Opinion needed -- 06 GS430 or 08 GS460
#16
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iTrader: (4)
Well, the 460 is gone. Sold within a day and close to asking price.
I realize the 430 may not have all the bells and whistles as the 460, but it's pretty close, and it is significantly less money. Also, I put 18,000 miles a year on my car, so for any car I get, I will kill it with miles and it will depreciate quickly. Seems like the smarter financial decision would be to go for an older (06 GS430) or higher mile (08 LS460) car.
I realize the 430 may not have all the bells and whistles as the 460, but it's pretty close, and it is significantly less money. Also, I put 18,000 miles a year on my car, so for any car I get, I will kill it with miles and it will depreciate quickly. Seems like the smarter financial decision would be to go for an older (06 GS430) or higher mile (08 LS460) car.
#17
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Thread Starter
If I can get the car for $23k and if I get $4k for my car, I think I'm doing pretty well. If the car is certified for 3 years up to 100,000 miles, I'll have nothing to worry about for a while. Those 460s are really rare around here (and in reality, all across the US). In 4 years, I've NEVER seen one on the road, and I'm always looking for them. If you do a search on Autotrader, there are 43 for sale across all model years across the country. That's not a lot of cars, and unlike my current GS, I'm just not willing to get a plane to travel across the country to buy one and drive it back. Those days are over for me.
When you factor in the fact that I will depreciate the heck out of any 460 with relatively low miles, from a financial perspective, any decent 460 would kill me. I don't know, this just seems to make more sense to me..
#18
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iTrader: (3)
I agree with consensus that the 460's is a newer and more powerful motor. But, if you want longevity and i think thats what you're looking for, I say get the 430. The 430's motor is based from the 400 and this motor has been around since the early 90's Well Proven Reliability. I had '08-'09 model cars and when I saw my GS430 with old lady miles (18K), i quickly snatched her up. The 430 is upgrade from the GS400. I have both and I'm damn happy I have GS430 in my stable. I've driven the GS460 and it is a NICCEE ride and I would definitely like to pick up one someday but IMO i still believe the GS430 is a better value..
#19
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Thread Starter
To the last poster, just to be clear, we're talking about an 3G 06 GS430, not an 01-05 GS430.
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
#20
To the last poster, just to be clear, we're talking about an 3G 06 GS430, not an 01-05 GS430.
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
#21
Pole Position
iTrader: (3)
To the last poster, just to be clear, we're talking about an 3G 06 GS430, not an 01-05 GS430.
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
Guys, I'm sure the 460 is nicer, just like the 01-05 GS430 was "nicer" than the 98-00 GS400. However, I don't regret for a second owning my 99 GS400 over a newer 01-05 GS430. I looked at the 430s in 05 before I bought my 99, and while they did have some nicer options (wood steering wheel, slightly bigger engine, Mark Levinson, DVD nav, revised taillights), in the end, it was basically the same car.
Isn't that what we're basically talking about here as between the 06 GS430 and 08 GS460? Look, if I could find a nice GS460 close to my home at a reasonable price, I'd consider it, but if the car I was looking at was sold in 1 day after it was listed, that tells me that the 460 is in high demand and I will not be able to negotiate a decent deal for one, right?
I've been a dedicated GS owner for 13 years now and i think i know the differences in years, generations.. So, no need to jump on me for comparing motor size.. Take it easy, its just a car..
#22
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iTrader: (4)
I hear you H, but here's the thing. In reality, what more are you getting with the 460? A better nav screen? Well, I have Nakamichi with no nav now, so any nav screen would be better than no nav screen at all. Also, my mother has an 03 LS430, and I think her nav screen is pretty good. I think the biggest difference is probably the 8 speed transmission, which would be nice for highway driving, but I'm doing just fine with my current 5-speed transmission and would probably be fine with a 5-speed 430 tranny. I don't like the fact that I'll have to deal with a timing belt change at 90k especially given what happened the last time, but that's at least 3 years away, so not a big deal. Is there something else the 460 has that the 430 does not have that I would really miss out on?
If I can get the car for $23k and if I get $4k for my car, I think I'm doing pretty well. If the car is certified for 3 years up to 100,000 miles, I'll have nothing to worry about for a while. Those 460s are really rare around here (and in reality, all across the US). In 4 years, I've NEVER seen one on the road, and I'm always looking for them. If you do a search on Autotrader, there are 43 for sale across all model years across the country. That's not a lot of cars, and unlike my current GS, I'm just not willing to get a plane to travel across the country to buy one and drive it back. Those days are over for me.
When you factor in the fact that I will depreciate the heck out of any 460 with relatively low miles, from a financial perspective, any decent 460 would kill me. I don't know, this just seems to make more sense to me..
If I can get the car for $23k and if I get $4k for my car, I think I'm doing pretty well. If the car is certified for 3 years up to 100,000 miles, I'll have nothing to worry about for a while. Those 460s are really rare around here (and in reality, all across the US). In 4 years, I've NEVER seen one on the road, and I'm always looking for them. If you do a search on Autotrader, there are 43 for sale across all model years across the country. That's not a lot of cars, and unlike my current GS, I'm just not willing to get a plane to travel across the country to buy one and drive it back. Those days are over for me.
When you factor in the fact that I will depreciate the heck out of any 460 with relatively low miles, from a financial perspective, any decent 460 would kill me. I don't know, this just seems to make more sense to me..
in the end either car will get you from point a to b just fine, but how much extra do you want?
#23
Pole Position
Thread Starter
I know we're talking about 3GS, but I'm referring to the motor.. I owned my '99 GS400 since brand new and though I believe its a faster more responsive car than my '05 GS430 which does drive and feel different even though they share the same body style. I've drive an 06 GS430 and its not that much a difference motor-wise..
I've been a dedicated GS owner for 13 years now and i think i know the differences in years, generations.. So, no need to jump on me for comparing motor size.. Take it easy, its just a car..
I've been a dedicated GS owner for 13 years now and i think i know the differences in years, generations.. So, no need to jump on me for comparing motor size.. Take it easy, its just a car..
Anyway, Rom, I understand what you're saying, but I've never been one to go for the biggest, best etc. And the thing is, with GS460s so hard to come by, I'm just not up for flying cross-country to go get one, only to pay a hefty sum and then drive it into the ground with 20k miles a year. If the 06 430 is "almost as good" but not "quite as good" as the 460, that's really fine for me.
I guess the other option would be to pick up an 08+ GS350 AWD (although that's the topic for another thread). Those cars are a dime a dozen around here. I drove one a few months back and it really didn't do much for me. I'm so accustomed to driving an 8 cylinder car, that even if the 350 performed equal to or better than the 430, I don't think I would be happy with it.
#24
If the 460s are harder to come by, then by definition they should be able to retain more of the price, but then you're at the mercy of waiting until the one with the right spec comes up, or having to compromise.
I'd forgotten about the new gearbox, but that's more a case of keeping up with the Jones' rather than a necessity.
It's not like the tried and tested 6-speed in the 430 is a dog or riddled with faults.
Bottom line, only you can decide if the extra cost is warranted or best pocketed for a rainy day.
Either way, whichever you opt for, you're unlikely to be disappointed.
There's nothing stopping you buying the 430 for now, and if a particular 460 comes up in 6 months or so time, moving to it.
You shouldn't lose too much on the 430, hopefully!
I'd forgotten about the new gearbox, but that's more a case of keeping up with the Jones' rather than a necessity.
It's not like the tried and tested 6-speed in the 430 is a dog or riddled with faults.
Bottom line, only you can decide if the extra cost is warranted or best pocketed for a rainy day.
Either way, whichever you opt for, you're unlikely to be disappointed.
There's nothing stopping you buying the 430 for now, and if a particular 460 comes up in 6 months or so time, moving to it.
You shouldn't lose too much on the 430, hopefully!
#25
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Well, I was about to head out to the dealership (about an hour and a half from my house) to buy the 430 when my cell phone rang. The salesman was calling me to let me know that they sold the car and that I shouldn't come. I didn't have a deposit down so I realize that the car was available to anyone who walked in the door, but I did have several conversations with the salesman and he knew I was coming out. It was very nice of him to call to let me know and save me the trip, but there's a part of me that will always wonder what I could/should have done differently. I guess I could have put a deposit down over the phone sight-unseen, but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.
So, the search continues . . . as I happily drive down the road in my beloved 99 GS4. I just turned 180k, so maybe I'll still achieve my goal of 200k!!!! Such a great car. Thanks again for all the helpful comments.
e
So, the search continues . . . as I happily drive down the road in my beloved 99 GS4. I just turned 180k, so maybe I'll still achieve my goal of 200k!!!! Such a great car. Thanks again for all the helpful comments.
e
#26
I just bought my 2006 gs430 yesterday and I really like it. There are a couple small things that bug me but not enough that I didn't buy it. The car has a rough ride when it comes to hitting bumps.. Now this could be from having 18" oem wheels with 40 series tire's. Also the road noise While on the highway is kind of annoying. But other then that i love it!
#28
I paid $20k, the car has 79k miles. The main reason I bought the car was the carfax.. 1 owner, no accidents ect and 35 services's done. But just incase I ended up buying a 30k miles warranty also.
Last edited by thedoc302; 03-04-12 at 10:01 PM.
#29
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iTrader: (1)
As a 4 year owner of a GS430 2006, welcome Brother
You're coming up to the timing belt service soon, so keep that in mind.
My car has had ZERO road noise, but that's because of the tires I chose. Not sure what you're driving on.
My car also doesn't have a hard time with bumps if the sport suspension mode is off. Could be that your struts are worn out?
#30
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Well, I was about to head out to the dealership (about an hour and a half from my house) to buy the 430 when my cell phone rang. The salesman was calling me to let me know that they sold the car and that I shouldn't come. I didn't have a deposit down so I realize that the car was available to anyone who walked in the door, but I did have several conversations with the salesman and he knew I was coming out. It was very nice of him to call to let me know and save me the trip, but there's a part of me that will always wonder what I could/should have done differently. I guess I could have put a deposit down over the phone sight-unseen, but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.
So, the search continues . . . as I happily drive down the road in my beloved 99 GS4. I just turned 180k, so maybe I'll still achieve my goal of 200k!!!! Such a great car. Thanks again for all the helpful comments.
e
So, the search continues . . . as I happily drive down the road in my beloved 99 GS4. I just turned 180k, so maybe I'll still achieve my goal of 200k!!!! Such a great car. Thanks again for all the helpful comments.
e