they wanted. But with the techs, my guess is it's unlikely they are stockpiling cars, they likely will be flipping them maybe after minimal work. How this works with a dealership, I'm not sure, as it would seem the dealer wants to make the profit on a trade in, since it's more than on a new car sale. So how does a tech take it instead, and must be taxable...

My wife's aunt's co. relocated out of Manhattan--we managed to take 6 Herman Miller chairs. Just jumped on eBay and they go minimum $200, up to around $700 each. This design is from the late 50's, there have to be gazillions of them out there. I'm not a shrewd flipper so they're in the basement lol