HiPatrick

Looking to get rid of my 2004 LS for one of these third-generation 450h's. Want something that is in similar or identical pricing once I actually sell the LS and the 450h fits the bill.

I have to ask to further my information on this car -

1. Does this car suffer similar Mark Levinson system woes as the LS430? I am talking about the amplifier going bad, and also the rotting of the speaker foams. How reliable is this sound system? And if any of you have had to do repairs or replacements involving the setup.

2. How do the control arms, or suspension in general, hold up over time? Granted, if I was to own this car, I would be looking at refreshing the suspension of a car of this age, though hopefully not the case like my 430, where pretty much a vast majority had to be replaced.

3. Any little gremlins like interior amenities playing up? For example from the LS that I have, the rear sunshade has been playing up. I also do not have a functioning maps/NAV.



I am aware of the hybrid battery health and would be willing to spend the money to replace it, especially if the car is in the spec that I desire. This car looks to be a great daily cruiser. I love this era of styling and I also like the simplicity, though plush look of this generation. The other thing is, I've always wanted to try this car due to its lowkey performance factor! 5.5 seconds to 60? That is pretty cool in my books.

Lwerewolf

The LS430 is a tank. Drive a well sorted 3GS450h before you ever decide on one. Can't say much about the ML system on mine (one of the rear left speakers is very occasionally acting up, ~385k km).

450h - 3GS woes in general (interior rattles) + shocks + brake actuator (GS430/460/LS460-style brake-by-wire, all hybrids have this) + battery + maybe the inverter. Front seats headroom leaves me wanting (182cm / 5'12'' approx), but this should be better if you find one WITHOUT a sliding roof - or so I assume.

I'd stick with what you have.

petershen

I would keep the V8 car

Lwerewolf

I just noticed "Victoria" as your location - you'll need to do a diff swap to get that 0-60mph performance. JDM & USDM cars tend to have different final drives from EUDM & other markets. On the plus side, RHD inverters seem plentiful.

Anyways, again - drive and decide, the LS430 is going to be cheaper to maintain.

edtbjon

I went from a -95 LS 400 to a -06 GS 450h. I wanted a somewhat smaller car, which indeed it is. The “quality” of the ride is very different. You do get a good ride in the GS, but the smoothness of the ride in the LS is out of this world.
The GS is much more “nimble” and quite a quick car for its size. Where my old LS did roll somewhat in the curves if pushed, the GS is stiffer (but not a stiff car). There is a “sports” mode on the GS… but I have never really put it to the test, nor the “Power” mode… The car is nimble enough for me, unless I want to loose my license.
With fuel economy, I did gain some 20% or so… at least when driving in an economical way. The drivetrain in the 450h is a powerhouse and you can easily go crazy with it. (On paper about the same as say … a Beamer M3. But the Beamer is built to be a small super sports car… the GS is a comfy car (about 5 size) with good performance!)
the Build quality… the GS is a Lexus. Very good quality, but the LS quality is the best there is!! My old LS did suffer from bad maintenance (partly my bad…) The 430 is famous for being the best and most robust LS there is… While not actively searching… I am often thinking about getting a more modern LS. Again, personal preferences… While knowing the I have a very potent right pedal in the 450h… I almost never use it, but prefer to cruise. The GS is a good cruiser, but the LS is a super smooth cruiser… nowadays with about the same drivetrain as my “old” GS 450h…

mspearl95

LS 430 is rated one of the best Lexus ever built. I'd stick with the LS.